What started out as an idea to reduce fuel consumption and help save the environment, has grown into a worldwide success story. We spoke to eco entrepreneur Sarah Collins at Wonderbag’s head office in La Lucia Ridge to find out more
Heat retention cooking is certainly not a new concept. It’s been used since ancient times – from cooking under the ground to stuffing boxes and cushions with hay.
It’s a method that has enormous long term benefits for both consumers and the environment but until recently has not really had the attention and respect it deserves.
That’s until “eco entrepreneur” Sarah Collins turned her attention to this simple, yet ingenious invention and took it to a whole new dimension within the space of a few years.
With 20 years experience in a variety of community based projects in many parts of Africa, she explains why this particular project – which she is unashamedly passionate about – captured her imagination.
“I’ve done everything – eco tourism, earthworm farming, recycling, wheelbarrow projects, to name a few. I’ve raised a lot of money trying to make an impact but didn’t see much change, and really wanted to find something that would change the fate of the community.
“Then in 2008 we had the load shedding blackouts which necessitated eating out which I didn’t enjoy as I prefer to cook at home. At 2am one morning I woke up and remembered my grandmother cooking in polystyrene cushions on her farm. I thought – heat retention cooking – that’s it!
“By April that year my first cushions filled with recycled polystyrene chips were made at home. I took one to a grandmother in Soweto who cared for nine orphans living in a shack in appalling conditions. The children would spend all day foraging for firewood or paraffin wherever they could find it, and some of them had even been burnt from paraffin fires. I gave her a cushion to try, and within three months those children were in school and her whole life had turned around. She hadn’t been able to use her gas ring very much as she couldn’t afford the gas, but by starting to cook the food on the gas ring for a few minutes then continuing to cook it in the Wonderbag, the gas lasted a whole three months. For me this was a turning point. I was looking for the catalyst for economic development and had found it.”
As fate would have it, a few weeks later Sarah met a woman in an airport queue who was to play a major role in Wonderbag’s success. “She was wearing the most beautiful dress that she had sewn herself.
I thought the fabric would be perfect for the Wonderbag and told her what I wanted to achieve. By the next day she had made and delivered our prototype bag.”
The woman was poverty activist, Moshy Mathe. Today Moshy runs the manufacturing operation with anything up to 2 000 people (depending on the demand) making Wonderbags in seven factories – five in South Africa, one in Kenya and one in Turkey, with plans to expand.
There are 600 000 Wonderbags currently in use in households in South Africa, most of them distributed through promotional campaigns with Wonderbag’s corporate distribution partner Unilever, through which consumers received complimentary Wonderbags with Rajah spice packs.
Sarah tells of a touching story from a refugee camp in Syria where the bags had been distributed among the women. “There was just one gas ring to about 20 women and by lunchtime the gas would run out.
I received a letter from one of the women to say that not only is the gas lasting a week, but they can also keep water warm to wash their babies – which must have brought a measure of dignity back to the people in the camps.
The Wonderbags have also been well received in the UK. “Initially I was very surprised, but when you think about it poverty is a problem in the Western world. Using the Wonderbag means just a few minutes on the stove, no fuss, no electricity.
Here in Durban it’s certainly not only the low income communities that are using our Wonderbags, lots of households in areas like La Lucia or Mount Edgecombe have them too.
You can cook the most extraordinary things with them, such as caramelised onions or quinoa risotto, or even slow roasted lamb – and the food tastes delicious.
It is incredibly simple to use. Just bring your food to the boil for a few minutes on a regular stove, then seal the pot in the Wonderbag for a few hours to continue cooking. They’re also popular with campers as they can keep food cold as well as hot.
The bags are filled with recycled polystyrene or foam chips and are available in three different sizes and a range of colours. “They make an attractive conversation piece at a dinner party!” says Sarah.
While the aim is to improve the quality of life and reduce fuel consumption (Sarah says half a million bags has a potential to save 250 000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. It also reduces deforestation by lessening the use of charcoal) she is quick to point out that Wonderbag is a commercial enterprise and not a charity.
“We are priced so that everyone can afford it, but it’s not for free. Other then emergency situations I don’t believe in aid.”
As Sarah puts it, her “baby” has turned into a toddler with a voice of its own. “I believe that everyone should leave a legacy. This will be mine.” *