Abrie de Swardt, marketing director for IMPERIAL Logistics, walked away with the top honours when he received the Green Supply Chain Industry Leader Award 2011. The nomination was due to his far reaching work on bringing green to the supply chain both within IMPERIAL Logistics and by spreading the message broadly throughout the supply chain and business communities. On receipt of the award, de Swardt said, “We need to develop a sophisticated view of the impact that we have on the environment. We need to change our paradigm, our behavior and the way in which we look at green.” According to event organiser, Catherine Larkin, De Swardt has brought about some fundamental changes around the concept of green in the country. “He does not only talk about it, but actively engages and collaborates with companies even those that are deemed competitors, to drive green initiatives.” De Swardt told FTW he was indeed honoured to receive the award as going green was not an option but a necessity for the logistics sector as a whole. “Whether we compete in the market, this is a great opportunity to embrace collaboration and across boundaries, work together.” Other winners included Stab-a-Load for Best Product for companies under a R1 million, and Trenstar for companies between R1 and R10 million. The Best Project Award for companies between R1 and R10 million went to Distell for their “Give Back Get Back” campaign. Adcock Ingram won the Best Project Award for companies over R10 million while the award for Best Project for companies under R1 million went to Hoogheimstra Logistics.
