Meet Maggie and her daughter, Jacquline, a dynamic duo from Mpumalanga who are not just crocheting beautiful items from empty bread bags, but are also weaving a brighter future for their family and preserving the environment, too!
Mpumalanga, South Africa (03 August 2025) – This Women’s Month, Re.Bag.Re.Use is shining a light on the creativity and resilience of the remarkable women behind the initiative that is transforming empty bread bags into vibrant, functional art. Each product tells a story of beauty, resourcefulness and hope.
“It is about seeing potential where others see waste. Turning something headed for the landfill into something people love and use. That is the magic of Re.Bag.Re.Use; making something out of nothing,” says Regine le Roux, founder of the initiative.
Among the team of six cutters and 15 crocheters is Maggie Rabbiea Milanzi, a crocheter from Mpumalanga who was taught her craft by her mother. By day, Maggie works as a cleaner in Pretoria. During her daily commutes, she uses her time to crochet beautiful products using plastic strips cut by her daughter, Jacquline Morake, a new mother herself.
For this family, these crafts are a creative outlet and a means to a livelihood.
“I love being able to use my creativity to earn a little extra for my family,” says Maggie.
“The money helps with groceries and baby essentials. I am proud to be part of Re.Bag.Re.Use,” adds Jacquline.
Their story is one of many. Thanks to the generous support of Blue Ribbon, the Re.Bag.Re.Use team has repurposed more than 14,800 bread bags in the past year alone.
That amounts to nearly 104 kilograms, the weight of a baby elephant. Since the project began in April 2020, they have saved more than 144,000 bags from landfill. That is the equivalent of over eight baby elephants!
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“This partnership reflects our commitment to sustainability and community development,” says Stephanie Hoy, Marketing Executive for Bakeries at Premier FMCG.
“It is about helping families create brighter futures through creative, practical solutions. Our bread bags are 100% recyclable. But we love seeing them upcycled before they even reach a recycling facility. This is sustainability with purpose.”
Re.Bag.Re.Use is an award-winning community-driven initiative that repurposes discarded bread bags into handcrafted, multifunctional items. Launched in Hout Bay, Cape Town, the project empowers local women by providing them with skills and income opportunities, while promoting environmental sustainability.
Consumers can support the project by purchasing handmade products here. Because when women thrive, communities grow stronger!
Sources: Supplied
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