SA environmentalist Margo Fargo is changing the world, one straw at a time

She is one of South Africa’s leading environmentalists, owns her very own metal straw company and heads several women empowerment organisations, including the Crown Me Naturally SA initiative.

Despite an increasingly demanding schedule and the challenges that come with it, Margo Fargo’s passion remains: to bring positive change to both people and the world they inhabit.

Obtaining her honours in BSc consumer sciences in sustainability was only the first step for Margo towards her goal of truly making a difference, not only locally but on the world stage as well.

The dynamic entrepreneur currently focuses primarily on sustainability within the workplace, offering turnkey solutions for big corporates and their employees on how to lower their carbon footprint.

Far_Go Straws. Picture: Facebook / fargostraws

“Many people still think that global warming is a distant problem that doesn’t affect them, when the harsh reality proves differently,” explains Margo.

“In Africa, climate change is making it harder to eradicate epidemics such as malaria, with rising temperatures helping mosquitoes spread the deadly disease. At this moment, malaria kills more than 3,000 children every day, most of them in Africa.”

Known for always sporting her own natural hair, it was no surprise when Margo established Crown Me Naturally SA. This brilliant initiative brings national speakers of diverse backgrounds together to engage in business, health and natural hair care, and also gives women a safe space to own their true selves and their natural crowns.

“There is something extremely liberating and powerful when a woman steps into herself and accepts who she is and the way she looks,” said Margo. “Such a woman is simply unstoppable.”

Various brands have supported this initiative, such as Shea Moisture, Dark and Lovely, L’Oreal Elvive Cantu, My Natural Hair and Skin Creamery.

Margo Fargo. Picture: Maricka Dos Santos

In 2018 Margo reached the top 12 in the Miss South Africa competition, and later that year represented South Africa at the Miss Earth International pageant where she placed 9th in the top 12.

In December that same year, Margo utilised her newfound influence when she represented the continent in Rome, Italy, to engage and discuss the future of renewable energy with delegates from across the world with the company Enel Green Power South Africa.

Last year, Margo founded her metal straw company, Far_Go Straws, with the intention to provide consumers with plastic-free alternatives when drinking their beverages.

“One metal straw saves hundreds of plastic straws being used. This is more than just a straw, it gives each person the opportunity to practice living sustainably by this small action that most definitely has a big impact,” said Margo.

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