Sustainability has become increasingly critical for organisations to remain relevant and competitive in today’s world. In fact, considering a values-driven approach to business is vital to long-term success and ‘doing well’ and ‘doing good’ are becoming progressively intertwined as activities, behaviours and products and services need to be practiced through a detailed understanding of the environmental and social context in which the business operates.
As a result, businesses are pivoting towards ways to re-imagine their operations to not only help reduce their environmental footprints, but to also meet the demands of their sustainability-minded customers – of which sustainable sourcing is one such element.
Today, KFC in South Africa have again made even more headway in this journey by procuring packaging that is certified through two highly regarded forest certification systems when it comes to sustainable packaging sourcing namely the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) and Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).
KFC’s approach involves a global sustainability commitment that all of the company’s plastic-based, consumer-facing packaging will be recyclable, recoverable or reusable by 2025. The brand has been intentional about implementing a more sustainable packaging strategy in its restaurants, by developing and utilising sustainable packaging options sourced from renewable resources, adding to the progress made in certain markets to eliminate single use plastic packaging items.
In South Africa, KFC has spearheaded their progress since 2019, when the company announced the removal of plastic straws in over 900 of its restaurants across South Africa.
“KFC is committed to having a genuine impact on how the industry approaches waste and packaging management overall. After all, as a global brand operating more than 1000 restaurants in South Africa, our commitment does not just align with our company values, but also, we believe it is our responsibility to do our part,” states Siyabulela Ngcukana, Chief Supply Chain Officer at KFC Africa.
“To this end, KFC is continuing our removal of single use plastic from our consumer packaging portfolio, with more than 500 tonnes of annual tonnage removed last year alone. Our focus is also on sustainably sourced packaging, and we are committed to sourcing fiber consumer facing packaging that is made from sustainably sourced paperboard and paper. We are proud to use paper and paperboard packaging certified through FSC (FSC N004192) and PEFC.”
Both FSC and PEFC fibre sourcing allows businesses to demonstrate that the material in their supply chain comes from legal and responsible forestry, recycled and controlled wood sources at every step of the value chain, from forest to consumer.
FSC’s sustainable sourcing encompasses standards that support:
• Zero deforestation;
• Safeguarding of High Conservation Value areas in and around forests;
• Fair wage, gender equality and a fair and equitable work environment;
• Biodiversity conservation;
• Community rights, including the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
“This is vitally important, not only from the perspective of providing customers with sustainable alternatives, but also because forests play a crucial role in regulating the world’s climate. They help to clean our air, and filter the water we drink, while also providing a habitat for more than two-thirds of terrestrial wildlife and plants,” adds Ngcukana. “At the same time, forests are one of our most important resources, offering a renewable supply of the materials and goods we need for a more sustainable future. KFC understands that when we nurture forests, we fight climate change, prevent biodiversity loss, and also protect workers and indigenous communities around the world.”
KFC SA, it is adopting a three-pronged approach to sustainability, which begins with reducing environmental impact, continuing to find ways to reuse waste, and ending with utilising more recycled materials in their packaging.
“KFC takes pride in its responsibility to implement the necessary measures and practices that will ensure that the company can reduce its environmental impact as much as possible. We are proud of our alignment with FSC and PEFC Principles and Criteria, which enables us to ensure certified sourcing of paperboard for our consumer packaging where possible, and we remain committed to embarking on similar such initiatives, in order to uphold and maintain environmental standards,” concludes Ngcukana.
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Why is the environment important to human kind? The environment is important to human kind because it provides us with the basic necessities of life such as air, water, food and shelter. It also has a direct impact on our physical and mental well-being, as it provides places for recreation and relaxation, and can help to reduce stress. Furthermore, the environment contributes to the overall quality of life, as it helps to regulate the climate, and can affect the health of our economy and communities. Finally, the environment is essential for sustaining the biodiversity of our planet, which is essential for the survival of many species, including humans.
Three examples of how the environment affects human activities?
- Climate Change: Human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and overfishing are all contributing to global climate change. Climate change has been linked to a range of impacts, from more extreme weather patterns to sea level rise and disruption of food production.
- Air Pollution: Human activities such as burning fossil fuels for energy production, transportation, and industrial processes are a major source of air pollution. This air pollution can cause respiratory problems, acid rain, and crop damage.
- Water Pollution: Human activities such as dumping waste into bodies of water, agricultural runoff, and oil spills can lead to water pollution. This pollution can cause algal blooms, contamination of drinking water, and destruction of aquatic ecosystems.
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