Exporters Club recognises Ford with merit award

Mariona Padayachee, Environmental Co-ordinator at the Ford Struandale Engine Plant, receives the SJM Environmental Merit Award for Continuous Improvement from Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber CEO Kevin Hustler during the annual Exporter of the Year awards at the Boardwalk Convention Centre.

Ford received the SJM Environmental Merit Award for Continuous Improvement for the second consecutive year due to its noteworthy achievements in reducing its impact on the environment.

The company's five-year plan to reduce its carbon footprint was commended by the independent judging panel. This wide-ranging programme included reducing the Struandale Engine Plant's energy consumption by 15% over the past year, cutting plant effluent by 8%, waste to landfill by 9% and general waste by an overall 11%.

Community upliftment

Along with ensuring that the plant operations are more eco-friendly, the far-reaching community upliftment and broader environmental projects conducted by the employees as part of the Engine Plant's 'Each One Reach One' initiative also received special mention.

"It's fantastic to receive this merit award, as one of our core focuses, both at the Struandale Engine Plant and at the Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria, is on the environment," says Ockert Berry, vice president Operations at Ford Southern Africa.

"We have stringent corporate targets in place each year, and the team has not only reached these stretch targets for our environmental scorecard, but has exceeded them throughout this year. So this is a great achievement that recognises their exceptional work in maintaining these high standards.

"One of Ford's global brand pillars is 'Green', and we are working constantly to reduce our footprint and minimise our impact on the environment," Berry states.