question
What is an awning?
Awnings are the waterproof fabrics protecting balconies and shopfronts. They are ubiquitous in Athens, it’s part of the culture. It’s a way of life, balcony life. Watering the plants and alfresco dinners, the gossip and the arguments, all take place under awnings.
These fabrics are sturdy, waterproof, and abundant. Nowadays they are made out of polyester, cotton was phased out years ago. Unwanted fabrics should go for recycling but, sadly, the leftovers go to a landfill, and here is where we come in.
What we do
We visit local awning-installing businesses and offer to buy their leftover fabrics. So far we have reclaimed and processed more than 3 tonnes of leftover fabrics.
It’s a drop in the ocean. Every year hundreds of tonnes of leftover, offcuts, and unwanted brand new awning fabrics end up in a landfill in Greece. And we’re not even talking about the old awnings that get taken down from a balcony. They are mostly untraceable and their volume is difficult to assess.
Our target
We already have a network of local tradespeople we work with. Collecting leftover fabrics is not as easy as it sounds but our network is growing. With recognition comes access.
Our target is to collect everything and make sure no more polyester fabrics go to a landfill.
But beyond that, we are working towards a future where no waste materials at all are thrown away just. A circular economy is our dream and we’re doing our very best to achieve it!
