Enterprising students concerned about the amount of waste going into landfill have put their principles into action by “repurposing” storm-damaged trees.
The Ripon Grammar School sixth-formers, who set up their own company to make eco-friendly bags, have created a sideline making wooden keyrings from the branches of trees blown down in their school grounds and near their homes.
The hand-made keyrings, decorated with their student-run Totes My Bag company “orange slice” logo are now their best seller.
Ellie Currass, assistant managing director of Totes My Bag, said:
“One of our main goals is to promote a sustainable lifestyle to help reduce the amount of products and waste fabric going into landfill. Our tote bags are made from 100 per cent recycled cotton and our keyrings are crafted from reclaimed wood.”
Assistant managing director Ellie Currass and operations director Anna Bradley show off some the team’s keyrings, made from trees felled by winter storms.
The company’s sustainability director, Ollie Peacock, came up with the idea for the keyrings after spotting a fallen tree in Sharow, outside Ripon, and when two trees at school came down in a recent storm, the students decided they could also put them to good use.
They have now made several hundred pounds’ profit from selling eco-friendly bags, keyrings and also greetings cards in the school foyer at lunchtimes.
Preparing to compete in the Young Enterprise North Yorkshire area final in March, they plan to branch into exam stationery kits, jewellery and badges, in addition to developing new bag designs. The team recently bagged the Best Teamwork prize after attending the Asda Young Enterprise Trade Fair in Harrogate. Ellie said:
“It gave us a brilliant opportunity to practise sales techniques and interact with the public as well as giving us a sneak peek at some of our competition! We made a good profit and are very proud.”
“We have gained valuable skills such as teamwork, professionalism, time management and the all-important ability to compromise.”
The hand-made keyrings, decorated with their student-run company ‘orange slice’ logo, are now the pupils’ best seller.
Financial director Samarth Dasarathi said:
“We began in September 2022 as a student company: run by students, for students and feel a strong sense of community within our team and our message.”
The Young Enterprise team of nine, led by managing director Lucy Crum, work closely together to decorate their bags, using lino prints created by operations director Anna Bradley, and create stencils for the keyrings using the school laser cutter.
The wooden keyrings were made using the school’s laser cutter.
Creative director Neja Mirando, who helped Ollie craft the wood for the keyrings, also created a digital design for their company’s greetings cards.
Ellie added:
“The Totes My Bag team would like to give our wholehearted thanks to our head of careers, Mr Walker, without whom none of this would be possible. We are very happy with what we have achieved, grateful to all those who have helped and advised us and excited to see what the future will bring for Totes My Bag.”
Read more:
- Former Ripon Grammar School head boy wins BBC quiz show
- Ex-Ripon Grammar pupil discovers oldest map of stars
- Ripon Grammar named top northern secondary school again
- Emmy award for former Ripon Grammar School student