SUSTAINABLE ISSUE 06/19
B U S I N E S S
M A G A Z I N E
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHUMBRIA
APUA
LUMEN FIELD
TIJULE COMPANY
VINLEC
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS ALSO FEATURED THIS ISSUE WASTE2WEAR • TDC GROUP PLUS MUCH MORE
S U S TA I N I N G T O M O R R O W. T O D AY
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
|1
2 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
SUSTAINABLE
B U S I N E S S
M A G A Z I N E
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE United Kingdom • T: +44 (0) 1603 299 124 Email: info@sustainablebusinessmagazine.net www.sustainablebusinessmagazine.net
Editor:
Daniel Baksi
Assistant Editor
Alex Caesari
Profile Writers:
Elizabeth Cope Isobel Moss Charlie Plumb
Sustainable Business Magazine is committed to promoting sustainable printing. This magazine is printed on Forest Stewardship Council certified material and manufactured using environmentally sustainable procedures. All lithographic printer inks used are vegetable-based.
Will Vincent Evie Roebuck Tasha Nuthall Project Manager:
Helen Stoneley
Sales Director:
Jake Curtis
Welcome to the latest edition of Sustainable Business Magazine.
Sales Manager:
Shaun Peacock
The last two years have been strange and turbulent. From the initial onset of COVID-19 in early 2020, to the sudden lockdowns, optimistic re-openings, and successive waves, the world seems, for now at least, to have arrived at a new equilibrium. But it is not the world of 2020, nor shall it once again become that world. Rather, ours is an existence defined by its precarity, couched in the knowledge of all that has happened, and of how rapidly the life we formerly took for granted can be snatched away. The tragedy of COVID-19 cannot, and should not, be forgotten. Among the shreds of positivity to be taken from the pandemic is the unprecedented leap forward that we, collectively, have taken in the research and production of vaccines. No doubt, the development of mRNA vaccines by companies such as Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna will go down in history as the birth of a new era, one in which the threat of illness or fatality from diseases old and new is drastically reduced. For all the lives that have been lost, and untold number will be saved. On the matter of sustainability, there is too a sense that we sit on the brink of a new age. The COP26 conference, held in Glasgow in November of last year, was both a platform for new ideas and commitments from nations across the globe, and a wakeup-call—for the work that remains to be done to bring about a recognition of the challenge facing us all, and the drastic emissions reductions required if we are to stand a chance of keeping to the goals of the Paris Agreement. Sustainable Business Magazine has long sought to be a champion of those who are themselves championing sustainability, however they might do so. Our goal for 2022 is no different. In this issue, our spotlight shines heavily on North America, a region that has suffered more than most during the pandemic, whether in the continued prevalence of the virus across the US, or the loss of essential tourism revenues throughout the many nations of the Caribbean. Two travel guides within this issue—to the British Virgin Islands, and St. Kitts and Nevis, seek to remedy that loss, while profiles on VINLEC, East Port of Spain, APUA and TDC Group, serve to remind us that the Caribbean is not only a victim of climate change, but a leader: in the embrace of renewable energy, and tackling of social and cultural inequality. We’re also excited to present an interview with Zach Hensley, VP of Operations at Lumen Field, home of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, discussing their partnership with the Green Sports Alliance, and their work to instill the values of sustainability among a loyal and passionate fanbase. Finally, we touchdown in the UK, with a visit to Northumbria University, and a vital discussion about the importance of community engagement both on- and off-campus.
Administration:
Jamie Marks
Marketing:
Frances Johnson
As ever, we hope you find this, and future issues of Sustainable Business Magazine both interesting and inspiring. The Sustainable Business Magazine Team
sustainablebusinessmagazine.net
Business Development: Anand Ajithkumar
CONTENTS 04
Interview - VINLEC
08
Travel Guide - British Virgin Islands
18
Interview - Lumen Field
22
Interview - Tijule Company
26
Travel Guide - St Kitts & Nevis
38
Interview - East Port of Spain
42
Interview - Macaneta Beach Resort
48
Interview - APUA
52
Interview - Waste2Wear
56 Interview - Northumbria University 60
Interview - TDC
64
Advert Index
SUSTAINABLE
B U S I N E S S
M A G A Z I N E
FRONT COVER LUMEN FIELD
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
|3
INTERVIEW: VINLEC
SMALL BUT
MIGHTY Sustainable Business Magazine speaks to Thornley Myers, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at St. Vincent Electricity Services Ltd. (VINLEC) about their long-term focus on renewable energy, investments in solar and geothermal energy, and the company’s exciting plans for the future. By Beth Cope
4 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
St. Vincent Electricity Services Ltd. (VINLEC) commenced services in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in 1931, but it was not for another thirty years that the company was formally established as a corporate entity under the St Vincent and the Grenadines Companies Act. At that time, the provision of electricity services was operated by the Colonial Development Corporation (CDC), a financial institution owned by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the UK Government, and the source of an abbreviation that still holds for many of the company’s 46,000 customers in the present day. This year, VINLEC celebrates its 60th anniversary as a corporate entity, and its 90th overall. Two standout events in that extensive history include, in 1952, the development of the company’s first hydroelectricity plant in South Rivers, followed by a second in the years after 1961. “Those two hydroelectricity plants played a very significant role in rural electrification in Saint Vincent,” explains Thornley Myers, CEO at VINLEC. “Both of those plants were established in rural areas, from which our network then grew into urban areas in the years that followed, although levels of electrification across Saint Vincent remained low even into the 1980s. By the early 1970s, decades of successive oil crises triggered significant increases in electricity prices and, in turn, a deterioration in the quality of electricity service and supply, in what was a very difficult period. As a result, in 1971, the Government acquired 49 percent of the shares in VINLEC and, when Saint Vincent and the Grenadines gained independence from Britain on 27 October 1979, embarked on a plan to incorporate energy within national plans for development. From then on, we’ve continued in an upwards trajectory, investing over EC$550 million to ensure that every area of the country has electricity.” CHAMPIONS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY An early embracer of the potential of hydroelectric power, renewable energy continues to play an essential role within VINLEC’s energy supply. “We consider ourselves a modern, vertically integrated utility,” says Mr. Myers. “We have a combination of diesel, hydro and solar PV, with approximately 17 percent of the energy we provide to customers comes from renewable sources. We have over 200 customers with grid-connected solar PV systems that are generating power, some of which they use, and some of which they
put into the network, and for which those customers receive financial returns.” Between 1987-89, VINLEC commissioned a third hydroelectric plant, boasting a total capacity of approximately 2.6MW. “In all, we have approximately 5.5MW of hydroelectricity,” says Mr. Myers. “At the same time, our plants built around the middle of the last century have essentially ran their course, and we’ve invested significant amounts of money in refurbishing and renewing these plants over the past five years in an effort to restore their capacity.” A state-owned entity since 1985, VINLEC continues to play an important role within national development policy. “As a small, developing island nation, we can attest to some of the issues associated with global warming and climate change,” says Mr. Myers. “Therefore, we need to do our part to ensure we’re not major contributors of greenhouse gas, and to signal to those who can do more that as small as we are, we’re prepared to do as much as we can. To that end, we work closely with the Government to do what we can to reduce our carbon footprint. Across our islands, we’ve installed approximately 2.5MW of grid-connected solar PV. On one island in particular, we’ve installed a hybrid solar PV battery system that’s capable of producing approximately 30% that island’s overall energy supply.”
SAFE WITH SOLAR VINLEC are currently working on a EC$10 million project to install 1MW each of solar and solar PV with battery storage. “We’ve encouraged and facilitated customers installing rooftop solar PV systems that are integrated with our network,” says Mr. Myers. “The project is funded by our own internally generated resources, including grant and loan components from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). Our consultants are already on-site, carrying out the necessary technical studies.” With the investment, VINLEC hopes to future-proof itself against the evolving demands of its customers. “This project is an important one: going forward, we’re anticipating a greater push – by us, and from our customers – to generate more solar PV, and to combine that growing solar capacity with improved energy storage,” says Mr. Myers. “On Beckwith, one of our biggest islands, we’re currently exploring a major solar PV project to provide up to 35 percent of the energy needed on that island. As a company, we’re heavily focused on renewables. Of course, we must make sure that we provide stability and reliability – and when necessary, we will invest in more traditional sources of energy supply. But we’re equally certain that renewables will remain our emphasis in the years to come.” SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
|5
Allied Cables
Allied Export
Allied Cables Ltd
Suppliers to the Utility Companies throughout the Caribbean of Low, Medium & High Voltage Armoured Cables. AAC & AAAC Aluminium Overhead Conductors, Duplex, Triplex & Quadruplex Aerial Bundled Cables, Bracketry, Clamps & Accessories. “ Allied Cables are delighted to be associated with St Vincent Electricity Services Ltd , and as a key supplier fully support their efforts to become a sustainable and energy efficient power house. Congratulations on your 60 year anniversary.” Howard Taylor—Managing Director, Allied Cables Ltd
Celebrating 60 years of Power, Connections and Progress
Comprehensive Stocks Available
For All Enquiries / Quotations contact our sales office Email: mail@alliedexport.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 1925 232662 www.allied-cables.com
6 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
“WE ARE HEAVILY FOCUSED ON RENEWABLES. WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE STABILITY AND RELIABILITY – AND WHEN NECESSARY, WE WILL INVEST IN MORE TRADITIONAL SOURCES OF ENERGY SUPPLY”
INTERVIEW: VINLEC NEW EXPLORATIONS In parallel with its solar investments, VINLEC is exploring the potential for the development of geothermal energy within Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. “At the end of 2019, we completed an exploration process for geothermal energy with a regional company here in the Caribbean,” explains Mr. Myers. “Unfortunately, the results of the drilling weren’t quite as successful as we’d initially hoped, but we are now investigating the possibility of using the wells that were dug to generate alternate form of energy. With temperatures upwards of 240 degrees, we’re confident that we’ll have opportunities to utilize those wells for electricity generation.” Another partnership with the CDB, the approximate cost of grant-financing for VINLEC’s geothermal projects amount EC$40 million. “Commencing in the mid-1980s, the CDB has been a major financer of our development projects, not only in the generation of electricity, but also in transmission and distribution,” says Mr. Myers. “We’ve also had financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB), who have proved a reliable partner throughout the decades. In both cases, the partnerships attest to the
great effort underway here in Saint Vincent to explore the use of renewable energy resources, to minimize our carbon footprint and, at the same time, to reduce the cost of energy for our customers.” PRIMED FOR THE FUTURE “I often remark upon the tremendous growth and development we’ve witnessed as a company over the last 35 years,” says Mr. Myers. “Electrification in the country has grown from about 55 percent at the commencement of the 1980s, to practically 100 percent today. During that time, we’ve revamped our entire transmission and distribution system, we’ve built a new generation plant and new, refurbished hydroelectric plants. We’ve introduced solar PV and battery storage into our system, and we have an IT infrastructure that connects all our facilities, along with an excellent suite of customer service software. So, as we often say: as a maturing company, what can we expect?” The answer, for VINLEC, is plenty. “We’re seeking to reduce the cost of electricity for our customers: that’s fundamental,” says Mr. Myers. “With the use of technology, we will see greater generation of renewable energy. That must be our
focus. We’re hoping to modernize our metering service to provide greater flexibility, not only for us, but to give our customers a better platform to assess how and when they’re using energy. At the same time, this will improve our monitoring abilities and enhance our control over the quality of return that we provide to our customers. Finally, underlying all that, we plan to continue developing our human resource capacity, as we look to maintain our allround high-quality service.” c
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
|7
TRAVEL GUIDE
TRAVEL GUIDE: BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
8 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
By Evie Roebuck
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
|9
TRAVEL GUIDE: BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
IN THE HEIGHTS In 1964, with the financial aid of Laurance Rockefeller, the land surrounding Sage Mountain was bought from private farmers and given to the Government of the British Virgin Islands. The site subsequently became Mount Sage National Park, the islands’ first national park, and regional conservation efforts began soon after. Farmland, as it once was, soon became densely populated with white cedar trees, as well as West Indian and Honduran mahogany. These same trees are thriving alongside other naturally regenerated vegetation. At a staggering 1,716 feet (523 meters) tall, Mount Sage, the peak after which the park is named, is the highest point across the BVI. As well as offering budding hikers panoramic views, the mountain is its own natural phenomenon, responsible for the production of rain, as warm, moist air rises from the east and south, cools as it passes
the mountain, condenses, and thus falls on the northern side of the park. As a result, different types of vegetation grow on the north side of the ridge compared to the south: there’s a contrast between the large boulders and old growth forest in the north side, said to be untouched since the time of Columbus, and the pastures and dry tropical forest in the south. Twelve looping trails carve through the Park to form a circular walking route. These include the Mahogany Forest Trail, which was established by J.R. O’Neal and ends at the top of Mount Sage, and the Central Trail, or Rainforest Trail as it’s otherwise known, which is a tourist favorite. The trails
10 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
offer many opportunities for avid birdwatchers, with the chance of sighting mountain doves, Caribbean martins, red-tailed hawks, pearly-eyed thrashers, and the American kestrel (known locally as the kili kili hawk). Among the glorious fauna are to be found guava berries, groves of mammee apples, elephant ear vine, and fig trees. Mount Sage National Park is located northwest of the BVI’s capital, Road Town, and can be accessed easily via car. If you want to have a moment away from sand and sea, truly immerse yourself in nature, and take in a once-in-a-lifetime view from BVI’s peak, place this right at the very top of your travel list!
