Going green for good

In recent months, news coverage and developments around global warming have made it clearer than ever before: The time for society to change our consumption patterns requires a 180° turn. ‘Going green’ is an initiative that is increasingly being driven by environmental activists, and governments and companies have also started to join the cause.

In support, KCS has established a Green Council that oversees various activities in the countries we operate, to ensure that our processes become more sustainable and environmentally-friendly. Some of the initiatives that have been put in place include: Recycling, reduced printing, switching off lights and aircons outside of business hours, the installation of energy-efficient lighting, and promoting new ways of travelling to work, like cycling and carpooling.

Both our Stellenbosch and Johannesburg offices have recently launched their own rooftop gardens. Not only does it provide a lovely lunchtime view— it is also a great way to get all of our staff involved in looking after the garden, learning some botany basics, and seeing their hard work come to fruition. Organic living is becoming an increasingly popular topic in South Africa, and we are excited to explore new ways of doing our bit for the environment.

The official rooftop garden launch took place on September 1st, which perfectly aligned with our Spring Day celebrations. The festivities kicked off with an opening address by the KCS Managing Director, followed by a highly-anticipated ribbon-cutting ceremony. To promote sustainable living, each garden features a variety of vegetation, including: herbs, tomatoes, strawberries, and spinach.

Each staff member was also invited to take a special memento with them – a small Spekboom, which they could plant at home. Spekboom is a succulent plant known to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and purify the air we breathe. Basically, it acts like a ‘carbon sponge’. According to research, Spekboom can absorb between 4 to 10 tonnes of carbon per hectare. We’re haven’t reached a hectare quite yet, but our garden and our growing commitment to sustainability, is gradually starting to bear fruit.

Having a sustainability strategy in place has become vital for any organisation, as businesses are some of the biggest contributors to global carbon footprint. Now is the time to invest in greener policies that won’t only benefit the health of staff, but also the health of the planet.

KCS would like to recognise and thank all of our staff who have played a vital role in planning and launching the project. It has been a huge success thanks to everyone’s collective, continuous involvement. As our rooftop garden continues to grow, KCS looks forward to seeing our staff grow with it.