The Importance of Recycling

As a conservationist, Vanessa Engelbrecht’s goal is to reduce the impact of single-use plastics and similar waste products wherever possible. This includes using material bags instead of plastic when shopping, refusing unnecessary packaging, and choosing recycled and eco-friendly products whenever they are available. These options are becoming more accessible in South Africa, but they still require ongoing advocacy to encourage manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers to make them the standard.

In her role as Retail Manager, she focuses on sourcing eco-friendly and recycled products for the ranch’s gift shop so that guests have the option to support sustainability through their purchases. The shop’s range includes items such as plush toys made from recycled water bottles, where sixteen bottles are transformed into the fibre for a single 30 cm toy, and reusable coffee cups made from bamboo and corn stalks that offer an alternative to the 300 billion single-use cups produced globally each year, most of which are never recycled and end up polluting land and waterways. Other items, like shopping bags, placemats, and linen products, give waste materials a second life while offering practical value to customers.

She believes that each person’s daily choices contribute to a larger change. When we choose wisely, we choose for the planet. Let’s Conserve, Care, and Connect to create a world where both people and wildlife can thrive.