WHERE TO START BVI KEY FACTS
YOUR ADVENTURE Capital:
Road Town
Population:
30,149
Language(s):
English
Major resort areas: Tortola, Little Sisters, Anegada Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke Tourist season:
Any time
Annual visitors:
408,000
Annual tourism earnings:
ZMK 4,408 million
Currency:
US Dollar (US$)
Avg. temperature:
73-84 °F
Highest point:
1,709 ft (521 m))
Time zone:
UTC-4:00 (AST)
Dialling code:
+1-284
KEY ATTRACTIONS
KEY REGIONS
Bike rentals
Music
Historic places
Restaurants
Shopping
Ship Wreck
Virgin Gorda
Island hopping
Waterfalls
Kayaking
Jost Van Dyke
Surfing
Hiking
Bars
Little Sisters
Dolphin and Whale watching
Snorkeling
Local Wildlife
Tortola
Anegada
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
| 11
TRAVEL GUIDE: BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
WHAT TO DO... TORTOLA TRAVEL BACK IN TIME AT AN ANCIENT DISTILLERY Located in Cane Garden Bay on the north shore of Tortola, the Callwood Rum Distillery is sure to pull you back into the past. Callwood is one of the Caribbean’s oldest pot distilleries; the Callwood family have
been using the same method to produce their famous Arundel Cane Rum for the last 400 years. Many of the original structures are still in use, including the boiler, storage casks, and the old guard house (which is now an art gallery and gift shop). In the spring and summer months, visitors are welcome on tours of the operational distillery. During the rest of the year, the gallery and shop remain open, so you can still learn about the distillery and buy some delicious rum for someone special back home – or for yourself! HIDE AWAY AT SMUGGLER’S COVE Although surreptitiously situated on the west coast of Tortola, Smuggler’s Cove is just 10 miles away from Road Town, the capital of the BVI. Compared with other nearby beaches, Smuggler’s Cove is less crowded, creating a more relaxed and spacious atmosphere. The area is also
12 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
superb for snorkeling; an abundance of colorful coral and fish await your keen gaze. Find yourself hungry after a morning of swimming and snorkeling? Nigel’s Snack Bar can provide all the refreshments you could possibly need. Smuggler’s Cove is free and open from dawn until dusk, so you can take your time. However, be careful on your way there, as to reach the cove you must traverse a dirt road, so make sure your car’s up for it! ALSO IN TORTOLA • Visit the Mount Sage National Park and scale the highest peak of the BVI. • Experience the culture and heritage of the British Virgin Islands at Jenesis Studios, an expansive gallery, museum, and open garden. • Shop at local stores, where you can find many spices, types of jewelry, and local art for sale.
JOST VAN DYKE DISCOVER THE WILDLIFE OF A HIDDEN ISLET If you’re an avid birdwatcher, you won’t want to leave the British Virgin Islands (BVI) without visiting Diamond Cay. Hidden between the southern shore of Jost Van Dyke and the neighboring land of Little Jost Van Dyke, the island of Diamond Cay is a bird sanctuary and nesting site. Established as a National Park in 1991, the islet is home
to terns, pelicans, boobies, and many other types of bird. However, don’t spend too long gazing upwards: there are bountiful and colorful reefs which can be explored by hiring a boat for the day and going snorkeling. Make sure to take care where you anchor your boat, though; to avoid damaging reefs, only anchor in sand. The islet is also known for its rich, contrasting landscape: beautiful sandy beaches on the leeward side, perfect for a relaxing sunbathe, give way to volcanic rocky cliffs on the windward side, ideal terrain for that morning hike you’ve been meaning to go on! VISIT A BOTANICAL GARDEN Saint George and Saint David are home to several botanical gardens with a variety of indigenous tropical plants. Seek out Palm Tree Gardens, Laura’s Herb and Spice Garden, Sunnyside Garden, or Hyde Park Tropical Garden. Just make sure to arrange your visit with a tour guide or at least call ahead, to ensure you won’t clash with a cruise visit.
RELAX IN MOTHER NATURE’S JACUZZI For advanced scuba divers only, the Bianca C shipwreck is sometimes referred to as ‘the Titanic of the Caribbean’. Named by The Times of London as one of the top ten wreck diving sites in the world, the 600-foot cruiseliner sank in 1961 with one fatality, and today, accomplished divers can see eagle rays, nurse sharks, barracuda, moray eels, and Atlantic spadefish – and go for a swim in the ship’s pool! ALSO IN JOST VAN DYKE • Keep an eye out for dolphins and whales while cruising on boat trips run by locals. • Enjoy half a mile of white, powdery sand and crystal blue waters at White Bay Beach, before trying a local cocktail at one of the many award-winning beach bars dotted along its shoreline. • Explore hidden reefs by snorkeling and scuba diving with the help of Jost Van Dyke Scuba. SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
| 13
14 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
TRAVEL GUIDE: BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
ANEGADA TRY YOUR HAND AT FLY-FISHING Whether you’re an experienced angler or a complete novice, you won’t want to miss out on the chance to go fly-fishing in Anegada. Professional guides offer visitors the opportunity to sail on flat boats and try their hand at catching bonefish, tarpon, permit, and other types of fish. Anegada notably practices catch, revive, and release. This means that, since fishermen use de-barbed hooks, fish remain unharmed and are released back into the sea. Make sure to listen to the guides as they inform you about ecosystems and the importance of conserving marine environments! TRAVEL ACROSS THE ISLAND ON HORSE BACK If you are looking for an alternative way to explore Anegada, Francis Family Farm may be the place to start. Located on the
western side of Anegada, the farm offers tourists the opportunity to ride across the coast on horseback. As well as looking after you, the farm has made it their mission to rescue abandoned animals and give them much needed food and shelter. By using their services, you’re helping to care for animals in need. Francis Family Farm have three different rides available: the early bird sunrise, running from six to eight in the morning.; short rides that last 30 minutes and are available throughout the day; and, lastly, the hour-long sunset ride.
ALSO ON ANEGADA • Try your hand at some extreme sports! Kitesurfing lessons, for example, are available with the Tommy Gaunt Kitesurfing School. • Visit the former home of political activist Theodolph Halburn Faulkner, considered one of the ‘Fathers of this Little Nation,’ at the Faulkner House Museum – a national monument for locals. • Gaze at vibrant pink flamingos at the Flamingo Pond.
severity of the various penal systems that have been implemented over the years, as well as the judicial history of the BVI.
there is no mention of such a fort in Spanish documents written at the time, even though their invasion would have taken them right past it! Whatever the case, only the foundations, along with a magazine and cannon, remain at the historic site. Fort Burt now has a hotel and restaurant built upon its mysterious locale; the last original cannon can be viewed from the hotel’s glorious veranda, facing out towards the spectacular harbor.
