NEVER underestimate the power of an inspiring teacher! When Tessa O’Halloran was attending Grade 2 in Botswana, she came home from school one day and told her mom, Helen, all she had been taught about global warming.
“She was appalled at the devastating effect humanity had on the planet, and ever since, she has been on a never-ending quest to address environmental issues,” Helen recalls.
Last year, at the age of 20, Tessa founded a small business called “plasticity.” after experimenting with different ways of re-using plastic bags.
“With an iron and wax paper, we fuse together a few plastic sheets into a new material, which we can sew to create a range of products. For now, we are focused on making multi-purpose zip bags,” Helen explained.
Tessa added, “plasticity. began with the desire to build a creative, meaningful business and to contribute to a circular economy.
“I have always been concerned about the state of our natural world, the resources we use and the overall impact each one of us has on the planet.
“There is an overwhelming surplus of plastic out there. Grocery bags are a common sight littered among our natural landscape.
“We have found a way to create a product that inspires through the transformation of discarded grocery bags into something elegantly useful.”
With Helen and Tessa’s younger sister, Erin, running the production side of the business in Graaff-Reinet, Tessa now lives in Cape Town and does all the marketing for plasticity.
Production has taken off in a serious manner toward the end of 2018, and currently, plasticity. supplies their multi-purpose zip bags to eight different outlets countrywide. “Business is increasing steadily as people get to know about the product,” Helen said.
“Ultimately we hope to employ a few ladies from the community to assist with the preparation and making of the fused plastic fabric that we use to create each of the unique zip bags.”
Erin won third prize for presenting the idea at the Bright Ideas Innovation Competition, run by the Department of Education and the Swiss Embassy in November 2018.
“My hope for plasticity. is that our product sparks a new thought process,” Tessa said. “Consider your impact on the planet. Rethink plastic, and remember that little changes do make a difference.”
For more info contact plasticityplastic@gmail.com or look out for them on facebook and instagram.
