Tag Archives: Environment
Come To The Green Side: What Is ‘Green’?
Take a look in the office cleaning cabinet. You will likely find at least 15 different cleaning agents designed to clean 15 different things. The irony is that one product could probably clean everything, but cleaning companies wouldn’t want you to only buy one product, now would they? They want you to spend money. They want to make [...]
Sir Richard Branson’s Eight Ideas To ‘Screw Business As Usual’
Saturday night saw the South African launch of Sir Richard Branson‘s new book ‘Screw Business As Usual’, in Randlords Johannesburg. I attended with fellow Ideate reporter Yolandi Janse van Rensburg and managed to chat to the great man himself. He was his usual effervescent self, clearly loving the challenges of turning traditional business models on [...]
The COPpuccino Overview Of COP17: Attendants Summarise Highs And Lows
South Africa has just hosted the most important annual event concerning environmental affairs, COP17. The event was not without controversy, but on the whole South Africans can feel proud of its contribution to a greener future. Daily updates were provided in the form of COPpuccino videos, which we were watching avidly. Here is the final [...]
COP17 Businesses Challenge Politicians To Aim For The Crucial 2˚C Global Warming Limit
Businesses challenge low expectations at UN climate summit. Over 340 companies from 38 countries are urging politicians to defy low expectations at the UN Climate Change summit in Durban, South Africa, and agree a robust, equitable and ambitious global deal that keeps global warming below 2˚C. The companies have signed the 2˚C Challenge Communiqué, which [...]
EUR 100m Boost For Green Electricity In South Africa
Investec has agreed with the European Investment Bank to establish a EUR 100 million renewable energy funding facility. This will promote clean energy generation and energy efficiency initiatives in South Africa in line with the government’s recent Green Economy Accord. Investec and the EIB are equal partners in the programme with each contributing EUR50 million. [...]
3 Challenges Facing Small Businesses In Offsetting Their Carbon Footprint
COP17 launches this morning. If you don’t know what it is, you’ve been hiding your head in the sand. COP17 is the The 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It is the 7th Session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the [...]
How South Africa Can Solve The Entrepreneur Crisis
The most successful companies of any time represent an idea whose time has come. Ford was driven by the idea that automobile transport could be accessible to the average American family. Cirque du Soleil created a new industry by combining the best of the circus with elements of the theatre; and locally, Thawte provided companies [...]
1 Min. with a Superhero: Elize Hattingh of Green Talent
Ideate’s talent radar turns to Green Talent, a recruitment agency that matches green companies with green professionals. The idea is simple, yet profoundly timeous. We’re chatting to the mind behind this new company, Elize Hattingh. Elize, how did Green Talent come about? When I graduated with a BPhil in Sustainable Development Planning and Management from [...]
1 min. with a Superhero: Eric Njuguna from Rentabox
This morning we’re chatting to Eric Njuguna, the founder of Rentabox, which Mike covered in a press release earlier in the week. We loved the idea, so tracked down the aspirant entrepreneur behind the scenes of this exciting idea. Eric, what gave you the idea to start this business? When my wife and I were [...]
Sustainable Business: Caturra Coffee Goes Green
South Africa’s Caturra Coffee will be offering a new brand ‘African Renaissance Coffee with compostable packaging solutions. South Africa’s local coffee market, held at the forefront of ethical sourcing and sustainability, is upping the ante on “green” packaging. Caturra Coffee will introduce the first range of compostable material under the name African Renaissance Coffee – [...]