ROAD TOWN ENTER THE PAST OF HER MAJESTY’S PRISON Although it became a museum in the 1990s, Her Majesty’s Prison is one of the oldest buildings on the island. Dating back to the 1770s, the site has been preserved as part of the British Virgin Islands Government’s commitment to restoring and maintaining local historical sites. The prison was refurbished and opened to the public in 2016, enabling tourists to learn about the
EXPLORE THE MYSTERY OF FORT BURT Named after William Burt, the Governor of the Leeward Islands, following its renovation in 1776, Fort Burt once provided defense to Road Harbor. However, the origins of the original fort remain a mystery; some believe it was built by Dutch settlers, but
ALSO IN ROAD TOWN • Purchase unique souvenirs on Main Street, Road Town’s chief shopping district. • Unlock the BVI’s past by visiting the Lower Estate Sugar Works. • Become entranced by exotic plants at J.R. O’Neal Botanic Gardens. SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
| 15
TRAVEL GUIDE: BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
VIRGIN GORDA SURROUND YOURSELF WITH NATURAL BEAUTY The Baths National Park is a seven-acre expanse located on the north shore of Virgin Gorda. Established as a National Park in 1990, the Baths houses an exquisite collection of sea pools and white, sandy beaches, themselves the result of nearby granite boulders, some of which are up to 40 feet in width. These natural phenomena are produced by molten rock seeping into
16 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
pre-existing volcanic rock layers, cooling, and then forming hard crystalline layers. Natural weathering adds the final touch, rounding the jagged edges into the smooth and stunning granite boulders which we see today. Traverse the boulders via a series of ladders to reach the Devil’s Bay, an ideal spot for swimming and snorkeling! SEE THE REMAINS OF AN OLD COPPER MINE On the cliffs of south-east Virgin Gorda are the ruins of a once prosperous copper mine. Built by Cornish miners in the early nineteenth century, the mine only remained active until 1862 when it was shut down. During this time, around 130 Cornish workers and their families called the island home. The ruins of their living quarters and the operations center, including the powerhouse, engine house,
cisterns, mineshafts, and chimney, are still visible. Once mined, the copper was used to make tools and jewelry, and was traded with people from other nearby islands. Restoration began in 1998 and the site was fully established as an attraction in 2003. While visiting Mine Hill, look out for the white-tailed tropicbird, which nests in crevices near the engine house, and dives from extraordinary heights to catch its prey. ALSO IN VIRGIN GORDA • Relax with tailor-made treatments to suit your needs at Bitter End’s spa. • See one of the last examples of Caribbean dry forest at Gorda Peak National Park. • Want to immerse yourself in sea life without getting cold and wet? Sea it Clear’s glass-bottomed boats have you covered!
VISIT THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS &
DISCOVER PA R A D I S E EVERY DAY
E N J O Y N AT U R E ’ S L I T T L E S E C R E T S www.bvitourism.com
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
| 17
INTERVIEW: LUMEN FIELD
LEADERS IN THE FIELD 18 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Sustainable Business Magazine speaks to Zach Hensley, Vice President of Operations & General Manager at Lumen Field, about the stadium’s sustainability journey, the importance of education, and environmental initiatives within sports. By Charlie Plumb First opening its doors in 2002, Lumen Field is the home stadium of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, as well as the MLS Seattle Sounders FC and NWSL OL Reign soccer teams. Located in the “SODO” neighborhood of downtown Seattle, WA, the stadium seats an impressive 68,000 visitors, and takes center stage within a complex that also contains the Lumen Field Event Centre, which houses the indoor Washington Music (WAMU) Theatre. One of the founding members of the Green Sports Alliance, as well as a founding participant of sustainability toolkit PLAY, the stadium prides itself on its commitment to environmental sustainability and education, maintaining an impressive figure of over 90 percent of on-site waste going to recycling or compost.
REBUILD, REUSE, RECYCLE “We’re not only committed to being a gathering place for the community to enjoy great events, but also to being a sustainable venue,” says Zach Hensley, Vice President of Operations & General Manager at Lumen Field. “Before Lumen Field was built, reusing and recycling were key. When we left our previous location, which was called the Kingdome, the concrete was recycled and 35 percent was used in the current stadium. So even back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, we were committed to principles of sustainability.” Lumen Field’s approach to sustainability takes in all elements of the running of the stadium and the Event Centre. “In 2006, we found that only three percent of our waste was being recycled, so we put a plan together about the future of sustainability for Lumen Field,” says Mr. Hensley. “We invested first in installing composting equipment, and then in 2008 we began to upgrade begin to upgrade and improve energy and water usage – whether that be switching to LED lights or using low flow fixtures. In 2011, we then conducted a very large solar panel installation on the roof of our Event Centre. Attached to the south of Lumen Field, the Event Centre is 196,000 square feet in size. With that solar installation, we now have an annual energy recapture rate of approximately 25 percent for the Event Centre.” SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
| 19
INTERVIEW: LUMEN FIELD
JUMPING FORWARD The biggest obstacle to Lumen Field’s early efforts to improve their recycling efficiency was ensuring that fans and staff alike knew how to use their improved facilities. “Starting in 2006, we implemented recycling and composting throughout the venue,” says Mr. Hensley. “As part of that, we partnered with our own communications team on fan education: being strategic about where we place the signage to make sure that they were visible, and ensuring that we were direct in how we communicate. Inside a stadium environment, there are so many different receptacles and different types of food packaging, it’s feasible that many fans won’t always know into which of the different bins they should deposit their waste. So, we designed our signage to show exactly what piece or receptacle should go in each bin, with actual pictures, showing
This advert was from our Sustainability Game in 2019
20 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
precisely what to do. That really helped in the education process.” In 2012, the Lumen Field team identified single-stream recycling as another way to improve the efficacy of their recycling program. “That implementation saw our diversion rates jump rapidly from 70 percent, to 90 percent a year later,” explains Mr. Hensley. “That’s a very large jump, all of which can be attributed to single-stream recycling. As part of that, we eliminated landfill cans in front of house areas to reduce confusion and contamination. All of our food packaging was compostable or recyclable by that time, so landfill cans had outlived their use.” Though Lumen Field now maintains an impressive recycling rate, the stadium is still looking for ways to improve. “In 2016, we achieved a recycling diversion rate of 96.3% by focusing on more sustainable methods of sourcing and recycling,” says Mr. Hens-
ley. “It’s really something that we’re proud to have been able to maintain since then. In each of our programs, the biggest thing is education: being innovative and holistic overall, but also educating our fans and our staff through videos and signage throughout the stadium. We’ve been recognized for our sustainability programs both locally and nationally from the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as internationally. We pride ourselves in always doing the right thing.” TWENTY YEARS OF SUCCESS As Lumen Field approaches its twentieth year, the stadium continues to evolve with the times as new techniques become available. “Having opened in 2002, we’re getting very close to the 20-year mark for our buildings,” Mr. Hensley continues. “When a building gets to that age, you start to look at your systems, your components, identifying how you can re-evaluate your practices and be more sustainable. Achieving LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification is on our timeline in the next year or so, having previously made great strides prior to the pandemic, at which point we were forced to hit pause. As new technologies come aboard, whether that’s lighting, whether that’s something for HVAC, fire suppression or other building systems, that’s a key focus for us – to be able to maintain and continue to improve our sustainability program.” “In terms of our partnership in the Green Sports Alliance, last year Lumen Field
“WE’RE WORKING TOWARDS THAT NET ZERO CARBON FOOTPRINT. WE’LL CONTINUE TO USE OUR SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AND LUMEN FIELD OUTREACH, TELLING OUR STORY ABOUT COMPOSTING, WASTE DIVERSION”
became a founding participant of the PLAY sustainability toolkit,” says Mr. Hensley. “Powered by ARC, PLAY guides organizations towards net-zero carbon, zero waste, water positive initiatives, and will soon add additional leadership categories for the first years of programming, including sustainable food and nutrition, transportation and environmental justice. That’s just another way that we continue to focus not only on our own program, but on how we educate others to be able follow our best practices.” Sustainability is a lot more than just recycling, however. For Lumen Field, it’s also about giving back to the local community. “From a sustainability perspective, we’ve seen significant innovations in food service, for instance,” says Mr. Hensley. “We’re really focusing on those systems, whether that means refrigeration, composting opportunities within the stadium, or educating others about the program. It’s not a ‘capital project’, if you will, but it’s a
project that we pride ourselves on. We’ve worked with a local composting partner to take waste from Lumen Field, which is then used at a local farm to grow the same vegetables and fruits that we serve at the stadium. That’s a program we’ve run for the last three years, and one that has been extremely successful. We call it the Potato Game: every potato served in the stadium – potato chips, French fries, potato salad, you name it – comes from that farm. We’re a big believer when it comes to incorporating local produce into our menus.” SETTING THE BLUEPRINT With a strong presence in the sporting community, Lumen Field is using its platform to promote sustainable values. “One of our key pillars is youth empowerment,” explains Mr. Hensley. “That can involve so many different things: sports, yes – but also from a sustainability perspective, it means going out into the community and working to educate
students. How do we achieve that? Through digital content, through conversations, discussing what we’ve done in the past and showcasing the thinking behind our sustainability programs. Working with Green Sports Alliance, it’s about using ourselves as a focal point. We want to be the blueprint for what other stadiums, arenas, and organizations can do to take the next step in sustainability.” “We’re working towards that net zero carbon footprint,” Mr. Hensley says. “We’ll continue to use our Seattle Seahawks and Lumen Field outreach, telling our story about composting, waste diversion, and why we believe it’s something that we’ll continue to focus on in future years. I attribute a lot of this success to organization. Our team has done a phenomenal job, and I look forward to seeing what we continue to do in the future: how we continue to innovate and educate, and to outperform our current diversion rate, so we can continue to be one of the leaders in our field.” c SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
| 21
INTERVIEW: TIJULE COMPANY LIMITED
FEEDING JAMAICA Sustainable Business Magazine speaks to Roy Newell, Managing Director at Tijule Company, about the challenges of growing through the pandemic, their most sought-after products, and how the company are making the most of the resources around them. By Izzy Moss Founded in 1984, Tijule Company is the result of a nutritionist’s revolutionary vision to utilize wasted raw materials in Jamaica, and to create something sustainable and employment for local people. Despite the challenges of the age, including an underdeveloped agro-processing sector, they persisted with their dream, and so Tijule was born. Today, the agro-processing company is alive and thriving, producing sauces, jams and jellies from a range of locally sourced ingredients, including cashews, bananas and avocados. AGAINST THE ODDS Since those humble beginnings, Tijule has developed into a leading food supplier, shipping its range of 20 locally sourced products 22 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
to markets worldwide. “The company has grown from a staff complement of about ten to 108 to date, employing people from different backgrounds and qualifications,” says Roy Newell, Managing Director of Tijule Company. “Over the years, we’ve diversified considerably in order to keep the company sustainable. Many of the products that we initially started out with have become highly competitive in the marketplace, and we’ve managed to enter into a number of major countries, including the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Australia, and Japan. “Particularly when we launched our operations, the main challenge we faced was the labor-intensive nature of our work,” Mr. Newell continues. “Despite our ambition,
Tijule as a company was undercapitalized. As a result, the prospect of growth was something by no means easy to achieve. Nevertheless, we’ve managed to do very well thus far, drawing on the help of banks to borrow funds and make investments where necessary, and thereby securing the capital we required to become what we are in the present day. Alongside, and thanks to that, we’ve managed to build up a reasonable corporate structure within our local community, and we’re now pursuing our ambition to transform Tijule into a nationally-recognized brand.” DEALING WITH DISRUPTION Like all businesses, the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020 had a significant impact on operations, with disruption to supply chains causing chaos across the globe. “In the wake of Covid-19’s immediate arrival, we were receiving a lot of information from the government about what the expectations were, and what we could expect to change moving forward,” says Mr. Newell. “In anticipation of this, we were forced to invest considerable sums into our selling process, with a focus on acquiring more raw materials for storage and packing. It had an immense impact on our operations.” “Up to five months at a time, we were out of the packaging materials coming in from China, either because of delays or shortages,” continues Mr. Newell. “That supplier has since added another product line which, fortunately, is a in more stable supply in Jamaica, and easier to sell locally. That’s helping us to build out our local market, on top of our pre-existing product lines. Overall, we’ve really come to underSUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
| 23
INTERVIEW: TIJULE COMPANY LIMITED stand and appreciate the importance, now more than ever, of having a local market within your country that can keep you operational in situations where international boarders close down.”
