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Companies Embracing Green Innovation

This month at Sustainable, we’re celebrating the people and companies who are making a real contribution to the green sector in South Africa. Reducing consumption of fossil fuels, investing in renewable energy, and decreasing pollution and carbon emissions are of fundamental importance in this country – according to data released by the International Energy Agency, South Africa ranked 12th in the world for carbon emissions in 2009, with an average of 9.5 tonnes per person and an annual total of 465.1 million metric tonnes.

In the face of issues such as climate change, those who are implementing measures to reduce their environmental footprint deserve praise, recognition and consumer support. Here’s a selection of just a few companies who are making an effort to become cleaner and greener.

Backsberg Wines

South Africa’s only carbon neutral winemaker (one of only three in the world) is located on the slopes of the Simonsberg mountains near Stellenbosch. The wine farm offsets its carbon emissions with a tree-planting programme, and also utilises various methods to reduce the amount of carbon produced during the production process. These methods include the conversion to biofuel, developing methane digester technology, and using lightweight bottles for packaging.

Backsberg has also adopted an unusual vineyard design – vines are planted in a ‘V’ pattern, which promotes the growth of more leaves but reduces energy costs as fewer tractors are required. Grapes are handpicked, they make their own compost, and skylights have been installed in the factories and outbuildings to save on electricity. Ten percent of the wine estate has been set aside for the production of renewable energy, and the land is irrigated with waste water from the winery. Other innovative solutions include the use of straw bales to cool the cellars during the day, the development of a special water pumping system which cools the red wine as it ferments without the need for electrical refrigeration, and the conversion of old wine barrels into furniture when they are no longer fit for use.

Backsberg certainly endorses the sentiment of their award-winning PET bottled specialty wine, “Tread Lightly”.

Growing Paper

Growing Paper, is, as the name suggests, a small company that produces and sells a range of paper products, such as cards, calendars and gift tags. However, this is a stationery store with a difference. The handmade paper is manufactured from paper waste collected from a nearby school in Malmesbury. The water used during the paper-recycling process is subsequently used for farming activities on the land where Growing Paper is situated.

The paper is embedded with either herb or flower seeds – as such, the product can be recycled by simply planting it in the ground. The paper disintegrates, whilst the seeds germinate. You can grow basil, thyme, wild rocket, African daisies, Buck bay vygies, or nemisia. Beautiful products and environmentally friendly methods? This one’s definitely an eco-winner in our eyes.

The Green Cab

The Green Cab is an eco-friendly transportation service that makes use of Biodiesel and Liquefied Petroleum Gas. These two fuels have much lower greenhouse gas emissions than their traditional counterparts. The Green Cab works primarily in the tourist industry, providing airport and conference transfers, as well as peninsula tours.

The company has also come up with its own “Green Driving Code”, which provides advice on how to alter your driving so as to conserve fuel – changing gears efficiently and avoiding excess revving are two such tips outlined in the guide.

Woolworths

The South African retail giant also deserves a mention, as they really are pioneers in the field of green innovation, and set a great example for other retailers to follow. They were the first company in the country to start selling free-range eggs, and they also use fibre from recycled plastic bottles to fill their duvets and pillows, preventing around 500 000 discarded bottles from ending up in the dump. None of their beauty products are tested on animals. All Woolworths seafood is caught according to sustainability regulations. Sustainable fibres such as wool, organic cotton and bamboo are used in many of their clothing garments. Many of the smaller stores, particularly those at Engen, come equipped with public recycling facilities. And that’s just the start. (They’re not paying me to say this, I promise.)

Automated lighting has been installed in over 300 stores, whilst new stores are designed with Solar Panels and energy-efficient lighting. Their Farming for the Future programme promotes a more holistic approach to agriculture, reducing the use of chemicals and maintaining soil health. Woolworths works with farmers to ensure that food is grown sustainably, biodiversity is preserved and water quality is maintained. Trial water conservation projects have been initiated in some stores, with the planting of indigenous shrubs and installation of rainwater tanks.

The Palmyra Junction store in Claremont, Cape Town, is the company’s flagship green store. This particular branch has skylights to allow in natural light, underfloor heating that recycles the excess heat generated by the fridges, deliveries that arrive in reusable containers, and a truck refrigeration system that makes use of liquid nitrogen. Woolworths has set itself various goals when it comes to energy consumption and sustainable products – we can only expect more eco-innovation as they try to reach their targets.

Hotel Verde

Hotel Verde, whose name literally translates to “Hotel Green”, is set to open at the Cape Town International Airport in July. The 145 room hotel embraces the ideal of sustainability, from the construction process to the building materials and utility consumption. For example, energy is generated through solar panels and vertical Wind Turbines. There is also a roof garden, and electric shuttles are used to transfer people to the airport and back. Grey water is used to flush the toilets, and rainwater tanks have been installed to collect water for irrigation and cleaning purposes. Double glazed windows provide effective thermal and acoustic insulation, whilst geothermal loops are connected to heat pumps in order to regulate the building’s temperature.

