Since launching just over four years ago, the team has repurposed the equivalent of 144 000 empty bread bags. That adds up to approximately 1 009 kilograms of plastic saved from ending up in landfills or the environment. For perspective, that is more than eight baby elephants in weight, says Re.Bag.Re.Use. 

Mejury Kazingizi was introduced to the Re.Bag.Re.Use team as a cutter by her cousin, Sakile Ndlovu. She began by meticulously cutting plastic strips for the crocheters.

Learning and growing are key to the initiative, and all cutters are encouraged to learn how to crochet. At first, Kazingizi was hesitant. She steered away from the crochet needle, unsure of her ability. But slowly, she began to experiment, tried new projects and built up her confidence. Today, she crochets recycled bread bags into purposeful creations. In fact, when you watch the Re.Bag.Re.Use "How to crochet" tutorials on social media, sponsored by Blue Ribbon, it is Kazingizi's hands. She is now teaching and inspiring the next generation of upcyclers, says the organisation. 

Kazingizi says, "Those hands couldn't hold a crochet needle. They only knew how to cut plastic. Thank you team. Today, those same hands are making beautiful crocheting."

Turning Waste into Wonder

Plastic pollution is a mounting crisis, but initiatives like Re.Bag.Re.Use show how a bit of creativity can go a long way. The Hout Bay-based initiative collects empty bread bags and shopping bags that would otherwise clog landfills or pollute the environment, says Re.Bag.Re.Use. 

Every bread bag saved through upcycling does more than just avoid landfill. It supports someone's growth. It offers dignity, income and a sense of purpose, adds the organisation. 

True sustainability is not only about recycling. It is about reducing, reusing and repurposing to create lasting environmental and social impact. Re.Bag.Re.Use says it embodies this ethos, proving that a cleaner planet and stronger communities can be crocheted together, one bag at a time.

Crafting Calm and Confidence

Beyond the environmental impact, Kazingizi and her fellow Re.Bag.Re.Use artisans have discovered a personal benefit to their craft. For many of them, crochet is therapy. The rhythmic looping of plarn has become a calming part of their daily lives, says the organisation. 

Studies support what these women experience firsthand. Repetitive needlework can boost serotonin, the feel-good hormone, and help reduce cortisol, the hormone linked to stress. Many of the Re.Bag.Re.Use team say that focusing on creating a bag or a hat from plastic waste helps them tune out life's anxieties. The concentration and care required in crocheting provide a meditative escape.

Re.Bag.Re.Use concludes that just as importantly, learning this craft has fuelled the women's self-confidence. Every completed item, whether a vibrant beach bag or a durable doormat, is a visible reminder of creativity, growth and pride.

For more information, visit www.rebagreuse.com. You can also follow Re.Bag.Re.Use on Facebook or on Instagram.

*Image courtesy of contributor