Tag: South Africa

At the coalface of change

With Coal & Energy Transition Day taking place this month, the discussion around sustainability in coal mining ramps up, as the sector grapples with the desire and responsibility to lower its carbon footprint – while not losing its very reason for existence. In the opinion article, Arjen de Bruin, Group CEO at OIM Consulting, weighs in on the plight facing coal mines and in fact, all corporates who might have realised that the journey towards greening their operations needs to be done responsibly, sustainably – and that is should be viewed as a marathon, not a sprint. And most importantly, why you need to take your people along on this journey.

FORTIS X has launched Africa’s first biodegradable and recyclable plant-based packaging

In light of Plastic Free July®, Fortis X has launched Africa’s first biodegradable and recyclable plant-based packaging, providing a crucial alternative to single-use plastics. Given the pressing issue of plastic waste in South Africa, where only 10% of the 122 million tons of annual waste is recycled, Fortis X’s innovation offers a beacon of hope. Nicholas De Beer, Director of Fortis X, emphasises that their sugarcane-derived biopolymer bottles represent a significant step toward mitigating plastic pollution and its detrimental impacts on our environment and health. In addition to offering an eco-friendly alternative for various products, Fortis X’s plant-based bottles have already garnered support from notable brands like SOGA Organic®, BOS Ice Tea, and Omnia Natura. Moreover, recycling plastic water bottles can save enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for six hours, highlighting the broader benefits of embracing sustainable packaging solutions.

FROM RUSSIA TO KENYA AND SOUTH AFRICA: GLOBAL ACTIVISTS UNITE FOR A SUSTAINABLE, NUCLEAR-FREE FUTURE

In solidarity with the anti-nuclear power movement in Kenya where a proposed nuclear power station is set to be built within the next decade, eco-justice organisations from South Africa and Russia are on a visit to the Republic of Kenya to share insights and learnings, from their experiences of living with nuclear energy, in their respective countries and opposing nuclear as civil society. The Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) and Earthlife Africa Johannesburg, both from South Africa – where the Minister of Energy and Electricity recently announced that the procurement of 2500MW of new nuclear power was “at an advanced stage” – and Ecodefense from Russia, and Right Livelihood Awards are meeting Kenyan civil society at the proposed site in Kilifi, to stand together in opposition of any new nuclear stations in Africa.

Fintech’s transformative potential: Empower customers through self-education

The most powerful thing a fintech can do is enable its customers to educate themselves. Mukuru, a leading next-generation financial services provider, started out as a remittance company but has evolved into a platform with a suite of different financial products and services. Mukuru CEO, Andy Jury, says that formalised financial education obviously plays a crucial role in a fintech’s business, but customers that trust and repeatedly use a new product or service, such as a digital store of money, go through a natural learning process and are then more comfortable being exposed to more sophisticated products.