Fair Trade Incense Information
| The Mother's Fragrances Incense is produced by the Mother's Commerce Company in Pondicherry, India. The Mother's Commerce Company provides excellent employment for over 700 people, mainly women. MCC began in 1977 to provide good and meaningful employment to local people and to prove that handmade goods from India can be of the highest quality. Whilst mechanisation of agriculture and industry had increased productivity, many people were left without jobs. MCC still uses labour-intensive techniques in production, which ensures jobs for as many people as possible. This is evident in the incense we sell - hand, blended, hand rolled, hand packed in hand-marbled and hand-painted packaging. Producing a single pack of Mother's Fragrance involves over 100 individual actions. Wages paid are above the minimum wage and far above the industry's average. In addition, those working in the rolling unit, rolling the incense sticks and cones, are paid an extra premium, because the charcoal used in the incense can soil their clothes. Occasionally, the workers may be asked to work overtime, and for this, their pay is doubled. Many of the girls contribute a significant amount to their family's income, and are able to afford nice clothes and jewellrey. In addition, many of the girls have joined MCC's bicycle scheme, which allows them to buy a bicycle and pay in instalments. Owning a bicycle gives them freedom and independence. In general, the girls marry at a later age than is usual. When they marry, most girls stop working for MCC, although some stay. Those who have worked for MCC for a long time can be promoted to supervisor. All employees can take part in a savings scheme, which allows them to save 10% of their income. MCC contributes the same amount, meaning that the girls can save a considerable sum, which they can take with them when they leave. Employees of MCC also benefit from medical insurance. As stated earlier, the incense is packed in hand-marbled paper. This is a messy job and MCC provides tshirts and aprons for those working in this section, so that their own clothes are protected. The girls who work in this section are in charge of designing new patterns for the incense packaging. Getting the designs just right takes a lot of skill! Finally, a word about the environmental credentials of our incense. The Mother's Fragrance incense contains no chemicals. Because it is hand-rolled, and not dipped, all of the ingredients are mixed together at the initial stage (dipped incense involves rolling the incense without scent and then dipping the dried stick into essential oils diluted with chemicals, to reduce costs). The packaging is made using recycled, biodegradable paper, and the use of plastic is kept to an absolute minimum (our Nag Champa is wrapped in greaseproof paper, and therefore no plastic is used in the packaging at all.) |
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Created: January 10, 2009
