At Sani-touch, we’ve always been committed to sustainability and innovation. Our latest initiative, Zonki Cloths to Bean Bags, exemplifies this commitment by addressing a significant challenge: the recycling of our 100% polyester Zonki cleaning cloths.

Despite our best efforts in getting these cloths into the recycling streams, we could not find any recyclers in South Africa equipped to recycle polyester cloth. Following our success with the Saniwipe circular solution where our trolley wipe journey go from wipes to benches, jungle gyms and other forever products. We decided to explore another circular solution for our Zonki cloths.

The Journey from Waste to Wonder

1. From Factory Waste to Community Empowerment:

All our factory cleaning cloth waste material is delivered to a group of ladies in Diepsloot, who were gifted sewing machines by St Mungo’s church. These enthusiastic moms have empowered themselves by learning the trade of sewing. We further assisted by equipped them with the necessary tools and taught them the basics to get started. They have gone on to teach others (men and women) to sew, broadening the sewing circle.

2. Creating Bean Bags:

The sewing team transforms our factory cleaning cloth waste into bean bags. These bean bags are either:

• Soft Bean Bags: Filled with shredded cloth waste.
• Heavy Bean Bags: Filled with 100% polypropylene pellets which are the result of the recycled Saniwipe trolley wipes.

3. Sustainable Packaging:

The bean bags are packed into used Sani-touch buckets collected from various customers. Sani-touch up to now has been donating these buckets of bean bags to Early Childhood Development (ECD) centers and Occupational Therapy (OT) centers. Additionally, we donate benches and jungle gyms made from recycled Saniwipes, alongside the bean bags, to enhance learning and therapy environments.

The Value of Bean Bags

Educational and Therapeutic Benefits:

• ECD Centers: With over 32,000 ECD centers in South Africa, bean bags are invaluable educational tools. Each class can benefit from a bucket or two, promoting interactive and engaging learning.
• OT Centers: Over 5,000 occupational therapists in South Africa, many operating in rural areas and government hospitals, find bean bags essential for therapy and rehabilitation for both children and adults.

Growing the Initiative

1. Expanding Waste Collection:

We currently use only our factory waste to make the bean bags. However, we are in collaboration with a cleaning company to collect and clean cloths after cleaning hospitals and offices, adding them to our supply. 

2. Community and Online Engagement:

BY BUYING A BUCKET OF BEAN BAGS – you can help us to be able to supply an increased number of ECD and OT centers. As well as helping us to provide a sustainable income source for the sewing team in Diepsloot. This will assist further as the demand increases we can expand this initiative nationwide, starting with KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).

As these sewing teams learn the art of sewing they can broaden their offering, the team now offers bespoke bags and many other home made items.

The Road Ahead

Our Zonki Cloths to Bean Bags initiative not only reduces waste but also empowers communities, supports education, and enhances therapy resources.

By helping us in the donation of these bean bags, we hope to create a sustainable, circular economy that benefits everyone involved. Together, we can keep polyester cleaning cloths out of landfills and transform them into useful, impactful products.

Join us in making a difference—one bean bag at a time.

BUY A BUCKET OF 8 BEANBAGS FOR ONLY R150 including vat.