PEP and Pepkor Speciality supports circular economy and community growth through TCB partnership

PEP is committed to creating positive change through sustainable business practices and community support. In collaboration with Taking Care of Business (TCB), a non-profit social enterprise that champions circular economy principles, PEP is helping to reduce textile waste and support local entrepreneurs. Through donating unsold and reject stock, PEP enables informal traders, primarily women, to resell refurbished items in their communities, creating both economic opportunities and environmental benefits.

At its core, the TCB initiative is a resell programme designed to extend the lifecycle of garments. Rather than discarding unsold and reject items, PEP and Pepkor Speciality brands donate these products to TCB, where they are refurbished and distributed to informal traders. The programme gives these women access to affordable stock, enabling them to build micro-enterprises that support their families and communities. The resell programme has a dual purpose: to reduce the volume of fashion waste and to create income-generating opportunities for unemployed women.

This support is far-reaching. In FY24 alone, PEP and Pepkor Speciality donated 291 000 items, valued at R9.1 million, to TCB. This donation enabled 854 women traders to resell products in their communities, with a combined income of R3 million generated for these micro-entrepreneurs. With the support of 16 major retail partners, including PEP and Pepkor Speciality, TCB empowers over 1 500 informal traders and small business owners across South Africa.

The TCB programme exemplifies circular economy principles by keeping clothing in circulation for longer. Through PEP’s stock donations, clothing that might otherwise end up in a landfill is repurposed, repaired and resold, reducing waste and limiting the environmental impact of fast fashion. This approach addresses the growing demand for more sustainable consumption models, where reuse and recycling precede disposal.

The impact extends beyond environmental benefits. The programme addresses key socio-economic challenges by providing informal traders with the opportunity to refurbish and resell garments. Many of these entrepreneurs are unemployed mothers seeking to generate an income for their families. Through TCB, they access a steady supply of sellable products without requiring upfront capital. This support has a direct impact on their financial independence and economic well-being.

Nombulelo’s journey
Nombulelo Magunya from Langa in Cape Town is one of many women whose lives have been impacted by the TCB programme. “Thinking back to before I joined TCB… it breaks my heart. I was suffering like nobody’s business,” Nombulelo recalls. Struggling to provide for her two children and wearing shoes that were too large because they were the only affordable option, her life was full of hardships.

Joining the TCB programme marked a turning point: “Ever since I started there (in 2018), my life has changed… Now, I’m so proud of TCB and myself. I make sure every month I save R2 000 in my other bank account because I now have a budget and goals for myself. I am debt-free!”

Her story is a testament to the impact of the Pepkor group’s sustainability efforts and TCB’s empowerment model. By enabling women like Nombulelo to become self-sufficient, the programme supports the well-being of entire families and communities.