Last night Re.Bag.Re.Use the South African upcycling initiative that repurposes plastic waste into handcrafted products, received their SABRE Awards Africa in Mombasa, Kenya.
Founder of the initiative, Regine le Roux took to the stage quite literally wearing the brand, a vibrant, full-length skirt crocheted from over approximately 200 repurposed bread bags. Created by the Re.Bag.Re.Use team in Hout Bay, the skirt symbolised the project’s core message: giving waste a second life through community empowerment and creative purpose.
“This recognition is not only for our team, but for every person who chooses to support sustainability and social impact,” said le Roux. “We are incredibly proud to represent a story woven from discarded plastic, transformed by skilled hands into something meaningful, functional and beautiful.”
The Re.Bag.Re.Use team cleans, cuts, and crochets plastic bags into a growing range of reusable products, including shopping bags, accessories and home décor. The initiative has already diverted the equivalent of thousands kilograms of bread bags from landfill, while creating income opportunities and skills development within the local community.
The SABRE (Superior Achievement in Branding, Reputation, and Engagement) Awards are globally recognised for celebrating excellence in public relations and communications. Re.Bag.Re.Use’s win underscores the power of purposeful storytelling and innovation in brand reputation.
Le Roux concluded: “This award is stitched with purpose, pride and the belief of everyone who has walked this journey with us. We are beyond grateful.”
