Page 19 - Landscape-Issue131

FEATURE

Workers at the V & A Waterfront waste recovery centre A worker sorts through food waste at the waste recovery centre

concrete that would otherwise have been with the V&A, for the wellbeing of visitors • the goal to achieve carbon neutrality by
needed. This initiative was a global first for a and guests.” 2035.
large commercial building. In recognition of its commitment to
Deloitte Africa’s chief sustainability environmental sustainability, the hotel South African waste statistics
officer, Ashleigh Theophanides noted: “Our achieved Earthcheck Silver Status for • South Africans use around eight billion
firm supports the commitment to eliminate 2022, one of the world’s leading scientific plastic bags annually (according to the
plastic from our ecosystem. We are proud benchmarking and advisory groups for UCT Environmental Policy Research Unit);
to be associated with a team driving sustainable tourism. • South Africa has ranked among some of
meaningful and measurable change.” the worst culprits in the world for ocean
Sustainability practices at the pollution;
Re-use the cup partnership at Waterfront • Approximately 19% of plastic produced
Oranjezicht City Farm Market The V&A Waterfront started its in South Africa is recycled annually –
In partnership with the SA Plastics Pact, the sustainability journey in 2008, increasing so 81% is not recycled or is still in use
Waterfront co-funded and co-designed energy efficiency, water savings and waste (according to Plastics SA);
the Return-on-the-Go Plastic Cup Project recycling across its 123hectares. It has also • Local scientists from the CSIR Polymer
at the Oranjezicht City Farm Market; this introduced a number of greening initiatives & Composite Research Group recently
demonstrates how the re-use of plastic and its environmental programme has developed 100% biodegradable plastic
can be tested at the V&A, and encourages progressed significantly through: bags made from agricultural by-products.
consumers and retailers to collaborate • a 61% reduction in water consumption; They are made from maize and sugar
as a neighbourhood committed to the • a 47 % reduction in carbon emissions; cane and degrade within 3-6 months
reduction of plastic waste. Sheryl Ozinsky, • since January this year, 61% of all its when immersed in mud, soil, water or
co-founder of the Oranjezicht City Farm waste has been diverted from landfill, compost;
Market, said: “Using re-usable cups at the including more than 1600 tons of organic • In global rankings, South Africa is
Oranjezicht Market reduces the staggering waste and 1400 tons of recycling; second only to the US in terms of waste
amount of single-use plastic waste that • significantly shifting tenant behaviour generated per person (2kg).
plagues our environment. By opting for on resource efficiency by applying
a re-usable cup, you actively contribute incentives and a green lease agreement; About the SA Plastics Pact
to reducing the landfill burden and the • committing to ensuring that all new The SA Plastics Pact aims to transform
detrimental impact on ecosystems and buildings achieve a minimum net zero the country’s plastic packaging sector by
wildlife. Secondly, embracing re-usable rating from the Green Building Council of taking action against unnecessary plastic
cups promotes sustainable practices and South Africa; packaging through redesign, innovation or
encourages others to follow suit, creating • an externally audited heritage alternative (re-use) delivery models.
a ripple effect, inspiring fellow market- environmental management system,
goers and traders to adopt similar habits. the first tourism operation to implement Text and photos supplied by Corporate Image on
The return rate of the re-usable cups such a system in Africa; and behalf of the V & A Waterfront n
has been positive and has reached 89.9%,
according to GreenCape, the facilitators of
the project.

One&Only commits to
environmental sustainability
One of the V&A’s largest tenants, the
One&Only Cape Town Hotel, has welcomed
the new amendment to the tenant
lease agreement and has committed to
being water conscious, free of single-use
plastics and having an internal food waste
management system. Michelle Monk, the
hotel’s assistant communications manager,
said: “Being a part of the V&A family means
having shared pillars of environmental
sustainability and development. As patrons
of the tourism industry, we bear the
responsibility of being leaders in the fight
against all environmental concerns. This
means employing green initiatives and Waterfront view of Table Mountain. The V & A’s waterways have consistently been awarded Blue Flag status
programmes both separately and together as a result of implementing successful marine wildlife management programmes.

Landscape SA • Issue 131 2023 17