Arabella Country Estate proves their green ways with again being re-awarded their full ISO 14001 Certification
Arabella Country Estate, home to Fynbos and fine living, located on the shores of the Bot River Lagoon surrounding the magnificent World Heritage Nature Reserve, has recently been re-certified with their full ISO 14001 compliance certificate, as announced by Dirk Uys, estate manager. The re-certification shows the Estate’s continual adherence to the highest standard of environmental management.
ISO 14001 is an internationally agreed standard that sets out the requirements for an environmental management system. It helps to improve the environmental performance through more efficient use of resources and reduction of waste as well as identify, manage, monitor and control environmental issues in a “holistic” manner. Like all ISO management system standards, ISO 14001 includes the need for continual improvement of an organization’s systems and approach to environmental concerns.
Aspects of the Estate’s management that have been assessed include water supply via boreholes and a water purification plant, wastewater treatment and re-use, conservation of the environment(specifically indigenous vegetation), energy management/minimization, refuse compaction/recycling and health & safety. Uys says “In support of our Vision, these aspects are managed by means of a well-documented system and procedures that forms part of the day to day operational management by the respective Departments and all stakeholders of the Estate”.
For more information please visit www.arabellacountryestate.co.za
Handles Inc: Trends
Handles Inc, believes that your home is the perfect place to begin creating an inspired space filled with your unique style. It should reflect who you are in ways that words simply cannot. An easy and affordable way to add subtle changes to your home is to focus on the finer details. Handles Inc offers marvellous décor to fit into any home.
Plus, updating your handles is an easy way to refresh the look and feel of your home. Handles Inc keep up with the trends, and provide the perfect handles to ensure you do too!
Below are two trends that we would like to share with you:
- The home has become a canvas for consumers to get creative with which means a move away from neutral colours towards bright statement colours such as deep greens, turquoise and bright pinks.
- Metallics such as brass, bronze, gold and rose gold are still exceptionally popular and in demand, which add a sophisticated edge.
Also, if you're in Cape Town and want to source product - we can easily arrange that.With Handles Inc you can easily create a slick designer pad, quirky villa feel, a bathroom haven or a cutting-edge office environment with their quality handles and bathroom accessories. Architects and interior designers know that it’s details like these that make a space truly unique and exceptional. With a collection of over 9000 items to inspire you, Handles Inc has specialist designer pieces personally selected from top global manufacturers. With these exclusive ranges and a design-savvy team on hand to assist, Handles Inc will help you make your home or office a space that reflects your individuality – and a dream to live or work in. For your local stockist visit www.handlesinc.co.za or call 021-422 2322.
Get your green and gold on for the Nedbank Green Mile
KWAZULU-NATAL, DURBAN, 5 MAY 2016 – To experience ordinary people conquering the extraordinary, be at the award-winning Comrades Marathon Nedbank Green Mile SPECATOR ZONE in Old Main Road, Kloof, on Sunday, 29 May 2016 from 8am to 3pm.
On the day, a 1.2km stretch of road in Kloof will be converted into an energetic mile-long ‘green & gold’ themed spectator and runner zone, orchestrated by Nedbank, to ensure runners, families and friends feel fully immersed in the awe-inspiring, humbling, life-changing Comrades Marathon along the Comrades Marathon route. Dress to theme and join in with the fun and festivities.
The Comrades Marathon is South Africa’s most inclusive sports event, involving a sports discipline that has no cultural, racial or financial barriers and attracting around 350,000 spectators, 3-million global TV viewers and 4 500 volunteers every year, not to mention the real heroes – the approximately 20 000 runners who take on the ‘Ultimate Human Race’.
For millions of South Africans, showing their support for the Comrades Marathon has become an important, unmissable and iconic tradition. Families, friends and colleagues make plans to support competitors, getting up at the crack of dawn, packing picnic baskets, deck chairs and umbrellas, and donning their supporter outfits, to stake out at the Nedbank Green Mile official spectator zone, where they provide encouragement to runners as they take on this immense challenge, whilst being entertained by movement and sound.
