1
7
BY THE NUMBERS
30%
The amount of cold air that escapes each time you open the refrigerator door.
5000 BC 10 191
Wind power dates back to at least 5000 BC with the earliest known use for powering sails.
Cape Town was once again crowned one of the top 10 cities in the world.
The current total arrests associated with rhino poaching in 2013
640 MILLION LITRES
13.9 BILLION 10 000 TONS 50 000 TONS
1 MW 618
The amount of water required to frack 32 wells on one well pad.
The amount of people without access to water in Africa alone.
Of wind energy can offset 2 600 tons of carbon dioxide every year.
The current South African Rhino poaching total for 2013 (up to the 5th of September)
20 MILLION LITRES
ONE TO TWO AND A HALF HECTARES
10
345 MILLION
The amount of water required for one frack per well and there can be as many as 32 wells on one well pad.
20 – 50
The average size of each well pad.
The amount in rands that the Swiss have invested in South Africa to date from which 7000 jobs have been created.
Million metric tons of electronic waste are generated worldwide every year.
40% 43%
The amount of the electricity needs of the world that coal currently provides.
Coal accounts for 43 percent of the world’s total CO2 emissions.
The amount of coal that would have to be dumped into the sea from the stricken MV Smart Vessel as an interim measure after an emergency request to the Department of Environmental Affairs by SAMSA and the salvage team.
The amount of coal that spilt into the ocean after the MV Smart Vessel ran aground in August.
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MANUFACTURERS BENEFIT FROM THE DTIíS KEY INDUSTRIAL SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMME Written by: Lani Botha
Industry is often targeted for its massive environmental impact. But how can manufacturers meet the growing demands of consumers for more and cheaper goods, whilst reducing their carbon footprint? And what mechanisms have international and South African authorities put in place to aid this process?
M
anufacturing industry is one of the first that springs to mind when one thinks of big contributors to carbon emissions and users of resources such as water and energy.
Increased demand and technical advances have led to more – and still more – production, often with very little consideration for the environmental ramifications. This century is a watershed, where population growth, consumption patterns and production methods threaten the natural system that has buttressed our road to social and economic wealth. Internationally, environmental policy revision, corporate reform and consumer behavioural change have created two shared objectives: accountability and sustainable development. A greener global economy requires industrial development
that assures economic growth and increased standard of living, whilst at the same time reducing resource use, pollution, waste and its impact on nature and communities. CALL TO INDUSTRY Businesses adapting in a timely manner through innovative and more efficient methodologies have demonstrated remarkable resilience – often developing new business models that recognize the need to do more with less. Resource-intensive manufacturers are under pressure to migrate to cleaner production processes and methodologies, and to set and report on measurable targets for energy and water conservation, as well as waste and GHG reduction. INDUSTRY AIDED Global industry support structures such as the United Nations’ Industrial Development
Organisation (UNIDO) and Environment Programme (UNEP) have been partnering with national authorities to establish national cleaner production centres (NCPCs) in developing economies since 1994 to support the new manufacturing revolution. These NCPCs have adapted over two decades to promote an evolving resource efficiency and cleaner production (RECP) programme, intended to equip emerging economies to strengthen their position as global manufacturing hubs without further degradation of their very often fragile environment or depletion of their natural resources. This global network, known today as RECPnet, supports NCPCs in the roll-out of RECP programmes in 47 developing and transition countries, harmonising productivity, environmental and social imperatives, and providing a platform for the sharing of success stories, policies and best practices. In South Africa, the National Cleaner Production Centre of South Africa (NCPC-
PHOTO The automotive sector has shown great commitment over the past two years to reducing their carbon footprint, particularly through energy saving initiatives.
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PHOTO ArcelorMittal Saldanha Works in the Western Cape has implemented energy savings interventions that have resulted in 176 million kilowatt hours of energy saved since 2011, translating to 169 000 tonnes of CO2 emissions avoided.
SA) is funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) as its key industrial sustainability programme focused on energy, water and materials efficiency, as well as waste management in manufacturing companies. In making RECP tools available to industry, the NCPC-SA engages companies on resource efficient business practices, and offers support through in-plant assessments and training programmes. HOW IT WORKS RECP assessments are carried out at participating companies targeted using a sector approach, aligned to government’s Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP). The process includes energy, water and material assessments to gauge current consumption levels and identify opportunities for reduction; as well as waste assessments to benchmark existing waste generation against reduction targets. FOCUS ON ENERGY The NCPC-SA, in a continuation of its collaboration with UNIDO, implements the Industrial Energy Efficiency Project (IEE Project) to guide South African industries in the more productive use of available energy resources. The project promotes the implementation of energy management systems and the optimisation of energy systems among energy-intensive industrial stakeholders, such as mining, automotives, metals, chemicals and agro-processing plants. Now in its fourth year, the IEE Project has a strong focus on the implementation of energy saving interventions, and training of energy experts to drive and oversee the required processes. Thus far, 31 experts have been trained and a further 111 are undergoing expert level training in energy management systems (EnMS) and/or energy systems optimisation (ESO) - the optimisation of various energy systems, including fan, motor, steam, compressed
air and pump systems. An increasing number of companies are signing up as demonstration plants, where these experts practice their newly acquired skills, implementing energy efficiency interventions that result in substantial energy savings and carbon emission reductions. To date, EnMS and ESO interventions at demonstration plants have resulted in energy savings of over 270 GWh, which translates into a cost saving of R 229 million and carbon emission reductions of almost 255 000 tonnes of CO2. SUPPORT ALWAYS AT HAND To support industrial sectors in enhancing their competitiveness and job creation targets, whilst moving to cleaner and more resource efficient production, government has developed a suite of incentive schemes to speed up the transition with financial support. One such tool is the dti’s Manufacturing Competitiveness Enhancement Programme (MCEP), launched in May 2012 as a key driver of the Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP). The MCEP supports manufacturers in the upgrading of their production facilities and methods through one of two mechanisms, namely the Productivity Incentive (PI) and Industrial Financing Loan Facilities, which are comanaged with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).
