Press Release

Eden Textile Launches Recycling Program
to Benefit Africa

May 1, 2008 (Vancouver, BC) — The hospitality industry has a new resource at its disposal. Eden Textile, one of the country’s leading hospitality suppliers, has launched a unique textile-recycling program aimed at reducing vast amounts of the industry’s post-consumer waste.

Now Eden Textile’s clients can take advantage of this recycling program while also alleviating the suffering of families in Africa. Through a non-profit partnership with the organization Africa We Care, textiles will be diverted from the landfill and donated to a worthy cause each year. The donation of products like bedding, towels, pillows, drapes and duvets to Africa We Care will not only help hospitals and orphanages, but it will enable the citizens of Africa living in poverty to operate sustainable businesses.

Africa We Care is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the alleviation of suffering in Africa by providing the basic necessities like clean water, and medicines; facilitate access to education. Founded by Dr. Chukwuemeka Obiajunwa, the organization came together after the native Nigerian returned home to Africa to witness the aftermath of decades of neglect, atrocities, and acts man’s inhumanity to man that have led to the suffering, poverty, privation, powerlessness, helplessness, and hopelessness rampant in Africa today. With a first hand understanding of the fundamental needs of the African people, Obiajunwa dedicated his life to building a one of a kind non-profit organization predicated on opportunity rather than charity. Since 2001, Africa We Care has been working with African people, to foster sustainable opportunities based on gainful and productive economic activities that enable them to regain their basic human dignity; restore their self-esteem; take charge of their lives; and take care of their families.

“The textile recycling program that is now available through our partnership with Africa We Care is an exciting new concept in our industry and a resource that many hospitality chains are eager participate in,” says Mike Wilson, President of Eden Textile.

And according to Wilson, this is just one of the many progressive initiatives that has made Eden Textile one of the most sought after names in the hospitality industry.

Eco-friendly initiatives and meaningful charitable donations are pieces of a larger strategy that Eden has always strived for — to be a contributing global citizen. For more information on these initiatives for visit www.edentextile.com.

About Eden Textile

Eden celebrates the senses through the experience of total material comfort. Exceptional hotels choose our beds, bed linen and bath linen to immerse their guests in luxury and beauty. We’re renewing an ancient industry — textiles — with modern techniques and processes, a craftsman-like approach, and the respect to safe guard the wellbeing of the natural ecosystems we revere. For more information, visit www.edentextile.com.

A Report on the Eden Textiles Recycling Program
in Partnership with Africa We Care to Benefit Africa

The Recycling Program created through a partnership between Eden Textiles and Africa We Care is dedicated to the empowering of women in Africa, in the main. The Program offers a wonderful opportunity that makes a tremendous difference in the lives of African people, while at the same time reducing vast amounts of post-consumer waste that would otherwise end up in the land fills across Canada.

Africa We Care is gratefully indebted to the generosity, and humanitarian foresight of Eden Textiles in this its “eco-friendly initiatives and meaningful charitable donations” that sets it apart as “a contributing global citizen”. Nevertheless, Africa We Care would like to indicate that the demand for this worthwhile and farsighted program, and the funds to execute it, by far exceeds current supply. We need more resources: more materials to ship to Africa; and the funds to help defray the cost of shipment. Africa We Care very earnestly urges more participation and engagement from the hospitality chains and industry.

Since the inception of the Program in the spring of 2008, Africa We Care has made two shipments of donated used and new articles of clothings, shoes, beddings, towels, toys, and various assortments of household material in the last year. Each shipment of 40ft container consists of 425 bales; each bale weighs 55kgs, for a combined weight of 23,375kgs. In total, we have shipped 46,750kgs of assortments of wears, materials, and post-consumer textiles, 25% (11,688kgs) of which comes from the Eden Textile Recycling Program, consisting of the following:

Africa We Care sorts through all donated items before baling, packaging, and shipment to ensure that the goods we send are of the best quality. The Eden Textile Recycling Program has always provided us with the absolute best in quality. In Africa they are considered to be in optimum condition, and are greatly appreciated. There is a high demand for products in such mint condition, and a great value is placed on the same items which in Canada are considered post-consumer material and would end up in the landfill. This is more than just a recycling program to save Canada from having too much waste. It is empowering women in Africa.

Africa We Care considers itself an empowerment organization providing opportunity rather than offering charity. At Africa We Care, our programs and projects are heavily biased towards women for various reasons. In Africa, the women are the hub of economic activities: they are the bread winners; the market traders; the farmers; the heart and soul of the family and community. Yet they are the most marginalized and under-appreciated in the male dominated African society. Women are more likely to re-invest their earnings in their businesses and their families.

At Africa We Care, we believe that the best way to lift Africans from poverty is to empower the women: encourage them to initiate entrepreneurship, or expand their existing ventures. The goods are provided to the African women at a nominal price to those who can afford it, and free to those just starting out. They, in turn sell the items to hotels, motels, and some government establishments in their various towns and cities. They earn profits; grow their businesses – for sustainability factor – and are able to feed their families.

The positive effect of the Eden Textile Recycling Program goes beyond the individual African people who gainful productive economic activities has improved their self-esteem; restored their basic human dignities, and lifted their families up from poverty; the communities benefit. Jobs are created; knowledge is shared; civic participation increases; women become recognized as valuable members of society.

Africa We Care aspires to grow this partnership with Eden Textile to include many more hospitality chains, so that we can help many more Africans. The need is huge, and the demand for post-consumer materials great. We would like to make a shipment every second month, not just twice per year. Each shipment costs about $10,000, and since Africa We Care is not supported by the government and relies solely on the good will of the people, we would like to use this opportunity to appeal for corporate and personal monetary donations to help us defray the freight costs. Tax receipts for income tax purposes are issued for monetary donations. No amount is too small.

Eden Textile and Africa We Care will continue to provide a better life for Africans, as well as care for the environment as we maintain and grow the Eden Textile Recycling Program initiative.