Brenda Skalenga works for LEAPS Education and Development, a community-based organisation in Langa, Cape Town’s oldest township. Concerned by the proliferation of disposable nappies (diapers), she started Snappy, a nappy waste collection pilot in Langa, initially in collaboration with Kimberley Clarke. Realising that collecting waste only addressed symptoms rather than the cause, her approach evolved to tackle the root problem: reducing disposable nappy consumption through reusable alternatives.

The core issue is not simply the environmental impact of disposable nappies – it is also the economic strain on caretakers (in South Africa, these would more often than not be single moms) spending significant portions of already strained budgets on single-use items. Snappy developed laundering service to overcome the primary barrier to reusable adoption: convenience. By handling cleaning, drying, and maintenance, they eliminated practical challenges caretakers faced, including unreliable water supplies and electricity.

However, operating sustainably in a low-income community is challenging. Snappy’s strategy is to expand its services to higher-income communities, whose subscription fees would then support and cross-subsidise the model in Langa. This approach makes sense because affluent communities adjacent to Langa are often able and willing to pay for eco-friendly services. Their buy-in also requires comparatively less behavioural change than the extensive community engagement needed in Langa. If Snappy can generate enough revenue from high-fee paying customers, it would be able to continue support for lower-income families, ensuring economic barriers don’t prevent access to clean, reusable nappies.

While addressing the need for financial sustainability, charging affluent communities more than low-income communities comes with its own set of challenges: Unlike Langa, where community trust often allows for informal processes, affluent clients tend to demand professional-grade standards aligned with their values and expectations. For example, fee-paying clients also expect the use of more expensive plant-based detergents rather than basic sanitising products for the cleaning of reusable nappies. Equipment also has to comply with South African Bureau of Standards requirements, and staff members need formal training and certification to handle sensitive infant materials while maintaining rigorous hygiene standards.

The contrast between communities highlights the flexibility required in social enterprise. In Langa, Snappy can operate with simpler equipment and readily available sanitizers, focusing on community engagement and behavioural change. In affluent areas, technical excellence and regulatory compliance became equally critical to their social mission.