One of South Africa’s biggest corporations has raised the bar - and municipal water levels - by installing its own mass water filtration system so it can go off the “water grid”. Old Mutual unveiled its wastewater-to-drinking-water filtration system at its Mutual Park premises in Pinelands‚ Cape Town‚ on Monday. It is already harvesting 650 cubic litres of clean water per … [Read more...]
The search for SA’s most sustainable restaurant is now on
Entries are now open for the country’s most prestigious accolade for sustainable restaurants. Launched in 2016 as a first for South Africa, the Eat Out Woolworths Sustainability Award acknowledges a restaurant that brings its customers seasonal, local and responsibly produced food. “We launched the award to acknowledge the one restaurant leading the pack in South Africa,” … [Read more...]
New partnership aims to improve nutrition for SA children
Stunting or impaired growth remains prevalent amongst the poorest South African children. This can result in increased episodes of illness, poor cognitive function and poor educational attainment. Woolworths has announced a new partnership with UNICEF South Africa to help increase South African children’s access to good nutrition. In line with its aim to support … [Read more...]
Searching for ways to make our cities more livable
Houses that generate more energy than they use, farming in the unused nooks and crannies of urban spaces, and wall coatings that literally suck water out of the air to make rooms cooler and less humid—although they may sound like scenes from the future, these solutions are already a reality in Singapore. Innovation for sustainability took centre stage last month at the … [Read more...]
Top environmental awards dominated by women for first time
The world’s foremost environmental prize has announced more female winners than ever before, recognising the increasingly prominent role that women are playing in defending the planet. The struggle for a healthy planet may sometimes feel like a series of defeats, but this year’s Goldman environmental prize celebrates six remarkable success stories, five of them driven by … [Read more...]
Meet the people building alternatives to mining in Colombia
On the 26th March 2017, citizens from the mountainous municipality of Cajamarca, Colombia, voted, with a 98% majority, to ban South African miner AngloGold Ashanti’s vast La Colosa gold mining project, in a ‘popular consultation’ led by grassroots youth activists and small-scale farmers. One year on, and Cajamarca’s victory has helped inspire a much wider movement of … [Read more...]
34000 Acres to be converted into organic farmland in American Midwest
Standing in an organic farm field covered in old crop stalks and cow manure, biological farming expert Gary Zimmer stuck a spade about 3 inches into the ground and pulled up some agricultural dessert. “That’s what healthy soil looks like — chocolate cake,” said Zimmer as the moist, crumbly dirt fell off the spade last week at his Iowa County farm just a few miles south of … [Read more...]
Packaging industries raise R45 000 for new seabird hospital
The South African plastics and packaging industries managed to raise an incredible R45 000 during last week’s Propak Cape Exhibition by inviting companies and individuals to pledge funds for a much needed seabird hospital at SANCCOB’s Cape Town centre. According to Douw Steyn, Sustainability Director at Plastics|SA, leaders in the packaging industry and individuals did not … [Read more...]
South African hospitals join Global Green Health Challenge
Global Green and Healthy Hospitals (GGHH) - an international network of hospitals, health care facilities, health systems, and health organizations dedicated to reducing their environmental footprint and promoting public and environmental health - announced today the launch of the Green Health Challenges, a new initiative calling on its robust network, to increase their … [Read more...]
How green is your restaurant?
Do you know what the footprint is of the restaurant you support? Launched last year as a first for South Africa, the Eat Out Woolworths Sustainability Award acknowledges a restaurant that brings its customers seasonal, local and responsibly produced food. “We launched the award to acknowledge the inspiring work that is already being done in the hospitality sector, and to … [Read more...]
What does Greenpeace’s tuna triumph mean for our oceans?
It took two years of relentless campaigning and nearly 700,000 concerned people from around the world, but Greenpeace have finally convinced the world’s largest tuna company to clean up its act! Tuna giant Thai Union, which owns brands such as John West, Chicken of the Sea, Petit Navire, Mareblu, and Sealect, has committed to a series of changes to its business that will … [Read more...]
Sign the declaration of interdependence
The Declaration of Interdependence expresses our values as an organization. It was written for the 1992 UN Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. This we know We are the earth, through the plants and animals that nourish us. We are the rains and the oceans that flow through our veins. We are the breath of the forests of the land, and the plants of the sea. We are human … [Read more...]
Becoming a Change Maker
Finding your niche as a change maker can be challenging. Start this process by getting clear about your strengths, passions and skills. Becoming a change maker is usually a difficult personal journey to undertake. Mostly, the process unfolds over several phases: first, there is an increasingly painful awareness of the worsening state of the world; second, is the realisation … [Read more...]
