Repurposed mining gumboots find use as school shoes for Mpumalanga learners
JSE-listed Thungela Resources has diverted 4 t of used mining gumboots from landfills and transformed them into durable school shoes for learners in communities surrounding its Mpumalanga operations.
The gumboots programme is part of Thungela’s wider commitment to environmental stewardship across its operations. Initially launched at the company’s Zibulo colliery, it has since been extended to the Greenside and Goedehoop collieries.
The initiative also complements Thungela’s broader corporate social investment (CSI) initiatives in education and learner wellbeing.
Working with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) recycling and compounds company Potch Plastics, used gumboots are collected and processed into reusable PVC granules that are used in the manufacture of school shoes.
Moreover, Thungela highlights that this initiative creates a practical circular economy solution by reducing waste while helping address a basic need for many families.
The company adds that miners often rely on specialised gumboots designed to withstand the demanding conditions of a mining environment and that once these boots reach the end of their operational life and can no longer be safely used, they are traditionally discarded as waste.
"The gumboot recycling initiative highlights how environmental responsibility can deliver meaningful benefits beyond our operations. By finding innovative ways to repurpose waste, we not only reduce our environmental footprint but also contribute to the wellbeing and development of learners in host communities.
“What makes this initiative truly meaningful is that it delivers value on multiple levels. While reducing waste, it also offers support to learners in our communities. We understand that enabling children to succeed begins with creating an environment that ensures they can fully participate in school life,” says Thungela corporate affairs head Mpumi Sithole.
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