The circular economy has created boundless opportunities for many South Africans who were at once down on their luck!

South Africa (16 October 2024) — The circular economy is a pretty hot topic in today’s terms. Not only is it one of our biggest assets in the fight to curb environmental damage caused by traditional capitalist waste, it’s also something that’s created an entirely new revenue stream for many previously disadvantaged communities; making it a win-win for socio-ecological upliftment!

What is the Circular Economy?

In a nutshell, the circular economy refers to cleverly reusing and regenerating products and materials, often in new ways, preventing items that otherwise would have ended up in landfills from getting there. These refurbished or upcycled products can then be sold to help people put food on the table and range across waste sectors—from the fashion industry’s waste to eWaste.

Upcycling-focused businesses like Bin to Beauty (who turn waste from wrappers and packets into accessories), organisations like Shoose Life, who create school shoes for students in need from waste materials and communities like Re.Bag.Re.Use who turn what were once plastic bags into fashion are fantastic examples of local upcycling legends.

Uplifting South Africans Through the Circular Economy

In addition to the above, there’s Taking Care of Business; an ever-growing social enterprise that shows us how much is possible when you put people and the planet first.

While they primarily work in fashion-focused fields, repairing and refurbishing electronic items is also a big part of their circular economy.

TCB works by empowering struggling South Africans (many of whom are unemployed mothers) to become their own bosses by facilitating not just technical skills but business and life skills.

They largely use donated retail waste items as stock for their different programmes—Resell, Repair and Remake. Participants are then trained as part of a two-year programme and thereafter, are equipped to start their own businesses!

TCB’s work is a testament to how the circular economy has uplifted struggling South Africans. Looking at figures from the past financial year, the overall picture starts to look a lot like hope:

• 2,276,542 ‘waste’ items were donated to TCB programmes
• 905 unemployed people were recruited into these programmes
• 1188 participants are active in the two-year programmes
• 986 programme graduates still access and sell the stock
• R71,8million is the estimated profits made by participants and graduates
• 86,3 tons of e-waste has been received

eWaste

Just yesterday, National eWaste Day was acknowledged—a time when eco-savvy communities reflect on the fact that more needs to be done to tackle the stream of waste that stems from our electronic devices.

eWaste is a pretty tough nut in the bigger barrel of environmental problems. Unlike fashion, the skills to repair electronic devices can be much harder to access.

But, TCB has created a model that works through its Repair Programme.

“In this programme, participants (mostly men) are taught how to repair damaged appliances for resale. They also resell cell phones and other mechanical items that would have been thrown away. His year, TCB’s Repair programme has already processed 104 tons of potential eWaste. The majority of these items have been repaired and repurposed, preventing them from ending up in landfill. A victory for eWaste management!” Shares co-founder Tracey Gilmore.

 “TCB is actively adding value by reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and repurposing supply chain waste. What we absolutely can’t use, is recycled. It is a mutually beneficial situation since waste is being turned into economic value while reducing the burden on scarce natural resources. TCB collects, debrands and redistributes this excess merchandise and retail waste without additional costs to the supply partner. These donated items have a social impact by supporting unemployed South Africans on their journey to self-employment and social and financial independence. It’s a win-win,” she says.

To keep the programme going strong, businesses and even individuals are urged to make donations of ‘stock’ to TCB. From appliances that just don’t work like they used to or old clothes that need new life, everything has a place in their ecosystem.

You can find out more about donationshere.

Sources: Supplied 

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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Second Hand September is using sustainable fashion choices to support people with intellectual disabilities, one pre-loved purchase at a time!

Cape Town, South Africa (27 September 2024) — This month, leading Cape Town-based charity, The Oasis Association, has called on sustainable fashion lovers to do what they do best—shop and sift through clothes as part of Second Hand September—an initiative that’s supporting people with intellectual disabilities.

For the past 7 decades, The Oasis Association has played a huge role improving the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. Through various projects and programmes, they help people reach their full potential and have even helped secure a Special Olympics Gold Medal for South Africa!

