35km from Cape Town City Centre lies the dusty RDP settlement, Kuyasa, meaning “Sunrise” in Xhosa. This settlement was developed during 2000 and 2001 for communities from informal settlements in the greater Khayelitsha area.
While a small portion of the community is employed in the nearby factories and construction companies, the majority of the population is unemployed. Over the past two years this area and other neighboring settlements have seen a huge improvement and development in infrastructure, from the reconstruction of roads, construction of community halls, clinics, schools to public transport stations.
However, there has been little greening and this area is in need of trees to combat flooding and soil erosion, which is a serious problem in the current wet season. These trees are essential to help address other environmental and social challenges faced by the community.
Kyocera Mita, the world’s leading office document management specialist, donates a tree to South African communities for every machine sold (i.e. printer, copier or multifunctional product), in order to give back to the earth. This enables the company to also offset its carbon emissions.
Kyocera Mita has already implemented other initiatives to support climate change action and the environment, such as energy saving, resource conservation and the development of environmentally-friendly products.
Kyocera Mita’s environmental strategy encompasses four key areas:
- Firstly, technology which is developed for longer-life and more energy efficient products
- Secondly, recycling - as it wants to reduce the environmental load by using fewer wasted parts and making use of recycled materials in the manufacturing of its devices
- Thirdly, environmental management by implementing continual environmental management, education and training
- Lastly, its Corporate Social Responsibility to always act in a socially responsible manner through transparent operation and social contribution
The dusty RDP settlement dwellers can now look forward to a sunrise over greener horizons!