“The only place to catch all the 2016 Comrades action is at the only official spectator point along the route, the Nedbank Green Mile. The Nedbank Green Mile has been designed to celebrate the essence of what it means to take part in the Comrades Marathon - courage, selflessness, humbling, dedication and perseverance. In 2016, the Nedbank Green Mile is themed ‘Green and Gold’, and will see Kloof’s Old Main Road transformed into a rejuvenating, eco-friendly, celebratory, community-orientated space alive in green and gold. It is the real story of triumph over adversity,” says Tobie Badenhorst, Head of Sponsorship and Cause Marketing at Nedbank.
The 2016 Nedbank Green Mile will be bringing in a host of KwaZulu-Natal-based entertainment acts, including DJs, bands, professional dancers, drummies, cheerleaders, and local sports personalities and more. They’ll be performing from 8am to 3pm on race day, entertaining supporters throughout the spectator-friendly zone, and most importantly, encouraging runners as they embark on the final 26km stretch home to the finish at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban.
For children, the secure Kids Entertainment Zone is open from 8am and will feature fun-filled activities and entertainment acts like jumping castles, magicians, clowns, stilt walkers, balloon artists, puppet shows and face painting and sand art.
Throughout the day, spectators can watch all the Comrades Marathon action live via big screen TVs in the Nedbank Green Mile zone, with live commentary, picnic spots and grand stands located right alongside the route.
On site, there will also be food and drinks stands to replenish hungry and thirsty spectators. All food and drinks in the Nedbank Green Mile are sold by local schools, churches and charities, with all profits retained by these organisations.
In line with Nedbank’s commitment to greening the environment, all food and beverage packaging along the Nedbank Green Mile will be recycled.
“A major feature of the Nedbank Green Mile is its goal to involve and uplift the community. This is why all entertainment acts, support crews, food and beverage vendors are sourced from KwaZulu-Natal. This year, the Nedbank Green Mile will also be supporting two local children’s charities, the Star Fish Foundation and The Sports Trust,” says Badenhorst.
The Nedbank Green Mile is open from 8am to 3pm on Sunday, 29 May 2016. Entry is free and easy access can be gained from the M13 Hillcrest - Pinetown alternative highway travelling east towards Durban at the Pioneer off ramp. Follow the sign boards or follow www.facebook.com/nedbanksport/ or www.twitter.com/nedbanksport on Twitter for more information.
Use the hashtag #NedbankGreenMile to join the conversation.
Editors’ Notes
Nedbank is an official major sponsor of the 2016 Comrades Marathon.
The first Comrades Marathon took place on 24th May 1921, Empire Day, starting outside the City Hall in Pietermaritzburg with 34 runners. It has continued since then every year with the exception of the war years 1941-1945, with the direction alternating each year between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, the so called up & down runs.
The Nedbank Green Mile is the only official spectator point along the marathon route, offering Comrades supporters a perfect vantage point to view all the race action. It is located along Old Main Road in Kloof and is just 26km from the finish line in Kingsmead, Durban.
Entry into the Nedbank Green Mile Spectator Zone is free and festivities start at 8am.
This year the 89-km marathon starts in Pietermaritzburg and ends in Durban on 29 May 2016.
KWAZULU-NATAL, DURBAN, 5 MAY 2016 – To experience ordinary people conquering the extraordinary, be at the award-winning Comrades Marathon Nedbank Green Mile SPECATOR ZONE in Old Main Road, Kloof, on Sunday, 29 May 2016 from 8am to 3pm.
On the day, a 1.2km stretch of road in Kloof will be converted into an energetic mile-long ‘green & gold’ themed spectator and runner zone, orchestrated by Nedbank, to ensure runners, families and friends feel fully immersed in the awe-inspiring, humbling, life-changing Comrades Marathon along the Comrades Marathon route. Dress to theme and join in with the fun and festivities.
