Recognising the need to
respond to climate change,
Yellow Jersey Logistics (YJL) is
contributing a set value for each
of its vehicles to Food & Trees
for Africa (FTFA) projects
which will offset some of the
company’s carbon emissions.
“We acknowledge that
trucks are a major contributor
to carbon emissions and we
want to lead by example and
challenge the freight industry,
especially all transport
companies, to find innovative
ways to reduce their carbon
footprint while uplifting the
communities they serve,” said
Jannie van Jaarsveld, sales
manager for YJL. He told FTW
that the company hoped to
make an annual contribution to
carbon offset programmes.
Road transport, by transport
subsector, is the largest
contributor to global warming
and the fleet emission average
for delivery vans, trucks and
big rigs is 10.17 kg of CO2 per
gallon of diesel consumed,
according to Wikipedia.
This Arbour Month, the YJL
team will assist the learners
of Inxiweni Primary School
in Tembisa, Gauteng to plant
trees and summer crops in
their garden. “The school
is cognisant of the fact that
children should eat vegetables
and fruit to reduce escalating
malnutrition and is thus very
grateful for YJL’s contribution,”
says Joanne Carty, programme
manager for FTFA.
Following this, YJL will
support FTFA to provide
more training and resources
to develop the school’s
permaculture food garden to
supply learners in need with
fresh produce. The surplus
produce from the garden is
sold to generate income and
the community benefits by
being able to buy cheap, freshly
produced, local vegetables. “The
additional training and support
from YJL will help the project
to become more sustainable,”
says van Jaarsveld.
CAPTION
Planting for the future … Yellow Jersey MD Freek van Tonder
with Joanne Carty and Jannie Van Jaarsveld and some of the
children from Inxiweni Primary School. Photo: Shannon Van Zyl