“THE COMPANY HAS GROWN FROM A STAFF COMPLEMENT OF ABOUT 10 TO 108 TO DATE PLUS SEASONAL WORKERS, EMPLOYING PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND QUALIFICATIONS,”
24 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
IN DEMAND Recently, Tijule has enjoyed considerable success in its effort to expand the export market for Jamaican agricultural and food products. “There’s currently very high demand for a wide cross-section of sauces, jams and jellies,” says Mr. Newell. “These aren’t new products or innovations – they’re offerings which have been a key part of our product range for a very long time. Likewise, we’re seeing more interest in our canned and frozen products.” Impressively, this interest has come without Tijule increasing its advertising or marketing outlays. “It’s great to see the demand rise,” continues Mr. Newell. “Once we can secure the capital, we’ll be able to source more equipment and proceed at an ever faster pace. To that end, we’ve already introduced several continuous improvement programs, including a food safety management system. That allows us to continuously identify any risk factors to our operations and gives us information
that we can then use to propose effective mitigating strategies. In doing so, we maximize our efficiency, and ensure that we’re being the best we can be.” UTILIZING RESOURCES Looking forward, Tijule expects to enjoy greater brand presence, and an significant increase in the volume of local raw material that are being utilized for their new products. “We’ll continuously improve our produce, making use of local resources to ensure that we’re investing money back into our communities and our country, and to help us feed Jamaicans,” concludes Mr. Newell. “As
part of that, we plan to make production more efficient, our services more aware and make ourselves more productive.” “We know the impact that our decisions have across our supply chain, directly and indirectly, and we strive to stay abreast of those by initiating conversations, planning ahead, and forming strong alliances with our suppliers,” Mr. Newell goes on. “At the same time, self-reliance remains a vital component of our present-day activities and operations. Moving forward, we’d like to relieve ourselves of a dependency upon other people to hand things down to us, and instead to rely upon and make the
most of what we have. We have a belief that we apply throughout our operations, and it points to exactly that goal: we can approach every challenge by saying, ‘let’s use the resources that we have, let them fly, and utilize the energy that we have around us’.” c
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
| 25
TRAVEL GUIDE
TRAVEL GUIDE: ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
26 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
By Alex Caesari
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
| 27
TRAVEL GUIDE: ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
THE CULTURAMA FESTIVAL
28 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
The dual federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, which is located in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean plate, has a complicated history. Though the smallest sovereign state in the Americas, the federation’s past is one that Kittitians and Nevisians cannot forget, fraught with global tensions, colonial degradation, and widespread exploitation. Once inhabited by the native Kalinago people, St. Kitts and Nevis was extensively used for tobacco and sugar cane production under British and French colonial rule. The European nations, when not engaged in territorial warfare across the islands, briefly joined forces in the 1626 massacre of the Kalinago population, during which an estimated 2,000 people lost their lives. As with most Caribbean islands, the period that followed was defined by the institutional exploitation of African slaves, a practice that continued until 1 August 1834. Fast forward to the present, and 1 August remains an important date in Kittitian and Nevisian cultural history. On the first weekend of August every year, Nevisians host the Culturama festival, a celebratory event that aims to preserve and enshrine the native customs and traditional folk art of the region. During the festival, Nevisians wear delightfully vivid garments that represent characters, including moko jumbies (colorful stilt walkers) and masquerade dancers, from the West African folkloric tradition. Though it is a period of dance, song, and merriment, the history of colonialism and slavery lurks beneath the extravagance to remind locals and tourists alike of the federation’s difficult past.
of their owners, while the whips held by performers dredges up vivid images of colonial punishment and racial enslavement. Yet, in their extravagant reclamation of past events, Culturama performers regain control over their history and past oppressors. In the process, the West African folkloric tradition, which was brought to the islands by the slaves who built them, is preserved. Their culture, celebrated. Their heritage, sustained. For many locals, Culturama is the cultural highlight of the year. It’s a time to remember, it’s a time to celebrate. But it’s also a time to learn! Attendees of the festival are welcome to participate in a variety of workshops, from arts and crafts to costume design to creative writing. Proceeds raised by the Cultarama festival are directed back into the Nevisian community. The festival is currently raising funds to build a community center, which will serve as a hub for a variety of Nevisian-led cultural awareness programs.
The colorful masks worn by dancers recalls the egregious performances that slaves were forced to act out for the amusement SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
| 29
TRAVEL GUIDE: ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
WHERE TO START ST. KITTS AND NEVIS KEY FACTS
YOUR ADVENTURE
30 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Capital:
Basseterre, St Kitts
Population:
53,199 (2020)
Language(s):
Saint Kitts Creole / English
Major resort areas:
Tortola, Little Sisters, Anegada Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke
Tourist season:
December - April
Annual visitors:
1.11m (2019)
Currency:
The Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$)
Avg. temperature:
70-87 °F
Highest point:
Mount Liamuiga, 3,792 feet [1,156 metres]
Time zone:
UTC-4:00 (AST)
Dialling code:
+1
KEY REGIONS
St Paul’s
North St Kitts
Black Rocks
South St Kitts Mt Liamuiga
West St Kitts Sandy Point
Cayon
East St Kitts Nevis
Challengers BASSETERRE
Frier’s Bay
KEY ATTRACTIONS
Art
Market
Batik
Monkeys
Beach
Mount Liamuiga
Bird Spotting
Museum
Boat Trips / Catamaran
Nevis Peak
Brimstone Hill Fortress
Rainforest
Dolphins
Rum Tour
Dining
Sugar Train
Diving
Volcano
Eco Park
Watersports
Golf
Wildlife
Hiking
Viewpoint
Horse Riding
Zip Line
Newcastle
Butlers
Nevis Peak
Charlestown
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
| 31
TRAVEL GUIDE: ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
WHAT TO DO... NORTH ST. KITTS ENJOY UNPARALLELED VIEWS AT THE TOP OF MOUNT LIAMUIGA At an impressive 1,156 meters tall, the beating heart of St. Kitts and the highest point on the island, is the Mount Liamuiga stratovolcano. Its name, Liamuiga, derives from the native Kalinago name for the island itself: fertile land. Led by local guides, tourists can explore Mount Liamuiga by foot on a six-hour guided hike; small groups travel via safari truck into the tropical forest, before continuing their trek on foot to witness the
32 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
rich flora and fauna of St. Kitts. It can take up to one full day to reach the peak of the now-extinct volcano, where a sky-high picnic awaits you at the volcanic crater top. The views are certain to give any adventurer an adrenaline buzz! AWAKEN YOUR AWARENESS AT ST. KITTS ECO PARK After scaling Mount Liamuiga, what better occasion for a little downtime – or limin, as the locals would put it? Head over to the St. Kitts Eco Park, a haven for all things nature. Developed in partnership with the Republic of Taiwan over a period of three years, the eco-project is built on three pillars: agriculture, green energy, and tourism. As such, the park invites visitors to slow down, absorb nature, and open up their awareness to the environment. Over two hundred plant species are dotted around the Rose, Desert, and Tropical Orchard gardens, and have
been planted with the intention of educating tourists on the botanical history of the island and its inhabitants’ heritage. ALSO IN TORTOLA • Scout out local wildlife across Convent Bay, including the white-faced whistling-duck and the Little Blue Heron. • Head to Sandy Point Town to the Amazing Grace Experience to learn about the dramatic story, told with original artifacts from slave ships, of how John Newton would transition from prominent slave trader to staunch abolitionist and writer of the well-known hymn ‘Amazing Grace’. • Find the Black Rocks of St. Kitts! Located near the town of Saddlers, the Black Rocks will remind of you Mount Liamuiga’s incredible volcanic origins, themselves formed from the cooled lava flow of the stratovolcano.
EAST ST. KITTS
Come feel the magic. THE OCEAN LOVERS' CHOICE ON ST. KITTS Nestled on the golden Caribbean beach in Frigate Bay, Timothy Beach Resort features spacious deluxe suites, beautifully appointed hotel rooms, sunset balcony views, snorkeling, water sports, nearby golf & ambiance of the ocean front pool, Sunset Cafe restaurant and The Dock Bar on the beach.
TAKE A TRAIN JOURNEY AROUND THE ISLAND Most guidebooks will tell you that the best way to explore St. Kitts is by car – drive wherever you want, see whatever you want. If everyone were to take that advice, carbon emissions on the island would skyrocket. Instead, take the more environmentally friendly, sustainable, and relaxed alternative: the St. Kitts Scenic Railway. Though originally built between 1912 and 1926 to transport sugar cane from plantations to the main sugar factory in Basseterre, the train (which has six-foot vaulted windows and an observation deck) now invites visitors on a relaxed but incredibly meaningful 3-hour tour of the east coast of St. Kitts, through unspoiled countryside and important scenes of the island’s complicated colonial history.
*Timothy Beach Resort is a completely Non Smoking hotel*
Contact us on: T: 869-465-8597 F. 869-466-7085 Toll Free US & CA: 888-229-2747 Toll Free UK: 0800-032-7739 E. info@timothybeach.com www.timothybeach.com F R I E N D LY,
A F F O R D A B L E
-
J U S T
R I G H T !