competition, low margins and increased compliance requirements. CALL TO ACTION For South African industry to compete in an increasingly environmentally aware global marketplace, companies need to make resource efficiency and cleaner production part of their business mandate. And in the face of increasing energy and resource prices, efficiency is now a business imperative. The NCPC-SA is calling on industry to commit to implementation of their sectorrelevant adaptations, and to promoting awareness among employees and supply chains of the imperative for these actions. Much of the NCPC-SA’s offering to industry is subsidised by the dti. Manufacturers (particularly those in the key sectors targeted by the NCPC-SA*) should contact the Centre at ncpc@csir.co.za to enquire about an RECP assessment or resource and energy efficiency training. Pretoria +27 12 841 3772 Cape Town +27 21 658 2776 Durban + 27 31 242 2365 email: ncpc@csir.co.za websites: www.ncpc.co.za www.iee-sa.co.za *A full list of the sectors served and more contact details are available at www.ncpc.co.za
By granting financial assistance for new technology and advanced manufacturing, the dti makes sustainable transformation more accessible to companies, particularly small and medium enterprises, in sectors under threat from international
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T
he topic, sustainable development, has been theorised and kicked around more often than most in the last 10 years. If one researches sustainable development and tries to find a conclusive definition one ventures into a quagmire of differing definitions. Two popular definitions include:
What we are seeing more and more is that current definitions of sustainable development no longer include the concept of “growth”. The aim is that the scale of the economy must be kept within the capacity of the overall system on which it depends. An economy that is able to sustain GDP growth without having a negative impact on environmental conditions is said to be decoupled.
WWF’S DEFINITION: “Improvement of the quality of human life within the carrying capacity of ecosystems”
Different sustainable development theories abound and include complex names like Systems Theory, Deep Ecology, EcoFeminism, Social Ecology, Bioregionalism, Ecological Modernisation, Gaia Theory and Traditional Ecological Knowledge. Believe me there are others that do not have the level of acceptance that these do but all do have their value and appeal.
BRUNDTLAND COMMISSION: “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”
Many of us today realise that the way we are living is not sustainable and that as our human population reaches 10 billion, the world as we know it will change for the worse. One only needs to watch the latest
Judge DREDD movie to get a glimpse of what our world might look like in the not so distant future. The question that hangs in the air like a weightless elephant is how do we change our world and achieve growth that is truly sustainable? Having evaluated most of the theories, I think there is only one real tangible solution that will allow decoupling. DECENTRALISATION of all services. Let’s take for example, electricity in South Africa. We first use fossil fuel to dig out coal which is then washed and transported with more fossil fuel to power stations which then burn this fuel to create electricity which is then sent many kilometres to the End Users! This is a crazy process that uses masses of fossil fuel and water and results in significant losses of electricity as it is transported down the electricity lines. The solution in a decentralised model is to generate electricity where it is needed most and to use natural resources to do this. For example, the generation of electricity should not be the responsibility of Eskom. Rather electricity should be generated in the communities or areas where it is
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A
s demand for water grows in South Africa, alternative sources are actively being sought to augment conventional water supply. While domestic rainwater harvesting has been put forward as one such an alternative water supply, little information is available on whether harvested rainwater is safe for human use or even how local communities feel about using the water from such an alternative source. Domestic rainwater harvesting involves the collection and storage of water from rooftops and diverse surfaces. A team of researchers from the Stellenbosch University (SU) Department of Microbiology and the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology studied the quality of water from a community with rainwater harvesting tanks, and gathered information on how this water is being used. The project was funded by the Water Research Commission. The study site selected was the Kleinmond Housing Scheme. This innovative low-cost housing project, conceptualised in 2007 in collaboration between the Department of Science & Technology, CSIR, the Western Cape Provincial Department of Human Settlements and the Overstrand Local Municipality, comprises 410 housing units. Various technology innovations have been applied in the houses, including modular masonry material, reinforced ring beams, prefabricated plumbing etc., and each house equipped with a 2 000 l rainwater harvesting tank. The SU team tested the chemical and microbial quality of rainwater collected from the rainwater tanks of 29 houses over six months. In addition, 68 households were interviewed to investigate the acceptance and perception on the use of the domestic rainwater harvesting tanks. The results obtained for the chemical analysis indicated that the rainwater quality was within potable, chemical standards. Metals, cations and anions that were analysed for in the harvested rainwater samples were all below the recommended drinking water guidelines. However, the microbial analysis showed that the presence of the following group of indicator organisms exceeded the recommended drinking water guidelines: total coliforms, Eneterocci, faecal coliforms,
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and heterotrophic bacteria. The presence of several opportunistic pathogens, including E.coli, Cryptosporidium and Salmonella, were also detected. In short, the water from the rainwater harvesting tanks in Kleinmond is not fit for human consumption, and prior treatment is required before the water source can be used for drinking purposes.
While not generally using the harvesting rainwater for drinking purposes, almost all users (bar one respondents) saw the tank as being of huge benefit to them, particularly as they now used less municipal water, which put money back into their pockets. In addition, the tanks became a convenient asset during times of municipal water disruption.
The main causes of contamination are dirt and faeces (from birds and small animals) on the roof surface, which fall into the tank. Other sources of rainwater contamination include leaf debris and organic material washed into the tank, animals or birds that fall into uncovered tanks as well as breeding mosquitoes.
According to the WRC Research Manager Dr Nonhlanhla Kalebaila, rainwater tanks are not a ‘fit-and-forget’ technology, and require regular maintenance and upkeep. Unfortunately, most tank users at Kleinmond admitted that they did not know how to maintain their tanks although they did indicate a willingness to learn. Thankfully at the time of data collection, the majority of rainwater tanks were found to be in good condition, with only some tanks showing signs of leakage, missing lids, broken pipes or taps. Most of these faults had been reported to the municipality, which, according to the SU project team, indicates some hesitancy to take ownership of the tanks. A training programme has been recommended to empower users in the proper use and maintenance of the tanks.
It was found that many of the households placed their garbage bags on top of the tanks to protect them from being ripped open by stray dogs. These garbage bags could easily contaminate the rainwater, especially if the tanks are leaking or broken and/or the lid is absent. This general lack of awareness of contamination hazards highlights the importance of training users in the proper use and maintenance of the technology. It has been recommended that some form of pre-treatment be installed to make the rainwater safe for drinking. As a follow up to this part of the project, the SU team is now investigating the use of solar water pasteurisation and filtration systems for the treatment of harvested rainwater. Interestingly, the SU user survey indicated that the majority of community members of the Kleinmond Housing Scheme instinctively steered clear of using the water from their rainwater harvesting tanks for drinking purposes. About two-thirds of the respondents do not use the water in the tank for drinking, while by far the majority of those who use it for drinking do so only sometimes (24%). The majority of respondents who do drink the water pre-treat it first. One mother reported that her baby developed a rash after rainwater was used to bath him, while others said that drinking the water was ‘bad for your stomach’. The majority of respondents indicated that they use the harvested rainwater for household chores instead, such as laundry, cleaning, and gardening. One respondent was even applying his rainwater to help run his small car wash business.