But, like any charity, funding is essential to keep the good work going. One way Oasis does this is through its Charity Shops; all of which are Cape Town-based.

As part of Second Hand September, they have invited sustainable shoppers to pop into any of the charity shops to cop new, pre-loved finds, or to donate the remnants of any spring cleans to these spaces.

You can find the shops here.

How Second Hand September Helps People and the Planet

The shopping and donating initiative will help finance Oasis’ Day Centres, specialised Workshops, and Group Homes that provide affordable and safe housing for up to 500 intellectually disabled individuals!

Beyond the exceptional cause, Second Hand September is also a fantastic way for shoppers to embrace a circular economy and support second-hand shopping as a way to reduce one’s carbon footprint, extend the lifecycle of clothing, and minimize waste.

Executive Director of the The Oasis Association, Gail Bester says, “We are hoping that the Second Hand September campaign, which was launched by Oxfam in the UK in 2019, can have a positive impact by making people more aware of the role fashion plays in the environment and encouraging the public to buy only second hand clothes for the month and support sustainable fashion. When you shop at any one of our charity shops in Claremont, Fish Hoek, or Elsies River your purchases play a direct role in changing the lives of our beneficiaries, for good.”

“When you shop pre-loved fashion, you play a vital part in extending the lifecycle of items that could’ve ended up in a landfill. Oasis Charity Shops offer a win-win experience for our customers as they guarantee affordability, sustainability, and style, providing an alternative to mass-produced fashion while helping to change lives.

“The profit generated from donated items provide employment opportunities for our beneficiaries, allowing them to develop to their full potential in a supportive environment,” concludes Gail.

Proceeds from Oasis Charity shops go directly back into the organisation’s various programmes, helping to provide social work, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, sports and recreational support to the organisation’s many beneficiaries.

In fact, 100% of the proceeds from Oasis Charity shops go back to supporting Oasis projects for their beneficiaries. So, every cent spent on a thrift fashion or home item makes a positive impact in someone’s life. A difference that can be seen and experienced when you visit Oasis Charity Shops.

To donate pre-loved or unwanted goods to The Oasis Association you can also drop off these items at the Oasis Charity Shop in Claremont on the corner of Lee Road and Imam Haron Road.

Sources: Supplied 

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Crocheters have shown us time and time again the difference their talents can make in the world, from sustainable endeavours to social upliftment. But crochet can also be a positive force in your own world! The pros fill us in on how:

South Africa (12 September 2024) — Deemed for far too long as simply a hobby, the art of crochet can make a lot more than gorgeous creations. But, even if budding crocheters aren’t planning on using those needles for massive endeavours, make no mistake—it’s a powerful skillset that could greatly impact your own world for the better.

With today marking International Crochet Day, masters of the skill at Re.Bag.Re.Use are sharing some lesser-known benefits of joining the crocheters’ clan!

In case you didn’t know, Re.Bag.Re.Use have used crochet skills to make a big difference in the world of sustainability, all while empowering local communities.

Over three years, Regine le Roux’s lockdown-born idea has helped repurpose nearly 100,000 empty bread bags into different items, from handbags to hats. Not only has this greatly helped combat the plastic waste problem we face in South Africa, but it has also served as a social effort that’s invested in local communities and charities. Needless to say, what was born from a love of crochet has certainly made a mark on the world straight from Hout Bay.

Today, the team extends from Hout Bay to Cape Town, Pretoria and Mpumalanga, with 21 women on board.

How Crochet Can Make Your World a Better Place

Stress Relief and Meaning at a Low Cost

A better world certainly sounds a lot like one that’s less stressed and is filled with meaning. With rhythmic and repetitive motions aplenty, crocheting is known to have a calming, almost meditative effect. But beyond this, it also helps people learn how to create something meaningful out of very little.

