Johannesburg, 05 Jun 2009
Telkom is working to consolidate its environmental initiatives in line with its ISO 14001-certified environmental management system (EMS).
The statement comes with the celebration of World Environment Day today, an annual event established by the UN, aimed at stimulating environmental awareness.
Telkom`s group executive for capability management, Theo Hess, said in a media statement that the ISO 14001-compliant EMS is a valuable tool in ensuring more environmentally sustainable operations.
"It also helps us to identify and control the environmental impact of our activities, to continuously improve our environmental performance and implement a systematic approach to setting environmental objectives and targets," he added.
According to Hess, the core elements of Telkom`s EMS include the management of biodiversity, waste, energy and emissions, water and fossil fuels.
The Telkom Green Initiative is a cross-functional project which aims to integrate the group`s new and existing environmental and energy initiatives, to ensure it meets all targets enforced by legislation, as well as its own.
"It is common knowledge that some businesses still perceive greening initiatives as being an expense. However, the opposite holds more truth as greening initiatives are not only an investment in environmental sustainability but could impact a company`s bottom line very positively," states Hess.
Weighing watts
Hess says Telkom is investigating its electricity usage in order to find ways of optimising and saving energy while balancing equipment efficiency and longevity.
Telkom spokesperson Ajith Bridgraj adds that the company is exploring ways of adapting its cooling requirements, which are often substantial in ICT industries, in order to lower energy consumption. The group is also considering strategies like powering down equipment when not in use.
Bridgraj believes businesses will have to consider environmental implications as they grow and expand. "We cannot go on with business operations that continue to harm the environment," he says.
In line with this, Telkom says it is collaborating with communities on how to make equipment that may become obsolete in future sustainable. "We`re looking at replacement technology and interventions tied to equipment, such as telecom masts, which may not belong to us if we venture into wireless communication," says Bridgraj.
"Ultimately," concludes Hess, "for our businesses to be sustainable, we all need to ensure our operations and practices become environmentally friendly. While there is a lot more that must be done, it is important for us to walk the talk."
World Environment Day forms part of an ongoing government initiative, with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism marking June as national environment month. SA is also in the process of finalising its climate change policy following the Climate Change Summit held in March. The summit outlined plans for a white paper on climate change with a legislative and fiscal package to be completed by 2012.
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