“Users need to ensure that their tanks are covered to prevent mosquito breeding, and sunlight from reaching water which promotes algal growth”, further explains Dr Kalebaila. “However, through the incorporation of cartridge filters or other treatments at the point of consumption can ensure better quality of drinking-water and reduces health risks”. Materials used in the catchment and storage tank should be suitable for use and be non-toxic to humans. Storages should be fitted with a mechanism such as a tap or outlet pipe that enables hygienic abstraction of water.
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paper from Paarl Media’s printing processes is recycled some using sophisticated baling facilities at the plant and all general waste retrieved from paper recycling is reprocessed to create value added products,� says Metcalfe. Other by-products of the printing process are recycled to ensure the maximum waste recovery efficiency for example; gravure copper skins from engraved cylinders are recycled and copper is also recovered from
the excess copper sulphate solution used in the printing process. As energy prices rise along with the demand, consumers and businesses need to embrace a new approach to both lifestyles and business practices. The shift from environmentally conscious to environmentally committed is gradually taking place and Paarl Media is blazing the trail.
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CLEAR SIGNS THAT THE STATE INTENDS TO GO AHEAD WITH FRACKING
I
n a General Notice, published by the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Bomo Edna Molewa, dated 23 August 2013, there is a clear indication that the state intends to allow exploration for the purposes of shale gas production. The process used to obtain shale gas is colloquially referred to as “fracking”. The Minister has also reiterated in a press briefing in Pretoria, that these activities will be strictly controlled by the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs (“DWEA”) to protect the environment and South Africa’s water resources. This Notice, says Peter Flynn of The Environmental Law Consultancy, means that anyone intending to commence with exploration for shale gas using fracking, will have to have to obtain a water use licence. As the Notice mentions “exploration and production” it is also an indication that the regulatory framework is already been amended to permit shale gas production using fracking. The general public has been invited to comment on the Notice and have been given up to 22nd October to do so. This can be done by emailing fracking@dwa.gov.za. It is now acknowledged, said Flynn, that the
whole fracking issue is highly controversial and polarised, with both sides accusing the other of doing a lack of research, or using biased research. He said, with fracking operations now operating worldwide (recent examples being in Australia and in California), there is a formidable amount of data for both sides to research. “The biggest concerns are the possible pollution of ground water in the immediate area where fracking occurs and the fact that very large quantities of water and chemicals will have to be introduced to the area to make the operation possible. This could also lead to the pollution of the neighboring local water resources. New evidence has also been cited to indicate that air pollution as a result of fracking an environmental health concern.” In September 2012, South Africa lifted a moratorium on shale gas exploration in the Karoo, where a potential 390-trillion cubic feet of technically obtainable shale gas sits beneath the surface according to the latest US Energy Information Administration (“EIA”) study. If the EIA estimates are accurate, this makes the Karoo the fifth largest shale gas reserve in the world. The gas under the Karoo could provide 400 year’s worth of energy for South Africa. According to the South
African government, for every 30 cubic feet of gas produced, the sales value would be one trillion Rand. Those lobbying on behalf of fracking have pointed out that unemployment in Karoo towns like Craddock and Colesberg has for some years been way above the national average, and that the Karoo is one area that desperately needs some form of new industry. It has also been pointed out that the social and environmental impacts of using fracking to obtain shale gas should be considered in light of the alternative, which at this stage in South Africa, is almost exclusively open pit mining to obtain coal. Employees of shale gas operations are typically higher paid than most of those in the mining industry and the work is generally safer, healthier and more often more pleasant than the work required in mining activities. The opposition claims that there is no 100% guarantee that water resources will remain uncontaminated. They cite the fact that the guarantees of oil companies worldwide, in view of some of the disasters they have experienced elsewhere, simply cannot be relied on. Flynn said that there are significant additional environmental and safety risks associated with fracking, which have not been contemplated in terms of the legislation. These additional risks will need to be very strictly regulated using legislation and the legislation will need to be properly enforced by the DWEA. Apart from the requirement that a water use license be obtained for the purposes of exploration, no other legislation specifically dealing with fracking or shale gas production has been proposed or promulgated. Source: The Environmental Consultancy Website: www.telc.co.za
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Law
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he latest statistics from the Paper Recycling Association of South Africa (PRASA) show that 73,674 tonnes more paper was collected in 2012, up from 1,077,641 tonnes in 2011. The 1,151,315 tonnes collected in 2012 equates to 57.3% of paper that can be collected and recycled* compared to 58.2% in 2011. The slight dip can be attributed to an overall increase of paper and paperboard consumption. Despite increased awareness around the importance of recycling, large amounts of recoverable paper and board packaging are still unnecessarily dumped in landfill sites. “There is so much more that can be done, not only to preserve our environment, but
to create sustainable employment and alleviate poverty through recycling,” says Ursula Henneberry, PRASA operations director. South Africa consumed 2.6 million tonnes of paper, including newsprint, printing and writing grades, corrugated materials, board and tissue in 2012. Some 2.4 million tonnes was manufactured locally, 864,000 tonnes imported and 605,000 tonnes exported. ONE MAN’S WASTE IS ANOTHER MAN’S WEALTH “Recoverable paper has value. Something of value is not waste which means we should start to think about ‘waste’ differently. From policy makers and government to the private sector and ordinary family member, we need to see recyclable material as a resource,” says Henneberry.
“Many people cannot get a job in the mainstream economy because of their low level of education or age,” notes Henneberry. “Waste pickers earn a modest living from collecting and selling recyclables, however they are faced with a number of challenges.” They are often considered a nuisance as they go around with their trolley carts, and pose a significant risk on the roads. “We need to find a way of working with government, especially at local level, as well as the private sector to formalise their work and make it safer and more dignified.”
In the paper industry, 65% of recovered paper is used as an alternative raw material in the manufacturing process.
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Paper and print are not as environmentally unfriendly as you may think
T
he Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA) is calling on businesses to change their attitude to paper by shredding the misconceptions they have about paper.
