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Carbon footprint

A carbon footprint assessment was performed by independent environmental specialists. The footprint was calculated for Scope 1, 2 and selected scope 3 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions utilising the GHG protocol.

  • Scope 1 is the direct impact of the group’s activities
    • fuel combustion in company vehicles.
  • Scope 2 is indirect emissions resulting from electricity consumption.
  • Scope 3 is the measure of the corporate value chain. This year’s carbon footprint assessment includes the following selected Scope 3 categories:
    • Upstream distribution focused on South African road logistics.
    • Business travel – domestic and international flights and car hire.
    • Employee commuting.
    • The consumption of paper, printing materials and recycling of paper.

The group’s Scope 1 emissions arise from petrol and diesel combustion in company vehicles, including the delivery fleets of stores. The main reason for the reduction in scope emissions is due to a reduction in fuel purchased through more efficient management of company and delivery vehicles.

The decrease in South African electricity emissions is likely due to reduced electricity consumption as well as a lower South African electricity grid emissions factor. Electricity demand in neighbouring countries has increased due to an increase in stores and the electricity emissions factor increasing due to higher electricity imports from South Africa.

Partial assessment of Scope 3 emissions is accepted practice and is compliant with the GHG protocol, as conducting a comprehensive Scope 3 assessment is often prohibitively data and resource intensive. The implication, however, is that the total of these figures should not be interpreted as the complete Scope 3 carbon footprint.

The group is committed to improving the direct impact of its business activities in the areas of fuel consumption, electricity and water consumption, material usage reduction, and recycling paper and packaging materials.

Carbon footprint results for Scope 1 and 2 emissions
Scope and source 2018
Emissions
tonnes
CO2e
Change
%
2017
Emissions
tonnes
CO2e
Change
%
2016
Emissions
tonnes
CO2e
Scope 1 South African fuel 16 917 (25.9) 22 825 (3.3) 23 603
  International fuel 2 559 (23.1) 3 328 15.5  2 881
Total Scope 1 19 476 (25.5) 26 153 (1.2) 26 484
Scope 2 South African electricity 23 354 (14.1) 27 201 0.1  27 183
  International electricity 2 510 27.5  1 968 10.0 1 789
Total Scope 2 25 864 (11.3) 29 169 0.7  28 972
Total Scope 1 and 2 45 340 (18.0) 55 322 (0.2) 55 456
Average number of stores 740 (2.6) 760 4.1  730
Scope 1 and 2 emissions per store (tonnes CO2e) 61.27 (15.8) 72.79 (4.2) 75.97
Carbon footprint results for Scope 3 emissions
Category Source Comments 2018
Emissions
tonnes
CO2e
Change
%
2017
Emissions
tonnes
CO2e
Change
%
2016
Emissions
tonnes
CO2e
Fuel and energy Upstream emissions from synfuel production Complete assessment 17 182 (32.9) 25 594 (2.0) 26 116
Upstream transportation and distribution Outsourced road distribution within South Africa Partial assessment, excludes shipping 2 679 (28.4) 3 744 (1.4) 3 798
Business travel Domestic and international flights Complete assessment 223 (43.5) 395 (4.8) 415
Car hire Complete assessment 59 (71.2) 205 (4.7) 215
Employee commuting Staff transport emissions travelling to and from work Average data method used 4 822 0.9 4 780 (4.6) 5 012