Environment
The environmental committee’s mandate is to minimise the environmental impact and carbon footprint made by the group and its stakeholders in all identified spheres. Comprising senior managers from all areas of the business, it meets monthly and reports quarterly to the Chief Executive Officer and three members of the operating board. An inclusive approach ensures that staff receive regular e-mails encompassing all aspects of environmental awareness. Our environmental policy is available to the staff through the group’s intranet.
Whilst retail businesses supplying clothing and related products have a low impact on the environment, responsible use of limited resources is imperative. During 2008 a carbon footprint analysis was commissioned and completed, providing a benchmark for the measurement and reduction of our carbon emissions in the future.
The following measures are in force:
- a member of the operating board has responsibility for setting environmental policy, objectives, targets and reporting processes;
- an environmental policy has been compiled;
- an environmental risk assessment is undertaken annually;
- all of the group’s known direct and indirect environmental impacts have been identified and tabled;
- an ongoing interactive awareness campaign is undertaken involving all staff members in regard to environmental issues; and
- an undertaking by the group exists to reduce and control each identified negative impact and to make optimal use of diminishing natural resources
Our direct impacts
- Cardboard, paper, plastics and cans
The amount of cardboard and waste paper generated by the group’s distribution centres and head office approximates 102 000 kilograms per month and the vast majority of this is sent to recyclers, with a portion of the waste cardboard shredded and utilised as protective packaging.
Plastic waste from these sites is minimal as a result of the elimination of shrink-wrapping of cartons. Residual plastic waste is sold to the recycling industry.
Document imaging is currently being implemented in selected areas that have a high volume of paper usage and storage. (This will be extended to the other parts of the group.) Cardboard and other waste at stores continues to be controlled by means of shopping centre disposal processes and transmission into the informal sector. Plastic hangers are recycled with the cleaning and sorting processes performed by The Workshop and House Horizon in Stellenbosch and Chris Steytler Industries in Bellville. In future all merchandise will be flat-packed and hangers will be retained within the stores, resulting in reduced packaging, transport and plastic production, favourably impacting upon our carbon footprint.
All plastic bags used by the stores are durable and reusable, being made of sheeting that is at least 30 microns thick, and certain divisions also make use of recyclable paper packets. Special bins for the disposal of tins have been placed in the head offices and distribution centres, and staff are encouraged to place all of their cooldrink and other tins in these containers, as the waste is then sent for recycling. - Electricity and water
There is a concentration of effort surrounding power-saving initiatives and an independent electrical and lighting design consultant has been appointed to advise the group on optimal energy efficiency at its stores, and also to investigate stores where the electricity cost per square metre is out of line with comparable stores.
Head office buildings utilise energy management systems and energy-efficient lighting to minimise the use of electricity, and signage has been placed in head office buildings to ensure that staff members do not make use of unnecessary lighting, including unused conference rooms and display areas.
The air-conditioning plant in the main head office complex houses ice tanks that generate ice during off-peak hours, which is used for day-time cooling. Where possible, computers at head office locations are switched off at night, and computer procurement includes a requirement for energy efficiency.
The air-conditioning plant in the main head office complex houses ice tanks that generate ice during off-peak hours, which is used for day-time cooling. Where possible, computers at head office locations are switched off at night, and computer procurement includes a requirement for energy efficiency.
Water is primarily consumed for personal and hygiene purposes, and regular maintenance ensures that there is minimal wastage. - Printers, faxes, copiers and laser cartridges
All printers and fax machines make use of recycled laser cartridges; double-sided printing is being introduced in head office facilities; and multi-purpose copiers have been replaced with energy-efficient units. - Vehicles
Company vehicles are checked and serviced in accordance with the manufacturers’ prescribed intervals. Merchandise transport is managed by outsourced professionals who ensure that their vehicles perform at optimal efficiency. As this is one of the group’s larger areas of environmental impact, we intend to engage with the service providers in order to ascertain how best carbon emissions can be minimised. - Air-conditioning systems
All air-conditioning systems are maintained by outsourced technicians in terms of a regular maintenance programme; and refrigerants are not discharged into the atmosphere but recovered and recycled. (Only refrigerants that comply with the requirements of the Montreal Protocol are used.) - Electronic waste
Fluorescent tube and general lamp disposal at head offices and distribution centres is controlled by an environmental waste management company, while the stores currently rely on the disposal processes of their local municipalities or of the shopping centres in which they are located. Redundant computers are sent to an established electronic recycling company, stripped of recyclable materials and the unusable components disposed of in a manner that is not harmful to the environment.
Used watch batteries from both our jewellery stores and head office watch repair workshop are similarly disposed of in an environmentally-friendly manner.
Via our intranet, staff members are encouraged to make use of the environmental disposal service for old cellphone components offered by all MTN franchise dealerships.
Our indirect impacts
- Property development
The group will not enter into leases where developers have not conducted the required environmental impact assessments. Furthermore, there is a growing trend towards the design and construction of eco-friendly shopping malls, so while certain initiatives can be adapted to existing buildings, the key benefits will be generated from these new, eco-friendly design concepts. Whilst very much in its infancy in South Africa, we will engage with our landlords in this initiative.