ODPADNESH: recycling banners and teaching skills

Three types of bags made by ODPADNESH and their logo
Type of organisation or company
Country
Slovakia
City
Košice
Language for original content
Key Area
Scope
Ongoing
Yes
Type of funding
Description

ODPADNESH is a registered social enterprise based in Košice that upcycles waste advertising banners and other discarded materials into bags, cases, packaging and other everyday products.

Advertising banners are typically used once and then thrown away. ODPADNESH collects them from companies and gives the material a second life – often turning a company's own banners into custom corporate gifts carrying its brand.

The products are sewn in their workshop, which provides work and skills training to people at risk of poverty, particularly single mothers, in cooperation with the organisation Úsmev ako dar (A smile as a gift).

They also run hands-on upcycling workshops for companies, where employees sew their own products from banner material, and offer consultations on sustainable solutions for businesses in the region.

Main activity field
Identified challenge (s)
Main results
  • Corporate gifts and workshops delivered for clients including Union, Slovakia Travel, FC Košice, the City of Trenčín, Cinematic, Stredoslovenská energetika, 365.bank and Swietelsky.
  • Stable income and new skills for women from vulnerable groups who work in their workshop.
  • Upcycling workshops running in both Košice and Bratislava.