South Africa presents a striking paradox: it is nationally food-secure, yet many households remain food-insecure. Data from Statistics South Africa consistently show that while food is available nationally, access is uneven, with affordability and local availability limiting what ends up on household plates. At the same time, businesses pay to dispose of tonnes of organic

Every day, tonnes of organic waste leave commercial kitchens, food retailers and hospitality facilities bound for landfill. Out of sight, and largely out of mind. But discarded material does not disappear. It decomposes under anaerobic conditions to produce methane, a greenhouse gas with a warming potential significantly greater than carbon dioxide. This World Environment Day,

South Africa’s safari and ecotourism sector contributes billions of rands to the national economy and funds critical conservation initiatives across the country. Yet one of the most overlooked threats to these landscapes does not arrive from outside the reserve fence; it originates in the back-of-house operations of the lodges and resorts that sit within them.

As South Africa prepares to host the International Day for Biological Diversity 2026 Global Flagship Event on Friday, 22 May, the world’s attention turns to a country celebrated for its sweeping landscapes, rich ecosystems, and iconic wildlife. From savannas to fynbos biomes, South Africa is globally recognised as a biodiversity hotspot. But while the focus

Recent reports of Hantavirus cases have renewed attention on the conditions that allow rodent-borne pathogens to enter workplaces and food-handling environments. Hantavirus is transmitted primarily through contact with infected rodents or their droppings, urine and nesting material. While the virus itself is not new, the circumstances that allow rodents to thrive and move through built

Global fertiliser markets have entered one of their most volatile periods in recent years. Conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime corridor through which approximately 30% of global fertiliser trade passes. The consequences for farmers in many regions have been significant, and in South Africa, it

The health of wildlife populations is shaped by everyday environmental management decisions that take place far from national parks and conservation areas. One of these decisions concerns how organic waste from agriculture, food systems and settlements is handled. When this waste is poorly managed, it can carry disease-causing organisms into landscapes shared by livestock, wildlife

South Africa’s carbon pricing framework has entered a new phase that is beginning to reshape operational decisions across several sectors, including waste management. As of 01 January 2026, the national carbon tax increased from R236 to R308 per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent. This represents a 31% increase within a single adjustment cycle. The rise

The idea of an “eco-estate” immediately leads us to picture sleek solar panels, indigenous green spaces, sustainable architecture, and sophisticated water recycling systems. These often aesthetically pleasing gated communities are designed to be beacons of sustainable living, existing in harmony with the surrounding environment. Yet, even in these green enclaves, a significant environmental responsibility often

South Africa’s landfill network is nearing a point where capacity constraints and non-compliance are converging into a national issue. Many municipal landfill sites have only a few operational years remaining, and several metropolitan areas have already confirmed critically low airspace. Landfills are not as simple as they may appear on paper. They are engineered systems

In South Africa, organic waste still accounts for more than 40% of material sent to landfill each year. This practice is both economically inefficient and environmentally damaging. By 2027, the ban on organic waste to landfill takes full effect. National government is likely to follow suit shortly after. Every business, whether in food, manufacturing, healthcare,

Food security begins with the soil that sustains life. When the structure and fertility of soil are weakened, entire food systems become fragile. Composting provides a biological correction to this imbalance. It rebuilds organic matter, improves the soil’s ability to retain water, and restores the microbial life that supports healthy crops. Organic waste plays a

Agriculture has long depended on the addition of nutrients to soil to maintain efficiency. Two of the most widely used soil amendments are fertiliser and compost. While both improve crop yields, they are fundamentally different in composition, function, and impact on ecological systems. Understanding these differences is critical for farmers, policymakers, and consumers who are