Posts Tagged ‘Woolworths’
Woolworths celebrates Earth Hour by helping customers safely dispose of energy saving light bulbs
Woolworths, as part of its pledge to support Earth Hour, is asking customers to safely dispose of used energy saving light bulbs in the specially designed bins positioned in 46 of its national stores.
“Energy saving light bulbs need to be disposed of responsibly as the mercury can cause damage to the environment. The mercury content in one light bulb equals the size of a full stop at the end of a sentence, but the dangers of millions of bulbs in land fills throughout the country make it necessary to develop a safe method of disposal,” says Justin Smith, Manager for Woolworths Good business journey.
The collection bins in the 41 stores have been specially designed to ensure that there is no danger of CFL lamp breakage, therefore ensuring that there is no risk to the environment. The bins are cleared regularly and the contents are disposed of appropriately. In time the collection bins will be available in more stores around the country.”
Woolworths is also showing its support for Earth Hour by:
• asking employees to turn off the lights for Earth Hour and become more energy conscious at home.
• swapping employees incandescent light bulbs for energy efficient bulbs supplied by Woolworths and Eskom in the week of Earth Hour; and
• switching off the lights in head office.
“Earth Hour is an important global statement and Woolworths supports it wholeheartedly,” says Smith. “The light bulb disposal bins are important in our efforts to ensure we have a safe environment that is sustainable in the long-term.”
Earth Hour is from 8.30 to 9.30pm on Saturday 28 March 2009.
Woolworths stores with energy saving light bulb disposal bins:
Energy saving lightbulb bin stores
1 Stellenbosch Square
2 Sandton
3 Irene Mall
4 Vincent Park
5 Canal walk
6 Rosebank
7 George
8 Greenacres
9 The Glen
10 Garden Route Mall
11 Kloof street
12 Gardens
13 Fish hoek
14 Bryanston
15 Hyde Park
16 Blue Route
17 Kensington Drive
18 Centurion
19 Cresta
20 Cavendish square
21 Tygervalley
22 Durbanville
23 EastRand Mall
24 Hout bay
25 Farramere
26 La Lucia
27 N1 city
28 Northgate
29 Northcliff
30 Tableview
31 Constantia
32 Eastgate
33 Gateway
34 Morningside
35 Rivonia
36 Waterstone village
37 Somerset Mall
38 Willowbridge
39 Fourways
40 Cedar Square
41 Brooklyn
In addition to the stores above, there are also 2 disposal bins in head office for employees.
Woolworths and its commitment to reducing energy use:
Woolworths, as part of its Good business journey, has committed itself to reducing its energy usage by 30% by 2012. “Although our targets are big, we understood from the outset that Woolworths pledge to sustainability would be the sum total of a multitude of initiatives – some small, some very large. We want people to understand that small contributions can make a big difference – because they are generally easy to implement by millions of people,” says Smith.
Woolworths embraces Water Neutrality
Woolworths is the first retailer to join the World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) Water Neutral Scheme. The scheme, launched late last year in association with the government’s Working for Water programme seeks to encourage corporates to become ‘water neutral’.
Woolworths aims to become water neutral by eliminating invasive water-thirsty alien plants on supplier farms and in protected areas such as the Tankwa Karoo National Park. The project will release enough water into South Africa’s water system to offset the water used by Woolworths operations each year. This offsets Woolworths direct use of water resources, ultimately making the company water neutral as well as creating employment. The project is a 20 year commitment.
Speaking at the launch of WWF’s Water Blueprint report in Johannesburg, Justin Smith, Woolworths Good business journey manager said, “At least 60% of the country’s water resource is used in farming irrigation, and Woolworths is deeply committed to preserving this precious resource. We have a long history of working with our suppliers to influence change and believe in working together to manage our environmental impacts responsibly.”
According to Rodney February, Programme Manager of the WWF Water Neutral Scheme, approximately 7% of South Africa’s average annual run off is used by alien and invasive plants. By assisting to eliminate these plants, Woolworths makes a meaningful contribution towards conserving water resources well into the future.
Deon Nel, head of the WWF Living Waters Partnership , salutes Woolworths for its efforts, “South Africa will, by 2025, have 1.7% less water than it requires, and at the present rate of consumption, we could run out of drinking water by 2040. We applaud Woolworths for its water neutrality strategy and believe that the company is a global example of how corporate South Africa can work with government and NGOs to find a solution that will benefit all.”
The Water Neutral Scheme falls under the WWF’s Living Waters programme and is a partnership between the government’s Working for Water Programme and WWF South Africa. The programme has multiple objectives of reducing the impact of invasive alien plants on our water supplies, improving the productive potential of land, restoring biodiversity and ecosystems function as well as creating jobs and economic empowerment.
The removal of invasive alien plants on supplier farms and in protected areas in the Western Cape is only part of the Woolworths water strategy.
“Woolworths is also on target to achieve the goal of reducing relative water consumption throughout the group by 30% by 2012,” says Smith. “Head office water consumption is down by 13% and stores by 5% over the last year. This is significant, not only for conservation, but also as clear proof that sustainability can deliver cost savings, which can be added to the bottom line.”
Woolworths commitment to preserve water resources and use water responsibly is inspired by Woolworths Good business journey – an ongoing plan to make a difference in our communities, our country and our world.
Woolworths other water management initiatives:
- Woolworths measures the amount of water used by suppliers and works with them to reduce water use and improve water waste management during growing, production and manufacture. Within the Foods unit this work includes the reduction of pesticides, fertilizers and water usage for irrigation.
- Woolworths is well-established as the country’s leading retailer in certified organic fresh produce.
- Woolworths has entrenched a strict code of conduct regarding dyes (including the removal of Azodyes) in the supply chain, which preserves water quality.
- Woolworths works with the CSIR to identify South African arable areas that are likely to struggle with water scarcity due to the impacts of climate change and to incorporate this thinking in its supply chain strategy.
- The company is committed to water conservation education. Woolworths delivers talks at learning institutions, assists to educate its supply chain and provides valuable water savings tips and advice to both customers and employees.
- When evaluating real estate opportunities, Woolworths considers whether the design of the property will enable the use of water and water waste more efficiently. This includes storage and use of recycled and grey water systems, changing the air conditioning systems, retaining as much water on the premises as possible for re-use, use of indigenous shrubs and ground cover to minimize irrigation needs and allowing rainwater to be stored and used.