Day in, day out, we are faced with messages about the harm that paper does to our environment. More often than not, these messages can be found in two places: at the bottom of emails and from service providers informing you of their move from postal to electronic distribution of documents. KEEPING IT ON SCREEN IS NOT GOING GREEN “While the paper industry cannot swim against the digital tide and the convenience of receiving such documents electronically, the electronic distribution of information should not be touted as being more environmentally friendly than print,” says Jane Molony, PAMSA executive director. In fact, reading a document on screen produces more carbon dioxide (CO2) than printing out the same document. A printed document can be read over again without further emissions and can also be recycled, according to a 2006 study by Sir Nicholas Stern, head of the Government Economic Service in the United Kingdom. The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change tackled the effects of climate change and global warming on the world economy. Stern used his 700-page document to demonstrate how paper and print have a better environmental footprint than electronic communication. t Printing the Stern Review emits 85g of CO2 (one copy can be read over and over again without further emissions). t Reading it on a computer for one hour emits 226g of CO2 every time. t Burning the Stern Review to CD is estimated to emit 300g of CO2 for every copy
t
Burning it to DVD is estimated to emit 350g of CO2 for every copy
Further to this, in September last year the New York Times stated, “The [information] industry has long argued that computerising business transactions and everyday tasks like banking and reading library books has the net effect of saving energy and resources.” Quoting Power, Pollution, and the Internet, the New York Times asserts that the energy consumption of massive data centres is ‘sharply at odds with its image of sleek efficiency and environmental friendliness’, far outweighing that of the paper industry. E-WASTE IS THE FASTEST GROWING COMPONENT IN THE MUNICIPAL STREAM Greenpeace has identified electronic waste as the fastest growing component of the municipal waste steam” . Hans Wegner, chief sustainability officer of the National Geographic Society notes, “We don’t know the environmental impact of saving a document on a server for ten years or more. And we have no idea of the impact of extracting finite resources to make electronic devices that cannot easily be recycled safely and practically.” But what about all the trees that are killed to make paper? Few people realise that all paper in South Africa is produced from plantation-grown trees, recycled paper or bagasse (sugarcane fibre). Some 600 million trees across 762,000 hectares are specifically farmed for use in pulp and paper manufacturing, just as maize was planted for your cereal and wheat for your bread. “Contrary to popular and often misinformed belief, the fibre used to make paper products is not sourced from the wood of rainforests, indigenous or common garden trees,” notes Molony.
As massive sinks for atmospheric carbon, forests mitigate greenhouse gas emissions by absorbing CO2 and releasing oxygen through the natural process of photosynthesis. South Africa’s timber plantations lock up 900 million tons a year of CO2, which is a massive environmental service and a key means of mitigating climate change . If it were not for the pulp and paper industry operating world-wide for the last 150 years the CO2 levels in the atmosphere would be 5% higher (about 0.5 degree) than they are at present . Over 80% of South African plantations are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), ranking it as the highest level of international certification in the world. FSC’s Chain of Custody tracks certified material through the production process – from the forest to the consumer, including all successive stages of processing, transformation, manufacturing and distribution. “While PAMSA certainly does not advocate wasteful printing, we ask that paper and printing, and the environment, be treated with respect.” PAMSA’S PAPER CLIPS t Buy locally manufactured paper that is FSC-certified. This way you can be assured that the paper is produced from sustainably managed plantations. t Recycle your paper, keeping it dry and away from other waste and have it collected regularly. Visit www. mywaste.co.za t Be responsible with your electronic waste. Do your research and find reputable e-waste recycling companies that you know will handle your old computers and printers with the environment in mind.
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unning a business requires a great amount of work, and the nature of being an entrepreneur may mean that your work hours differ to that of a nine-to-five job. This may be considered more of a challenge for women who are also raising a family. Despite widespread belief, female business owners are not doomed to be engulfed by their businesses forever and often experience rich personal and family lives. This is according to Gugu Mjadu, Executive General Manager of Business Partners Limited, who says that with careful preparation and experience, female business owners are able to lead a balanced and successful lifestyle between work and home.
Mjadu says that it is however necessary to be realistic. “Don’t expect a good work-life balance during the first five years of a startup business. Having a lengthy and leisurely holiday during that time is also unlikely and late work nights are frequent with a young business, similar to that of a baby who needs constant attention.”
a company from the ground up requires tremendous focus, drive and commitment. Women need to decide between starting a business earlier in life, so that the business is established before passing the traditional age of having children, or instead have kids early, in order to ensure that children have grown up and are attending school when the business is ready to be founded. “This decision is a difficult matter complicated by the fact that entrepreneurs need to concentrate on their corporate careers in order to gain experience and assets before they start a business, coupled with the added pressure to remain in a secure job once they do have children.” She says that Business Partners Limited’s figures suggest that most of its female clients, who are typical South African lifestyle business owners, tend to start their businesses when their children are past their toddler years. “Most of our female clients fall in the 46- to 55-year age bracket.”
Mjadu says that one such way for entrepreneurs to work themselves free from the structures of an overwhelming start-up business is by appointing the right people. “It is important to recruit staff on the basis of trainability, trustworthiness and reliability as fully trained staff, those who are able to work independently, are often unaffordable for a young small business.” While your employees need training to the point where they can work relatively unsupervised, the business owner herself also needs training in how to delegate and how to plan and set up business systems that can run without her continuous presence.” She adds that the staff and controls that entrepreneurs need in place for a business to ‘self-run’ when they go on an uninterrupted holiday are exactly the same fundamentals that are needed for a healthy, sustainable business. “Taking a two or three week holiday is therefore a good test for any owner of a business older than five
She adds that this can pose a problem for female entrepreneurs who also have ‘fleshand-blood babies’. “While it can be done, it is certainly more difficult to balance both kinds of ‘babies’ at the same time.” Mjadu explains that often the challenge for women is to choose the correct timing of when to start their business. “To build
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years, as if you cannot take the holiday, it is likely the business needs a review of its systems and processes.” Mjadu says that because of the pressure that a business can put on the life of a female business owner, it is necessary to use the same planning discipline at home that is practiced in the business. “It is important to not only plan for your meetings at the office, but to also plan your activities at home thereby ensuring a balance between the two environments.” She adds that that modern technology, like online shopping, can significantly help when you are trying to juggle business and domestic logistics. Just as issues such as wages and supplies need to be negotiated in the business, female business owners needs to negotiate support and sharing of domestic work with partners at home, says Mjadu. “Many entrepreneurs start their own business driven by a desire for a better work-life balance. It’s something many of them achieve, but the first few years of a new business can be an incredibly challenging time, juggling business and family commitments. “Once this balance is achieved however there are many personal benefits and in some cases, children often become inspired by their entrepreneurial mothers and develop an understanding for business at an early age,” concludes Mjadu.
