Turkish Artisan Bilgenur Güngör Converts Plastic Bags into Fabric

Bilgenur Güngör, a weaver from Çayeli in Turkey's Rize province, has spent a decade transforming discarded plastic bags, corn husks and textile waste into woven fabric. Recognised by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism as an "Intangible Cultural Heritage Carrier," she blends traditional Rize cloth techniques with recycled materials on a cotton‑yarn loom. The resulting textiles are used to make durable picnic sets, clothing, prayer mats, beach gear and bags that can be machine‑washed. Her products have been exhibited at various events, including a stall at Ankara's Altındağ Open‑air Museum, attracting considerable public interest. Güngör promotes environmental awareness with the slogan “Think before you throw,” encouraging society to view waste as a resource.

The initiative highlights a grassroots approach to recycling and cultural preservation, showcasing how local heritage can be adapted to modern sustainability challenges.