Green Family Guide is proud to feature Regine le Roux as a Green Star, recognizing her outstanding contributions to sustainability and social impact. With her groundbreaking initiative, Re.Bag.Re.Use, Regine is redefining the way we approach plastic waste and community development.
Regine le Roux is a passionate South African entrepreneur with a strong commitment to communication, sustainability, and social impact.
She holds a Master’s degree in Communication Management (M.Com) from the University of Pretoria, which she completed in 2003 following her Honours Degree Cum Laude in 2001. In 2005, Regine founded Reputation Matters, a research-driven consultancy that focuses on measuring and managing organisational reputation. She developed the Repudometer®, one of the first tools of its kind designed to quantify reputation.
After nearly two decades in the corporate space, Regine founded her “younger passion project,” Re.Bag.Re.Use, in 2021 — an initiative that repurposes plastic bread bags into beautifully crocheted bags and accessories. Based in Hout Bay, Re.Bag.Re.Use empowers women from the Harbour and Imizamo Yethu communities with skills that help them generate income, while simultaneously addressing plastic pollution. As Regine puts it, “These women are putting bread on the table by repurposing empty bread bags.”
Re.Bag.Re.Use has been recognised both locally and internationally for its innovation and impact, receiving accolades including:
• SABRE Africa Finalist – Fashion & Beauty (2025)
• Global Alliance ESG Award Winner (2024)
• PRISM Award for Corporate Citizenship (2024)
• Stevie® Silver Award for Women in Business – Start-Up of the Year (2023)
• ECCO International Communication Network Winner (2022)
A two-time Paul Harris Fellow and former Chairperson of the Western Cape PRISA Committee, Regine continues to advocate for ethical communication and sustainable development — one stitch, one story, and one bag at a time.
Tell us about your eco-journey: How did you start living a more eco-friendly
lifestyle, and what motivates you to continue?
Re.Bag.Re.Use was born during the pandemic — and it was only ever supposed to be a hobby! I’ve
always loved knitting and crocheting, and during lockdown I started experimenting with different
materials. I remembered how, years ago, many housekeepers would use their tea breaks to make
beautiful mats from plastic bags, and that memory sparked something in me. I decided to give
crocheting with plastic a try.
Around the same time (as often happens with beautiful synchronicity), I was part of a crochet group that
met weekly at the Hout Bay Harbour. At one of our gatherings, I brought along a small rectangle I had
crocheted using an empty bread bag. I also asked if anyone might be able to help me cut the plastic —
because, as any crocheter knows, there’s nothing more frustrating than having to stop mid-row to cut
more plarn!
It feels like I blinked — and now, four years later, Re.Bag.Re.Use has grown into the most wonderful
community initiative. We now have six women cutting plastic and 15 women crocheting stunning,
functional items. Each one is a work of art.
I’ve always been mindful of litter, but since starting Re.Bag.Re.Use, I’ve become even more aware of
the sheer amount of plastic waste. I can now tell you which bakery a bread bag comes from just by the
colour! While those colours look beautiful when crocheted into a bag, they’re far less lovely on the side
of the road.
What motivates me to continue? The incredible creativity of the women in our team — the colours, the
patterns, the vibrancy of their work — it’s just magic. It’s not just about making beautiful things or
reducing waste; it’s also about creating opportunities. With each sale, someone earns a bit of extra
money for essentials like groceries or school supplies, and in some cases, they’re even able to start
saving for the first time.
Seeing the pride in their faces when their work is showcased — whether it’s the Joy of Africa Dancing
Skirts, the giant trolley we created for the V&A Waterfront’s Our Better Nature campaign, or the
products developed by Ananta Design Studio at Decorex — it’s deeply moving. And best of all, with every sale, not only are our team members paid for their work, but a portion is also
donated to the Neighbourhood Old Age Home (NOAH) and the SPCA — helping us spread the love
even further.
Eco-friendly habits: What’s your signature eco-friendly habit, and how has it
impacted your daily life?
My signature eco-friendly habit is being more mindful of waste — especially plastic. I no longer see an
empty bread bag as rubbish. That plastic bag holds potential; it can be transformed into something
purposeful and beautiful, and even generate income for someone. That shift in mindset has changed
how I view everything I throw away.
Sustainable food choices: If we came over for dinner, what eco-friendly meal
would you serve us?
Oegh, I wish I could say I have a bountiful veggie garden and orchard and source everything from
there! Alas, while I do love gardening, I’m still trying to crack the veggie garden code.
What I can say is that I always aim to source locally. And true to Re.Bag.Re.Use style, I’d serve your
meal on placemats made from repurposed plastic bread bags for some eco-chic dining!
Gardening tips: What’s your top gardening tip for reducing waste and promoting
sustainability?
Did you know that at Re.Bag.Re.Use, we create the most delightful crocheted pot plant holders — in
three sizes? They’re bright, durable, and made from repurposed plastic bread bags — perfect for adding colour to your space and keeping waste out of landfill.
My top tip? Compost your kitchen scraps — even if it’s just for a small container garden. Nature knows
how to recycle — and we should too.
Eco-friendly travel: Do you make sustainable choices while traveling? Share
your favorite eco-friendly travel tips.
I keep it simple when I travel: I pack light and support local.
There’s always a Re.Bag.Re.Use bag in my luggage — it folds flat, carries plenty, and sparks
conversation wherever I go.
Sustainable fashion and beauty: Do you opt for sustainable clothing and beauty
products? What are your favorite eco-friendly shops or brands?
As far as possible, yes! I try to choose local, ethical options and follow a quality-over-quantity approach.
I’m also a huge fan of charity shop finds — there’s something special about breathing new life into pre-
loved pieces and discovering hidden gems.
And of course, I never leave home without a Re.Bag.Re.Use bag — whether I’m shopping, heading to
the beach, or off on a weekend away. Even my travel bag is a Re.Bag.Re.Use creation!
Environmental education: What’s the most important environmental lesson for
kids today?
The biggest lesson? Rubbish isn’t always rubbish.
You can make something out of nothing — and sometimes, the most beautiful things come from what
others throw away. Creativity and sustainability go hand in hand.
Finding joy and peace: What brings you joy, and how do you find peace in a
busy world?
Balance brings me peace.
Crochet brings me joy.
So does meditation, and a good book.
And on a really good day — I’ll be audio booking a meditation book while crocheting. Bliss!
Awesome! 🤩