Re.Bag.Re.Use’s Hlezipi Mnungi shares:

“Crocheting is not only a form of relaxation but also an opportunity to create something meaningful. What I love most about crocheting is that it’s simple, and with Re.Bag.Re.Use, we can make waste look chic and fashionable. It doesn’t cost anything to practice this hobby; all you need is a crochet needle and a pair of scissors. You don’t need much experience to make something out of nothing—all you need is passion, patience, and love for what you do.”

Cognitive Skills Booster

The Re.Bag.Re.Use team share that it’s also a fantastic way to boost cognitive skills, due to the focus and concentration required. They add that some studies suggest mindful activities like this can even help stave off cognitive decline!

Fine Motor Skills Enhancement

Because of the intricate hand movements involved, hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills get sharpened. This can make crocheting a super beneficial activity for those recovering from injuries or those seeking to maintain dexterity.

That Crochet-Approved Sense of Accomplishment

Most humans are driven by the boost dopamine gives us, and few things do that better than completing a project. Especially when you’re using materials like recycled plastic, that boost can often be even bigger in a double whammy, making yourself and the environment proud.

Weaving Social Connections

Whether you’re still learning or are a pro, craft groups and crochet circles are a fantastic way to be a part of a community!

Cheaper Than Therapy

When it comes to managing mental health, many might think of seeing a therapist only to realise the costs are striking. If you’re in a place where you need to do some mental spring-cleaning but aren’t in such a dire pinch you need professional psychological help, jumping aboard the crochet train can be a fantastic feat for the following reasons:

• Anxiety management
• Sense of control
• Productivity
• Connection to others
• Relaxation
• Distraction from distressing thoughts

Sources: Supplied—Re.Bag.Re.Use 

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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The Eco-Logic Awards have officially unveiled this year’s finalists—a celebration of some of South Africa’s most innovative and impactful eco-champions!

South Africa (29 August 2024) — The Eco-Logic Awards have officially announced their finalists—a celebration of some of South Africa’s most innovative and impactful eco-champions.

The awards, now in their 13th year, shine the spotlight on individuals, organisations, products and services that are pioneering eco-conscious solutions and actions across South Africa. Despite contributing to different niches—from eco-fashion, to waste innovation and those restoring and protecting our natural treasures—all are helping pave a greener path to a more sustainable future for our country.

Entries opened up in April, where submissions across 12 categories were evaluated by a panel of independent and environmentally knowledgeable executives from different backgrounds.

“While many of the entries were impressive, what ultimately led us to deciding on the finalists was decided by how well they demonstrated and reflected what we call Eco-Logical Intelligence,” shared David Parry-Davies, the editor of Enviropaedia and the Eco-Logic awards founder.

The awards will presented on 30 October at the Two Oceans Aquarium and are set to be hosted by none other than the comedian who keeps South Africa giggling, Themba Robin.

Meet the 2024 Eco-Logic Finalists

THE NATURE CONSERVATION AWARD

• BirdLife South Africa
• Greenpop – Reforest Fest 2025
• Two Oceans Aquarium: Marine Protected Areas Day

THE CLIMATE CHANGE AWARD

• Atlantis Special Economic Zone
• Climate Action Network South Africa (SACAN)
• Earthlife Africa Johannesburg
• SAFCEI (Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute)

THE ECO-INNOVATION AWARD 

• Endangered Wildlife Trust – eDNA by Samantha Mynhardt
• Inverroche Bee&Bee
• Urban Surfer – Project: Sorting & Solar baling reclaimer camp in Parktown

THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND WASTE INNOVATION AWARD 

• Eskom – Lethabo Power Station
• Netcare Limited – My Walk Made With Soul
• Singakwenza Early Childhood Education

THE WATER CONSERVATION AWARD  

• Harmony Water Treatment Projects
• The South African Breweries/ AB-InBev: Water Security Through Catchment Restoration
• Woolworths & WWF-SA Water Stewardship Project