ALSO IN EAST ST. KITTS • Play a round of golf at the Royal St. Kitts Golf Club, built with sustainability in mind: native grasses match the landscape and conserve water by maintaining natural watersheds; while food producing crops, planted around the course, supply local communities with accessible and organic ingredients. • Go bird-spotting at Half Moon Pond! See if you can catch sight of the beautiful ruddy quail-dove and the yellow-billed cuckoo.
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
| 33
TRAVEL GUIDE: ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
SOUTH ST. KITTS TRY A COOK’S TOUR OF BASSETERRE Become the star of your own food and travel documentary series with a walk through the palimpsest city of Basseterre, itself destroyed and rebuilt throughout colonial wars, riots, hurricanes, floods, and fires. With a population of just 14,000, the capital and cultural center of the island will never feel daunting; its streets and haunts unfurl before you to deliver an olfactory voyage of Kittitian cuisine. Spicy plantains, seasoned breadfruit, stewed saltfish, coconut dumplings, guava cheese, sugar cakes, and coconut fudge – there’s lots to explore and even more to eat, so ditch the guidebook and head down the side streets and alleyways between colonial façades to sample the city’s countless food trucks and street wagons!
ALSO IN SOUTH ST. KITTS • Those living a vegan lifestyle can still savor Kittitian cuisine: head to Ital Creations at Fari Organic Farm for locally grown plant-based food; relax under mango trees and find a sense of calm with their guided yoga sessions. • Embrace a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and swim with dolphins off the south coast of the island; keep an eye
out for spinner dolphins, hawksbill sea turtles, angelfish, spiny lobster, and the endemic flamingo tongue cowrie sea snail. • Leave central Basseterre and head towards Port Zante. Here, you will find engaging street entertainment and a local crafts market, the perfect place to find some holiday souvenirs!
the site, and ancient petroglyphs can still be seen across the estate. Some of the trees which line the house are over 400 years old, thus commanding their own sense of spiritual and historical splendor. The manor is also a batik enterprise: peruse the colorful shop; treat yourself to handmade, unique, and one-of-a-kind batik products; add some color to your wardrobe!
Safari allows visitors to travel through the rainforest at speed on a 411 meter-long zipline. Can you think of a better way to see St. Kitts’ tropical biome?
WEST ST. KITTS WANDER (AND WONDER) IN A RAINFOREST Suit up. Buckle up. It’s time for adventure! Catch a buggy ride to St. Kitts’ National Park, the Central Forest Reserve (CFR), which was established for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, and wander through the nearly 10,000-acre area. Be prepared for lots of wonder, too – the reserve’s dense greenery and tropical fronds house many species. It goes without saying, but be prepared to get wet! It’s an experience that only adds to the forest’s charm. EXPLORE LOCALLY MADE TREASURES AT ROMNEY MANOR’S BATIK MARKET There’s lots to see at Romney Manor, including a beautiful house, luscious garden, and eight-acre estate with effulgent sea views. The history of the land itself is also tantalizing. Evidence suggests the village of Kalinago Chief Tegreman originally occupied 34 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
ALSO IN WEST ST. KITTS • Consider the historical implications of Britain’s involvement in the slave trade at the ruins of the sugar plantation on the Wingfield Estate. • Continue your historical voyage at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Brimstone Hill Fortress, a military fort built during the 18th century by African slaves, overlooking the ocean. • Part of the Wingfield Estate and Romney Manor’s grounds, the Sky
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
| 35
TRAVEL GUIDE: ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
NEVIS SCALE THE HEIGHTS OF NEVIS PEAK Located two miles southeast of St. Kitts is the neighboring island of Nevis. The smaller of the pair, the island of Nevis is home to another formidable stratovolcano: the 985-meter tall Nevis Peak. The name Nevis comes from the Spanish nieve (snow),
and its origins are still apparent: most of the year, dense white clouds surround the pinnacle, creating the illusion of a snow-covered peak. With the help of a local guide, visitors can scale Nevis Peak for a glimpse of the volcano’s rich array of flora and fauna. Keep an eye out for the naturalized African vervet monkey, Antillean crested hummingbird, and the federation’s national animal: the brown pelican! IMMERSE YOURSELF IN TROPICAL BOTANY A multitude of tropical flowers and shrubs, ornate fountains, orchid terraces, and lily ponds await visitors to the Botanical Gardens of Nevis, located just a short journey from the island’s capital, Charlestown. A mosaic of samples from around the globe have been brought together to make up the five-acre botanical expanse. Run with sus-
36 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
tainability in mind, water is recycled across the estate for use in ponds and fountains, while existing solar-powered lighting is being expanded and upgraded. Just remember to gaze upon the Poinciana (Delonix regia), the national flower of St. Kitts and Nevis, well-known for its flamboyant display of orange-red flowers. ALSO IN NEVIS • Learn about Nevisian history at the site of Alexander Hamilton’s birthplace in Charlestown, now the Museum of Nevis History. • Scuba dive among monkey shoals and a delightful coral atoll in the tropical reefs and shallows between Nevis and St. Kitts. • Head to Nelson’s Lookout, an old stone military fort, for breathtaking views of the island and the ocean beyond.
VISIT THE S T. K I T T S A N D N E V I S &
DISCOVER PA R A D I S E EVERY DAY
E N J O Y N AT U R E ’ S L I T T L E S E C R E T S SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
| 37
INTERVIEW: EAST PORT OF SPAIN DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
SERVING THE
COMMUNITY Sustainable Business Magazine speaks to Deborah Thomas-Austin, Managing Director at the East Port of Spain Development Company, about tackling regional disparities, meeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, and protecting the cultural heritage and people of East Port of Spain. By Tasha Nuthall The East Port of Spain Development Company (EPOS) is a government-owned company seeking to improve the economic, social, and physical environments of the eastern region of Trinidad and Tobago’s capital city, Port of Spain. Incorporated as a state enterprise in 2005, EPOS focuses on identifying the social and economic needs of local communities and implementing physical infrastructure and other development projects that will help overcome them. EPOS has since organized and implemented several programs that have a particular focus on sustainability, including access to proper sanitation, maintaining the safety of women in public spaces, urban agriculture? and preserving East Port of Spain’s cultural heritage. REGIONAL DISPARITIES Understanding the topography and cultural geography of the local metropolitan area is key to EPOS’s development strategy. “East Port of Spain is the cultural capital of Trinidad and Tobago and the home of the steel band, which is our national instrument,” explains Deborah Thomas-Austin, Managing Director of the East Port of Spain Develop38 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
ment Company. “Before we began our work, however, the first thing we needed to do was to understand the key issues and concerns underpinning the local community, including any assets, challenges, or changes that people want to see made. By identifying these issues, we were able to translate them into comprehensive and integrated development plans and socio-economic programs that have since benefitted the residents of East Port of Spain.” “When comparing East Port of Spain with the other municipal areas and regions of Trinidad and Tobago, we noticed how issues such as high levels of crime and unemployment, and low levels of income, affect the
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
| 39
INTERVIEW: EAST PORT OF SPAIN DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
lives of those in the community,” says Ms. Thomas-Austin. “Our mission is to reduce those disparities. For example, to tackle high unemployment levels, we engage local contractors and encourage them to hire 75 percent of their unskilled labor force from within the community itself, ensuring that more jobs are being created in the process. In our own work, we engage local contractors and service providers to implement social development projects, thereby engaging labor from the communities our work seeks to improve.” SUSTAINING COMMUNITIES To create more sustainable communities in the region, EPOS has organized a series of community programs that are designed to meet Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations. “For a community to be sustainable, members must have access to necessary services: jobs, appropriate housing, deliverable social services, certain physical infrastructure, and a clean and healthy environment to live in,” says Ms. Thomas-Austin. “We have created a model of what a sustainable community in East Port of Spain should look like, and we are trying to ensure that over time we can 40 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
provide the services and facilities that are consistent with that model.” “To realize that model, we operate a latrine eradication program, reducing the reliance on pit latrines for the disposal of sewage,” continues Ms. Thomas-Austin. “By creating a model bathroom facility that includes a flush toilet linked to the septic tank, we’re adhering to the sixth UN Sustainable Development Goal, which focuses on cledan water and sanitation. Not only that, but many girls and women are vulnerable to attack while using outdoor latrines. By building an interior or nearby bathroom, then, we are contributing to their personal safety. In tandem, our stormwater management program addresses the fact that many households lack
guttering to channel rain water and a pipe supply of water to their homes. By channeling water from the newly implemented guttering into a storage tank, households can store water and have regular access to it, which is an essential requirement during the COVID-19 pandemic.”” PRESERVING HERITAGE For EPOS, preserving East Port of Spain’s heritage is key to social development. “We are always trying to ascertain how we can identify, preserve, and protect the heritage sites in East Port of Spain,” explains Ms. Thomas-Austin. “For instance, under our heritage program, we have partnered with the Inter-American Development Bank to
fund designs for restoration of Fort Picton, a National Trust-protected Martello Tower. Moreover, to maintain the musical aspect of our cultural heritage, we are consistently upgrading the facilities of steel pan yards, homes to our national instrument, by implementing an area-wide panyard upgrade program. As a company, we understand that, by investing in our cultural heritage, we are recognizing the assets of that area – its history and culture – and the ability to capitalize on it for regional revitalization.” “Currently, we are trying to expand our urban agriculture program,” says Ms. Thomas-Austin. “By encouraging local communities to use vacant spaces and get involved in urban agriculture, we are better able to preserve the soil, reduce its erosion, and ensure people have a steady food supply. In time, the program will become a complete farm-to-table approach, encouraging people to get involved in sustainable agricultural practices. The urban revitalization model we have in this area, however, should not be limited by geography; rather, it is one that should be replicated in other parts of the Trinidad and Tobago, where communities face similar challenges, and whose lives can, like our own, be demonstrably improved.” c
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
| 41
INTERVIEW: MACANETA BEACH RESORT
MORE THAN A
DESTINATION Sustainable Business Magazine speaks with Sandhya Singh, Marketing and Sustainability Coordinator at Macaneta Beach Resort, about navigating the pandemic, leading by example with their eco-center, and how the resort educates visitors about local and global environmental crises. By Alexander Caesari Macaneta Beach Resort is located between the Indian Ocean and the Incomati River in the province of Maputo, Mozambique. Originally built as a grocery store and snack bar for local residents in 1972 by Senior Augusto a local fisheman, the beach resort was founded in 1997 by his son Senior Americo, the first of its kind on the Macaneta Peninsula. Beginning as a modest chalet enterprise with five members of staff, the resort quickly began to change: over the last 25 years,
evolving with gathering interest, Macaneta Beach Resort now offers a plethora of accommodation types, from suites to self-catering units to conferencing facilities. A shore-fronted beach café, swimming pool, entertaining room, and on-site restaurant add to the resort’s impressive list of facilities. Now, the resort employs a team of 20, three of which have been employed for over 25 years, witnessing the vast changes as they have arisen. As well as a holiday location, Macaneta Beach Resort also doubles as a prime rental venue for events, weddings, and parties. ADAPTING TO SURVIVE As with many businesses working in the hospitality sector during the global pandemic, Macaneta Beach Resort has adapted with the times, adopting new, rigorous measures to ensure the safety of their guests and comply with govern-
42 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
“WITH A WELL-PLANNED DIGITAL MARKETING STRATEGY, WE MANAGED TO ATTRACT TRAVELERS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE RESORT”
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
| 43
INTERVIEW: MACANETA BEACH RESORT
ment-imposed restrictions. “Following the news of travel restrictions and the closure of borders, we set out on developing a marketing strategy to target and attract nearby travelers to the resort,” explains Sandhya Singh, Marketing and Sustainability Coordinator at Macaneta Beach Resort. “Under normal circumstances, we attract visitors from neighboring countries; however, with the outbreak of COVID-19, we’ve had to adapt to survive by refocusing our marketing strategy. This meant rebranding Macaneta Holiday Resort, as we were previously known, to Macaneta Beach Resort, and launching this refreshed brand identity with a new website.” “With a well-planned digital marketing strategy, we managed to attract travelers in close proximity to the resort,” says Ms. Singh. “Though local, these individuals were looking for a break away from their cities and busy urban environments. By promoting our new marketing strategy and establishing a firm base of health and safety measures, we were able to reassure visitors, some of whom didn’t know of the resort anyway, and make them feel secure.
