A journey to Nepal
Björn came to Nepal in the summer of 2001 at the age of 19. He didn’t know himself that this one visit to Nepal would influence the entire direction of his life. His usual days of work (he worked as a volunteer teacher in a secondary school in Nepal) were filled with unusual sights of haphazard traffic; stray animals; and unsystematic municipality. The scene was a far cry from the well developed and organized country that he came from.

However, amidst such disarray of system, incomprehensible social discriminations, and a city in a muddle of garbage and poverty people had the determination to find fruitful openings in life. Unemployed youth looked for jobs endlessly and didn’t give up hope easily even if they didn’t find any. As an alternative, they started small business with the little money they had saved or initiated an enterprise even on loan.

Bjorn saw some real potential in this society where everyone was striving to achieve a better source of income despite limited opportunities. He couldn’t stop thinking about progressive changes he could bring to help the community and ensure a hygienic environment. He had a decision to make. Either he could help to develop this society or return to his country and live a comfortable life forgetting everything as some episode of a unique experience. He chose to follow his conscience and work towards making a difference in the community he was living in.

Watabaran founded!
Thus, Watabaran was established in November 2001 solely with vision and passion to build a better society and healthier environment. It got its first order of 2500 Christmas cards from a Swedish company XDIN which had to be delivered in 40 days. Watabaran begun with a full swing recycling paper from waste and garbage that swept the city. Initially the company had 4 staff and shared its office with another company.

A steep beginning
It was difficult in the beginning to win the trust of the Nepalese people; nobody believed that waste paper from the garbage of Kathmandu could be recycled to produce export quality paper products. But Watabaran was determined to reach both its environmental and social goals. The company began with getting rid of the city garbage and recycling it to make paper as well as paper products.

Watabaran follows these standards for the unitary growth and development of its employees.

Sticking to its values
Watabaran stood with the values of protecting the environment and fair treatment of its employees. Employing people of the discriminated groups, giving them respectable employment openings, availing fair wages and comfortable working conditions, etc were the pillars of value for Watabaran.

Promising paper products
Watabaran’s first product was Christmas cards from recycled paper. All the products were sold in Sweden with Bjorn getting the on orders for the company. Next year, in 2003, notebooks were added as another product. In the first 2 years there was no measurable profit but yet the company was able to sustain the few staff.

The taste of success!
The year 2004 was a turning point for Watabaran. Handmade Christmas cards were produced from recycled paper in 3 designs with the help of Swedish designers; the designs that would suit the western market. The introduction of Christmas cards in trendy European designs was a success. Watabaran sold 7.000 Christmas cards in 2004! All the employees were hopeful and dared to anticipate a flourishing future. Bjorn had envisioned this success when he first decided to stay back in Nepal and start a company with ethical and environmental values. Watabaran has never looked back since 2004.

As a result, more staffs were employed and the products were emphasized for refinement and exclusive quality. In the winter of 2005 the Christmas cards sales soar to 20.000 in number. Since 2005 Watabaran also implemented internet marketing in order to promote its website internationally. Today, 30% of its total sales are through the internet in several countries all around the world.

Realizing dreams
In 2006 Watabaran expects to more than double its sales. Watabaran has a blossoming prospective; a company that started from the scratch today has 19 permanent employees and its own paper making factory with an office building. It took 5 years for Watabaran to realize its dream and make a difference in the lives of the workers working here, the community and the environment.

Watabaran has proved that everything is possible with a clear purpose and dauntless perseverance. Witnessing the progress of Watabaran many other companies are inspired to follow the values of ethical business and entrepreneurship.