THE ECO-FASHION & LIFESTYLE AWARD

• AECI: From Bottles to Bags
• Chic Mamas Do Care & Love It Again
• Sealand Gear

THE ECO-HEALTH & WELLNESS AWARD 

• Aether Group (Aether Apothecary)
• Kiko Vitals
• Three Sisters & Co

THE ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS AWARD

• Faithful To Nature
• Mo’s Crib
• The Mushroom Box

THE ECO-COMMUNITY AWARD 

• Abalimi Bezekhaya
• Mosselbank River Conservation Team NPC
• Protect The West Coast NPC

THE ECO-HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM AWARD

• Babanango Game Reserve
• CTICC | Cape Town International Convention Centre
• Veld and Sea

THE ECO-ANGEL AWARD

• Abigel Sheridan – Chic Mamas Do Care & Love It Again
• Dimakatso Nhlapo – Netcare Hospitals
• Zandile Ndhlovu – The Black Mermaid

THE ECO-WARRIOR AWARD

• David Tshidzumba
• Kumi Naidoo – Artivism
• Nonhle Mbuthuma – Wild Law Institute

ECO-LOGICAL INTELLIGENCE – LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

• Dave Varty – Londolozi Game Reserve

Sources: Supplied 

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Slow fashion lovers and those who want to learn should start gathering their preloved items and crafting tools because the slow fashion festival is just around the corner!

Cape Town, South Africa (15 August 2024) — In a world of quick production and faster trends, communities around the world are rebelling by simply slowing things down. The slow fashion movement isn’t just about saying no to over-consumption and searching for ethical production chains—it’s also about taking the initiative to say yes to reworking preloved items, upcycling garments you never thought you’d wear again into new and creative forms and of course, doing all this alongside a community who cares about the environment as much as you do.

Around the corner lies the Slow Fashion Festival—a free occasion to unite with like-minded fashion lovers, doers and thinkers over a love of the slow lane.

Here’s What to Look Forward to:

Led by slow fashion champions TWYG, on 17 August, it’ll be all systems go for a feast of activities, including:

• A swap & mend session
• A craft circle with the Cape Town Craft Club
• Learning how to make a zero-waste T-shirt with Andie Reeves
• Repurposing denim, embroidery and other mending experiences with Husqvarna Viking
• Learning how to put together your own mending kit
• A kitting session with Holly Kane

In addition, there will be talks from experts that’ll give attendees the 101 on running a sustainable fashion business, learning about African traditional fashion and sustainability and then some!

Details:

• When: Saturday, 17 August from 10 am
• Where: V&A Watershed, Cape Town
• Cost: Free Entrance

Sources: Twyg

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The 50^th National Arts Festival may have drawn to a close, but more good news is on the cards for Makhanda thanks to ongoing upliftment programmes to be overseen in the town!

Makhanda, South Africa (04 August 2024)—The National Arts Festival (which celebrated 50 wonderful and important years recently) may have come to an end, but good news for Makhanda is still rolling in.

The NAF itself is part of a special collaboration aimed at empowerment through the creation of job opportunities that go far beyond the festival—the Social Employment Fund that since beginning two years ago has sparked immense positive impact!

Through the SEF, NAF manages over 2,000 previously unemployed locals at its various projects for Makhanda, with each participant paid a stipend for this part-time work. The focus is on community development, all while performing important work for the town, from maintaining and upgrading infrastructure to clearing storm water drains, fixing potholes, collecting litter, fixing schools, planting gardens, recycling waste and working for social change!

Hilton Haakonsen, Project Manager of NAF’s SEF, shares: “Participants are drawn from all areas of the community. Some even have master’s degrees, others haven’t finished school but the commonality is employment and, more importantly, skills development. SEF is about work that needs to be done and people that need work.”

How it Works

Participants are divided into groups and given various tasks for which they are trained and paid. Catching multiple butterflies with one net, the project not only offers work but work that benefits the town and the environment.

