Breaking new ground is nothing new for a logistics company that is used to going the extra mile. What is new is EQSTRA FLEXI LOGISTICS (EFL) Bamboo Carbon Offset Project, the first of its kind in South Africa.

EFL, a relatively new player in the coal transportation industry, is taking sustainable business to new heights by joining forces with Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA). FTFA is the first and only South African social enterprise addressing sustainable development through climate change action, food security and greening programmes. It is also the first in the world to register its Bamboo for Africa for Carbon Offsets under the international Verified Carbon Standard.

“Bamboo is the fastest growing, largest plant on the planet that has over 1 200 known uses, making it one of the most efficient carbon sinks and an enterprise development dream,” said Jeunesse Park, Founder of FTFA. “It’s planting is new to South Africa and will hopefully result in the same kind of multi billion rand initiative it is in places like China and India.”

FTFA was called in to develop a Climate Response Strategy to address the company’s contingent carbon liability, while ensuring that the project also contributes to its overall corporate social investment and enterprise development objectives.

As a result a 60 hectare bio energy plantation has been developed in Leandra, Mpumalanga. 60 formerly unemployed community members have been trained and supported to develop the necessary infrastructure on the agro forestry site and form four cooperatives. In addition to the bamboo, two oil producing trees have been planted to produce crude vegetable oil for bio-diesel production. These are intercropped with red speckled beans and vegetables to contribute to food security and further enterprise opportunities. The trees support the further reduction of carbon emissions, and together with the crops, are contributing to another revenue stream for the local Leandra project participants.

“The project has been a model showcase for partnerships in carbon and enterprise development,” said John Loxton, MD of EFL, “with the integrated support from Small Entreprise Development Association (SEDA), Local Economic Development and the Department of Agriculture, facilitated by Renewable Energy Solutions (RES)“
 
The 60 local community members, selected from 100 initial applicants, were supported even further through business management training. Leaders were elected for the four co-operatives and a “Train the Trainer” programme was introduced to ensure the effective development of skills development for all participants. “This project is changing lives in this impoverished area for the better,” according to FTFA’s Sipho Mathe. “Not only the planters, but their whole families stand to benefit as the plants grow.”

The overall objectives of sustainable CO2 sequestration, meaningful enterprise development and social development add up to afford EFL a unique position in the logisitics market. This position allows EQSTRA to not only continue, but to strengthen its position with customers, local and national government, as well as Eskom, within the Mpumalanga region.

“EFL has invested substantially in this project ensuring our place at the forefront of the industry in terms of carbon offset initiatives,” said Walter Hill, CEO of EQSTRA HOLDINGS LIMITED, who will officially launch the project on 15 February 2012.

For more information, to attend, for photographs on the launch, or to arrange site visits in Leandra, contact Sean Fryer (EFL Business Development Manager) on 084 507 6236 / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or visit the EQSTRA HOLDINGS LIMITED website, http://www.eqstra.co.za/ for more information.