OUR CAPITALS

Our Natural Capital

OUR CAPITALS

Our Natural Capital

At SANBS, we are committed to reducing our environmental impact by integrating environmental objectives into our organisational strategy. Our progress in achieving these goals is measured against the KPIs of our 'Greening Strategy.'

What Natural Capital means to SANBS

Our natural capital includes our environmental stewardship for both our internal operations and our products and services. Our internal aspirational targets assist in minimising our impact on natural resources, enhancing operational resilience against supply constraints.

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

  • We are committed to decrease wastage and promote appropriate use of blood

Focused efforts on reducing our carbon footprint

The SANBS Greening Task team continues to monitor, measure and introduce initiatives to minimise negative impacts on the environment, through 6 objectives:

  • Energy conservation
  • Optimisation of water consumption and conservation
  • Management of land and air pollution
  • Optimisation of procurement
  • Environmentally sustainable buildings
  • Environmentally conscious culture

Environmental Imperatives as we Manage our Natural Capital

The total carbon emissions for SANBS in FY24 amounted to a net 17 451 tons (FY23:16 511). This is an overall increase of 5.70% (3.80%) on the previous year and a cumulative 9.72% (9.41%) increase over the past three years.

Energy and Carbon

Sustainability Objective 1: Conserve Energy

Reduce the carbon footprint, particularly electricity usage from the national grid.

FY24 Update - Carbon Emissions

The measured power consumption was 8.82mWh (FY23: 8.85mWh), 0.34% lower than 2023. In Mount Edgecombe, solar energy complements power supplied. It produced 521 911kWh (FY23: 600 326kWh) of power with a carbon saving of 537.6 tons (FY23: 618.3 tons). The energy produced is lower than the previous FY primarily due to the damage caused to the solar system by the flooding experienced in Durban in April 2022, which has now been fixed. 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 precedent for further installations. No further installations have been commissioned (see plans for 2024/2025 below)
  • LED light bulb installations were rolled out to additional sites. A procurement process has commenced to appoint a service provider to assess sites and install LED bulbs
  • Electricity and other carbon statistics are published on the SANBS intranet site and are accessible to all employees
  • Renovations to the Head Office building were put on hold pending the completion of the BECS project and the evaluation of alternate office options. Plans include solar generated power

Plans for FY25

A solar feasibility assessment of the SANBS-owned sites was completed and recommendations are planned to be implemented over 2–3 years. Following the feasibility assessment, four sites have been identified for solar installation. SANBS will follow the requisite procurement processes to appoint a contractor(s) for the installation and commissioning of the system.

Water

Sustainability Objective 2: Optimisation of Water Consumption and Conservation

  • Reduce the consumption of water at all SANBS’ sites
  • Deploy rainwater harvesting technologies for SANBS-owned properties
  • Prevent or minimise disposal of trade effluent

FY24 Update

  • There was a 40.1% increase in borehole water consumption
  • At Head Office, borehole consumption was 5 297kl (FY23: 5 377kl), with estimated savings of R241 781 (FY23: R236 508). The decrease in consumption is partly because of borehole plant failure for a short period
  • The borehole at Mount Edgecombe generated approximately 4 988kl (FY23: 2 205kl) and savings of R245 397 (FY23: R93 119)
  • The borehole at the Gqeberha Zone headquarters, commissioned in March 2023 in response to the drought conditions in that Province, generated approximately 406kl and a saving of R17 530 in the financial year
  • A total of R504 708 was saved in FY2024 as a result of borehole consumption (FY23: R330 404). This amounts to a 10 691kl (7 600kl) savings

Plans for FY25

The feasibility studies for borehole installation have been completed, and as a result, six sites have been selected for borehole installation. Contractors have been assigned, and completion is anticipated by the end of December 2024.

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Land and Air Pollution