I was previously a customer of Soap for Africa – pure glycerine soaps and that’s how I came to hear about the opportunity to continue it’s legacy. As an environmentally conscious consumer, I thought that the packaging had to change. “The product inside is great – but do something about the wrapping” – I was told by a friend. Until I learn’t about the soaps high glycerine content, making it humectant and drawing moisture to itself. That must be why it leaves the skin so soft – I thought. So, I tried wrapping it in sandwich wrap and when that did’nt work, baking paper and each time we had rain and humidity on the highveld – the paper got all gummy.
But I still wanted to do my part for the environment – our glycerine soaps are biodegradable – so why not the wrapping. I’m currently looking at using cellophane and if you have a suggestion – please contact me via this website. So, for now I had to find another alternative – especially as so much of our household plastic and waste may not be recyclable even though you go to the effort, as I do to sort it for collection…
Another friend told me about EcoBricks and since I don’t drink 2ltr bottles of fizzy drinks (the SA standard for making such bricks) I have decided to upcycle the Mayo bottles I do use – putting all my clean, dry used plastic into them instead. I have reached out to friends and customers alike and received two bottles thus far to assist me with my current project – making a bookshelf with the plastic waste filled Mayo bottles. My plastic consumption for my first month was a surprising 430 grams – I probably produced the same amount as that, in sales of the wrapping that protects our AfriClarity pure glycerine soaps. So, I feel balanced in this equation for now – I also feel I need to educate others to do the same – look up https://www.ecobricks.org for your own inspiration and setting up.