The most innovative aspect of this new hotel is the regenerative drive in the lift system. When the lift is travelling in a “light” direction – a full cart going down, or an empty one going up – the motor acts as a generator which produces power. This power is then fed back into the system, allowing around 30% of the input energy to be recaptured.

We hope you’ve enjoyed reading about these 5 green pioneers. Can you think of other South African brands that are making headway with regards to environmental sustainability?

It’s been a busy month for environmental developments in South Africa so far, and we’re only halfway through April!

Standard Bank Greens Up Their Act

Standard Bank, in conjunction with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), has signed a deal worth R20 billion to finance renewable energy projects in South Africa, up until 2025. Essentially, the banks will provide funding for projects given preferred bidder status under South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement programme (REIPPP). As a result of the energy deal, Standard Bank has been rated the 12th greenest bank in the world by Bloomberg Markets, and the greenest bank in Africa.

The deal is a win-win for both the South African and Chinese markets – the agreement will promote the investment potential of South Africa’s Solar Power capabilities to Chinese companies, and hopefully encourage further development in the field of green energy.

Standard Bank has already backed 11 wind and solar projects in the first round of the REIPPP process, and a further 7 in the second round. The current deal with ICBC will go towards funding solar parks, among other government-approved developments. And in keeping with their green philosophy, Standard Bank’s new Rosebank building has just been rated 5 stars by the Green Building Council of South Africa.

Eastern Cape Wind Farm Underway

One of the first renewable energy projects selected from the initial round of the aforementioned REIPPP programme has just begun construction in Port Ngqura, just outside of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. The Cookhouse wind farm is set to be the biggest in Africa, consisting of 66 Wind Turbines. Covering over 9000 hectares of land, the wind farm will have a capacity of 138.6 MW. The project is the result of a collaboration between Suzlon Energy, an Indian wind turbine manufacturer, and African Clean Energy Developments.

It is hoped that the Cookhouse wind farm will become operational in early 2014, supplying enough energy to power 145 000 low-income houses. Apart from the obvious environmental benefits, the wind farm will help uplift the impoverished local communities, bringing in investment and creating jobs.

Environmental Activist Wins Goldman Prize

Jonathan Deal, a South African anti-fracking activist, is one of six winners of the prestigious Goldman Prize, an award honouring grassroots environmental heroes from the six inhabited continental regions. The prize includes a cash sum of $150 000, which Deal plans to use to finance his continuing fight to save the Karoo. Deal began his campaigning in 2011, setting up a Facebook group to educate people on the risks resulting from the hydraulic fracturing process, used to extract natural gas from deep underground. He then went on to form the Treasure Karoo Action Group. Along with scientists, volunteers and legal experts, Deal, acting as chairman, spearheaded the formation of a report that led to South African government implementing an 18 month moratorium on fracking activity in the region.

Significant Step for Marine Conservation

Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa, recently declared the Prince Edward Islands a marine protected area (MPA), South Africa’s first offshore MPA. A 12 mile no-fishing zone has been declared, in addition to 4 zones allowing limited fishing. The Prince Edward Islands are home to a variety of wildlife, including 4 species of penguins, 5 species of albatross, 3 species of seals (including one third of the world’s sub-Antarctic fur seals), and an overexploited Patagonian toothfish population, among others. WWF South Africa welcomed the news, emphasising the importance of preserving marine biodiversity and protecting vulnerable ecosystems.

Race to Save the Rhino

In an effort to combat the relentless rhino slaughter that has left 203 of these magnificent creatures dead in 2013 alone, workers at the Sabi Sand game reserve have begun injecting a special pink dye into the horns of the (live) animals. The dye is potent enough to be picked up by airport scanners, even if it is ground into a powder. Furthermore, although the dye is not lethal if ingested, it can result in unpleasant side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. So far, over 100 rhino at the game reserve have received the treatment. It is unclear whether the pink dye will provide a long-term solution to the rhino poaching problem, since it requires a lot of time and effort to capture, anesthetise and inject each animal, and has to be redone every three to four years. However, the dye certainly has the potential to act as a suitable deterrent in the mean time.

Green at Heart

Although these environmental developments have local, national and global significance, it is important to remember that much like charity, going green begins at home. There are simple solutions that you can implement to contribute in your own way. This is particularly significant with the onset of winter, where electricity usage soars. Sustainable stocks a range of items to help you minimise your fossil fuel consumption – geyser blankets reduce heat loss, efficiency devices prevent electricity wastage, and LED lights save energy during the dark winter months when natural lighting is insufficient.