Transport company digs in to offset carbon emissions

In a bid to offset carbon emissions created by its fleet of trucks, Yellow Jersey Logistics (YJL) has planted a hectare of bamboo for the Blue Disa community project at Lawley South of Johannesburg. “This is the second community project we are contributing to as part of our ongoing commitment to working with Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) to reduce our carbon footprint, restore ecosystems and improve the environment,” said Jannie van Jaarsveld, sales manager for YJL. He told FTW that the company contributed a set value for each of its trucks to divide between two FTFA projects. “We were moved by a presentation we attended earlier this year where FTFA highlighted the harmful effects of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions on the environment and felt strongly that we wanted to act on our own accountability as transporters and do what we could to minimise the impact,” he said. Owner of YJL, Freek van Tonder wants to make these types of carbon offsetting programmes a part of the company’s annual objectives. “And we want to challenge our colleagues in the freight industry to do the same,” he said. The International Energy Agency (IEA) said earlier this year that worldwide carbon dioxide emissions for 2012 had risen 1.4% to 31.6 billion tons and South Africa’s greenhouse gas emissions ranked in the top 20 in the world. According to Wikipedia, bamboo minimises CO2 and generates up to 35% more oxygen than equivalent stands of trees. “This bamboo we planted will sequester 315 tons of CO2, “ said Van Jaarsveld, adding that bamboo was selected because it is one of the fastest-growing largest grasses on the planet and has around 1 500 known uses. “The Blue Disa community, though close to Johannesburg, is marginalised and extremely poor with few opportunities for employment. By planting the bamboo for them, we not only improve the environment, but create an opportunity for enterprise development by the community,” he noted. Bamboo for Africa, part of the FTFA programme, is the first internationally recognised carbon offset programme under the Verified Carbon Standard. CAPTION Jannie van Jaarsveld, Freek van Tonder, Tshepo Mooa, Sipho Mathe and “The Reverend” Kopano Mohapi broke ground and helped the Blue Disa community plant a hectare of “Bambusa balcooa”, which is naturalised in South Africa.