ENVIRONMENT
SANRAL proudly presents Eco-Logic Transport Award
CSIR International Conference Centre
David Parry-Davies publishing editor of The Enviropaedia
From left to right: Sellicia Goncalves, Saeeda Ismail, Charlotte Ngwenya, Willem van der Merwe, Yogie Naidoo, Mpati Makoa and Manjula Reddy

SANRAL is the proud sponsor of the Transport category of the Eco-Logic Awards. These awards identify individuals, organisations and communities who contribute positively towards a sustainable world and encourage consumers to purchase their products and services.

The awards were established by The Enviropaedia, a South African environmental encyclopaedia and networking platform that promotes social and environmental sustainability, in 2011. Since they were launched, the Eco-Logic Awards have grown into South Africa’s most glamorously green eco-calendar event, receiving coverage on TV, radio, print media and online.

Every year, the public nominates its eco-champions in 13 categories, highlighting how they contribute to an “Eco-Logically” sustainable society and environment. A team of highly respected, environmentally aware individuals then judge all the entries using the same seven criteria that are the roots of Eco-Logic and select finalists in each category.

The finalists are invited to join an

Willem van der Merwe hands over the SANRAL Transport award for winners Bicycles and Beyond (in absentia)

exclusive group of Green VIPs and thought leaders at the Eco-Logic Awards event, which took place this year on the evening of 14 June at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria.

Attendees could choose between two fun dress codes – either “Glamourously Green” or “Come as your Environmental Alter-Ego”.

The Transport Award is given to a product or service that reduces negative environmental impacts in the transport sector. This year, the award was bestowed upon Bicycles and Beyond (BAB). This organisation was founded in 2015 by Janine Johnson and Beverley Roode, with the aim of empowering women and youth through cycling. The team educates people about cycling as an everyday mode of transport and as a “vehicle” for employment opportunities. Women and youth are trained in cycling safety, competence and basic mechanics, so that they can fix their own bicycles and those of other people in the community.

BAB hosts women’s cycling events, bicycle tours, spin classes and ghost rides. They also organise school holiday programmes to keep vulnerable youth busy when they are not at school. These will be expanded to boot camps in which youth are taken on excursions and equipped with life skills through teambuilding exercises.

SANRAL believes that recognising efforts in this area is vitally important. We believe that minimising the impact of necessary industries should be a priority for all businesses and we constantly strive to preserve the natural systems we build in.

Publishing editor of The Enviropaedia David Parry-Davies said: “Road transport has a huge impact on the state of our environment, in terms of emissions contributing to climate change, and also massive loss of our precious wildlife

through road kill. We are therefore delighted that SANRAL is taking these matters so seriously – and supporting those who are seeking solutions to these challenges – by sponsoring the Eco-Logic Transport Award. Thank you, SANRAL, your actions may not always be popular, but this is a very good thing that you are doing.”

Eco-Logic Awards Categories

1. The Biodiversity Award
2. The Climate Change Award
3. The Eco-Innovation Award
4. The Energy Efficiency Award
5. The Recycling and Waste Management Award
6. The Transport Award
7. The Water Conservation Award
8. The Green Economy Award
9. The Municipalities Award
10. The Eco-Community Award
11. The Eco-Youth Award
12. The Eco-Angel Award
13. The Eco-Warrior Award

7 judging criteria for Eco-Logic

Minimises harm to the earth/benefits the earth (20 points)
Supports long-term sustainability (10 points)
Embraces holistic thinking (10 points)
Shows care and consideration for others (ubuntu) (10 points)
Of high quality and ethical standards (20 points)
Demonstrates innovation/vision (10 points)
Reflects wisdom by being both intelligent and generating a positive emotional impact (smart + feel-good) (20 points)
While the above provides a maximum of 100 points, the advantages and benefits of becoming “an Eco-Logical human being” are limitless.

Colouring in

June! The month of the year when your garden is starting to curl up in anticipation of the cold winter to come. How to warm up the place and put your neighbours to shame? The answer is easy: colour spots. The nursery will have some lovely pots of colour, already blooming and waiting for you. Remember to water the plant before transferring it into the soil. Group these plants in bare or tired-looking areas and your garden will smile at you. But don’t stop there! Do some pinching of leggy plants like cosmos, geraniums and chrysanthemums to encourage more blossoms and bushiness. Continue to deadhead your roses and trim back shrubs. It sounds positively naughty, but your plants need trimming to revive them. Divide spring flowering perennial bulbs like Arabis and Primroses, or sow perennial seeds into the soil. Daffodil bulbs can be moved to a fresh spot now. Long-stemmed plants need to be staked or cut back to encourage fresh growth. And never stop checking for insect or disease infestation (like you do for your children) and be pro-active in controlling pests (like you do with your neighbours). Your lawn will start to look yellow in hot and dry weather, so lift the height of your mower. It is not too late to fertilise your lawn or even seed it. Keep newly seeded areas well-watered and you will be rewarded in spring, when you take out your putter for some practice shots. It sounds like a lot of work. It’s not really. You’ll be out in the fresh air, communing with nature (whatever that means to you) and your garden will look so much better than the Jones’s after winter. SANRAL proudly presents Eco-Logic Transport Award Green