Green Supply Chain Awards salute industry leaders

Guests were addressed by Christopher Ljungner, MD of Scania Southern Africa, lead sponsor of the awards. Co-sponsors were Barloworld Logistics, Improvon and trophy sponsor, TrenStar.

Winners

The awards are traditionally divided into three categories: Industry Leader, Best Project and Best Product.

• Industry Leader - Abrie de Swardt, marketing director: Imperial Logistics for his role in the 'green logistics' evolution, both within Imperial Logistics and by spreading the message broadly throughout the supply chain and business communities
  
• Best Product under R1 million - Stab-a-Load for its solar powered docking equipment system, which operates single or multiple pneumatic dock levellers, Star 4 truck restraints, LED dock lights and motorised sectional doors, without being connected to a permanent electricity supply
  
• Best Product over R1 million - TrenStar for its specialised returnable packaging solution that is a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly method of protecting a transported component while in transit. The returnable interlayer replaces typical end-of-journey disposable internal dunnage. After the component is unpacked, the interlayer collapses to occupy minimal space and fits into its returnable container, ready for return transport. Both products are 100% recyclable at the end of their respective life cycles.
  
• Best Project Under R1 million - Hooghiemstra Logistical Services for its 'Green Fleet Management Project', which resulted in cost savings and a reduced carbon print for its clients.
  
• Best Project R1 - R10 million - Distell for its 'Give Back Get Back' project which resulted in 35.2 million bottles being returned in 2010/2011 in the company's northern and central regions, compared to 31.4 million in the previous year. The additional 3.8 million returns amounted to a cost of sales saving in excess of R5 million.
  
• Best Project Over R10 million - Adcock Ingram for its simple but aggressive approach to energy savings, which enabled it to halve the expected power requirement at its new National Distribution Centre in Midrand. Assisted by Industrial Logistic Systems, it re-engineered the building, lighting, air-conditioning, incoming power supply infrastructure, operational processes and management systems.

Commended

• Best Product Highly Commended - City Power for its recycling project, which reduced the waste stream to landfill sites by disposing of biodegradable waste that decomposes to hydrogen sulphide and methane gas, saving landfill airspace. It distributed colour-coded bins and stainless steel bins, recycling posters, as well as internal recycling boxes. The project is a phase 1 implementation being rolled out to all 10 City Power depots. The revenue collected from this project will be used for environmental sustainability, such as the planting of indigenous trees and shrubs, as well as biodiversity.
  
• Certificate of Merit - MTN for its business transport and logistics application, which increased the efficiency and productivity of logistics businesses whilst reducing costs and waste, through the availability of live, always-on, electronic field data.