ABOUT BUSINESS PARTNERS LIMITED: Business Partners Limited is a specialist risk finance company for formal small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa, and selected African countries. The company actively supports entrepreneurial growth by providing financing, specialist sectoral knowledge and added-value services for viable small and medium businesses. Visit www.businesspartners.co.za for more information.
PHOTO: Gugu Mjadu, Executive General Manager of Business Partners Limited
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legislation and guidelines. A cohesive ‘single’ approach is in fact welcomed by such authorities. SEWPACKSA is also formulating sound industry standards and will be available to assist suppliers that may fall short of such standards, on a mentoring basis. SEWPACKSA EXCO MEMBERS The new EXCO is made up of a varied but vast industry discipline mix. The combination of treatment process, engineering, knowledge of legislation, all underpinned by collective sound business principles, is a winning basket of attributes that will take the association forward to achieve the current desired outcomes. SEWPACKSA EXCO FOR 2012/2013 Mark Ross - Chairman Stewart Buchanan - Vice Chairman Ian Wright - Other (Treasurer) Gary Brown - Other (Technical) David Light - Other (Secretary & Liaison) Paul Gaydon - Other (Legislation) SEWPACKSA’S STRATEGIC GOALS Ross provides an insight into the overall objectives of SEWPACKSA’s Strategic Plan that was announced at the AGM. “The finalisation and implementation of the Matrix of Minimum Deliverables is an integral part of the plan. While the Matrix of Minimum Deliverables has already been finely tuned, it is by nature a moving picture, with continual changes to legislation, circumstances and thought processes, so it will consequently remain a working document that will mutate on an on-going basis” said Ross. SEWPACKSA has this year introduced a policy and procedure for handling of
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complaints regarding member compliance to SEWPACKSA standards of quality. Ross says the complaints procedure and enforcement of standards may sound a tad draconian, however this is more of a negotiated directive tool for the betterment of the broader industry. The interaction between suppliers and end-users is to be encouraged and it is not inconceivable that such end-users, who operate their own treatment plants, could be considered potential members, as plant operators. The alignment (both technical and administratively) and establishment of a formal working relationship between the Suppliers (SEWPACKSA) and the industry stakeholders is possibly the most important goal of SEWPACKSA, to have a sound common front within the industry and to be the negotiating voice heard by all stakeholders. One of the Association’s areas of focus is the continual promotion and development of SEWPACKSA amongst the members and throughout the industry, as well as pursuing increased support from Clients, Consultants, Engineers, Institutes and Associations. Ross says the broader the industry mix, the more influential and successful SEWPACKSA shall become in achieving its desired outcomes. “This inclusive approach will result in all parties participating in debate and decision making. Promoting the association, at all levels of industry interest is thus imperative” says Ross. The development of further input and involvement of members, which will include the training of requirements, assistance to meet standards / process
regulation, interaction and monitoring are other important goals. “These endeavours are to be one of the successful outcomes. The current EXCO cannot function in isolation to the membership and extended stakeholders. With sound management of the association, all the desired outcomes will be achieved and expanded on over time” reiterates Ross. SEWPACKSA AND WISA Commenting on the importance of the relationship between SEWPACKSA and the Water Institute of Southern Africa’s (WISA) Small Wastewater Treatment Works Division (SWWTW), Ross says “Fortuitously there is a cross pollination of committee members on both the SEWPACKSA EXCO and the WISA SWWTW Division, thus a very close working relationship exists. The blue prints of both organisations, while having many very close overlapping aspirations, are complemented by the strengths that each brings to the table”. As SEWPACKSA continues to grow and set the high standards for the industry, this is an association that is undoubtedly setting the trends in the wastewater treatment industry.
ABOUT SEWPACKSA The main objective of SEWPACKSA is: t To provide a unified nongovernmental representative body of suppliers of package plants in the Republic to create a sustainable and self-regulated industry. t To create a sustainable, selfregulated package plant industry that can treat wastewater onsite in remote areas, or where authorities do not provide sewer connections, or where additional capacity to the wastewater treatment facilities of various government bodies is required, whilst complying with legislative requirements for discharged water quality. t To enable the supply of compliant package plants and management services of such package plants on the basis of best corporate governance practice and a code of ethics as adopted by the Association.
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he Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Mrs Edna Molewa launched the groundbreaking R300 million Groen Sebenza project on the 8th of June. Spearheaded by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), the innovative Groen Sebenza project is aimed at developing skills and bridging the gap between education and job opportunities in the biodiversity sector. Speaking at the launch the Minister said, “This is definitely a landmark project that DEA, SANBI and our partners are proud to be pioneering and using to play a leading role in contributing towards building a pool of young, vibrant, capable and confident professionals for South Africa’s biodiversity and natural resource management sector. It is the Department of Environmental Affairs’ hope that the effective implementation of the incubator concept will have a catalytic impact on skills development and job creation.” The CEO of SANBI, Dr Tanya Abrahamse said, “This is an exciting time for SANBI and all its participating partners. The Groen Sebenza venture effectively brings into life, the ideals of the vision of a green economy, by mobilising for and engendering the involvement of young people, in the management of biodiversity, through job creation. We are confident that this project is the right step towards addressing the skills shortages in the sector and more significantly, it will help to diversify the sector. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all partners for a shared vision, for shared value.”
