'There's a Solution' shows stories of recycling and income in Rio Preto and Botucatu Creative economy and circular economy are two concepts that are increasingly present in everyday life. The first uses knowledge, creativity and talent to generate work and income. This is the case of Patrícia Regina Dejavit, who has worked as an artisan for around 20 years in Bauru (SP), working in her own home. “I make baby layettes, rugs, bed linens, table and bath linens, scarves... a little bit of everything,” he says. The activity is essential for the household budget. ? Join the g1 Bauru and Marília channel on WhatsApp "This work represents almost 70% of my income at the end of the month. It helps me pay and maintain household expenses." In addition to supporting Patrícia's family, handicrafts represent a sector that generates billions of reais in the national economy, generating employment for thousands of people. Creative economy moves billions in the state of SP TV TEM/ Reproduction The circular economy proposes a change in perspective: avoiding disposal through reuse and reducing waste — a gain for both the consumer and the planet. READ MORE Actions restore rivers and correctly dispose of tons of electronic waste in the interior of SP How the 'garbage' that leaves your home can generate income and transform communities Rio Tietê and reservoirs in the interior of São Paulo are now monitored by satellite and AI Initiatives expand access to the job market and reinforce the social pillar of ESG Waste transformed into art Artisan from Rio Preto transforms what is discarded into art TV TEM/ Reproduction In São José do Rio Preto (SP), these two concepts go hand in hand. Artisans transform materials that would otherwise go to waste into decorative pieces full of personality. Having been in the sector for 9 years, Jhennifer Trindade works exclusively with reuse. In her hands, a clay tile becomes a decorative painting; a tray is reborn from an old crate lid and coconut shells are transformed into kitchen utensils. Even reforestation wood and fallen trunks become sculptures. "I found this one at a support point. It had come from a waterfall, that's why it was shaped like this, sculpted by the water itself. I intend to make a wall painting with the trunk itself, taking advantage of the design that nature created", says Jhennifer. The talent for creating unique objects from discarded materials is a family heirloom. "It started with my father's influence. Since I was a child, I saw him giving new meaning to the pieces he picked up. He also draws and paints", he explains. What started as a hobby became a source of income, with pieces sold at craft fairs and events in the region. A work that, according to Jhennifer, has an impact that goes far beyond money. "I think my pieces are not only beautiful to look at, it's also a conscious work. So, I feel like I have an important role, not only visually, but also for nature." It is in the places where old furniture and rubbish are discarded that the artisan finds her raw materials. With a keen eye, she mines wood and tiles and, immediately, designs the final result that will be achieved with a touch of creativity. The plastic challenge Just like urban debris, plastic bags represent a negative impact on the environment. It is estimated that around 1.5 million of them leave stores and enter the hands of consumers every day. As each bag can take up to 450 years to decompose, retired Ernestina Maria Campreghener, 75, decided to take action. In her house, plastic doesn't go to waste: it becomes bags, tablecloths and cushions. To make a single bag, Ernestina uses 70 to 80 bags. Organized, it separates the material by color and, without using paint, can produce multicolored pieces. "I make it and give it to one person, give it to another. What's left over becomes pillow stuffing. I don't waste anything. Nothing goes into the environment", says the retiree. Retired woman uses plastic bags as raw material to make bags TV TEM/ Reproduction Retails and composting in Botucatu In Botucatu (SP), the example of circular economy comes from the corporate sector. A local company reuses leftover fabrics and scraps from the textile industry to make new products. The material, which loses its usefulness for large industries because it is not suitable for scale production, takes on a new form in the studio. The idea came about when businesswoman Fabíola Ensinas Rojas decided to give a noble destination to an accumulated pile of scraps. "We have two brands. With the first, I was collecting scraps for almost 10 years. Suddenly, I looked at that little room full of bags because I couldn't throw them away. This concern about what to do with the material led me to create the second brand, where I was able to use all that stock", recalls Fabíola. In the studio, the process begins with sorting, measuring and cutting the pieces, followed by sewing. What was previously treated as waste becomes a source of income and is transformed into clothing baskets, bags and children's toys, such as a gardening kit. For the kit to be sold in a 100% sustainable way, organic soil was missing, which came from another partner company, focused on fertilizer through composting. "I understood that it was something she was looking for to compose the kits. She needed a product that made sense within what she offered. When she learned about our process, the connection was quick", explains Júlio Pinhel, responsible for the composting company. For Fabíola, the circular economy is a habit that comes from birth. "Sustainability started very early in my life. Since I was a child, I saw my grandmother doing what we now call composting. This extended to the construction of my house, where I reused materials from an old structure. Creating a company with reuse is something genuine based on the experience I had", he adds. By joining forces, the two companies prove that it is possible to return resources to nature with minimal impact. "We close the food cycle. Food becomes food again. You go to the market, buy food, make lunch and generate the shell. It goes to compost, becomes fertilizer and returns to the earth to produce new food. It’s really a circular movement”, concludes Júlio.