Woolworths is pulling out all the stops to help South Africa preserve our precious fresh water supply. Here's how.
Agriculture is the largest consumer of fresh water in South Africa, which is why Woolworths, as a major supplier of fresh produce, is dedicated to doing everything it can to preserve this precious resource.
According to WWF-SA the stress placed on South Africa’s scarce water resources has resulted in more than 84% of mainstream freshwater ecosystems being classified as ‘threatened’ in a recent national survey.
Through its Farming for the Future initiative, the retailer works closely with farmers to implement water-conserving methods, such as irrigating crops only when necessary and upgrading old irrigation systems.
This has resulted in a saving of 720 million cubic metres of water over the past three years.
Woolworths is doing its part, so why not do yours?
Simple things such as fixing leaking taps, installing a low-flow showerhead and choosing water-wise plants make a big difference.
FAST FACTS
- We’re working to understand the water footprint of certain priority products
- Our water conservation education programmes involve educating our supply chain and providing valuable water saving tips to customers and employees
- We’re trialling promising water-saving ideas in some new stores including planting water-sparing indigenous shrubs and ground covers and even harvesting and storing rain water
- By removing water-hungry invasive alien vegetation, we’re working to save over 7% of our nation’s already scarce water resources
- As the country’s leading retailer in certified organic fresh produce, we are encouraging farming without the use of artificial chemicals, such as herbicides and pesticides, to prevent the release of potentially harmful chemicals into water supplies
- All our fabric suppliers have to adhere to very strict standards when it comes to dyes, materials and chemicals to ensure they don’t pose a risk to health or to the environment
- We’ve completed a water trial with 66 food suppliers to highlight issues with run-off water (into rivers and aquifers) from irrigation practices, and waste water from farm processing
- We’re working with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to identify arable areas in our country that are likely to struggle with water scarcity due to the impacts of climate change In working with the Global Compact and the German Development Agency (GTZ), we’re analysing water usage in agriculture to develop methods for reduction
WATER NEUTRALITY
Woolworths is the only retailer that’s part of the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) Water Neutral Scheme (in association with the government’s Working for Water programme).
Being water neutral means balancing our own water usage through projects that increase supplies of clean, fresh water into the environment. We’re doing so by helping to remove water-hungry invasive alien vegetation in the Tankwa-Karoo National Park – these alien plants use over 7% of South Africa’s already scarce water resources.
RE-USE OF RECYLCED WATER AND GREY WATER SYSTEMS
Before we open a new store, we look at the design of the property to make sure it uses water efficiently. We make sure as much water is kept on site as possible for re-use and check for water storage and recycled and grey water systems. Read up on our eco-riendly Palmyra store.
As well as minimising irrigation and using rain water where possible, we use indigenous, water-wise shrubs and ground cover.
By using pulse metres to improve water measurement and monitoring, we’ve seen a 24% decrease in water usage since 2008 and a 27% reduction in stores – proof that it’s good for conservation and cost savings.
We also work with suppliers to improve water management (effluent) during the growing, production and manufacture of our products.
DID YOU KNOW?
Woolworths installed a water treatment system that uses water under their Cape Town Head Office building to flush toilets, run the building’s car wash, the fountain outside the building and the cooling towers for the air conditioning units.