OUR STRATEGY

GREENING sanbs

OUR STRATEGY

GREENING sanbs

Environmental imperatives as we manage our natural capital

The Greening Task Team, comprising cross-functional staff and managers, continued its activities to “reduce SANBS’s impact on the environment”, however efforts during the past financial year were limited due to the collective efforts of business being diverted to dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.


The pandemic provided an ideal opportunity for the mandatory use of technology such as video conferencing. During the year, well over 30 000 online meetings were held, obviating the need to travel to a central venue for meetings. The lockdown resulted in fewer flights and reduced business travel, and we expect this trend to continue – contributing to SANBS’s greening objectives. However, business travel has increased following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions.

Environmental imperatives as we manage our natural capital

The Greening Task Team, comprising cross-functional staff and managers, continued its activities to “reduce SANBS’s impact on the environment”, however efforts during the past financial year were limited due to the collective efforts of business being diverted to dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.


The pandemic provided an ideal opportunity for the mandatory use of technology such as video conferencing. During the year, well over 30 000 online meetings were held, obviating the need to travel to a central venue for meetings. The lockdown resulted in fewer flights and reduced business travel, and we expect this trend to continue – contributing to SANBS’s greening objectives. However, business travel has increased following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions.

For 2021–2022 SANBS’s overall carbon emission as presented from the data collected totals a net 15 906 tons. This is an overall reduction of 13% on the previous year and a cumulative 22% reduction over the past two years.

For 2021–2022 SANBS’s overall carbon emission as presented from the data collected totals a net 15 906 tons. This is an overall reduction of 13% on the previous year and a cumulative 22% reduction over the past two years.

Energy and carbon

Sustainability Objective 1: Conserve Energy

  • Reduce the carbon footprint, particularly electricity use from the national grid

2021/2022 Update

  • Carbon emissions, especially our building energy use, is one of our most significant environmental impacts:
    • For 2022, the measured power consumption was 9.59kWh, 18.2% lower than 2021
    • In Mount Edgecombe, solar energy complements power supplied. It produced 694 750kWh of power with a carbon saving of 715.6 tons
    • Environmental awareness campaigns provided guidance on how to reduce power consumption

Progress against our Objective

  • While reduction in energy consumption has been marginal, solar at Mount Edgecombe has set the basis for further installations
  • LED light bulb installations were rolled out to additional sites
  • Electricity and other carbon statistics are published on the SANBS intranet site and accessible by all staff

Plans for 2022/2023

  • Renovations to the SANBS Head Office building is planned for 2022 and 2023. Plans include solar generated power
  • A solar feasibility assessment of the SANBS-owned sites was done and recommendations are planned over 2–3 years

Energy and carbon

Sustainability Objective 1: Conserve Energy

  • Reduce the carbon footprint, particularly electricity use from the national grid

2021/2022 Update

  • Carbon emissions, especially our building energy use, is one of our most significant environmental impacts:
    • For 2022, the measured power consumption was 9.59kWh, 18.2% lower than 2021
    • In Mount Edgecombe, solar energy complements power supplied. It produced 694 750kWh of power with a carbon saving of 715.6 tons
    • Environmental awareness campaigns provided guidance on how to reduce power consumption

Progress against our Objective

  • While reduction in energy consumption has been marginal, solar at Mount Edgecombe has set the basis for further installations
  • LED light bulb installations were rolled out to additional sites
  • Electricity and other carbon statistics are published on the SANBS intranet site and accessible by all staff

Plans for 2022/2023

  • Renovations to the SANBS Head Office building is planned for 2022 and 2023. Plans include solar generated power
  • A solar feasibility assessment of the SANBS-owned sites was done and recommendations are planned over 2–3 years

Water

Sustainability Objective 2: Optimisation of Water Consumption and Conservation

  • Reduce the consumption of water at all SANBS’s operations
  • Deploy rainwater harvesting technologies for SANBS-owned properties
  • Prevent or minimise disposal of trade effluent that contravene local by-laws

2021/2022 Update

  • At Head Office, borehole consumption was 4 351kl, with estimated savings of R144 000
  • The borehole at Mount Edgecombe generated approximately 1 921kl and savings of R76 000

Progress against our Objective

  • Reducing water consumption has been limited, but, an additional borehole water tank will redirect water to the garden irrigation system

Plans for 2022/2023

  • In the Eastern Cape, a borehole has been commissioned at the Zone headquarters in Gqeberha
  • The threat of water-shedding is receiving attention from management and the Board

