We recognise the fact that change is not easy within any structure and aim to provide simple practical solutions to improve sustainable living options. This is addressed by the triple bottom line, taking into account the economical, social and environmental aspects of the situation.

A specific gap that has been recognised is that of event greening. Many large events are striving to reduce their negative environmental impact and aim to be carbon neutral. With Cape Town and South Africa being a prime tourist destination we look at ways in which to reduce the negative environmental impact of large events and strengthen the positive social impact. We provide support to professional conference organisers to enable them to provide a green event.

The following principles will be implemented to reduce the ecological footprint of an event:

• Sustainable Procurement
• Waste Reduction – Avoid, Reduce, Re-use and Recycle
• Water Conservation
• Energy Efficiency
• Air Pollution Reduction and Climate Change
• Biodiversity Conservation
• Poverty Alleviation
• Participation and Communication
• Monitoring and Evaluation

Some of our specific services could include the following:

• Development of a greening strategy for an event or a green event option for a venue
• Provide guidance around sustainable procurement, with access to environmentally friendly products and service providers, with a focus on locally manufactured products
• Arrange for renewable energy through Tradable Renewable Energy Certificates (TRECs)
• Do audits on venues to determine Cleaner Production principles that need to be implemented (waste, water and energy)
• Provide assistance and guidance for waste minimisation through on-site recycling and composting options
• Provide assistance around re-use and recycling of products related to the event
• Development of an event branded carbon calculator for delegates to determine their impact
• Provide guidance around transport options for event participants
• On-site monitoring and evaluation, including interviews with participants to get their feedback
• Awareness raising through newsletters, exhibition and other methods
• Training of staff to ensure active participation in event greening
• Determine the environmental footprint of the event and how this can be avoided / off-set
• Implementation of a legacy project linked to global warming and climate change
• Continuous monitoring and evaluation of the process, with lessons learnt for future events

Green building is a philosophy which embraces the idea that the built environment need not be detrimental to the natural or human environments. It aims to minimise the impact that buildings and development have on the biophysical environment, while providing living and work spaces that are comfortable, efficient, attractive and appropriate to local conditions. It can essentially also be referred to as "Energy Efficiency in the Built Environment", or is also known as eco-design, environmentally friendly or sustainable buildings. We provide support to developers around the principles of green building to assist with the reduction of the carbon footprint of new developments. Working with the professional teams we provide guidance around actions that could be taken to implement change.

We recognise that change is implemented by people and we feel it is critical that people understand why they need to do things differently and what they can do to make a difference. Training and raising awareness about issues such as event greening, global warming, cleaner production, green building and other related topics are essential to ensure that the individual can realise the impact of all the different impacts of our actions.

We recognise the African proverb that “when you pray, you need to move your feet”. As such we encourage action and are in a position to assist with professional project management, implementation and support. We believe this must be done in an interactive manner where participation, effective communication and constant monitoring are essential principles. Capacity building should also be a core part of project management through mentoring and providing clear leadership.

Steadfast Greening is a member of: