Environment

 

 

  

Through improvement and sustainable technological innovation, Naspers strives to create solutions that minimise its impact on the environment.

HOW WE DO THIS
  • We perform risk assessments identifying operations where our direct impact on the environment is most significant.
  • We try using advanced technologies to reduce the impact on the environment.
  • Our printing operations apply leading emission-reduction technology to minimise and responsibly dispose of waste.
  • We monitor environmental compliance standards at our facilities and participate in third-party reviews.
  • We measure and report on our carbon footprint.
  • We respond to situations where operations have had an adverse effect on the environment.
  • We use environmentally sustainable resources to meet our operational needs, and conserve non-renewable natural resources.
  • Where possible, we use environmentally responsible energy sources, invest in improving energy efficiency and design energy-efficient facilities.
  • We aim to influence our suppliers to adopt a similar approach in supplying materials and services.


Naspers’s South African operations measured their gross carbon footprint with respect to scope 1 and 2 emissions for the second year in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) protocol.

The largest contributor to direct emissions remains electricity. Given that the primary source of electricity in South Africa is coal, which has a higher emission rate, electricity accounts for 100% of scope 2 emissions (95% of total emissions).

Continuous supply of good quality electricity is vital to the continuity of our operations. The group installed generators at some facilities to ensure continuous supply of electricity, hence mitigating the risk of disruptions.

The gross carbon footprint (scope 1 and 2) is 141 081 (2010: 129 760) tonnes of CO2e. The group measured direct emissions at some 12 locations across South Africa and will focus on refining the process of collecting complete sets of data in the coming year. The printing operations contribute 59% to the total carbon emissions of the group.

During the past year our usage of electricity decreased by 9%, whilst the GHG emission factor for electricity increased by 10%.

GREENHOUSE GASES

In MultiChoice and Media24, a number of Think Green initiatives have been implemented to reduce our carbon footprint and support the sustainability campaign.

Energy-efficiency initiatives introduced in the past year include:

  • installing movement-activated lights
  • refurbishing air conditioners to reduce electricity consumption
  • consolidating data centres, and
  • automatic hibernation of PCs.


Waste management initiatives included:

  • setting double-sided printing as a default to reduce paper consumed, and
  • recycling office waste in a more appropriate manner.


Community outreach initiatives were also implemented:

  • installing solar-powered traffic lights around the MultiChoice campus in Randburg
  • installing e-waste bins for customers and employees to safely dispose of obsolete electronic devices such as decoders, remote controls, PCs etcetera, and
  • Allegro in Poland has several initiatives under its All For Planet Foundation (www.allforplanet.pl) designed to assist the local community in awareness in striving for a greener country, as well as making certain investments in the environment.


The operations of Naspers are diverse, ranging from printing plants to transactional internet platforms offering entertainment or products. Each type of business has a unique effect on the environment, requiring different responses to limit these impacts.

Printing facilities
Paarl Media’s paper suppliers are based in South Africa and Europe. They continuously investigate options to limit their environmental impact while ensuring quality paper products are used in our publications.

Paarl Media was the first African printing organisation to receive the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain-of-custody certification. This is an independent international verification that printed products can be traced back from their point of origin to responsible, well-managed forestry, controlled and recycled sources.

Paarl Media offers clients a range of environmentally sustainable paper, leading the South African print industry in recognising the impact of print-production processes on natural resources and implementing practices to eliminate emissions. The Paarl Media group focuses on reduction and recycles all paper not sold as part of the printed product to Mondi. Equipment in the upgraded Paarl Media Cape plant ensures that dust particles from the printing process are collected and recycled.

Media24 produces mainly books, magazines and newspapers. It recycles all unsold magazines and newspapers. It uses its magazines and newspapers as platforms to educate readers about lowering their impact on the environment.

Pay television
Decoders are sourced from reputable suppliers with a commitment to protect the environment. Informative programming ensures viewers are encouraged to protect their immediate environment.

Internet
Internet platforms such as Allegro do more with less. Their core business includes online shopping of pre-owned goods.

Contributions are also made in companies where we have minority stakes. Tencent’s Volunteers’ Association, with over 1 000 employees, has held numerous tree-planting activities to build Tencent Green Forests in the past five years. Tencent volunteers have planted over 1 000 trees.

The environmental impact of our international businesses is limited mainly to the use of electricity.