Imperial Holdings Limited - Sustainability Report 2013

Sustainability Report 2013

Our operations generate a variety of waste streams, including the following:

Waste generated		Weight/volume




	Tyres	1 398 (t/metric)




	Used motor oil	5,36 million litres




	batteries	537 (t/metric)

The only significant source of effluent in the group is washbay run off caused by washing transport fleets. Hazardous effluent may result from substances carried on behalf of customers, particularly in the tanker businesses of the Africa Logistics division.

During the year we made good progress in implementing a standardised, centralised system to measure waste and effluent. This is based on the Global Reporting Index (GRI) indicators for waste and effluent. Data is received from all operations and all sites.

Each division has developed an integrated waste management plan specific to its business requirements in response to the National Environmental Management Waste Act 59 of 2008 (the Waste Act).

All waste material is removed from our sites by accredited waste removal companies and where required, waste removal and disposal certificates are furnished, in line with the Waste Management Act.

Spillages are most relevant to our logistics operations and in line with environmental regulations. We track the number of spillages, their quantity and the particular materials involved in each spillage. During the year there was 84,62 kilolitres of spillages (2012: 115,43 kilolitres).

These spillages were not serious and did not involve any hazardous materials. All spillages are taken seriously and their potential impact on the environment is assessed, either through our specially trained personnel or independent third-party environmental assessors. In the case of our logistics business, our drivers are properly trained to deal with spillages and follow strict internal guidelines as to how to deal with the spillages as well as follow the procedures and take corrective action where necessary.

We follow strict legislation governing the cleaning up of spills and in taking corrective action where this is required. We also put steps in place to prevent repeat incidents where possible.

During the year, Africa Logistics’ Specialised Freight division received accreditation by the International Cyanide Management Institute (ICMI), making it the only accredited transporter in southern Africa. ICMI has accredited an elite group of just 68 internationally certified cyanide transporters, only 12 of which are based in Africa.


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Managing and minimising waste

All our operations adhere to the relevant legal regulations concerning waste and each operating division has a management procedure in place for the handling, labelling, storage and treatment of waste streams.

Businesses across the group have programmes in place to minimise or recycle waste wherever possible, depending on the waste streams generated:

–	Tyres: where it is safe to do so, we retread tyres and where this is not feasible, we make use of accredited recycling contactors who dispose of the tyres responsibly. Waste tyres can be used in agricultural and marine applications as well as the production of compounds used in asphalt.
–	Used motor oil: we negotiated agreements with waste oil service providers during the year to buy back and treat our waste motor oil across the group see case study on page 44.
–	Windscreens: we repair chipped windscreens wherever possible, particularly in our Automotive and Industriall businesses which have focused on reducing the number of windscreens that need to be disposed of. Windscreens that cannot be repaired are returned to the windscreen supplier and recycled or disposed of in accordance with legislation. As part of Regent’s sustainability initiatives, the company has saved 14 371 kg of CO2 for the year from recycling the windscreens replaced by PG Glass.
–	Paper: many of our businesses have embarked on campaigns to shift to a paperless environment where this is possible. There is an ongoing drive to reduce paper consumption through double-sided printing, and to recycle all office paper waste.
–	Batteries: batteries are disposed of according to local regulations governing the disposal of lead and similar products.
–	Hazardous waste: the handling and disposal of all hazardous waste is governed by strict legislation and carried out by accredited waste disposal contractors.

CASE STUDY

A group-wide approach to waste oil management

Used motor oil, oil filters and oil rags are common waste streams in almost all of Imperial’s divisions, with the exception of Financial Services. While waste motor oil can be harmful to the environment – 1 litre of used motor oil can contaminate 1 million litres of drinking water – the good news is that it can be cleaned and recycled.

During the year Imperial contracted with a registered ISO accredited national waste oil management company to remove waste motor oil, oil filters, oil rags and oil containers from the Africa Logistics,Automotive and Industrial divisions. Water is separated from the used oil and undergoes a series of cleansing processes, while the oil itself is cleaned, recycled and used for a number of different applications. Both the oil containers and the oil rags are cleaned and recycled.

“Water that was once mixed with the used oil is cleaned to the point that we pump it into fish ponds on our premises that are used for breeding carp and other species of fish,” says the general manager from the waste oil management company.

In addition to addressing one of Imperial’s key waste streams, the waste oil partnership is an example of how environmental practices can make good business sense too. Imperial leveraged the size and scale of its operations to negotiate an attractive price for the used motor oil. All funds generated from the sale of the oil are returned to the operations, which use it to fund further environmental and sustainability projects.

The waste oil company also recycles the used oil and plastic canisters to responsible vendors, ensuring cradle to grave responsibility.

Each business unit will receive a monthly certified waste disposal certificate in compliance with the Waste Act of 2008. They will also receive a summary of their disposal and the carbon footprint of the disposed oil.

Disposal of waste oil safely is integral in Imperial’s quest to become more responsible in the disposal of substances that may be harmful to the environment.

CASE STUDY

Imperial Toyota dealership sets benchmark for sustainable building practic

Imperial Toyota’s Parktown dealership is a leading example of how green building techniques, combined with water and waste management practices, can reduce environmental load and save on costs.

Constructed in 2010, the design of the dealership incorporates a number of energy, water and waste-efficiency measures that set it apart. “A decision was taken to design the building from the ground up using sustainable building practice. This is closely aligned with Imperial’s focus on environmental stewardship and the global Toyota group’s emphasis on sustainability,” explains Andrew Miller, Imperial Toyota managing director.

Both the office building and the workshop incorporate large glass panels to allow in the maximum amount of natural light, thereby reducing the need for electrical lighting. The energy-efficient lighting system is linked to motion sensors and controlled by a computer-linked timer that automatically switches lights off when a room is not in use or at particular times of the day when natural lighting is most readily available. LED lights are used for outdoor signage and at night, only the portion of the showroom closest to the road is lit.

The same computer system controls the air conditioners, which alternate in cooling rooms that are occupied. If the sensor system detects that a room is unoccupied, the air conditioner is automatically switched off. Solar geysers are used to heat water in the bathrooms.

“The dealership runs on just 104 kVA which is less than half the amount of power ordinarily used by a dealership of this size and specification,” explains Miller.

In addition to delivering significant energy savings, the design of the Parktown Imperial Toyota dealership helps save on water consumption. All washbay water is recycled using a tank and filter system, and pumps that are powered by solar panels. Only 10% of the water used in the dealership is drawn from the municipal source.

All waste streams are separated at source and removed by certified waste management contractors for recycling. “It is our policy to send as little waste as possible to landfill. We are working towards recycling all the waste generated by the dealership,” says Miller.

As part of its holistic approach to environmental sustainability, Imperial Toyota is also involved in other initiatives, including tree planting and vehicle sponsor for Miss Earth South Africa and clean-up efforts in rivers and open land in the local community. Many members of senior management also drive hybrid vehicles. In 2012, the Imperial Toyota Group won the global Toyota ECO award in recognition of its efforts in environmental conservation, indicating that all the dealerships meet Toyota’s highest standards of environmental awareness and compliance.

Effluents and waste

A group-wide approach to waste oil management

Imperial Toyota dealership sets benchmark for sustainable building practic