Be THE responsible One

Advancing on our mission of inspiring our family, friends, fans and customers with season collections true to our promise of Always Human, Magical Experiences and Service with Heart, we take on the responsibility to improve the world by reducing our carbon footprint on this planet every day. That’s why we bring you these cool and colourful eco-friendly biodegrable alternatives to regular shopping bags,

Thanks to an additive (d2w) included at the time of manufacture, our 100% Degradable Plastic Bags have been programmed to be reusable, recyclable and biodegradable.

Please buy responsibly and reuse them until they fall apart.

The better we do, the more good we can do.

Thank you!

Why biodegrable plastic bags and not paper?
It’s all about the carbon footprint. Paper costs the world trees. Making a paper bag uses 4 times more energy and causes 5 times more water pollution vs. a biodegradable plastic bag. It takes 7 times the number of trucks to deliver the same number of paper bags vs. plastic bags, causing 7 times more air pollution and road congestion.

Why do you charge for your biodegradable bags?
Plastic waste is a global problem that requires a global solution, but small actions help. THE One way to reduce plastic consumption is to charge a small fee for our cool & colourful plastic bags when shopping. Our Medium Bags are charged at AED 1 and Large Bags at AED 2.

What other CSR Environmental and Ethical Values are THE One committed to?
Environmental
• We are committed to limiting our company’s environmental impact by only dealing with manufacturers who can commit themselves to not using wood from rainforests.
• We work with manufacturers who use VLO (Verification of Legal Origin) certified wood from managed forests or plantations.
• We have also included an eco-chic product range made from recycled wood, glass, iron as well as eco-friendly candle ranges and rugs.

Ethical
• We work with the Rugmark Foundation – a private, non-profit organisation that ensures that each rug bearing its label has been woven without the use of child labour. A portion of the purchase price of all Rugmark carpets goes towards the education, rehabilitation and healthcare of children who have been taken out of the weaving industry. A further portion is donated by the manufacturer towards aiding impoverished weaving communities and paying for inspectors to spot-check factories, the safety of looms and working conditions of the weavers.
• Already working with our rug manufacturers, we have increased our range of hand-made rugs online and in-store. By customers buying one of these rugs, they help the artisans by providing them with sustainable livelihoods and medical support for their families. All weavers receive premium wages, mid-day meals and refreshments. In addition, we help to reduce the carbon footprint of machine manufacturing and help to keep the traditional art of rugmaking alive.

Local Volunteering
• We get involved and make a difference in our local communities through organising volunteer initiatives and participating in events in support of our chosen causes. Since our employees proudly drive this project, there is a noticeably stronger feeling of connection in each store, as our people feel good because they are doing good.

Challenged Employee Programme
• We currently hire 13 physically and mentally challenged individuals. We give them tasks that play to their strengths and enable them to develop at their own pace while contributing to productivity.

We believe that employing those with challenges fosters better understanding and encourages greater social integration. This provides them with a sense of purpose, empowerment and independence, not to mention an income.

THE Onederworld
• We believe that education is the key to ending the cycle of poverty. So in 2008, we launched THE Onederworld – our Sustainable Village Community programme, with education at its heart. Teaming up with Free The Children on our Onederworld projects, we work with villagers on five-year plans towards self-sufficiency through holistic community development.

 

We focus on 5 main areas:

1. Quality Primary Education
2. Healthcare Services
3. Alternative Income Projects
4. Drinking Water and Water Sanitation Services
5. Agriculture and Food Services

The beauty of our CSR initiatives is that besides benefitting communities, you as our biggest fans also benefit, as you automatically Do Good whilst shopping with a company that has real values.