Partnership with Food & Trees for Africa shows how planting trees can make communities environmentally conscious
Diverso Technology has joined the ongoing, decade-long partnership between Konica Minolta South Africa and NPO Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA), planting trees across South Africa to reduce carbon impacts and enhance environmental sustainability.
Diverso Technology – an authorised dealer of Konica Minolta South Africa, a division of Bidvest Office & Print – has donated a total of 1 000 trees to be planted in the Somerset West area. The trees will offset an estimated 369 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).
On 7 November 2019, 20 of those trees were planted at Firgrove Primary School. An official tree- planting ceremony was held, and a demonstration was conducted by FTFA, educating the pupils about the importance of protecting the environment and the benefits of minimising our carbon footprint.
“As an eco-school, we welcome the donation of trees for the opportunity it gives to teach our learners more about their environment,” said Firgrove Primary School Principal, Mr Wyngaard.
“Trees are so important to our communities, as they sustain lives,” said Hennie du Toit, managing director of Diverso Technology. “This tree donation will also help prevent water overflow and erosion, while the fruit trees planted will support food security in the area.”
The latest donation brings the total number of trees planted to 48 501 since the start of the Konica Minolta South Africa partnership with FTFA in 2008, including bamboo and tree-equivalent spekboom plants.
The programme has already reached 938 schools and 49 community centres, as well as 11 639 homes. With the programme’s focus on sustainability, 129 community educators have been trained through the tree-planting activities and are now empowered to take the initiative forward across the country.
This tree planting initiative has also offset an estimated 17 897 tons of CO2e, enabling Konica Minolta South Africa to achieve carbon-neutral status. The initiative is in line with the company’s brand purpose to help communities to become more environmentally conscious in the face of accelerating climate change.
ENDS
This release was issued by Ogilvy on behalf of Konica Minolta South Africa
For more information, please contact:
Abigail le Roux
E: Abigail.leroux@ogilvypr.co.za
M: 083 539 6435
About Konica Minolta South Africa
Konica Minolta South Africa, a division of Bidvest Office (Pty) Ltd is driven to deliver products and services designed to meet clients’ needs. The company’s innovative products and services cover a broad spectrum – from the provision and installation of industry leading, multifunctional devices and digital presses, software and system integration to countrywide service back-up and sophisticated end-to-end document and content management solutions. Konica Minolta South Africa has been a recognised leader in the southern African market for over 50 years, and with more than 70 points of presence across the sub-continent, Konica Minolta South Africa is geared to service businesses across southern Africa as far afield as Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.
The company is an active participant in several innovative education and conservation initiatives, which include; a mobile pop-up library and IT centre, established mini libraries benefitting vast numbers of school children, ongoing support of one of the world’s largest rhino orphanages in the world, pioneering the ‘bizhub Conservation Academy’ in Mpumalanga, blending conservation and digital education for rural South Africa and a skills development and job creation programme aimed at empowering young disadvantaged school-leavers. In 2013, Konica Minolta South Africa became one of the first corporates to offset its direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions making it carbon neutral, and in conjunction with NGO Food & Trees for Africa, have planted a significant number of trees that are stimulating enterprise development in rural communities.
About Food & Trees for Africa
Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) is a leading Section 21 Social Enterprise that addresses food security and environmental sustainability. Its emphasis is on education and skills training, which is integrated with sensitive mentorship and phased support. With 27 years of experience in South African social development, FTFA understands what it takes to achieve real, long-term sustainability and want to make a positive difference to the lives of all South Africans.