44 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
During quieter periods, we took the opportunity to carry out upgrades: making the resort more affordable, improving bathrooms and toilets, modernizing bedrooms, creating a new menu for the restaurant, and so on. These upgrades, set in motion by the pandemic, have certainly paid off.” REBUILD, RESTORE Since their inception, Macaneta Beach Resort have been involved in local environmental initiatives and schemes that support neighboring communities. “We’ve always cared deeply about our beautiful natural surroundings and understand the need to protect them,” says Nikita and Yash
Ambaramo (Management team). “We’re driven by the following mission statement: the resort doesn’t belong to us; it belongs to the land, and we must give back. Putting these words into action, we helped in the construction of a gabion wall, acting as an artificial barrier, to halt the erosion of a local riverbank. Natural barriers, including mangroves, are rare, typically because of deforestation and the cutting down of trees for firewood. Therefore, we make it our goal to promote mangrove planting initiatives which ensure that local habitats are rebuilt and restored.” “Local dunes are also threatened by erosion,” continues Ms. Singh. “As such,
“IT IS A LEADING EXAMPLE OF SUSTAINABLE LIVING AND SHOWCASES HOW SMALL CHANGES CAN MAKE A LASTING, POSITIVE IMPACT”
we’ve cordoned off areas that are at risk, using fences and notice boards to inform the local community, making them aware that they shouldn’t climb across the dunes (which would otherwise damage them further). We’ve an on-site museum to make our mission known, showcasing the rubbish which has been collected from local beach and river clean-ups. By doing so, we are educating the local community about to the harmful effects of pollution and how waste like plastic damages marine life and the environment.” LEADING BY EXAMPLE To facilitate their transition towards environmental sustainability, Macaneta Beach Resort in Partnership with Repensar have
created an eco-center. “Our vision is to become a fully sustainable eco-resort that continues to uplift local social groups,” explains Ms. Singh. “As part of this vision, we’ve partnered with Repensar, an environmental education cooperative in Mozambique, to put concepts into practice, establishing our eco-center on the resort’s premises. The purpose of the eco-center is to address current environmental challenges we’re facing across the peninsula, and to raise awareness about the global crises we are all facing. A feature of the Eco Centre is Villa Ambaramo also know as Cassa De Vidro (glass house), a unique building constructed from glass bottles in place of bricks as well as from recycled glass bricks, made in our own on-site treatment facility SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
| 45
INTERVIEW: MACANETA BEACH RESORT
46 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
from glass bottles which have been collected as part of various clean-up initiatives in the local area. “As an eco-home, the center is fully solar powered and makes use of collected rainwater. It is a leading example of sustainable living and showcases how small changes can make a lasting, positive impact. In turn, we aim to entice and educate visitors about sustainable travel and of pressing environmental issues, leading programs about pollution and the environment – all from our glass-built eco-center.” TRAVEL FOR CHANGE The notion of sustainable travel has become imbued in everything Macaneta Beach Resort do, including their plans for the future. “We aim to be at the forefront of environmentally responsible tourism, a kind of ‘travel for change,’ if you will, that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local communities,” explains Ms. Singh. “As a business, we want to promote purpose-driven travel, ensuring no negative impacts are made upon the local environment and community. With this in mind, we plan on redesigning our business operations with a more sustainable model, adopting a circular economy to limit our emissions. This will include adding more environmentally-friendly accommodation, like our eco-center, that blends with our surroundings; solar powered lighting, which is already used in some of our gardens, pathways, and outside areas, will be used throughout.” “As with the eco-center, moreover, we aim to install water treatment systems across the resort that work by harvesting rainwa-
“AS A BUSINESS, WE WANT TO PROMOTE PURPOSE-DRIVEN TRAVEL, ENSURING NO NEGATIVE IMPACTS ARE MADE UPON THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITY“ ter, which can then be used for gardening, cleaning, and flushing toilets. In tandem, we’re also developing education and training programs for our staff to help reduce waste and conserve energy by trying to create more recycling treatment facilities on the premises and composting programs for all organic waste. In terms of skills development, we want to create a mentorship and training program for locals wanting to work in the hospitality sector, therefore coming full-circle.” c
Please visit our website
macanetaresort.com
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
| 47
INTERVIEW: APUA
THE VALUE OF CONSERVATION
48 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Sustainable Business Magazine speaks to Ian Lewis and Sharifa George, Water Business Unit Manager and Public Relations Coordinator at Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA), about the green initiative, adapting to climate change, and delivering quality services. By Izzy Moss Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) is a government organization established in 1973, for the purpose of bringing all utilities throughout Antigua and Barbuda, including electricity, water and telecommunications, under one management. Introduced under the Public Utilities Act No. 10 of 73. It is headed by a General Manager who reports to the board and a Minister of Government, who in turn reports to the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda. Prior to establishment in 1970, APUA was run by Stanley Consultants, an external operator with responsibility for the management of electricity throughout the country. To this day, Antigua remains the only Caribbean island nation that remains to have all three utilities of electricity, water and telecommunications combined.
one heading; therefore, it is a lot easier to transfer money between departments. In our case, the water department is heavily subsidized by the electricity business unit. Another advantage is sharing resources like engineers, if a project is underway, APUA have access to the engineers needed from each department without having to contract an outside company.” “APUA’s electricity business unit puts out approximately 55-megawatts on average to the grid, which is our peak demand,” says Mr. Lewis. “This, presently, is being managed by an Independent Power Producer (IPP) on a contract. APUA is responsible for the transmission, distribution and billing side of electricity, but the power is being generated by an IPP. Water generated is about 8 million
DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS Across the Caribbean, it was once the norm for utilities to be grouped under the oversight of a single company. As of today, however, the vast majority have splintered into separate departments. Antigua, with its utilities controlled by APUA, is an exception to the rule. “The government felt at the time it was best if all the engineers were on one location, all being utilities,” says Ian Lewis, Water Business Unit Manager of APUA. “The financing comes under SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
| 49
INTERVIEW: APUA
Water Treatment Products, Services, and Improvement
• Equipment: Ultra-Filtration, Reverse Osmosis • Chemicals: Potable, UF, RO, Wastewater • Bacteria: WW H2S Odor, FOG, TSS, BOD • Sequestering: Iron, Manganese • Filters: RO Cartridges, Carbon, Calcite, Fe and H2S Removal
Caribbean-Wide Inventory and Service Water Tech Sales and Consulting, Inc.
Tel: (787) 601-6699
admin@watertechgroup.com | www.watertechgroup.com
gallons per day demand, and all of that is generated by APUA assets. At this point in time, we have been asked by the government to ensure that, during drought periods, we are able to match our demand. We are presently installing additional desalination units. We just signed off a contract to expand our desalination installations by an additional 3.2 million gallons, which we hope to have installed within the next 10 to 12 months. Lastly, what was called the telephone department has evolved into what is now called telecommunications. They have moved from being a telephone provider to providing landlines, mobile and internet services. In the case of the latter, they have just embarked on providing fiber optics to the homes.”
