Inaugural Enviropaedia Eco Logics Awards honour Imperial Logistics

The Energy Saving Award was awarded to the member company, Imperial Cargo. "This year has seen the company transform a Paarl-based dumpsite into a 'green logistics' landmark site through the use of renewable energy and a self-sufficient approach to power generation and water management," says Abrie de Swardt, Imperial Logistics marketing director.

Its extensive list of initiatives within its 'green logistics evolution', for which it won the Transport Award, include driver training and employee engagement, introduction of South Africa's first Euro 5 vehicles, 'extra distance' studies and network redesign to eliminate logistics inefficiencies, as well as the application of nitrogen powered transport refrigeration.

"A few years ago, the company started a 'green logistics evolution'. With more than 100 member companies and customers in almost every sector, this evolution has grown exponentially as eco-economic collaboration has expanded. Critically, initiatives undertaken and processes established have been forged through business case-driven innovation," adds de Swardt.

The 2011 Enviropaedia Eco Logics Awards, sponsored by organisations including Gautrain, HP, LG, Pick 'n Pay and SABC ,3 acknowledge organisations and individuals that are considerate towards the planet and its eco-systems, conserve and preserve natural resources and minimise waste and pollution.

David Perry-Davies, editor of The Enviropaedia commented, "We have great pleasure in presenting our ten Eco Logics Award winners and we congratulate them and commit our support for their endeavours, projects and products in future, as they lead the way to a kinder, more effective, eco-logical world."

Congratulating Perry-Davies and his team at Eco Logics, De Swardt concludes, "The awards are an exciting and evolutionary step forward - we must get connected, we need to become informed and more importantly we need to give something back to the environment."

Other winners

Other winners included Mariette Liefferink, winning the Eco Warrior Award for her ongoing fight against acid mine drainage (AMD) in the Gauteng region.

The Lifetime Achievement Award went to veteran environmentalist, John Ledger. For many years he has played a leading role in protecting South Africa's vultures from modern threats such Eskom's power lines.

Mike Kerr of Animal Outreaches took home the Eco Angel Award and 14-year old Tanya Meyer from Johannesburg, scooped the Eco-Logical Youth Award for her conservation and eco awareness work at school in Northcliff.

The music festival 'Rocking the Daisies' and the Share Net project of the Wildlife and Environmental Society of South Africa (WESSA) shared the Climate Change Award and Plastics SA won the Recycling Award.

Among the other green champions were De Beers' Diamond Route (Biodiversity Award) and car rental company Avis (Best Water Conservation Programmes, Products or Services).