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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.

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Polls suggest Labour could lose several London boroughs, increasing pressure on Sadiq Khan

Results will also affect London Councils, a cross-party organisation representing the capital's 32 borough councils

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Polls suggest Labour could lose several London boroughs, increasing pressure on Sadiq Khan

Highlights

  • Labour currently controls 21 of 32 London boroughs.
  • Greens favoured in inner London areas like Hackney.
  • Reform UK could surpass Conservatives in outer boroughs.
Labour could lose control of several London boroughs in the upcoming local elections on May 7, according to recent polling data.
This would significantly impact mayor Sadiq Khan's ability to implement policies across the capital.

Labour currently controls 21 of London's 32 town halls. However, a YouGov poll suggests the party will only have the largest vote share in 15 boroughs after the elections.

Analysis from pollsters More in Common shows the Green Party and Reform UK are set to make major gains.

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