“We are extremely proud of the SEF projects which are fully integrated,’ says Monica Newton, CEO of NAF. The refuse collected is sorted, glass and plastic recycled and reused, alien vegetation is chipped, turned in compost and used in our food gardens. It’s about the projects collaborating to make ensure our efforts are successful.”

Since its inception, there has been a 90% reduction in litter along the river banks, and garbage going to the landfill has also reduced by over 20%. Additional successes include:

• Increased food security and nutrition through the establishment of 27 food gardens, including one home garden and a large market garden
• Maintenance of over 27 schools and ECD centres
• Greening the environment and clearing over 51 hectares of invasive plants

Paving Makhanda’s Future One Brick at a Time

One of the latest projects for Makhanda is a factory that’s making bricks and pavers. This began a few months ago, borne out of a need for building materials and finding alternative uses for recycled material. The bricks are produced using a mix of ground recycled glass and finely chipped plastic, mixed with cement.

Hilton says the aim is to become self-sustainable from the sale of compost, bricks and pavers.

Skills Transfer

Part of the SEF programme includes life skills training as well as teaching participants additional skills to help them perform better. Participation in work not only provides much-needed income through stipends, it also gives people entry-level work readiness skills and the confidence to seek work opportunities— vital for securing a job and enhancing enhances of becoming self-employed.

“Receiving a stipend for work done instils a sense of dignity and purpose. It reinforces the fact that participants are earning their livelihood through their efforts and contributions within their communities,’ says Monica.

“It has been incredible to watch the transformation of people, who haven’t had a job for years, earn their own money. They are not only proud of the work they are doing but are also first-hand witnesses to the difference they are making within the community.”

Through NAF’s projects, participants have gone on to gain permanent employment as team leaders, with the others employed for a few days a month on a contract period.

Why Social Employment Matters

The SEF is as ambitious as it is vital in addressing unemployment and helping foster economic resilience. To date, over 117,000 people have participated in and benefitted through SEF nationally, with 65% being young people and 70% being women. Around 65% of the work is in rural and peri-urban areas.

“Investing in social employment is not just a matter of economic policy, it is a commitment to building a more inclusive and prosperous society,” says SIvu Siwisa, Social Employment Network Campaign Manager. “From individuals to the broader community and economy, through enhanced employability, economic growth, social inclusion and reduced unemployment.”

The SEF is open to additional collaboration and partnerships and anyone keen to make a difference or to be part of the initiative can learn more here. 

Sources: Collen Mashawana

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A new community veggie garden has been planted for the people of Gugulethu where spinach, tomato, onions and community spirit will all grow in the area!

Gugulethu, South Africa (01 August 2024) — A new community veggie garden has been planted in Cape Town’s Gugulethu, where crops of nutritious ingredients will grow in tandem with community spirit in the area.

“It was meaningful to work with the beneficiaries of our Erf 8448 housing project, which makes up a part of our Gugulethu Infill project, to plant the seedlings which will eventually become their community garden,” said garden launcher and Mayco member for Human Settlements, Coucillor Carl Pophaim.

Planted yesterday (31 July) the community veggie garden stands as a promising effort to combat food insecurity in a way that puts residents in the driving seat. As it is with many other community veggie gardens that have risen in popularity across South Africa, sustainable sources of accessible nutrition like these offer a ‘hand up’ instead of a ‘hand out’ approach. They tend to encourage a better sense of community pride as well as new, green thumb-approved skills that make for benefits that go beyond a single meal.

Inspiring community spirit was a big part of the planting. As Councillor Pophaim adds, “Every time the residents maintain the crop of spinach and tomatoes, or dig up an onion and cabbage to make some nutritious, tasty soup, they will be reminded of the community spirit with which it was planted.”

The community garden came by way of the City of Cape Town as an ode to Nelson Mandela, and follows another dose of good news for Capetonians—a new shelter serving the homeless has officially been opened in Green Point!

