Coega Hosts Inaugural Sustainability Day Fair

Stakeholders in attendance included Theatricks, Reonet Resources by Nature, Canzibe Primary School, the South African National Biodiversity Institute, Standard Bank, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, and the Coega Wellness Centre, to showcase their work across environmental, social, and governance sustainability pillars.

Gqeberha, South Africa, 25 October 2023 – In celebration of Sustainability Day 2023, the Coega Development Corporation (Coega) partnered with like-minded organisations to host its first-ever Sustainability Day Fair. The event, held at the Coega Vulindlela Accommodation and Conference Centre (VACC), showcased Coega’s commitment to promoting sustainable development and advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Themed "Driving Change Without Leaving a Negative Footprint," the event aimed to raise awareness about the importance of sustainable practices and encourage collective action towards a more sustainable future. Led by the Corporation’s Sustainability Business Unit (SBU), the Fair emphasised the need for minimising carbon footprints, adopting zero-waste industrial practices, conserving biodiversity, enhancing climate resilience, and integrating sustainability into business strategies, operations, and infrastructure development.

The Sustainability Day Fair brought together various stakeholders, including industry experts, government representatives, and local communities, all working towards common sustainability goals. Attendees had the opportunity to network and engage in informative discussions to understand the practical aspects of sustainable development.

"The Coega Development Corporation is thrilled to have hosted its first Sustainability Day Fair. This event showcased our dedication to the long-term health and wellbeing of our communities, as well as the planet. It provided a platform for meaningful discussions, collaborations, and knowledge-sharing on sustainable practices, enabling us to better align our efforts with the global sustainability community,” said Ms. Telly Chauke, Coega’s Chief Sustainability Officer.

Sharing the rationale behind the Fair, Ms. Chauke said: “Sustainable development is central to the way we do business. We wanted a day where we could interact with our tenants, partners and stakeholders celebrating what is globally recognised as a drive to develop without leaving a negative footprint. Coega applies a view on the SDGs that clusters them into three pillars, including the economic pillar, social pillar, and environmental pillar. This clustering intimates the relationship between each of the goals and the net result of their targets and environmental impacts.

We aspire to encourage the adoption of environmentally responsible practices and empower all involved to actively contribute to the realisation of a more sustainable and eco-conscious future," added Chauke.

Ms. Sibahle Gumede, Seed Conservation Technician at SANBI, welcomed the initiative and said: “As SANBI employees, we endorse these types of events. They offer a unique opportunity to educate people about biodiversity and the environment. Coega has granted SANBI permits to collect seeds of indigenous plant species through the Millennium Seed Banking Partnership (MSBP), which is dedicated to conserving South Africa’s diverse flora through seed banking. The seeds collected from Coega are safeguarded in our seed bank, serving as an insurance policy for potential future disasters. If the need arises to restore, rehabilitate, or reintroduce species that were once found in Coega, this partnership between Coega and SANBI will play a crucial role in bringing the land back to life.”

Through this initiative, Coega aims to position itself as a leader in sustainable development, both locally and internationally. By promoting sustainability as a core principle, the Corporation is committed to creating a greener future, while contributing to economic growth and social wellbeing.

We aspire to encourage the adoption of environmentally responsible practices and empower all involved to actively contribute to the realisation of a more sustainable and eco-conscious future," added Chauke.

Additionally, the Coega Sustainability Day Fair embodied the spirit of giving back in support of SDG 1; No Poverty and SDG 2; Zero Hunger by collecting donations in the form of clothing, blankets, school shoes, sanitary towels, toiletries, and non-perishable food for local communities.

Coega’s approach to industrial development is anchored in a view that the natural environment is a critical element to the attractiveness and value of investment locations. To this end, the sustainable development of land within the SEZ is central to Coega’s vision of championing socio-economic development through investment attraction and job creation, among other key organisational outcomes. The Coega SBU has articulated a comprehensive set of sustainability objectives including climate resilient infrastructure, low carbon emissions, green and circular economies, global citizenship, thriving communities, ESG advisory, ecological footprint minimisation, social justice, inclusive economy, quality and records management, ISO compliance, and business continuity.

“Coega is committed to driving change through environmental stewardship and sustainable development. Sustainability promotes balance in the way we coexist with the living world,” concluded Ms. Chauke.