50 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
GREEN INITIATIVE APUA have a Green Antigua Initiative that was introduced roughly 10 years ago, aiming to spread the message of conservation in the context of water and electricity to several target groups. “Essentially, this was in response to the fact that unnatural water catchments were decreasing much faster than they used to because of climate change,” says Sharifa George, Public Relations Coordinator of APUA. “Water has been the focal point of our conservation exercise because we’re currently in a drought, which we’ve been combatting since 2010. We’ve attempted to mitigate the impacts by introducing a conservation schedule. We have sought to separate society into two groups: the most impres-
sionable, which is young people aged 12 and under, and mature adults. Our program speaks about conservation to children by educating them about the water production process. APUA primarily produces water through reverse osmosis. It is intense in terms of resources, electricity and finances. We try to express how precious water is as a resource, and for them to develop an appreciation of it. We then go into ways that they can have water in their homes and providing them with suggestions they can practice. We have found that once children get on board, their parents are more likely to follow suit.” APUA approach adults about conservation slightly differently. “We try to establish the value of conservation when it comes to saving costs, so that bills can be at a manageable rate and, at the same time, protecting the environment,” says Ms. George. “This initiative has worked for us. Most recently we have introduced the 2021 Water Conservation Schedule for the present drought. As COVID-19 becomes more manageable, we hope to resume this program. If not, we plan to make it virtual via presentations in primary schools. We do not want to miss a generation of young persons
“AS A RESULT OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND VARIABILITY, NORMAL LEVELS OF RAINFALL ARE NO LONGER ENOUGH TO REPLENISH OUR WATER STORAGE”
who need to learn about conservation, and the unique situation we have in Antigua and in the Caribbean when it comes to drought.” CLIMATE VARIABILITY “Climate change and climate variability has resulted in only receiving enough rainfall to replenish our surface water catchments,” explains Mr. Lewis. “That is only if there is a storm or tropical wave, normal rainfall does not replenish our storage anymore. Once we get one of those events, which is normally once per year, it will give us enough runoff to provide about six months’ worth of water. Once that is consumed, we must wait until the next storm. For example, we had rain in November last year, in 2020, and we were
able to extract and produce enough potable water until June of this year, 2021. That was about seven months as we were waiting for the next tropical event to replenish our resources. This is the pattern we have been seeing over the last six or seven years.” To combat these challengers of less rainfall, APUA are in the process of installing systems that can store far more water to meet the public demand. “It has become more of a problem, which is why we are forced to go into the direction of having water available via desalination,” says Mr. Lewis. “Once installed, we should be able to produce enough capacity that we will not have to depend on either surface water or groundwater anymore to contribute towards our daily demand, we will be able to do that via desalination alone. We will have enough installed capacity to provide 100% of the demand. In this process we are required to consider the climate, environment and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since water production through reverse osmosis is heavily dependent on electricity, we can benefit from the introduction of renewable energy on the grid. Currently, the electricity business unit utilizes renewable energy via solar panels. We have established
a partnership with an international Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) company called Eagle Limited, so they provide us with LNG. This is the first renewable energy with the use of LNG and is far more environmentally friendly as opposed to a diesel engine. This project is at the beginning stages, we are hoping by next year to have our very first LNG terminal as well as an LNG for plants contributing to the electric future.” FUTURE GOALS “The objective of APUA, as a responsible organization, is to ensure whatever services we provide to our customers we do so with the environment in mind,” says Ms. George. “We aim to provide services and use resources that are considered environmentally-clean. For desalination, we use as much renewable energy as possible to reduce our carbon footprint. For telecommunications, we ensure whatever measures we take will not be harmful to the environment. APUA is an organization that is rising to the challenge of the needs of Antigua and Barbuda, where utility services are required. Our aim is to ensure the quality of services that we provide are on par with that of a first-world country.” c SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
| 51
INTERVIEW: WASTE2WEAR
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION 52 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Sustainable Business Magazine speaks to Orla Govaerts, Communications Manager of Waste2Wear about recycled ocean fabrics, their transparent blockchain, and future plans and projects. By Beth Cope Waste2Wear is a recycled textiles company founded in 2007 under the previous name of Vision Textiles. Due to the textile industry being a terrible polluter, from the outset Monique Maissan, CEO and Founder was looking for a better way to produce textiles in Shanghai, China. Back in the early 2000s she was working with a number of different plastic bottle recycling companies to try and find the perfect way to make good quality yarns from recycled plastic bottles, despite the difficulty of the process. This includes breaking down the plastic bottles into pieces, then pellets, which are extruded into a floss-like fiber which can then be made into yarns. “These yarns just weren’t long or strong enough to make good quality fabric, they kept breaking, until a breakthrough in 2007, when the technique was perfected.” says Orla Govaerts, Communications Manager of Waste2Wear. “We really are pioneers in this industry. Our core business is making yarns, fabrics and products out of recycled polyester, and we’ve really grown in the sustainability market.”
can no longer fish there. We now contract a number of former fishmen to give them a new livelihood alongside other professional collectors.” Govaerts continues; “I’ve been out to the recycling factory, (pre-COVID of course), and seen these large silos that recycle 3,500 tons of plastic each. They must have the same quality plastic, so, at this stage, we are filling one silo at a time to make ocean fabric. Collecting ocean plastic is labor intensive which means it ends up costing more to produce. Still, some of our environmentally conscious customers demand this fabric to really help clean up our planet. The less plastic going into the ocean, the better.” “We have, in the industry, the highest ocean plastic content in any fabric, which is 30%,” says Ms. Govaerts. “Our closest competitor has 10%. We always applaud our competitors because we want everybody in the textile industry who’s making polyester
OCEAN FABRICS Since 2018, Waste2Wear has been making ocean fabrics. “We work very closely with a number of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and universities in China to establish where the best areas are to collect ocean plastics. They’ve identified areas along the Yangtze River, which are heavily polluted and have become catchment areas for plastic. These areas are so polluted that fishermen SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
| 53
INTERVIEW: WASTE2WEAR PHOTO OF ATHLEISUREWEAR COMPLIMENTS OF A-DAM. PHOTO OF SHORTS COMPLIMENTS OF GYM + COFFEE
to make it recycled, there’s absolutely no need for virgin polyester. Waste2Wear’s collectors find plastic within 500 meters from the shorelines. Some of our competitors consider plastic found 50 kilometers from shore to be ocean plastic. I live 10 kilometers from the shore, and if I was to pick up a bottle, I can tell you it’s pre-landfill, not pre-ocean,” explains Ms. Govaerts. “So, we’re very specific about these 500 meters. We prefer to get plastic before it begins to degrade; it can still be used to make fabrics, but it’s not of such high quality.” RECYCLED POLYPROPYLENE In 2018, our research and development team came up with a new method of recycling polypropylene, which is one of the world’s most abundant plastics. Only about 1-3% of it is recycled. It’s the kind of plastic that goes into domestic appliances such as fridges and also lunch boxes. We know that we’re the only company in the world making very durable and strong bags and packaging from recycled polypropylene (RPP) taken from domestic appliances in this manner. For this we won the Sustainable Business Award from the European Chamber of Commerce in China in 2020.”
“YOU CAN ALSO CLICK ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT WHICH SHOWS THAT OUR METHOD OF PRODUCTION USES 86% LESS WATER, 75% LESS CO2, AND 70% LESS ENERGY USED THAN NONRECYCLED FABRICS.
54 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
TRANSPARENT BLOCKCHAIN Fridges, for example are taken from dump sites and brought into a warehouse where the plastics can be separated from the metals. “We break down the plastic into flakes, then pellets, and then fiber from which we can make woven and non-woven products,” says Ms. Govaerts. “It’s never going to make clothing, but it makes incredibly durable shopping bags and packaging.” “In 2018, we introduced the textile industry to its first blockchain technology. At each step along the way, every batch of production is sealed with a non-duplicable key and that gets added to our centralized computer system. This information is then made available to the end user via a Quick Response (QR) code. We add these on all in-product labels that are delivered to the consumer,” says Ms. Govaerts. “For example, if you’re wearing a t-shirt that’s made with our RPET, you scan the QR code found inside the t-shirt, and immediately see that eight bottles went into making it. You can also click on the environmental impact report which shows that our method of production uses 86% less water, 75% less CO2, and 70% less energy than non-recycled fabrics. Consumers can also click on a video to see exactly how the bottles are broken down
and made into our products. All our factories are Global Recycling Standards (GRS) Certified. We were extremely honored to win the 2021 World Sustainability Award in the supply chain category for our unique blockchain technology.” RPET VERIFICATION Waste2Wear has been providing clients with chemical analysis tests since 2018. “Our award-winning* recycling assurance test (RA-3) will test any kind of yarn or fabric, to identify if it has a plastic bottle content.” explains Ms. Govaerts. “This is important for so many clients as they are often being sold fake RPET because it is cheaper to produce virgin polyester than recycled which makes it an attractive but dishonest practice by many suppliers. Industry reports state that up to 50% of the material that is sold as RPET is in fact fake. Our RA-3 test can determine what is fake and what is real RPET. These tests are conducted in conjunction with Wessling laboratories, making them the first independent test of its kind for the textile industry.” Wessling spent a month conducting blind tests until they were satisfied that it is, in fact, a very accurate way of confirming if there is recycled bottle content is in the material,” says Ms. Govaerts. “We see this technology as a new standard moving forward.”
PHOTO OF ATHLEISUREWEAR COMPLIMENTS OF A-DAM. PHOTO OF SHORTS COMPLIMENTS OF GYM + COFFEE
EFFECTS OF COVID-19 Waste2Wear saw a hiccup in the market at the beginning of the COVID Pandemic. “That was because fashion brands were just coming to a standstill,” explains Ms. Govaerts. “Before they shifted to sell online, there was definitely a freeze for a while. We reinvented ourselves, as we do all the time to anticipate and meet demand. We started making a wide variety of RPET face
masks, which have been popular. At the same time, we found increased demand from the promotional industry, to produce more sustainably. We are now also producing a lot of uniforms for various clients from cleaning companies to large global fast food companies. In fact, we have repeat orders for the Jane Goodall Institute in Tanzania for their park ranger uniforms. It’s wonderful to see these breathable, sustainable uniforms in action as they conduct their important work with the chimpanzees.” FUTURE OF WASTE2WEAR In 2022, Waste2Wear will be launching recycled nylon products. “We are very excited about this,” says Ms. Govaerts. “We are already making recycled hard plastics for food containers, drinking water bottles and other uses. We’re also in the process of making Christmas ornaments out of high impact polystyrene (HIPS) that comes from the insides of old television casings. They are truly stunning and ready for sale for Christmas 2022.” “We often get our ideas from consumer or client demand,” explains Ms. Govaerts. “Recently, a client asked if we could start making shower curtains. That’s something we never considered, but we’re now looking into it: picking the right kind of fabric, adding the right kind of finishes. That’s also how we got into making plush toys, for example. We also do floor underlay, all kinds of different things. At present, we are working with a large investor, so we expect 2022 to be a big year.” c *European Union Chamber of Commerce in China Sustainable Business Award 2021 SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
| 55
INTERVIEW: NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY’S CITY CAMPUS EAST
TEACHING
SUSTAINABLY Sustainable Business Magazine speaks to Keith Slater, Carbon Manager at Northumbria University (NU) about reaching sustainability targets, supporting communities at risk of climate change, and raising environmental awareness through on and off campus activities. By Izzy Moss Based in Newcastle in the north-east of England, Northumbria University (NU) expands outwards with established campuses in London and Amsterdam with origins in the Rutherford College founded in 1880. First established as Rutherford College in 1880, the university is now ranked 5th* in the UK for the support it offers students and graduates seeking a career in entrepreneurship. Having recently achieved re-accreditation with the Small Business Charter for its on-campus Business Clinic and Incubator Hub, NU is proving its commitment to supporting a wide range of enterprises and business start-ups, many of which place sustainability at their core. Four faculties at the university attract students from 136 countries: Business and Law; Health and Life Sciences; Arts, Design and Social Sciences; and Engineering and Environment. 56 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
DEDICATED TO SUSTAINABILITY In 2015, the university hired Sustainability and Carbon Manager roles to support its carbon neutral agenda. “Since then, NU has been working hard to drive forward improvements and really embed sustainability throughout the organization,” says Keith Slater, Carbon Manager at NU. “The university has a dedicated Sustainability Management group who are responsible for overseeing our sustainability policy, environmental management system, and carbon performance, rwhile representing the needs of NU and reporting to a member of the University Executive. Furthermore, because we want the voice of students to ring throughout what we do, a Students’ Union group is central to our sustainability drive.” NU has developed an holistic approach to achieve targeted Sustainable Develope-
* Reference: (Higher Education Business & Community Interaction or HE-BCI 2019/20)
CITY CAMPUS EAST
ment Goals (SDGs). “NU fully acknowledges the role that research and teaching can play in furthering the sustainability agenda, alongside making improvements to our campus operations,” explains Mr. Slater. “An Environmental Management system was implemented in 2018 and was subsequently awarded an International Organization for Standardization (ISO 14001) certification. There was a great opportunity in 2015 to revisit the Carbon Management plan to set new interim targets. NU has good data; whenever a project is undertaken, we have projections of what we expect the savings could be. That evidence base has been important in making sure that the university spends carefully, responsibly, and effectively.” IMPORTANT UPGRADES Recently, NU has been working on upgrading existing buildings and installing renewable energy throughout its Newcastle campus. “Old lighting has been replaced with LED bulbs and we have reviewed lighting controls,” says Mr. Slater. “We’ve upgraded Building Management systems to work as efficiently and effectively as possible, meaning buildings won’t overheat. We’ve also been replacing boilers, installing low energy ventilation and cooling systems, and searching for new sustainable technologies that we can implement on our campuses. We are always analyzing data to see whether something is successful. If it is, then we look at rolling it out further across the campus. We have installed 300 kilowatt peaks (kWp) of solar PV on our buildings – a dramatic increase to what there was previously. There are 26,000 students who may be working on our campus at any given time. Therefore, we inspect building opening hours and make sure that during holiday periods buildings are shut down properly. Though simple, these fundamental changes make a really significant difference.” “NU has launched a Carbon Management Strategy for 2030,” explains Mr. Slater. “Targets are for net zero carbon by
CYCLE PARKING AND GREEN WALL
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
| 57
INTERVIEW: NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY
LIGHTING BEFORE AND AFTER CHANGE TO LED
no later than 2040. Emphasis is being put on the first 10 years, minimizing our emissions to get as low as possible by 2030. The target is an 80 percent reduction in Scope 1 (direct greenhouse gas emissions), 2, and 3 (indirect) emissions by 2030. NU wants to eliminate energy wastage and improve efficiency, having smart buildings that have good space utilization. We’re preparing buildings for renewable energy, and making sure renewable heat technologies can operate the flow temperatures of radiators, for example. So, minimizing energy demand and maximizing renewable energy generation is key.”
