SDGs | Cocccon

GOAL 1 : No Poverty

Despite a recent economic boom in India, many regions remain severely underprivileged. Jharkhand is India’s second poorest state. The easiest way to avoid poverty in the villages, is to migrate to large cities or richer states within India, where these people live in dirty shanties and have low wage employment such as construction or household work. All the major fashion companies in India are based in large cities.
Cocccon has chosen to change the trend. Our project was born in the poorest remote part of Jharkhand, allowing people to work from home and provide economic perspective without having to move to cities. A decentralized way of work was constructed. Silk farming, degumming, spinning, reeling, weaving and printing workshops were established near the villages.
Workers are provided living wages as per ILO guidelines, which is audited by (GOTS) Global Organic Textile Standard. Over the previous 6 years, 360 citizens have begun working for Cocccon and benefitting from economic self-independence. Cocccon anticipate employing 1000 & more people direct from their villages by 2020.

GOAL 2 : Zero Hunger

Project Cocccon is based in a location where malnutrition and hunger related deaths were often reported. However, organic horticulture of silk host trees has resulted in reclaiming the lost biodiversity of nature in the region. The silkworm litter, or faucal matter, is utilised as high grade organic manure for farming. With this, in 2017, an outstanding positive result was developed with rice cultivation after four years of trial. The first rice crop was extremely successful. Local farmers considered it to be a rebirth of the local agronomy and are now self-dependent with their food culture. In 2020 villagers are already expecting over production of organic rice.

GOAL 3 : Good Health and Well-Being

Most of the workers or farmers have had negative impacts on their health due to excessive use of toxic chemicals in silk production processes. Project Cocccon has banned all these toxins from its entire development chain. Herbal spray is created by mixing various herbs and plants to get rid of fungus and insects from the host tree. This has made vast progress in the health of the farmers. Asthma or skin diseases has been eradicated. Regular health check-ups are arranged for employees and their families every month for free. By 2020 all employees will be insured under National Health Protection Scheme.
Project Cocccon has further assisted villagers to construct toilets in their homes in order to provide comfort and privacy. Therefore, Project Cocccon villages are 100% Open Defecation Free.
In addition, regular yoga and meditation camps are organised to promote good physical and mental well-being.

GOAL 4 : Quality Education

We strive to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Project Cocccon operates a Primary School in PPP model with the local village school at our silk farm. The children of employees are receiving modern quality education at no cost, so in the future they can transform our project into a technology based company. Regular visits from German and English pedagogists provides them with extra resources and knowledge.

GOAL 5 : Gender Equality

Project Cocccon provides equal wages to its male and female staff members. The majority of the higher posts are given to women in the company in order to promote gender equality and respect. Project Cocccon offers free training to aspiring weavers and designers at our facilities. This is taken good care that girl kids from the village attend school. For that special arrangements are made like separate toilets etc.

GOAL 6 : Clean Water and Sanitation

The fashion industry is one of the major instigators of ground water toxication throughout India. Ground water in textile producing regions are not potable or usable in daily life. Project Cocccon do not use any toxic chemicals from farm to factory. Waste water from printing and finishing is recycled and reused for further use through our in-house bio-ETP plant.

GOAL 7 : Affordable and Clear Energy

Four out of our 20 power looms have been upgraded with solar powered motors. Spinning and reeling is completely processed either manually or with solar machines. This makes 70% of our spinning and weaving operation zero-carbon. Water supply is done using solar pumping machine.

GOAL 8 : Decent Work and Economic Growth

Project Cocccon began with five village women in the year 2011 and now has a strong work force of 360 employed staff. From a few kilograms of organic silk in the year 2012 to 7 MT of ready to use products in the year 2018. Project Cocccon has seen strong economic growth where profit feeds back into the community.

GOAL 9 : Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Project Cocccon is working on the concept of industry 4.0, where silk will be used in many technology-based products including Lithium batteries or surgical transplantations in the near future.