please be careful-- i don't know for sure about ecoist-- but there have been a number of people making these bags in mexico for about 4 years now--- and while they look all recycled (they even have some with cute multiple recycled symobls), it's debatable if THers would really consider them recycled. See, (at least the ones in mexico, but I'm willing to bet that its the same here) it's not that easy to wash all that waste, and it's even harder to maintain styles when you are hand-to-mouthing it with people's refuse.

So, what ends up happening? the purse makers find out where to buy the chip bags and candy wrappers IN ROLLS (yes, fresh--- not ever touched chips or candy)and they use virgin materials.

When it started and people learnt how to do the chip bag macrame it was all recycled, but as far as I'm concerned, before I were to buy a product like this I would ask the manufacturer some really tough questions...

surrealclimate if you'd checked their website, in less time than it would have taken to write that comment, you'd have realised that they don't claim to use recycled materials. And a quick glance at the uniform design or their bags suggests it's unlikely they would recycle lots of small packets.

However you can debate the issues with pre-consumer industrial waste - ultimately you can only trust the manufacturer's word, or not buy the product

This is from their website:
"Ecoist handbags are made from recycled candy wrappers, food packages, and soft drink labels. These excess materials have been discarded due to printing defects or discontinued candy lines. At Ecoist, we believe in recycling these wasted materials by giving them a new life. So join us, become an Ecoist, and help us preserve the earth with style."

They don't use recycled (post consumer) refuse as the 1st post suggests, but preconsumer industrial waste. I'd read their blurb before, but the use of the word "recycled" in this context can mislead some people eg into thinking they recycle used candy wrappers.

"Recycled" refers to a repeat of a particular process. Saving industrial by-products from being dumped is waste reduction but is it recycling?

It's great to see so much interest!

In Dominic's previous post (that is linked to in this post), he referred to them as "Repurposed Waste Stream Handbags." That was more accurate. However, I don't think the company's referring to them as recycled (which led to my use of the term) is misleading. It's similar to recycled paper with pre-consumer content. Waste that would have been landfilled was given a new life, which makes this a much less taxing choice than a purse for which raw materials were procured.