Load shedding does not have to spoil your holiday
Top tips for saving and celebrating a greener Christmas
Load shedding is a fact of life for the foreseeable future in South Africa and a little planning and creativity can alleviate a lot of the unpleasantness during the holidays. This is according to Evan Schiff, event director of the annual African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa conference and expo in Cape Town.
He says furthermore that higher electricity prices in South Africa have become an increasing strain on consumers’ monthly expenses and that “Christmas is a great time to introduce energy saving habits into a household as many easy and simple changes in the way we live can end up putting extra money into your pocket.”
Practical tips to plan for and cope with load shedding this holiday:
• Be prepared, keep a regular eye on websites with information on load shedding schedules and print these out. http://www.loadshedding.eskom.co.za/
• Create a Whatsapp group for your neighbourhood and keep each other informed.
• Make sure that there are enough candles, matches, torches, batteries and so forth for load shedding periods after dark.
• Be ready for it! Make sure all cellphones, tablets, laptops and toys are fully charged before the lights go out. This way you can keep the kids entertained with a movie, or at least be able to use the phone.
• Have fun activities ready for when the lights are off such as board games and family time around the barbeque.
• Keep a gas burner as a back-up in the kitchen to be able to heat water and do essential cooking.
An energy efficient holiday season
“There are a variety of ways we can use a lot less electricity this holiday season”, says Schiff, “such as using LED* Christmas lights which use 90% less electricity than regular Christmas lights. Consider investing in solar powered outdoor lights which can also be used on the Christmas tree and only come on at night.”
He continues: “up to 40% of all batteries are purchased during the holiday season so try to buy toys and gifts that don't use electricity or batteries. Gifts made of recycled material are also a great environmentally friendly gesture.”
More handy energy saving tips for the holiday season:
• Don’t use the tumble dryer unnecessarily – it is summer, so take advantage of solar powered drying.
• Turn off the room lights when the Christmas tree lights are on.
• Set a timer to Christmas and outdoor lights to limit the time they are on.
• Create a romantic and intimate atmosphere by using candles instead of lights.
• Enjoy the weather and celebrate the holidays outside with a braai instead of cooking on a stove! Or enjoy cold meats and salads during this summer season – it’s healthier and saves on power.
• If you’re going away, turn off/ the geyser, empty and unplug the refrigerator.Advice for improving energy efficiency in your home during the year:
• Invest in a geyser blanket. Unless the geyser is properly insulated, switching it off does not save electricity.
• Insulate the roof to make the house cooler in summer and warmer in winter and thereby saving on seasonal heating and cooling.• Switch off appliances at the wall plug when not in use.
• Replace CFL (compact fluorescent lamps) bulbs with LED.
• Use cold water to do laundry, it saves electricity and is better for the clothes.
Gathering thousands of energy professionals
For the past 14 years, the African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa conference and exhibition has helped to reduce the energy consumption of commercial and industrial large power users and has assisted in African utilities providing electricity and water to all of Africa. The event brings together thousands of utility professionals from across the globe to learn, share knowledge and debate the key topics that will secure the future development of Africa’s power industry. These include energy efficiency, improved service delivery, renewable energy, collaboration across the continent and investment in new power projects. South Africa’s state utility Eskom has been a key partner for many years.
The 15th edition of African Utility Week is expected to again attract more than 5000 attendees and feature 250 exhibitors, 190 speakers, eight conferences, free technical workshops on the expo floor, three high-profile plenary sessions and the coveted industry awards gala dinner. Stakeholders from across the industry and continent are represented, from Ministers of Energy through to power and water utilities, municipalities and regulators to investors and technology and service providers.
Attending the African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa exhibition is free when registering in advance and it showcases energy saving technologies and services for the industry and features hands-on demonstrations and workshops on the exhibition floor.