sources of fuel by the automotive industry. The theme for this year’s WED, as set by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), was “Think. Eat. Save”. The Department of Environmental Affairs adopted this theme for the 2013 Environment Month celebrations. Groen Sebenza involves the placement of 800 unemployed youth in skilled jobs across public, private and nongovernmental institutions in the local biodiversity sector for a period of two and a half years. The project focuses on training, mentoring and workplace-based learning with the objective of building a pool of young and capable professionals for South Africa’s biodiversity sector, which aims to boost job creation in the green economy. 463 of the Groen Sebenza interns commenced with the programme on the 2nd of May and the remaining participants will begin in the course of July. A month into the project, the young participants and the 33 Groen Sebenza partner organisations said that they were thrilled to participate in the initiative, which will equip them with the work experience and skills to secure permanent jobs in the biodiversity industry. 28-year-old Sabelo Linda from Osizweni, a semi-rural area in Newcastle, KwaZuluNatal, who is working at NCC Environmental Services in Cape Town, says he is ‘very
grateful’ for the opportunity he has been given. Although he holds an Honours degree in Science, Sabelo was unemployed for the first few months, after completing his qualification and had to rely on the help of friends to support his siblings. Honing his skills in the field of environmental management, he says he feels encouraged by the structured and earnest manner in which the NCC approaches the intensive learning and mentorship of the Groen Sebenza ‘incubants’. Another participant, Sanelisiwe Mkhize, is training in nature conservation with Ezemvelo Wildlife with only a matric school certificate to her name. Sanelisiwe feels she has been given a second chance to “prove myself” and realise her ambition of following a career in nature conservation. This comes as she followed her second choice of study, public management, at the Durban University of Technology last year, but was forced to drop out when her family experienced financial problems. The young woman and three other participants are currently focusing on commercial offshore fishing and compliances which sees them inspecting the fish offloaded in the harbour or sold in restaurants for species and sizes. The Groen Sebenza project is giving many young people like Sabelo and Sanelisiwe
The launch coincided with Environment Month, as well as Youth Month, celebrated in South Africa on 05 and 16 June respectively. The 5th June 2013 heralded World Environment Day (WED), which aims to be the biggest and most widely celebrated global day for positive environmental action. In South Africa, this celebration is amplified as June is recognised as National Environment Month. The launch also featured the Department of Environmental Affairs’ Zero Emission Electric Vehicle (Ev) Programme, more commonly known as DEA Green Cars. These were displayed as part of the work that the Department is doing to encourage the reduction of environmentally harmful gases, by promoting the use of cleaner 77
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for gearshifts. Fuel efficiency is a standout feature with a combined cycle figure of just 4.6l/100km* ensuring the EcoSport is kind on the pocket. To further improve fuel efficiency, the fivespeed manual transmission is standard on all models bar the 1.5l Petrol Titanium, which utilises the six-speed Ford PowerShift transmission. The advanced six-speed PowerShift transmission combines the efficiency, optimised gear ratios and responsive performance of a traditional manual transmission with the smoothness, convenience and ease-of-use of a conventional automatic. Low-friction dry clutches are employed, combined with six well-spaced gears to provide responsive acceleration from rest, smooth transitions between gears and optimised fuel economy when cruising. QUALITY THAT SPEAKS TO THE SENSES With its signature Ford face, dramatic rising beltline and a ready-to-pounce stance, the EcoSport conveys a dynamic spirit of energy in action. The spare tyre, with an exclusively designed wheel, is mounted on the tailgate as a classic SUV cue. Inside, soft-touch fabrics and the global Ice Blue dashboard illumination all convey a feeling of superior quality and craftsmanship. Controls and knobs are ergonomically placed while seats are designed to be soft enough for comfort and firm enough for longer journeys. Meticulous efforts to reduce noise, vibration and harshness ensure a quiet cabin. Add to this a very effective climate control system, and the customer will be very comfortable in the EcoSport. The EcoSport’s compact sub-four metre dimensions and the electric power-assisted steering with Pull-Drift Compensation help drivers tackle the stress of city driving, be it parking in small spaces, manoeuvring in heavy traffic, or making tight U-turns. The EcoSport’s high ground clearance of 200 millimetres also means customers won’t have to worry about driving over speed bumps and potholes. And with its exceptional ability to wade through 550 millimetres of water, drivers can confidently drive through large pools of water. 84
CLEVER CAPABILITY The EcoSport makes driving fun and intuitive with an array of smart features. The urban SUV offers Ford SYNC®, the voice-activated in-car connectivity system powered by Microsoft. The award-winning system allows drivers to keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel while choosing their favourite music and making phone calls using voice commands. The cabin also has 20 practical storage spaces, including a glove box that can keep up to six beverage cans cool. Its cargo space at the back is just as versatile. The rear seats can be easily folded down for additional cargo space. With the rear seats tumbled against the front seats, the boot space increases to 705 litres, big enough to fit a washing machine. Alternatively the rear seats can be split 60:40 to transport long objects such as flat-pack furniture while still carrying passengers at the back. SAFETY AND DRIVER ASSISTANCE The EcoSport has been designed to provide high levels of protection and driver support through a range of advanced features. About half of the urban SUV’s body structure is made up of high-strength steel and ultra-high-strength steel, such as boron steel, making the EcoSport’s frame especially strong yet lightweight too. The SUV’s array of airbags, including airbags for the driver and front passenger, as well as side airbags and curtain airbags,
provides additional peace of mind. To take the stress out of driving, the EcoSport comes with an array of driverassist systems. Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) is available on all models and helps prevent the wheels from locking up and helps the vehicle to stop quickly on slippery road surfaces. Other advanced safety technologies such as Electronic Stability Control, which is available on some high-series models, also helps customers remain in control at all times, especially on slippery roads. When it detects that the car is potentially losing control, it automatically reduces engine power and selectively brakes individual wheels to stabilise the vehicle and keep it travelling on track. “The EcoSport offers a well-rounded and comprehensive line-up as well as a host of fantastic features, which place it well ahead of its competitive set. Coupled with a very competitive price point, Ford has a winner in this segment,” concludes Golightly. The EcoSport is available with a fully comprehensive 4-year / 120 000km warranty and 4-year / 60 000km service plan. Service intervals are staggered at 20 000km intervals for the petrol derivatives and 15 000km for the diesel derivatives. Customers will also benefit from 3-years of Roadside Assistance and a 5-year corrosion warranty.
PHOTO: Dept Minister of Environmental Affairs, Rejoice Mabudafhasi
debris can be transferred from one country serving as a vector for alien animals and plants to another via ocean currents. International cooperation is needed to create public awareness while developing ways to decrease the amount of debris in oceans around the globe”, said Plastics SA Executive Director Anton Hanekom, who also signed the “Declaration for Solutions on Marine Litter” on behalf of South Africa’s plastics industry in 2011 when plastics industry representatives from across the world met in Dubai to create a global action plan for solutions on marine litter. This action plan described actions and identified approximately 100 projects which were focused on reducing the impact the plastics industry has on the marine environment and pollution. added pollution of marine debris of which the main product is plastic is compounding the negative effect that humans have on the environment,” the Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs, Me Rejoice Mabudafhasi said during her opening speech.
abandoned vessels. Many animals, such as sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals, have been known to ingest and get entangled in marine debris, which may lead to loss of nutrition, internal injury, intestinal blockage, starvation, and even death,” Hanekom said.
