Our Capitals
Our natural capital - managing SANBS’ impact on the environment
Our Capitals
Our natural capital - managing SANBS’ impact on the environment
Land and air pollution
Sustainability objective 3: Manage land and air pollution
- Manage waste in alignment with the waste hierarchy: prevention, reuse, recycling, recovery, and disposal — to reduce landfill contributions and associated carbon emissions
- Decrease reliance on fossil fuels for business travel to lower air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions
- Ensure all electronic waste is disposed of by the Electronic Waste Association of South Africa (eWASA) guidelines
- Reduce paper usage through digital alternatives and ensure all used printer cartridges are properly recycled
- Implement measures to prevent or minimise noise and air pollution across operations
FY25 Update
In FY25, general waste was collected for recycling at 11 sites, and SANBS achieved an annual average recycling rate of 52%, surpassing the set target of 45%. The highest recycling performance was recorded in May 2024, while January 2025 reflected the lowest rate, likely due to seasonal operational disruptions. Overall, SANBS has made significant progress in diverting waste from landfill, demonstrating consistent recycling practices throughout the reporting year.
Plans for FY26
To maintain and improve on this performance in FY26 and beyond, continued focus on sorting at source, staff engagement and awareness, and effective waste contractor management.
General waste
The appointed service provider has been effectively separating general waste for recycling, resulting in a substantial reduction in landfill disposal. In FY25, a total of 88 tons of general waste was recycled, contributing to an estimated carbon saving of 51 tons. This marks a notable increase in recycling volumes compared to the previous year and underscores the positive environmental impact of improved waste management practices.
Flight travel
Carbon emissions from business-related air travel amounted to 401 tons, representing an increase from 343 tons in the previous financial year. This rise is primarily attributed to international travel, particularly employee attendance at the International Society for Blood Transfusion (ISBT) Conference in Spain, as well as a general increase in business activity during the period.
Road travel
The use of road travel at SANBS includes couriers delivering blood and blood products, the organisation's fleet transporting employees to mobile donor clinics, and collecting blood for testing and processing, site visits and operational travel, as well as employee mileage claims for business purposes. The total distance travelled in FY25 was just over 47 million km.
Printing
There has been a slight increase in printing volumes compared to the previous financial year, leading to a net environmental impact of 58 207 kg, up from 55 341 kg in FY24. This upward trend highlights the need to reinforce paper reduction initiatives and promote digital alternatives to minimise the environmental footprint associated with printing.
Progress against our objective
Overall, there has been a 5.04% increase in carbon savings due to printing. Total carbon emissions increased overall due to increased business activity, reduced solar power generation, increased mileage and energy consumption at our sites, and increased flights.
FY25 Update
SANBS has implemented various environmental initiatives over the years. however, these efforts have not been guided by a unified strategic framework. SANBS plan to adopt a structured and holistic approach to environmental sustainability, aimed at reducing our environmental footprint while enhancing operational efficiency and regulatory compliance.