IMPERIAL Logistics was among the environmentally-responsible companies recognised for their efforts in “greening” their supply chains at the fourth annual Green Supply Chain Awards in Johannesburg. The group’s operating company TFD Network Africa won the category for the best project over R10 million, amid competition from major industry players.
The Green Supply Chain Awards is a joint initiative of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport: South Africa (CILTSA), the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) and Supply Chain Today magazine.
TFD Network Africa’s winning project was an initiative dubbed “Driving the Green Movement”, which addresses four key areas: energy efficiency, water management, waste management and carbon emission reduction. Friedel Spies, Customer Services Director, elaborates: “TFD’s ‘Driving the Green Movement’ has a comprehensive approach to undertaking sustainability initiatives. In the area of waste management, it includes Eco Bins and recycling, while water management initiatives include water-wise depot wash bays as well as waterless urinals at our operations.”
More than R123 000 has been raised through recycling of pallet cardboard and plastic. This has been invested in community projects like Jabulani Khakibos Kids, a shelter for street children, Spies says. Through waste management initiatives, TFD was able to fund its own purchasing of Eco Bins for its head office, as well as a local primary school, he adds.
TFD’s IT department has also completed a comprehensive energy-saving project that included reducing its number of servers, which translates into a dramatically reduced power requirement, which in turn reduces cooling costs in the data centre. “Fewer servers means less networking gear and a smaller number of racks needed, all of which translates into less data centre floor space required, which in turn means less power cost for equipment and cooling,” Spies states.
Carbon emission reduction forms an integral part of greening the supply chain, and to this end, TFD has launched a programme that will see all drivers receive certification in economical driving skills designed to reduce carbon emissions.
“Our Driving the Green Movement programme has been running for more than 18 months now, with a major milestone having been reached in terms of reinvesting savings from waste management activities into community projects. This comprehensive sustainability programme is driven by sustainability manager Adele Henn, together with a dedicated team of ‘Sustainability Champions’ that we have created. We are committed to ensuring that it remains a daily focus in the business,” Spies concludes.
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