Eastern Cape Business 2023-24

SPECIAL FEATURE
Sustainability in all things
From geyser socks to water saving and land revitalisation,
Eastern Cape entities are innovating to thrive.
A retrofitted geyser glove promises huge savings
on electricity. Credit: AET Africa
Entrepreneurs in Dimbaza, a small town
near King Williams Town, are producing a
device to retrofit on to geysers that they
claim will save consumers more than 25%
in electricity costs. AET Africa has 11 permanent
employees and the glove-like device is selling
well. The small business also manufactures
reusable bags.
The province’s big automotive manufacturers
are putting their sustainability into top gear.
Mercedes-Benz South Africa has installed solar
panels on its latest new facility and Volkswagen
has done the same – 3 136 solar photovoltaic
panels at its Kariega plant will produce an
estimated 2 500MWh at full capacity. In addition,
Volkswagen is building a wastewater recycling
facility, replacing alien plants at its premises
and planting a carbon bank of nearly 5 000
spekboom cuttings.
Ford’s Struandale Engine Plant has been a
winner of the SJM Flex Environmental Award for
excellence in environmental management with
its improved production methods leading to
reductions in water and electrical consumption.
Other factors were rainwater harvesting and
recycling of 97% of waste produced at the factory.
A R22-million investment in a solar energy plant
is paying off for Montego Pet Nutrition in Graaff-
Reinet. The company reported a 300-ton reduction
in CO2 emissions in a single year, the equivalent of
planting about 9 000 trees to offset emissions. The
nine-month solar project happened soon after a
R70-million expansion project which increased the
factory’s overall production by 30%.
Another of the Eastern Cape’s biggest brands
is putting a great deal of time and effort into water
conservation. When the dam levels feeding the
Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan area reached
critical levels, Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa
(CCBSA) mobilised a comprehensive response.
Working together with other entities, CCBSA
delivered water, JoJo Tanks and water wheelers
to communities suffering shortages but also
offered a longer-term solution in the form of a
groundwater harvesting and treatment system
known as Coke Villes.
Globally, there is pressure on big brands in
the fashion industry to produce sustainability
dashboards. Issues such as emissions, plastic use
and waste, water conservation, recycling and
reselling are hot topics.
Another big issue is responsible sourcing. The
South African mohair industry has signed up to
the Responsible Mohair Standard and SAMIL CEO
Michael Brosnahan says it has worked wonders in
making “mohair once again globally desired”, an
important factor in protecting more than 30 000
jobs. The RMS ensures that the source of mohair
traded is acting ethically and responsibly.
Brosnahan says, “Our farmers are not working
on ‘projects’ to protect the land – this is a constant
part of everyday life on the farms.” Farmers are
committed to sustainability because they have
inherited family legacies and want it to continue.
Global fashion brand H&M is working on an
ambitious initiative with wool producer BKB
Ltd to regenerate rural land. The Biodiversity
EASTERN CAPE BUSINESS 2023/24
16