Bags of savings
The Wonderbag, pioneered by Sarah Collins, has sold 1 million units across the world, saving millions in cooking fuel and cash for the world’s poor. reports
THE sales of the heatretention bag reaching the 1 million mark has been just one victory for the Wonderbag creator.
The company estimates that since its launch six years ago, its use in homes has helped save 2 million trees from being cut down for use as cooking fuel; dramatically reduced the statistic of 82% of rapes that occur in Africa, by ensuring firewood collection only happened once a week; helped save $36 million (R506 million) in homes of the poorest of poor; and by default has also reduced indoor air pollution and smoke inhalation by 80%.
“The facts are alarming,” said Wonderbag chief executive Sarah Collins. “More than 3 billion people in the world still cook on open fires, which results in 4 million deaths annually and 50% of these deaths are children under the age of five due to indoor air pollution.
“Deforestation is at an all-time high and in certain African countries the problem is so bad that they are experiencing a fuel crisis, resulting in villages not having access to wood or charcoal to cook basic day-to-day meals for their families.”
She said rape statistics in Africa were alarming, with South Africa reporting 3 600 rapes a day, while in Nigeria 32% of women had been raped in their lifetime.
“Even worse is that 82% of reported rapes occur when women are collecting firewood for cooking. This has to be stopped!”
The development of the nonelectric bag which retained heat for up to 12 hours, she said, was based on heat-retention cooking.
Used correctly, the bag could save the user at least 15kWh of electricity and 1.6 litres of paraffin a week, and as much as 50% of the energy needed for cooking. A single bag also prevented 500kg of carbon emissions per year, she said.
“Once taken off the fire, this bag continues to cook food without the need for any additional energy.”
During initial product development, Collins and Moshy Mathe, who worked with her to develop the product, realised the additional power of this simple but revolutionary bag to effect change, solving real problems for consumers across the global spectrum.
Collins said that from a young age she was deeply affected by the inequality in South African society.
“I have felt always a great sense of responsibility towards fellow humans and their well-being and an overwhelming desire to make changes in the world for the better.
“It was women in communities that I identified most with. They are the core of society and if we empower women we stand a much greater chance of achieving sustainable and real growth.”
Collins said launching the bags, which are widely available across the country, into Ghana and Nigeria had been instrumental in pushing them to new heights.
“We’ve trained a multitude of women to become ‘Wonderpreneurs’ and sell bags in their communities – looking to promote economic inclusion of these ‘last mile entrepreneurs’,” Collins said.
The company will celebrate its 1 million milestone with a Wonderfeast in Soweto, Johannesburg – where its first Wonderbag was sold.
“The Wonderfeast will entail true African music from a starstudded line-up including P J Powers, with soulful laughter and tasty traditional African fare cooked in Wonderbags for the 5 000 attending guests.”
Collins said the company had also put in place a “Buy And Give” initiative, which meant that for every Wonderbag bought by a customer, a contribution was given to the foundation to subsidise the purchase of more Wonderbags to be given to families in Africa who would normally not be able to afford one.