Water

Sustainability Objective 2: Optimisation of Water Consumption and Conservation

  • Reduce the consumption of water at all SANBS’s operations
  • Deploy rainwater harvesting technologies for SANBS-owned properties
  • Prevent or minimise disposal of trade effluent that contravene local by-laws

2021/2022 Update

  • At Head Office, borehole consumption was 4 351kl, with estimated savings of R144 000
  • The borehole at Mount Edgecombe generated approximately 1 921kl and savings of R76 000

Progress against our Objective

  • Reducing water consumption has been limited, but, an additional borehole water tank will redirect water to the garden irrigation system

Plans for 2022/2023

  • In the Eastern Cape, a borehole has been commissioned at the Zone headquarters in Gqeberha
  • The threat of water-shedding is receiving attention from management and the Board

Land and air pollution

Sustainability objective 3: Manage Land and Air Pollution

  • Ensure that, in accordance with legislation, waste will be managed in a sustainable manner following the waste hierarchy of Prevention, Reuse, Recycle, Recovery and Disposal, to reduce the waste discarded in landfills and resultant carbon emissions
  • Reduce the use of fossil fuels for personal and business travel
  • Dispose of all electronic waste according to the Electronic Waste Association of South Africa (eWASA) guideline
  • Reduce paper use and ensure spent cartridges are recycled
  • Prevent or minimise noise and air pollution

2021/2022 Update

  • Significant effort to improve recording of waste data from our two main waste streams – general (office type) waste and biomedical waste – from our operations
  • This enabled us to better manage and control our waste outputs
General waste

  • A service provider separates general waste for recycling and minimal landfill disposal
  • General waste is separated into 16 categories, ranging from cardboard, newspapers and plastic, glass and cans
  • Recyclable waste has increased considerably by 69% (45 tons) at these 16 sites
  • Waste sent to landfills increased disproportionately to the volume of waste generated – an increase of 98% (26 tons) – this anomaly is being investigated to implement measures to improve recycling

Flight travel

  • Carbon emissions from business related flights was significantly lower (413 tons lower) than the previous year (524 tons), which was attributable to the travel restrictions
  • Carbon emissions recorded are only for domestic travel as no international travel was undertaken during the year

Road travel

  • Road travel comprises the use of couriers to deliver blood and blood products, our own fleet to transport staff to donor clinics and to fetch collected blood for testing and processing, and mileage claimed by staff for the use of their own vehicles for business purposes
  • There was a decrease of 4.7% (nearly 1.2 million kms) in the transportation of blood and a small decrease of 1.8% (128 000 kms) in the use of the SANBS fleet and mileage claims by staff

Printing

  • Printing volumes remained static when compared to the previous financial year, resulting in a negligible net impact on the environment (-41kg)
  • By implementing duplex printing, we have contributed to saving nearly 400 cedar trees

Progress against our Objective

  • While restricted travel reduced carbon emissions, the overall emission has increased by a significant 152%. Mainly attributable to increased diesel consumption to power generators during loadshedding

Plans for 2022/2023

  • Identify reasons for the majority of recyclable waste sent to landfill
  • Focus on analysis of data gathered to date to identifying improvement initiatives

Land and air pollution

Sustainability objective 3: Manage Land and Air Pollution

  • Ensure that, in accordance with legislation, waste will be managed in a sustainable manner following the waste hierarchy of Prevention, Reuse, Recycle, Recovery and Disposal, to reduce the waste discarded in landfills and resultant carbon emissions
  • Reduce the use of fossil fuels for personal and business travel
  • Dispose of all electronic waste according to the Electronic Waste Association of South Africa (eWASA) guideline
  • Reduce paper use and ensure spent cartridges are recycled
  • Prevent or minimise noise and air pollution

2021/2022 Update

  • Significant effort to improve recording of waste data from our two main waste streams – general (office type) waste and biomedical waste – from our operations
  • This enabled us to better manage and control our waste outputs
General waste

  • A service provider separates general waste for recycling and minimal landfill disposal
  • General waste is separated into 16 categories, ranging from cardboard, newspapers and plastic, glass and cans
  • Recyclable waste has increased considerably by 69% (45 tons) at these 16 sites
  • Waste sent to landfills increased disproportionately to the volume of waste generated – an increase of 98% (26 tons) – this anomaly is being investigated to implement measures to improve recycling

Flight travel

  • Carbon emissions from business related flights was significantly lower (413 tons lower) than the previous year (524 tons), which was attributable to the travel restrictions
  • Carbon emissions recorded are only for domestic travel as no international travel was undertaken during the year

