+IMPACT MAGAZINE ISSUE 18

GREEN GLOBE
AFRISAM DRIVES ENVIRONMENTAL
STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY
MATERIALS
+IMPACTFUL IMMERSION
Infusing sustainability and the project’s three keywords – connective, comfortable
and versatile – into its design, a new office for an international software company in
Russia transforms into a modern campus environment.
The JetBrains Office Campus in Saint Petersburg
is a regeneration of the firm’s specific approach
to work culture. Global architects, UNStudio,
designed bespoke healthy workstations for all
1 000 newly housed employees.
Central to the design is a vertically stepped, indoor
atrium. This generous open space connects to an outdoor
courtyard and terraces with expansive views of the Gulf of
Finland. Meeting rooms, breakout spaces, auditoriums and
a restaurant are organised along the atrium. Bridges span
the large spaces, while carefully designed and intertwined
biophilia form the natural backdrop for activities.
Acting as a vestibule, the imposing lobby creates the
first views towards the atrium. The courtyard on the fully
landscaped podium level is enclosed by an active gallery
and provides an intimate outdoor overflow space.
The courtyard terraces
overlooking the Gulf of Finland.
The atrium forms the core of
the JetBrains community.
AfriSam signalled its seriousness about
environmental stewardship over 15 years ago
with the introduction of its first environmental
policy in 1994. AfriSam operates this drive
towards greening the industry at several different levels
simultaneously, making it a leader in environmentallyresponsible
cement and concrete manufacturing in
southern Africa.
Significantly, AfriSam was the first cement, aggregate
and readymix producer in southern Africa to publish an
environmental policy in 1994. Today, the organisation has
a comprehensive sustainability roadmap which covers a
broad range of focus areas, including waste management,
water conservation, biodiversity conservation, emissions
reduction and energy management. The company has
established performance indicators that continuously
monitor and track compliance to the company’s
sustainability roadmap targets.
REHABILITATION AND BIODIVERSITY
CONSERVATION
Mine rehabilitation is an area where AfriSam has led
the industry, with mine rehabilitation plans for all the
company’s quarries completed in 1984. This was followed
by the establishment of a dedicated Nature Conservation
Trust in 1986 to provide funding for the closure of these
mines.
Rehabilitation of land impacted by AfriSam’s mining
activities is not just a legal requirement but a moral
obligation, and this level of long-term planning by AfriSam
demonstrates a commitment that will ensure that land can
be returned to a self-sustainable landform to be enjoyed by
future generations. AfriSam actively practices concurrent
rehabilitation at its sites where possible, which is in line
with its policy to restore mined–out land to as close to its
original state as possible. In many instances, alternative
use is found for the land, such as turning it into reservoirs,
dams or recreational facilities.
Environmental stewardship also requires that a
company is proactive when considering its impact on
the environment, and this has been the case in Saldanha
Bay. AfriSam has received approval from the Department
of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning for
the construction of an integrated cement manufacturing
facility on the Saldanha Peninsula in the Western Cape.
This piece of land, owned by AfriSam, contains pristine
vegetation of exceptional conservation value and therefore
needs to be adequately protected to prevent extinction
of these rare species of flora.
AfriSam’s focus on biodiversity involves detailed and
ongoing research to measure the environmental impact
of operations on species of flora and fauna, and steps to
protect and foster biodiversity where necessary, especially
where species are protected by law or endangered.
To ensure the sustainability of the relevant flora, AfriSam
has set aside over 500 ha of the land it owns in Saldanha
for conservation purposes. This land has received contract
nature reserve status, the highest level of stewardship, and
underscores AfriSam’s commitment to conserving natural
resources, including flora, for future generations.
Perhaps one of the least known, and most exceptional
examples of AfriSam’s commitment to environmental
stewardship is that of the significant archaeological and
paleontological finds at its Sterkfontein quarry near
the Cradle of Mankind. This was five years before the
Sterkfontein Caves were declared a World Heritage Site.
Realising that the company had stumbled upon something
which could have important repercussions for the scientific
knowledge of the area, AfriSam immediately suspended all
quarrying activities and commissioned a number of surveys
including archaeological, vegetation, palaeontological and
geological studies. Subsequently, AfriSam has rehabilitated
the area and donated it to the University of Witwatersrand
for further promotion of education.
Concept diagram (left) and architectural
axonometric section (right).
Images: ZOA Studio
AfriSam actively practices
concurrent rehabilitation to
restore mined–out land to
as close to its original state
as possible.
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