Old bread bags took on a whole new life this Global Recycling Day, transformed into innovative and colourful lanyards worn by delegates at this year’s Public Relations and Communications Association Africa Conference.
Johannesburg, South Africa (20 March 2026) – Re.Bag.Re.Use is in the business of giving plastic waste a new life, and if you’ve ever wondered what more than 1,000 discarded bread bags look like when they are given a second life, the organisation recently unveiled something quite special and functional!
At the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) Africa Conference held in Johannesburg on Global Recycling Day, they became a visible symbol of sustainable innovation, upcycled into colourful, functional lanyards!
Each lanyard was created through Re.Bag.Re.Use, where plastic waste is carefully cleaned, cut, and transformed into durable strips, before being crocheted into functional items. In this case, conference lanyards.
Jo Brophy, Head of Africa, PRCA, said he was delighted to partner with Re.Bag.Re.Use for this year’s PRCA South Africa Conference.
“The lanyards brought a wonderful splash of colour and conversation to the event, serving as a constant reminder of the impact of sustainable innovation. It was a privilege to showcase such meaningful craftsmanship.”
Behind Every Piece is a Person
Joana Mnisi, the lead crocheter on the project, helped bring these lanyards to life, turning what would have been waste into something practical, visible, and meaningful.
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Courageous Young Sango the Pango on His Way to Freedom!What stood out most was not only the product, but the positive response to these colourful lanyards.
Unveiled on Global Recycling Day (18 March), the initiative presented a timely reminder that even something as humble as a bread bag can be transformed into something practical and visually striking.
From Bread Bags to Conference Conversations
Re.Bag.Re.Use Founder, Regine le Roux, said it was encouraging to see platforms like PRCA creating space for more responsible, thoughtful choices around events and materials. Small decisions, when made collectively, can shift behaviour and perception.
The initiative also includes what the upcycling organisation refers to as the ‘Lanyard Loop’, where delegates who do not wish to keep their lanyards can return them at a designated collection point. Each lanyard is then sanitised and prepared for reuse at future events, helping to keep materials in circulation and reduce waste.
Giving Waste New Life
Re.Bag.Re.Use is built on a simple idea, making something meaningful out of what would otherwise be discarded. Each bread bag contributes to additional income for the women who prepare and crochet the material, reduces environmental impact, and supports more responsible consumption.
When you wear a Re.Bag.Re.Use a lanyard; you are carrying more than a name badge. You are carrying a story.
Learn more at www.rebagreuse.com
Sources: Re.Bag.Re.Use
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