Sources: City of Cape Town 

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Fashion students from Pretoria have turned a local mall into something of a runway with gowns and garments that look as if they were hand-picked from a futuristic ball where sustainability is king:

Pretoria, South Africa (04 July 2024) — Brooklyn Mall in Pretoria might as well be called the Brooklyn Ball at present after breathtaking gowns graced the shopping centre. You’d be forgiven for thinking this was the work of talented, cutting-edge designers, but you’d also be wrong. This was actually the work of fashion students who were challenged by one of South Africa’s favourite community-serving organisations to make some magic. Needless to say, the assignment was understood perfectly, and now we have gowns and garments that look as if they were hand-picked straight from a ball where sustainability rules the ton.

Here’s how the looks came to be: 67 Blankets for Mandela Day challenged the fashion students from the STADIO School of Fashion to create handcrafted looks made from an array of sustainable and upcycled materials. This was all part of an idea to show the public the unlimited potential repurposed materials have, as part of the Curated Collection campaign.

 

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A post shared by STADIO School of Fashion (@stadio_fashionschool)

It’s something of a sustainable style showdown that’s got people talking for all the best reasons. But, it’s also something of a fairytale as the students became Cinderella’s mice and turned materials generally associated with a certain trope of look or altogether forgotten, into something much greater that can last for ages.

Commenting on the finished products, the 67 Blankets for Mandela Day team sang the student’s praises; sharing that their expectations were well surpassed.

You can visit the looks for yourself, and you might just be inspired to give that old knitted blanket a new lease on life in a way you’d never previously imagined.

Sources: STADIO School of Fashion; 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day 

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We all have a little baggage when it comes to the environment, sometimes quite literally (we’re looking at you, shopping bags in the boot). This International Plastic Bag Free Day, Dr Lize Barclay walks us through how we can make better use of our bags, and support the Zero Waste Movement:

Global (03 July 2024) — As the fight against plastic intensifies, alternatives have come into the market in the form of cute cotton tote bags adorned with environmentally friendly puns, becoming a trend and an aesthetic for social media.

Yet the impact of these so-called plastic alternatives is debatable.

Dr Lize Barclay, Senior Lecturer in Futures Studies and Systems Thinking, Stellenbosch University Business School says it is projected that you must use a cotton tote 7100 times before you equal the ‘footprint’ of one plastic bag.

“Cotton is a resource-intensive crop that requires water, pesticides and fertilisers which add to the negative effects of pollution and climate change.  Whilst many shops have removed plastic bags, requiring us to purchase their branded bag, these alternative bags have become an unsustainable pile of shame in the boot, entryway, or kitchen.”

“Like most so-called green energy solutions, from a systems perspective, nothing is truly green, and everything has some systemic environmental price. True innovation and vigilance are needed to find real and lasting solutions that are near-truly green and are not green-whishing and green-washing.”

The Plastic Bag was Itself Meant to be More Eco-Friendly

The initial designer of the plastic bag, the Swedish designer Sten Gustaf Thulin, designed the plastic shopping bag in 1965 to save trees and to be reused. According to his son, he always kept one folded (which was part of the principle behind the design) in his pocket to use and reuse.

International Plastic Bag Free Day

So, why are we telling you all this now? Tomorrow marks International Plastic Bag Free Day, which aims to raise awareness of the dangers of the native effects of plastic pollution, especially plastic bags, motivating people and institutes to embrace sustainable alternatives and combat the detrimental effects of plastic pollution.

“Although the initial design of plastic, including that of plastic bags, was also intended to protect the environment and counteract deforestation, as well as the use of horn, ivory and hooves for creating containers and products – we have since realised the dangers of plastic, especially disposable plastic,” says Dr Barclay.

“All plastic ever created is still in the environment, although not necessarily in its visible form. Plastic breaks down into micro and nano-plastic which eventually finds its way into our water, soil and food.”

Recently plastic has been found in the blood of animals and humans, including in the brain and placenta. Research shows that it could be detrimental to human health, ranging from increased risks of cancer, heart disease, hormonal disruption and gut microbiome disruption.

