Saving more than R800 000 a year on electricity and 64% of its water use is being achieved by Imperial Cargo Solutions through its Carbon Footprint Reduction Initiative. This forms part of Imperial Logistics commitment to sustainability and greening of the supply chain.

Implemented in two phases, this undertaking started off with phase one focusing on reducing the company’s electricity consumption through the retrofitting of lights, which began in March 2012. Phase two was implemented in March this year with the installation of a wash bay water treatment plant at the company’s Garfield Logistics Park facility.

This water recirculation plant consists of two five-kilolitre bioreactors (commonly known as a jojo container) and one five-kilolitre storage tank. It was designed to cater for the washing of 15 to 18 large vehicles a day. Two five-kilolitre rainwater harvesting tanks were also installed for top-up purposes.

The bioreactors also feature an unusual water cleaning system.

Steve Smith, MD of Imperial Cargo Solutions, says, “They are bacteria-powered. Inside the reactors we have plastic bottles strategically hung, on which natural occurring bacteria forms from airation. As the water flows through the bacteria it is cleaned – just like the bacteria against rocks in a natural stream would do. This innovation means that the water is recycled through this process without the use of any chemicals of additives.”

To date the water plant has provided a total of 286 144 litres of recycled water to the wash bay.

“This translates to a 64% water saving over the last 4 months of operations at the wash bay plant.We forecast annual water savings of 85% by March 2014.”

For the 5th month since commissioning the water treatment plant it has shown a 100% harvest of recycled water with no municipal water top-up necessary. The treated water also conforms to the World Standard for wash bay water.

Steve Smith, “During phase one, old, inefficient lighting technology was replaced with new technology, and Imperial Cargo Solutions is also in the process of getting light (motion and occupancy) sensors fitted in all offices and warehouses, which will save an additional estimated 5 to 10% in kilowatt-hours of electricity. The energy efficiency project was implemented using the Eskom Demand Side Management rebate programme.”

“The installation of energy saving lights has to date resulted in a 24% saving on electricity consumption year-on-year. The average electricity used per square metre reduced from 3.806 kWh in 2011 to 2.899 kWh in 2012.”

“Due to the increase in municipality rates and an increase in demand  – due to an extended warehouse – it is difficult to calculate the exact saving in rand value, but it is estimated to be, on average, a saving of R67 000 per month. In total this equates to a saving of approximately R800 000 over a 12 month period.”

Concluding, “We are committed to ‘greening’ our business wherever possible. Sustainability is an economic imperative that is playing an increasingly crucial role in the long-term success and social and economic relevance of businesses.”