Road travel

  • Road travel comprises the use of couriers to deliver blood and blood products, our own fleet to transport staff to donor clinics and to fetch collected blood for testing and processing, and mileage claimed by staff for the use of their own vehicles for business purposes
  • There was a decrease of 4.7% (nearly 1.2 million kms) in the transportation of blood and a small decrease of 1.8% (128 000 kms) in the use of the SANBS fleet and mileage claims by staff

Printing

  • Printing volumes remained static when compared to the previous financial year, resulting in a negligible net impact on the environment (-41kg)
  • By implementing duplex printing, we have contributed to saving nearly 400 cedar trees

Progress against our Objective

  • While restricted travel reduced carbon emissions, the overall emission has increased by a significant 152%. Mainly attributable to increased diesel consumption to power generators during loadshedding

Plans for 2022/2023

  • Identify reasons for the majority of recyclable waste sent to landfill
  • Focus on analysis of data gathered to date to identifying improvement initiatives

There is a great need for the introduction of new values in our society, where bigger is not necessarily better, where slower can be faster, and where less can be more. – Gaylord Nelson

Procurement

Sustainability Objective 4: Optimise Procurement

  • Make sure that the products and services procured for SANBS are as sustainable as possible, with the lowest environmental impact

2021/2022 Update

  • Few new initiatives were undertaken to optimise our green “procurement” but we continue to purchase energy efficient computers, recycle paper and invest in more fuel-efficient vehicles

Plans for 2022/2023

  • Plans are to engage key vendors to explore opportunities to reduce carbon emissions along the entire supply value chain

Procurement

Sustainability Objective 4: Optimise Procurement

  • Make sure that the products and services procured for SANBS are as sustainable as possible, with the lowest environmental impact

2021/2022 Update

  • Few new initiatives were undertaken to optimise our green “procurement” but we continue to purchase energy efficient computers, recycle paper and invest in more fuel-efficient vehicles

Plans for 2022/2023

  • Plans are to engage key vendors to explore opportunities to reduce carbon emissions along the entire supply value chain

Green building

Sustainability Objective 5: Green Building

  • Ensure that all SANBS-owned buildings are built and operated in an environmentally sustainable way

2021/2022 Update

  • The Mount Edgecombe site is now certified as a 5 Star Green building
  • This site also achieved the NET ZERO accreditation from the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA)

Plans for 2022/2023

  • Plans for re-zoning and upgrading of our offices and laboratories in Constantia Kloof, and replicate greening initiatives implemented at Mount Edgecombe

Green building

Sustainability Objective 5: Green Building

  • Ensure that all SANBS-owned buildings are built and operated in an environmentally sustainable way

2021/2022 Update

  • The Mount Edgecombe site is now certified as a 5 Star Green building
  • This site also achieved the NET ZERO accreditation from the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA)

Plans for 2022/2023

  • Plans for re-zoning and upgrading of our offices and laboratories in Constantia Kloof, and replicate greening initiatives implemented at Mount Edgecombe

Culture change

Sustainability Objective 6: Culture Change

  • SANBS operations are undertaken in a sustainable manner by environmentally conscious SANBS staff

2021/2022 Update

  • Greening dashboard implemented and updated quarterly
  • Environmental awareness campaigns by the Safety and Environment department

Plans for 2022/2023

  • Continue to monitor and reduce our carbon footprint and impact on the environment and identify areas for improvements

Culture change

Sustainability Objective 6: Culture Change

  • SANBS operations are undertaken in a sustainable manner by environmentally conscious SANBS staff

2021/2022 Update

  • Greening dashboard implemented and updated quarterly
  • Environmental awareness campaigns by the Safety and Environment department

Plans for 2022/2023

  • Continue to monitor and reduce our carbon footprint and impact on the environment and identify areas for improvements

How can we help you?

Let's Connect

Head Office

  • 1 Constantia Boulevard Constantia Kloof, Roodepoort, 1709
  • (011) 761-9000
  • customerservice@sanbs.org.za

Main Links

Ⓒ 2022 - All Rights Are Reserved. SANBS Integrated Report. Created by Joshero (Pty) Ltd.

Head Office

  • 1 Constantia Boulevard Constantia Kloof, Roodepoort, 1709
  • (011) 761-9000
  • customerservice@sanbs.org.za

Main Links

Ⓒ 2022 - All Rights Are Reserved. SANBS Integrated Report. Created by Joshero (Pty) Ltd.