Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Women in India show secret to plastic-free shopping

SECRET PROJECTS, a social business that strives to empower women in India who make and sell clothing and homeware, has unveiled a product that aims to reduce plastic use.

Their foldable shopping bags, priced at £6 each, are part of their micro- enterprise scheme that aims to provide Indian women with an additional income. These bags are also an


alternative to plastic shopping bags.

Launched following a crowdfunding campaign in February that saw 143 backers pledging more than £5,000, these bags are made out of cotton and sold to local shop keepers

in India. They can also be bought online too.

Fritha Mason, the founder of Secret Projects, decided on the Secret Shopping Bag after the Indian government announced last year its vision to phase all single-use plastics by 2022.

This created a huge opportunity for the women living in India who stitch and who are trying to run their own micro enterprises, said Mason.

Secret Projects works with 14 women’s groups in five states of India, and for each bag they earn just over £2.

More For You

 laser defences

A DragonFire laser test over the Hebrides shows how directed energy weapons could be used against drones.

iStock

UK plans more laser defences as drone threats grow

  • Laser shots cost about £10 compared with £1 million Sea Viper missiles.
  • New funding targets drones near military sites and infrastructure.
  • Moves follow rising concern over Russian activity across Europe.

Britain is moving to expand its use of laser-based defences, with the Ministry of Defence confirming new “directed energy weapons” will complement the DragonFire systems planned for Royal Navy destroyers from 2027.

The work sits within a £300 million defence deal and is aimed squarely at countering drones and other low-cost airborne threats.

Keep ReadingShow less