Mabudafhasi stressed that marine debris is not just an unsightly issue that has a negative impact on tourism and human health, but it also is responsible for deaths of a myriad of the creatures that inhabit the marine environment. “80 percent of all plastic found in the sea has its origins on land through littering and poor waste management so this negative impact on the environment can be reduced and even stopped,” the Deputy Minister said.
The extent of the problem of marine debris and its impact on sea mammals, fish and the environment were addressed from various angles by international experts on the topic, including Prof. Peter Ryan, Department of Zoology, Percy Fitzpatrick Ornithological Institute, University of Cape Town, Heidi Savelli of the United Nations Environmental Programme, Dr George Hughes of the Turtle Management and Dr. Martin Engelmann of PlasticsEurope. African countries that were in attendance at the conference included Kenya, Nigeria, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, and the Seychelles, whilst Australia, Belgium, and Germany also delivered presentations.
Also commenting on the issue, Plastics SA Executive Director Anton Hanekom, confirmed that marine debris is a historical problem that continues to grow. “The world’s oceans and waterways are constantly polluted with a wide variety of marine debris ranging from cans and plastic bags to derelict fishing gear and 90
“Marine debris is an international concern not only because it washes up on beaches and shorelines worldwide, but also because
i1MBTUJDT 4" XBT UIF POMZ "GSJDBO DPVOUSZ UP TJHO UIF %FDMBSBUJPO BOE XF NBEF JU POF PG PVS HPBMT UP FODPVSBHF DPMMFDUJWF BDUJPO BDSPTT UIF DPOUJOFOUw, Hanekom said. “Hosting this Summit has allowed us to clearly identify the extent of the problem of plastics in the marine environment, and we are now able to work towards a sustainable solution. As an industry we recognize that we need to go about our business in a sustainable and responsible manner”. Plastics SA will once again coordinate South Africa’s participation in the annual International Coastal Clean Up, which will be taking place on Saturday, 21 September 2013. For more information about this year’s activities that form part of the plastics industry’s national Clean Up and Recycle Week (16-21 September 2013), please visit www.plasticsinfo.co.za or www.cleanup-sa.co.za. The Declaration for Solutions on Marine Litter can be viewed at www.marinelittersolutions.org.
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BOOK REVIEWS
Take control of your finances with these new releases.
BECOME YOUR OWN FINANCIAL ADVISOR
10 SIMPLE STEPS TO PROPERTY WEALTH
Author: Warren Ingram
Author: Jason Lee
Publisher: Zebra Press
Publisher: Zebra Press
Price: R190
Price: R200.00
:063 45&1 #: 45&1 (6*%& 50 '*/"/$*"- 1&"$& 0' .*/% How can you become financially secure with the resources at your disposal? What is the safest way to invest, and accumulate money? And why is it never too late to start planning your financial well-being? Money plays a role in nearly every aspect of our lives, and yet very few of us know how to save, where to invest and how to avoid money troubles. This highly accessible book is aimed at anyone who wants to improve their financial situation, from the financial novice who needs clear basic guidelines on how to deal with money to those who are more financially savvy but want to supplement their knowledge. Covering a range of topics, from saving, investing, debt management, buying a house to blunders to avoid, Become Your Own Financial Advisor provides people of all ages and levels of wealth with practical information on how to improve their finances.
From the bestselling author of Making Money out of Property in South Africa now comes 10 Simple Steps to Property Wealth, which distils, in a nutshell, all the tips and strategies, as well as all the most important and difficult lessons, the author has learnt over the course of his own career as a property investor. Lee points out the ‘good, the bad and the ugly’ of property investing, and shares with readers some very personal experiences, illustrating in an informative, accessible manner how to make solid investment decisions in a volatile property market. Lee believes that property is the cornerstone of wealth creation, and the 10 simple steps outlined in this book are designed to put readers on the right path to wealth creation through property. A highly informative, accessible book aimed at anyone who is interested in making money out of property in South Africa, whether a first-time home buyer or a seasoned property dealmaker.
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DEALONOMICS – HOW YOU CAN EARN MORE MONEY IN A BAD ECONOMY Author: Kim Meredith Publisher: Zebra Press Price: R200.00 The global economy is a mess. Big business, aided by bad government, has spoilt the party for everyone, yet it is individuals and small companies that are really paying the price. With the depressed state of the economy, companies are not giving much in the way of increases, and vacant positions are not being filled. Existing staff have to work harder for the same, or even less money. How can individuals, entrepreneurs and small business owners make the best of a bad situation? There is no reason for ‘the little guys’ to roll over. Armed with the same expert level of deal making skills as the captains of industry, individuals can substantially improve their personal wealth and financial future. This is dealonomics. This book will equip everyone with the world-class dealmaking expertise they need to get the income they want, from those looking for their first job to people wanting increases or promotions, and for corporations looking to improve their profits and retain their top performers.
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DIARY OF EVENTS WINDABA 2013 Date: 25-27 September Venue: CTICC City: Cape Town 8IZ ZPV TIPVME QBSUJDJQBUF WINDaba Conference and Exhibition provides individuals, companies and organizations an affordable opportunity to make a lasting impression on conference attendees, build recognition and gain exposure while presenting their products, services, programmes and technologies to a broad-based audience of Wind industry professionals. 8IZ ZPV TIPVME FYIJCJU With the exhibit hall strategically located within the footprint of the meeting rooms, conference and refreshment areas, exhibitors will benefit from 100% exposure to the Conference attendees. The exhibition area, guarantees exhibitors multiple opportunities to engage participants in one-on-one conversations, presentations and demonstrations, and the chance to collect qualified leads. XXX XJOEBCB DP [B
AFRICA ELECTRICITY 2013 Date: 9-11 October Venue: Sandton Convention Centre City: Johannesburg Africa Electricity serves as a comprehensive showcase for these core segments of the power and energy industry: t Power Generation, Transmission & Distribution t Lighting t New & Renewable Energy t Nuclear Energy t Water XXX BGSJDBFMFDUSJDJUZ DPN 104
THE GREEN EXPO 2013 Date: 29-30 November
BIG DATA WORLD AFRICA 2013
Venue: CTICC City: Cape Town
Date: 29-30 October
Date: 1-3 November
Venue: Sandton Convention Centre
Venue: Sandton Convention Centre
City: Johannesburg
City: Johannesburg
0WFSWJFX Africa’s digital, marketing, e-commerce and enterprise show looks in detail at how all businesses, including telecommunications, financial services, airlines, hospitality, retail and utilities, can make money from improving their systems and technologies.
