Banner bags
Banner Bags turn discarded vinyl banners into stylish, upcycled tote bags.
Banner Bags turn discarded vinyl banners into stylish, upcycled tote bags.
These bags are handmade by women from The Centers for Habilitation, which provides job skills training to individuals with disabilities. Arizona State University provides the no-longer-needed banner material and additional materials to produce the bags. The bags are locally made in Tempe, Arizonain cooperation with The Center for Habilitation providing support for their work programs.
This innovative program was piloted by the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, in support of ASU’s Zero Waste goals.
When they’re not sold out, you can find Banner Bags at the Sun Devil Campus Stores.
Sustainable recycled banner tote-bags
VisitBanners to bags: ASU partners with local group to change the way we recycleasu
The very first Banner Bags were introduced in 2010
The very first Banner Bags were the vision of a member of ASU’s University Sustainability Practices team.Enlarge
Banner Bags were first introduced at Homecoming 2010 and sold in the ASU Bookstore for a few years, until store management changed hands and the product was discontinued.
Fast forward to 2017
Fast forward to 2017, when the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability’s senior graphic designer started looking for a new, local partner to make Banner Bags. That’s when he found the Arizona Apparel Foundation, housed at FABRIC, the Fashion and Business Resource Innovation Center, right down the street.VisitF.A.B.R.I.C. Tempe – Industry Resources & Apparel Manufacturingfabrictempe
A partnership was formed
The local media thought Banner Bags were as interesting a story as we did. ASU is connected with the community through a mutually beneficial partnership, and it’s reducing waste that might otherwise go to the landfill.
VisitTempe program recycling Arizona State banner and turning them into fashionabc15
VisitASU, TCH Turning Old Advertising Banners Into Bagskjzz
Banner Bags re-launched in 2018
After the great local media coverage, people started contacting The Centers for Habilitation, asking where they could buy their own Banner Bags. The Sun Devil Campus Stores placed an order for two dozen of the bags and planned a meet-and-greet event for the new product’s debut. The bookstore quickly sold out!
Get your Banner Bags at the bookstore
When they’re not sold out, you can find Banner Bags at the Sun Devil Campus Stores.
Want to recycle your banners? Here’s how.
1. Visit the ZeroWaste.asu.edu website
2. Click “Recycle service request” from the sidebar
3. Choose “Recycling and Trash Services” in the Request Type drop-down
4. Verify your Requester Information and Location information
5. In the Details section, choose “Pick Up Specialty Recycling Items” from the drop-down
6. Click the “Add Selected Item” button
7. Fill in the details about the banner(s) to be picked up – how many, what, where, and when to pick up
8. Add photo of the items(s) to be picked up if possible
9. Click the “Submit Request” button