Suiderland Plase is a leading producer, packer, distributor and exporter of top-quality citrus fruit and table grapes. Suiderland Plase sells their own fruit, as well as other producers’ fruit, locally and globally, conveniently packed and ready to sell. Suiderland Plase’s fruit offering is produced and packed across South Africa, with most of the farms and packhouses located in the Western Cape.
Suiderland Plase’s roots go back to the late 1940s. Over the years the company has grown steadily and has maintained a commitment to world-class quality, despite the challenges typical to the agricultural industry.
Sustainability is a core part of Suiderland Plase’s business strategy. Suiderland Plase actively pursues ways in which their business can be conducted – from growing and processing to distributing fruit – in a socially responsible, sustainable manner that reduces the impact on the environment. This is achieved by continuously monitoring and improving farming practices and environmental performance.
Suiderland Plase was initially established as a family enterprise and despite their extensive growth, they still believe in the importance of a human touch. While the business priorities are delivering high-quality fruit, being as efficient as possible and growing profit, Suiderland Plase also values people and communities.
Suiderland Plase has 14 business units who are Carbon Heroes.
Being our first year of calculating our data, CCC has helped us to measure our carbon input and understand our carbon emissions, and to identify areas for improvement – Suiderland Plase
Suiderland Plase optimises the construction of balancing dams to facilitate gravitational irrigation practices to lessen energy demand. All of our Suiderland Plase packhouses have solar panels, which provide power for the packhouses and the cold rooms, with the cold rooms, using only 30% of the power required in the past. 75% of the lighting in the packhouses was changed to LED lighting, which has also reduced power demands. Supplementary power is used for the pumps, workshops and accommodation facilities. Solar geysers and gas stoves are utilised at the accommodation facilities.
Suiderland Plase utilises electrical forklifts in the packhouses and implements continuous fuel monitoring to minimise unnecessary driving. Suiderland Plase is in the process of implementing and testing a new system to monitor the activity of tractors and inefficiency.
Suiderland Plase applies ample amount of mulching to optimise water usage efficiency and organic fertilizer is currently being investigated and trialled.
Suiderland Plase appoints irrigation champions at sites and utilises “probes” as the most practical and efficient irrigation and fertigation system.
Suiderland Plase follows a reduce, reuse and recycle approach across all business units and sites to generate less waste. Recyclable or compostable materials are utilised for packaging, where feasible, by using packing material from a sustainable environmental source.
Suiderland Plase plants cover crops, utilises mulching and allows natural field in some areas of the orchards/vineyards. Integrated pest management practices also helps promote micro-organisms in the soil.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices are an integral part of Suiderland Plase as they believe that chemistry alone cannot solve the dynamic challenges of citrus and grape crop protection. The natural environment, both abiotic as well as biotic must be accommodated to ensure that the farming environment stays healthy for man and beast to support the sustainability of crop production. Hunting or capturing of wildlife is prohibited on farms.
Through this digital recognition platform, we celebrate the Carbon Heroes taking part in the Confronting Climate Change (CCC) Initiative for their considerable effort in calculating and understanding their carbon emissions.
Each Carbon Hero has their own digital QR code that can be displayed on their website and other marketing material, linking directly to their individual profile on the Carbon Heroes website.
The QR code provides a simple and innovative way for customers to learn about each Carbon Hero’s carbon offsetting and other sustainability initiatives, as well as engage with them on social media and other marketing channels.
With the Carbon Heroes QR code we aim to support a global transition towards sustainable development by recognising and celebrating the positive environmental impact of each Carbon Hero. By having a transparent display of their commitment to reducing emissions, Carbon Heroes demonstrate their dedication to a sustainable future, while building trust in their brand.
Find out more about the Carbon Heroes and CCC
Carbon Heroes is a recognition platform built on the ethos of transparency and trust. While only emissions datasets graded by Blue North qualify for the platform, we do not independently verify all the information our Heroes choose to post. By signing up to the platform each Carbon Hero acknowledges that they are responsible for the information they share and that, by sharing their sustainability credentials, their information is in the public domain and open to be scrutinised. We welcome such scrutiny. We have a clear set of guidelines for the use of the platform and the qualification for the various digital labels, and reserve the right to revoke the use of the platform where it is found these guidelines are not being followed and/or the information posted is misaligned with the stated ethos. Thank you for helping us maintain the integrity of the Carbon Heroes platform and our efforts to promote greater transparency and sustainability.
Through this digital recognition platform, we celebrate the Carbon Heroes taking part in the Confronting Climate Change (CCC) Initiative for their considerable effort in calculating and understanding their carbon emissions. You are making a positive contribution to mitigating climate change!
www.carbonheroes.co.za
Email: support@bluenorth.co.za
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