XXX UIFHSFFOFYQP DP [B
)PX JU XPSLT Exploring the overlapping issues of loyalty, big data, social media, marketing technology and enterprise technology. The free conference will provide topics and presentations most relevant to your business. The VIP conference will host exclusive keynote sessions with innovators and industry influencers. 5PQJDT *ODMVEF t How to use big data to transform your customer profiling strategy t Extracting new value from big data with predictive analytics t How to measure return on your big data investment t How to use data analytics to transform unstructured data into structured intelligence t How to get CIOs to embrace analytics 3ZBO $IFUUZ SZBO DIFUUZ!UFSSBQJOO DPN 5FM
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The fully equipped hotel gym is the first in Africa to have power-generating equipment. These machines push power back into the hotel as you work out, showing the amount of energy you are generating. The surrounding wetlands feature an outdoor eco-trail for all those guests who prefer to exercise in the open air. This trail meanders through the grounds, leading to a selection of hi-tech, outdoor gym equipment. There is Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and the business centre is equipped with all the latest technology required to keep guests in touch.
leisure and business travellers. Of the 145 luxurious, contemporarystyled rooms, there are four room types available: standard, studio, executive, and an executive suite. There is also an option for inter-leading rooms for families – all elegantly furnished and decorated in the hotel colours, which include grey with purple, orange and green. Natural, fresh, optimum temperature airflow is fed into every room and will reduce the need to use the air conditioner.
Hotel Verde’s dining experience focuses on health and wellness. All food is seasonal, sourced and produced locally, featuring lots of raw and organic foods, alongside the favourites. The open plan kitchen provides guests with a view of what is happening, so they can experience the chefs and staff working. An early breakfast menu is available from 04h30 if you have to catch a flight or attend a morning meeting. Alternatively you can select something from the BON Voyage Deli that is open 24/7.
Hotel Verde is embarking on a mission to provide guests with a game-changing experience. “From the moment guests arrive at the airport, we are here to showcase and educate our innovation, whilst offering great value for money and exceeding all expectations” says Guy Stehlik. In short, Hotel Verde and the BON Hotels team has left no stone unturned when it comes to sourcing, building, furnishing and running this ground-breaking hotel. Hotel Verde was officially opened by the Western Cape Minister of Finance, Economic Development & Tourism, Alan Winde, on Tuesday, 27 August 2013. BON HOTELS BON Hotels was founded in 2012 by Guy
Guests are encouraged to embrace our greening philosophy and will be offered rewards for sustainable practices during their stay. As General Manager of the hotel, Samantha Annandale explains, “We want to educate guests as well as encourage them to minimise their impact on the environment. We have come up with fun, subtle ways to do that, which will hopefully become second nature that guests then take home with them.” With seven meeting rooms available, seating anything from 8 to 120 delegates, the hotel is equipped to meet all conferencing requirements. There is strong emphasis on natural lighting throughout each of the rooms and everything is geared towards technical convenience of the highest standard.
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TOP TIPS FOR CREATING A GREENER WORKPLACE
A greener workplace can mean a lighter ecological footprint, a healthier and more productive place to work, and good news for the bottom line. Whether you’re the boss or the employee, whether your office is already green or still waiting to see the light, some practical steps can lay the groundwork for a healthy, low-impact workspace. 1.
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More Work, Less Energy For many people, a computer is the central tool at work. Optimizing the energy settings for computers and other devices can be more than a modest energy saver. Set computers to energysaving settings and make sure to shut them down when you leave for the day (“standby” settings will continue to draw power even when not in use). By plugging hardware into a power strip with an on/off switch, the whole desktop setup can be turned off at once (make sure to power down inkjet printers before killing the power--they need to seal their cartridges). Printers, scanners, and other peripherals that are only used occasionally can be unplugged until they’re needed. And of course, turn off lights in spaces that are unoccupied. Digitize It! The greenest paper is no paper at all, so keep things digital and dematerialized whenever possible. The more you do online, the less you need paper. Keep files on computers instead of in file cabinets. Review documents onscreen rather than printing them out. Send emails instead of paper letters.
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Don’t Be a Paper Pusher When buying printer paper, look for recycled paper with a high percentage of postconsumer content and the minimum of chlorine bleaching. Even recycled paper gobbles up a great deal of energy, water, and chemical resources in its processing. When using the real stuff, print on both sides of the page when appropriate and use misprints as notepaper. Try to choose printers and photocopiers that do double-sided printing. If your office ships packages, reuse boxes and use shredded waste paper as packing material.
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Work From Home Instant messaging, video conferencing, and other innovative workflow tools make effective telecommuting a reality. If you can telecommute, hold phone conferences, take online classes, or otherwise work from home, give it a try. It’ll save you the time you would have spent on the trip as well as sparing the air.
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Use Green Materials Some paper use can’t be avoided, so use recycled paper and envelopes that have been processed and coloured using eco-friendly methods. Pens and
pencils can also be made of recycled materials, and refillable pens and markers are preferable to disposable ones. Use biodegradable soaps and recycled paper or cloth towels in the bathroom and kitchen. Buy in bulk so that shipping and packaging waste are reduced, and reuse the shipping boxes. Recycling printer cartridges is often free, and recycled replacements are cheaper than new ones. 10. Redesign the Workspace Greening the space in which you work has almost limitless possibilities. Start with good furniture, good lighting, and good air. Furniture can be manufactured from recycled materials as well as recyclables. Incandescent bulbs can be replaced with compact fluorescents and there is an ever-growing selection of high-end LED desk lamps that use miniscule amounts of energy. Not only is natural daylight a free source of lighting for the office, it has been proven to improve worker productivity and satisfaction (as well as boost sales in retail settings). Workspace air quality is also crucial. Good ventilation and low-VOC paints and materials (such as furniture and carpet) will keep employees healthy. 12. Lunch Time Bringing lunch to work in reusable containers is most likely the greenest (and healthiest) way to eat at work. Getting delivery and takeout almost inevitably ends with a miniature mountain of packaging waste. But, if you do order delivery, let your colleagues join in placing a large order (more efficient than many separate ones). Also, bring in a reusable plate, utensils, and napkins. If you do go out for lunch, try biking or walking instead of driving.
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