Dr Barclay says engineers and industrial designers are exploring circular design to keep redesigning, reusing and refurbishing products to keep them and their components in circulation and out of the landfill.

“As consumers it is essential that we support these initiatives and products, to ensure that it becomes the design norm and not the design exception – including for plastic bags.”

How to Support the Zero Waste Movement

“The Zero Waste Movement, from a consumer perspective, focuses on an aspirational personal limit of creating zero waste. We can all follow their five Rs as an upside-down pyramid.”

1. Refuse what you don’t need and don’t add to the amount of disposal products, especially plastic, into the world.
2. Reduce that which you have and need – donate the rest.
3. Reuse what you have, even if it is not aesthetically pleasing.
4. Recycle paper, glass, metal, plastic, etc. or empower the waste-pickers in your area by providing them with your items to transport to recycling plants and earn much-needed income.
5. Rot – compost organic vegetable matter.

How to Use Plastic Bags More Consciously

1. Keep a bag or two, any bag, in your pocket, as the designer of the plastic bag intended – ready to use and reuse.
2. Find all the various bags scattered throughout your home and in your boot and put them in the kitchen.
3. Take stock of your mountain of bags, be that plastic, material or otherwise and sort them into plastic, paper, cloth, etc.
4. Give away some of the fabric and paper bags to the shops where you got them, for them to reuse or recycle (even if you bought them).
5. Donate plastic bags to non-governmental organisations that use plastic bags to make carpets, toys, clothes, etc with the bags.
6. Take the spare pretty cotton and other bags which is not used, fill them with essentials and donate them to your local shelter.
7. Create artwork from the bags, post it on social media (tag @lize_barclay on Instagram) and keep the art at your front door to remind you to put and keep a bag in your pocket.
8. Visit a Zero Waste shop in person or online.
9. Take bags and containers to the shops with you and get them, and yourself, to fill those, rather than into another disposable bag or container.
10. Get a plastic bottle, and a sturdy stick and create an ‘Ecobrick’ for any new disposable plastic bags that find it your way and donate your ‘Ecobrick’ via various non-governmental organisations for construction purposes – just note that it is not the ideal environmental solution due to some harmful leakage that could occur as the plastic breaks down and we want to keep all plastic out of the environment, but it is a solution at least.

Sources: Supplied 

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The post Your Cute Tote Bag Isn’t As Green as You Think: How to do Better appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Pretoria fashion brand GUGUBYGUGU stole the spotlight in Paris after being selected as one of only five African countries to participate in an acclaimed display!

Paris, France (30 June 2024) — While one Capetonian brand made its way to the runways of Paris in collaboration with none-other-than Dior, a fashion brand from Pretoria has also relished in the fashion capital.

GUGUBYGUGU, launched and founded by Gugu Peteni, was selected as one of 5 winners from the continent to showcase designs at the 4th edition of Africa Fashion UP. Known for statement, genderless creations crafted with sustainable materials like mohair, GUGUBYGUGU channels a strong sense of slow-made impact where comfort is king.

 

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Impressively, South Africa dominated the Africa Fashion UP selections thanks to Gugu and the well-established Rich Mnsisi label, while other winners hailed from Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco and Senegal.

But for the Pretoria fashion brand, the debut in Paris was an extra special occasion that marked a milestone of global appreciation.

“Fashion to me means a host of things – it’s about identity, it’s feeling, it’s an expression, and yet at the same time, clothing fulfils a basic need. We make a choice every single day that is so complex, yet so simple. I find beauty in its dual complexity and simplicity,” shared Gugu in a Q&A with Twyg when asked what fashion means to her. 

Armed with new adoration from different parts of the world, this local label is well-positioned to reach even greater heights, and we can’t wait to watch them all strut down the runway.

Sources: Various (Linked Above)

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Pretoria Fashion Brand Steals the Spotlight in Paris appeared first on Good Things Guy.