*LED=light-emitting diodes
Eskom’s 49M campaign encourages all South Africans to take the 49M pledge to save at least 10% electricity. http://www.49m.co.za
African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa are organised by Spintelligent, leading Cape Town-based trade exhibition and conference organiser, and the African office of Clarion Events Ltd, based in the UK.
The dates for next year’s African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa are:
Exhibition & Conference: 12-14 May 2015
Industry awards: 13 May 2015
Site Visits: 15 May 2015
Location: CTICC, Cape Town
Website: www.african-utility-week.com, www.clean-power-africa.com
Contact for interviews:
Event director: Evan Schiff
Mobile: +27 83 415 3534
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Communications manager: Annemarie Roodbol
Telephone: +27 21 700 3558
Mobile: +27 82 562 7844
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Kansai Plascon reaches Level 3 BBB-EE Status
We, Kansai Plascon, have achieved one of our best B-BEE ratings to date and are recognised as a Value Adding Supplier. Our B-BBEE procurement recognition level has increased from 110% to 137.5%, which is higher than that of a non-value adding level 1 status supplier. So, when tendering for projects, our combined B-BBEE status and Value Adding Supplier position effectively make Kansai Plascon the preferred procurement choice.
Our B-BBEE status now stands at level 3, as of September 2014, having increased from level 4 in 2013. With a score of 80.27 points, this rating cements our position as the coatings industry market leader.
There's great news for our customers too. Companies that purchase from Plascon will improve their own procurement scores thereby improving their B-BBEE ratings. By partnering with us, customers benefit through improved B-BBEE procurement scores.
In contrast, if a customer purchases products from a non-value adding level 5 supplier and not Plascon, then their procurement recognition will amount to a far lesser 80% only. All this renders Kansai Plascon the obvious choice.
Kansai Plascon has 125-year long history of leading quality assurance, superb formulation and trusted performance – and now, we have also secured our position as the market leader in benefitting our customers.
- ENDS
About Kansai Plascon Kansai Plascon is a company within the global Kansai Paint group. Kansai Paint is the world’s sixth largest paint company and Japan’s foremost coatings manufacturer. With the backing of Kansai Paint, Kansai Plascon will continue to drive innovation and excellence in the retail, trade and industrial coatings market in South Africa and will further the company’s interests in Africa.
For further information, please contact: Alex Coggins Marketing Executive, Kansai Plascon + 27 11 951 4500
12 Hour Period Protection, No Strings and No Wings
Woman of today have realized that getting their period every month is, well I guess, just the way life goes. In 1996, Instead, Inc. pioneered a new alternative to tampons and pads with the development and release of its innovative Softcup.
Now in 2014, Maybe MOM is proud to announce that they have made this product tagged ‘The Next Generation of Period Protection' available to the South African market. Maybe MOM Instead Softcup gives you 12-hour wear time, comfort and convenience during your period allowing ladies to live life without interruptions.
Softcup is a flexible cup that is worn internally, around your cervix. It collects, rather than absorbs menstrual flow. It's hypo-allergenic, latex-free and completely safe when used as directed. Softcup has gained popularity for its many advantages over traditional methods of feminine protection including greater safety, longer wear-time, and clean sex during “that time of the month. Softcup can be worn during any activity including sports, swimming and sleeping. Use one reusable Softcup for up to three cycles, which makes it Easy on the Earth and Easy on the wallet retailing in stores for only R49.99.
More than 200 million Softcups have been sold since the product’s introduction in America in 1996, and there has never been a reported incidence of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). In extensive laboratory testing Softcup did not promote the growth of the bacteria that causes TSS. Softcup does not change the body’s natural environment nor does it alter the body’s pH levels, natural bacteria levels or absorb the body’s moisture. “It allows me to use the softcup until the last day of my period, even when my flow may be little to none, it’s comfortable and does not cause dryness or irritation” says Amanda, owner of Maybe MOM South Africa.
