COPAVIC (The Recycled Glass Cooperative of Cantel) was founded in 1976 by a few former employees of an Italian-run recycled glass factory in the village of Cantel, near the city of Quetzaltenango in Guatemala. The founding members applied for a loan, purchased land and constructed the heavy-duty kiln that was needed to melt glass. Today there are over 30 member artisans / owners of COPAVIC. A master-apprentice system is followed which allows newer members to learn the craft under a skilled artisan and join the cooperative.
COPAVIC is an example of a workplace free of exploitation and where the artisans benefit directly from their work. The organization also follows a strong social mandate, and in addition to earning a living wage, the artisans receive other basic facilities such as healthcare and life insurance. They have also devised ways to give back to their community through community services like producing electricity, implementing a drainage system in the area to help improve health conditions, and providing the raw material used to pave roads. All the artisans are part owners of the cooperative and hold equal shares of any profit generated from sales at COPAVIC. The profit-sharing provides an incentive for the artisans and helps them continue in their work of creating excellent pieces of art and to serve their cooperative.
Sustainabilty
The cooperative is committed to protecting their environment by transforming and recycling glass into beautiful hand-blown items. Glass from soda, beer and other beverage bottles collected from community businesses and along roadsides is sorted by color, crushed, washed, melted, and shaped to produce a variety of glass items including vases, tableware, sculptures, ornaments, and other household items.
In addition, the heat produced in the intensive glass-blowing process is used to generate electricity for the local community.
