Page 53 - Case Study Annual 2018

Enviro Awards

The 2018 Enviro Awards

Liesl de Wet, Chairman of the Enviro Committee

The climate is changing and quicker than we think; time is not on our side. Sustainable
business practices are going to become as important as the creation of shareholder returns.

ACCORDING TO the recent estimates from the Sustainable business practices are going
intergovernmental panel on climate change, a panel to become as important as the creation of
of the world’s leading scientists, we have a window shareholder returns, and whilst this may impact
of 12 years to signifi cantly reduce our carbon operations in the short term, the implementation
emissions globally to allow for only a 1.5 degree of environmentally sound processes will provide
warming, as warming is already up by 1 degree. incalculable benefi ts in the long term when it
That allows for only 0.5 of a degree to prevent comes to cost savings and operational effi ciencies.
catastrophic climatic change. Sadly, there still remains a gap between
2017 was again recorded as one of the hottest strategic intent and the tactical implementation of
years on record, as was 2016, 2015 and 2014. sustainable business practices throughout many
Climate change is a reality, and we are organisations, as was highlighted in the recent SCF
entering into an era of adaptability. Governments research entitled the Green Revolution.
and industrial organisations around the world, The LAA Enviro Awards are aimed at
and South Africa, are creating and implementing acknowledging those organisations that are taking
legislation and regulations to ensure that cognisance of this trend and are making genuine
carbon-intensive activities are adapted to eff orts to minimise the environmental impact of
minimise their impact on the environment. their supply chain processes. The LAA judging
Consumers are increasingly questioning panel selects those solutions, from LAA entries and
whether production processes and delivery industry, not only for their supply chain impact,
methods of the products they consume meet but also, and more importantly, for the positive
certain environmental standards before making impact their solutions or products have had on the
purchasing decisions. environment. They have demonstrated thought
The ‘green’ conversation is evolving at a rapid leadership in supply chain optimisation solutions,
rate, and more needs to be done to ensure a economic empowerment through the application
transition to a green economy that is fair and just, of circular economy principles and sustainable
a big challenge indeed considering the current farming techniques, improved distribution products
economic climate and social challenges we are as well as awareness creation by providing valuable
currently facing. research for the industry. •

The Logistics News Case Study Annual 2018 51