“Because the Softcup was uniquely designed for the modern-day woman, it has grown tremendously and developed staying power in the American market, proving an excellent alternative to tampons and pads,” said Joseph Pike, CEO of Instead. Women have embraced the concept of the Softcup because of the greater flexibility and control it gives them over their lives. In fact, when the Softcup is not offered somewhere, women seek it out rather than buy the alternatives.
The Softcup is an FDA-approved, reusable menstrual product made from a non-absorbent, non irritating polymeric material that has been used for over 20 years in health care products such as catheters and baby bottle nipples and contains no latex. It has undergone extensive toxicology, bio-compatibility and microbiological tests as well as human clinical testing, and contains no drying chemicals or fibers.
12-Hour Period Protection, Instead Softcup is a proven advancement in period protection. Try it and you'll see how it fits into your busy life.
For more information and to purchase contact (Wholesale enquiries welcome) Facebook: www.facebook/maybe mom.com / Website: www.aeadistribution.co.za /Your nearest Checkers and Checkers Hyper stores as well as Medi Rite Pharmacy’s For Interviews: Amanda or Elie Kouaiky /Tel: +2783 2928292 / +2782 8881816 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
City Lodge is going green!
Green is our favourite colour!
City Lodge is big into helping to protect the environment. ‘Sustainability’ is the buzzword around here and accordingly we’ve been busily greening our practices, like installing power-saving LED light bulbs in our hotels as well as providing dual-flushing toilet systems.
As of today we’re also launching our City Lodge Earth Day campaign, which is about promoting green practices amongst our staff and guests. It’s just one more step in trying to reduce our impact on the environment.The idea behind City Lodge Earth Day is that every day is a good day to focus on the environment.
So you will be seeing many educational and encouraging messages on our social media channels and within our hotels about ‘going green’ and how you can be part of the movement. Because the thing with green practices is that the more people you can get on board, the more beneficial they are. Together, we really can make a difference!
Small changes that together make a big differenceThere are many small changes we can each make in our daily behaviours, especially in the context of our own homes, to reduce the impact of man on the environment. But let’s take a look at just a few that you could embrace when staying at a City Lodge Hotel…
Actions that save energy include:
- turning off lights whenever not in the room
- making sure windows are closed when the air-con is on
- unplugging electrical equipment when it’s not in use
- dressing warmly in winter so that you don’t need to turn the heat up as high
- not filling the kettle up to the top when you only need hot water for one or two cups.
Actions that save water include:
- choosing to shower instead of bathing
- turning off the tap while soaping your hands
- only using the little button on the dual-flushing system when appropriate
- always making sure all taps are properly turned off.
Other actions that help protect the environment include:
- using environmentally friendly shampoos and soaps, like those supplied by City Lodge Hotels for our guests
- using towels for longer than a day – this saves both water and power as fewer towels need washing.
LED lights up our world!
LED light bulbs and lamps are far more energy efficient than their incandescent or fluorescent equivalents. They are also vastly more ecologically friendly, as they contain no toxic materials and are 100% recyclable.
Knowing this, we at City Lodge Hotel Group have over the past year installed roughly 40,000 LED globes in our hotels, 26,000 of which were within hotels that are part of the City Lodge Hotel brand. In addition, over 4,000 other lights were also converted to more energy-efficient options.
Speaking about all the green changes that have been taking place in City Lodge Hotels, Chief Executive Clifford Ross says,“We remain committed to the journey which we embarked upon some years back to reduce our impact on the planet. Our journey meant that we critically evaluated all aspects of our business to positively influence our planet.”
So as you can see we’re going to be doing things a little differently around here from now on and we encourage you to do things a little differently with us!
COBIAX ON THE BALL
We had a great show the Cobiax system is relatively new in the market and the delegates and visitors were interested to hear more about the system, explain Mike Kühne, Technical Director of Cobiax.
