One Sunday morning earlier this month, Bolander received an urgent call from Somerset West resident Elma Pollard (previous environmental correspondent for Bolander, and editor of the Green Times), saying that there was a massive frog migration underway from Paardevlei dam, over the R44 to the Sanctuary dam. "The cars are driving over the frogs, it’s a massive slaughter, and … [Read more...]
Sustainability is not a cliché
The very definition of the word points to a long-term strategy, integral to every operation that intends to survive and be successful. Sustainability need not be incorporated into business at the expense of development and profitability. It is the essence of long-term development and profitability, which has a survival connotation to the notion. Avis South Africa understood … [Read more...]
Cutting carbon dioxide with carbon dioxide
Let’s jump right into this. If CO2 had significant commercial value, that is, it was used extensively by industry for a large number of purposes, then fossil fuel power plant operators might be easily convinced that capturing and selling the greenhouse gas would make more sense than letting it go into the atmosphere: If there were profits in smoke stack CO2, then they wouldn’t … [Read more...]
Waste management becomes a way of life
Now that we know that it is possible for a car rental company to be super serious about their water and carbon footprints, what are they doing about their waste? Avis has invested significantly in the implementation of a comprehensive waste management programme throughout the business. The programme encourages Avis employees to bring their waste to work to help educate and … [Read more...]
MiniCAT- the Air Powered Car
With the costs of fuel rising to ever-depressing heights, the time is right for an alternative option. Luckily, Tata Motors is ready to introduce MiniCAT, the car which runs on compressed air! Tata Motors has been taking giant strides and making history for itself. First the Land Rover/Jaguar deal, then the world's cheapest car, and now this. The Air Car would have a range … [Read more...]
Now rent a greener car
Now it's becoming easier to rent a car with a clear conscience. Avis has added the new Honda Jazz Hybrid to its rental fleet, the second of its green vehicle options after the Toyota Prius which was first introduced in 2007. The Honda Jazz Hybrid, at 104gCO2/km the cleanest automatic in the B segment currently available in South Africa, is a new step towards more … [Read more...]
Pedal power beats the traffic
Staring at the many impressive glass and steel corporate headquarters that line the Sandton landscape, visitors to South Africa's foremost commercial hub could be forgiven for thinking that environmental concerns are perhaps not top of the agenda. Energy efficiency has become the order of the day at iBurst with the forward thinking broadband service provider reducing its carbon … [Read more...]
SA’s first carbon neutral company on saving water
Why was global warming an issue? What exactly were Greenhouse Gases? What effect did CO2 emissions have and how could they be reduced? What difference could Avis make? The seed for the sustainability ethos at Avis was sown over 30 years ago by Glenn van Heerden, co-founder of the company, who was serious about supporting conservation initiatives that made a difference. The … [Read more...]
