As South Africa celebrates National Arbor Month in September, under the theme, “My Tree, My Oxygen, Plant Yours Today,” we are reminded of the essential role trees play in healthier communities. Trees clean the air, store carbon and help build resilient landscapes. But before a tree can grow tall enough to provide shade or capture

El Niño places greater emphasis on water management South Africa is preparing for the possibility of a hotter, drier 2026/27 summer as climate forecasts indicate that a strengthening El Niño is likely to bring above-normal temperatures across much of the country, together with an increased likelihood of below-normal rainfall across the summer rainfall regions from

For businesses under constant operational pressure, “zero waste” can feel like an ambitious goal rather than something that fits into the working day. But the journey does not have to start with a complete overhaul. Businesses can start making measurable progress by simply breaking this journey into five practical steps and one of the most

Green building certification is no longer judged on solar panels and energy efficiency alone. For property developments chasing top-tier ratings, organic waste diversion carries real weight as one of the expected standards used to assess sustainability performance. For developers targeting Green Star SA, LEED, or EDGE ratings, on-site organic waste processing has shifted from a

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