This fair trade soap box is made in cooperatives in rural areas of the Philippines where the abundant “abaca” plant is indigenous to the area. The weaving and sewing of the boxes is a cottage industry which is done mainly by the wives of farmers and fishermen in their own homes or in a communal area within the village. Here, workers are ensured fair wages and good working conditions. The sustainable abaca plant propagates itself through suckering or by growing new shoots from the roots. The end product, bags and boxes, can be used repeatedly and are completely biodegradable when disposed of. Shown here with a bar of organic balsam swirl soap.