SBM
F O O PR
SUTHERLAND BUILDING
58 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
GIVING TO COMMUNITIES “It’s important to note our sustainability work is not simply around the operations of our campus,” says Mr. Slater. “Sustainability is an integral part of our research and teaching. For example, our Global Development Futures research group works with communities around the world to look at disaster relief management strategies. “The group studies communities that are going to be impacted the most by climate change, and how we can mitigate that impact by supporting those at risk. We’ve also been involved in the Flipflopi project, in which staff supported the building of a Dhow sailing boat made out of discarded flip flops and ocean plastic which had previously littered the beaches of a small Kenyan island. It has since spent two years sailing around the coast of East Africa to raise awareness of plastic and waste pollution. LOCAL TO GLOBAL “We conduct a huge array of research at NU to make positive contributions to the field,” says Mr. Slater. “For example, the university does lots of work in the Antarctic, studying how climate change will impact coastal communities. Another key research area, Energy Futures, aims to address energy challenges across the world. Global energy demand is increasing, yet we want carbon emissions to decrease. Therefore, academics and partners of the
LIBRARY QUAD
“TARGETS ARE FOR NET ZERO CARBON BY NO LATER THAN 2040. EMPHASIS IS BEING PUT ON THE FIRST 10 YEARS, MINIMIZING OUR EMISSIONS TO GET AS LOW AS POSSIBLE BY 2030”
Energy Futures team are looking at how we can drive forward sustainable energy and clean growth to support economies and the environment.“ ON AND OFF CAMPUS ACTIVITIES “Everyone has a key part to play in sustainability,” says Mr. Slater. “It needs to be embedded across the whole organization. The university has a number of different measures in place to help support this. Every faculty and department has a ‘sustainability goalkeeper’ team, helping staff work together to form an action plan for sustainability by looking at which SDGs activities they can support. We train our students to audit those teams and they award points for actions. Afterwards, they
ELLISON QUAD
receive a bronze, silver, or gold award. It’s a great way of encouraging everyone to think of ideas and activities that are unique to their area of the organization, and of celebrating that awareness.” These sustainable activities are available to all students that attend NU, on campus and online. “We have a scheme for students to encourage them to be Sustainability Ambassadors,” explains Mr. Slater. “This is a new self-paced learning scheme. At the first bronze level, students learn all about sustainability, calculate their carbon footprint, and really get to grips with the SDGs. The silver level is about being challenged to try out new ways of supporting sustainability within their routine, looking at the items they buy, their energy consump-
AERIAL VIEW OF SOLAR PANELS
tion, and the way they travel. Lastly, having acquired this experience and knowledge, the gold level concerns leading on sustainability. This includes developing a new project, and encouraging others to get involved with sustainability. The project’s aim is to encourage exploration, to see what is easy and difficult to do. , helping students grapple with the complexities of sustainability and challenge ideas. There is not only one way to be sustainable.” NU is offering individuals access to renewable energy education with the aim of invoking sector-wide change. “A big challenge with the green economy is the skills gap and NU is working to address that,” explains Mr. Slater. “An example of this is our participation in the Renewable Energy Northeast Universities partnership (ReNU): a center producing high-quality doctoral graduates who possess a rigorous understanding of renewable energy and who can, therefore, deliver much needed changes and innovations to the sector. Our contribution to sustainability goes well beyond our own supply chains and buildings: it’s embedded throughout our research, teaching, partnerships, and student experience.” c SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
| 59
INTERVIEW: TDC GROUP
REVOLUTIONARY TRADING Sustainable Business Magazine speaks to Earle Kelly, Chairman and CEO at TDC Group, about real estate developments, community initiatives, and the company’s changing portfolio.
The St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla Trading and Development Company Limited (TDC Group) is a multi-sector group of companies with a wide-ranging portfolio spanning a variety of goods and services. Founded in February 1973, and headquartered in Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis, TDC was listed on the Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange in June 2003. Today, it has 60 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
become one of the largest companies in the OECS region, with 630 employees and USD$56.22 million in annual sales. HOUSING THE FUTURE “We’re just beginning to embark on a new real estate investment, with thirty homes to be sold to middle-income earners,” says Earle Kelly, Chairman and CEO at TDC
EARLE KELLY, CHAIRMAN AND CEO, TDC
Group. “The infrastructure is already in place, sales have begun, and the development is expected to be built out over a period of three to five years. Over 100 jobs will be created over the course of construction.” Using the best and most sustainable building materials is a necessity for TDC. “The walls will be of concrete blocks, floors of concrete and roofs of galvanize and SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
| 61
INTERVIEW: TDC GROUP
Solar Water Heaters | Fasteners & Accessories | Roof Insulations | Roof Underlay | Guttering Systems
HENDERSON (2004) LTD. - 1001, Coolidge Industrial Estate P.O. Box 554, St. John’s, Antigua, W.I. • Tel: (268) 481-7663 Fax: (268) 481-7660 • Email: sales.henexpo@candw.ag
www.hendersonroof.com lumber,” explains Mr. Kelly. “We wont use any sand from our beaches. Instead, we’ll use sand brought down from the hillsides by our seasonal rivers. Our use of concrete speaks to the integrity and the strength of the housing stock that we’re seeking to build to mitigate against the risk of hurricane damage. We’ll also use solar energy to run some aspects of the operation of the homes, and we’ll catch and store rainwater in cisterns for domestic use.” EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION TDC is committed to supporting local communities. “We support youth and sports programs, community organizations and cultural activities,” says Mr. Kelly. “One of our major initiatives is a scholarship program named after the first Chairman of the company, Warren Tyson, that supports young, promising students who enter high schools annually. In every class, in every high school and sixth form college, there is at least one student who the company supports. That means we have a significant number of students in schools throughout the Federation at any one time. We provide them with financial support, which includes school supplies and uniforms. The program also involves a 62 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
mentoring component, which also allows students to work during school vacations and weekends.” CHANGING PORTFOLIO Although TDC remains heavily involved in trading activities, the company has also diversified into financial services and insurance. “Today, those services represent two major components of the businesses, generating approximately 50 percent of our profits,” explains Mr. Kelly. “Currently, we have a finance company with a limited banking license which authorizes it to offer certificates of deposit and loans. The insurance company of-
“ONE OF OUR MAJOR INITIATIVES IS A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM NAMED AFTER THE FIRST CHAIRMAN OF THE COMPANY, WARREN TYSON, LAUNCHED TO SUPPORT PROMISING YOUNG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS”
fers property, vehicle, and liability insurance, and was recently awarded, for the fourth consecutive year, an A- Financial Strength rating from A.M. Best, the international company that rates insurance companies. The Group’s re-insurance company was also rated B+ by A.M. Best. Those ratings provide the Group the opportunity to participate in covering risks throughout some of the other Caribbean islands, where it would not previously have been invited to participate.” “To build on past successes, the company is presently undergoing a business
transformation exercise, which is intended to make the Group more efficient and profitable,” says Mr. Kelly. “Over the years the company has expanded into many different areas, some of which are very competitive and generate low returns-on-investment. We are diligently reviewing what the company does best and will concentrate our efforts in areas where we have the competitive edge and generate more attractive returns. That means over the next couple of years we may be involved in fewer activities, but generate higher profits”. c SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
| 63
ADVERTISERS INDEX A Allied Cables B Business Lifeline Limited F FLOW BVI
64 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
G Graphic Impact
40
41
H Henderson 2004 Ltd
62
14
O One St. Vincent Group (OSV)
6
7
T Tijule Company Timothy Beach Tropical Power Limited
24 33 6
W Watertech Group
50
It’s time to
Get involved We are currently scheduling articles for upcoming editions of our magazine and our website and we would be delighted to further discuss opportunities for your sustainability news to be featured. We offer several options, each one specialized for our clients’ needs and desires. Each option will also include the promotion of your article across our social media handles, including Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
CONTACT US ON; +44 1603 299127 sustainablebusinessmagazine.net
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
| 65
66 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
