With a vision to be the leading South African precinct-focused, retail-centred real estate investment trust, Liberty Two Degrees (L2D) has made commitments to changing some of its business operations that will support accelerated and positive changes by reducing carbon emissions, water consumption and water generation at its malls across South Africa.
A number of initiatives that support these commitments have already been implemented, among which is the installation of a solar photovoltaic system at Liberty Midlands Mall, in KwaZulu-Natal, and smart energy and water metering across the malls that L2D co-owns, as well as a multitude of energy efficiency projects.
Further, to help reduce the use of single- plastics, L2D has implemented a policy to remove plastic straws and nonbiodegradable balloons, as well as replace single-use plastic shopping bags with sustainable alternatives at the company’s co-owned malls by January 1, 2020.
A bank of reverse vending machines, which were first installed in Sandton City, in Gauteng, in November, offers customers the option to sell their recyclable waste, while making recycling a part of their daily routine.
L2D co-owned malls all feature recycling and waste management facilities that will play a significant role in contributing towards achieving the commitment of NetZero waste to landfill by the end of 2020, according to a statement issued by the company.
“We need to stop acting as though we can buy ourselves out of the climate crisis, or that we can wait for someone else to do it – we need to believe that what we do matters,” said L2D CEO Amelia Beattie, highlighting the “importance of individual actions”.
While the company’s initiatives are not expected to empty landfills, Beattie noted that it was about “sparking positive action” that could make a positive difference, on purpose.
L2D malls are said to be ecosystems that provide enabling environments for some of the world’s most iconic and most demanding brands and L2D therefore emphasises that the company “understands that partnerships with stake- holders are crucial in accelerating a climate-positive impact”.
In line with its Good Spaces strategic building block, which aims to create resilient spaces that are agile, adaptable and aligned with Sustainable Development Goals, L2D has implemented its ‘Be The Change’ campaign, which is aimed at educating, inspiring and appealing to all stakeholders to change and join the movement by adopting climate-positive practices in their everyday lives.