Sustainability

Malilangwe’s sustainability drive leads the way in creating more eco-friendly lifestyle choices for those on the reserve, and within our sphere of influence. The main focus of our sustainability initiative is to reduce our environmental footprint. The practices developed to achieve this set an example to our neighbouring communities and we encourage and assist them to achieve these too.

Sustainability has been a way of life on Malilangwe for the past 10 years through the principles of: “reduce refuse, limit energy and water consumption and ensure the quality of our living and working environments are maintained.”

  • Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
  • 85-90% waste is sent for recycling
  • Fitted cloth nappies introduced to replace disposables
  • Water purification systems have replaced PET plastic water bottles

Our sustainability initiatives encourage Malilangwe residents to RETHINK, REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE

Waste is cleaned and separated into five categories for collection and transportation to a recycling facility in Harare. Our recycled waste is transformed as follows:

  • Paper into tissue and craft papers
  • HDPE into fertiliser and craft papers measuring cups, plastic sockets for broom and mop handles
  • PP+LDPE=HDPE bin liners
  • PET into PET containers, carpets, clothing, industrial rope and strapping, automotive and construction material

Reusable fitted cloth nappies were introduced to replace the use of disposable nappies. The cloth nappies are available for staff to buy at a reduced bulk-cost price in Malilangwe’s tuck shops. Within a year the transition to cloth nappies resulted in the weight of used disposable nappies decreasing by 75% and this reduced incinerator firewood by 400kg/month. There are some families who still prefer to use disposable nappies, but the cloth nappies have proven to be a cost-effective option for others.

Water purification systems have been installed at common areas on Malilangwe to enhance the quality of Malilangwe’s drinking water and to reduce single-use plastic water bottles in favour of glass and stainless-steel.

Malilangwe’s sustainability drive monitors energy consumption by keeping track of vehicle usage and fossil fuel consumption, which is recorded and shared on an interactive dashboard. Although we still have a long way to go, Malilangwe is transitioning to improve energy usage by the installation of LED lighting in most areas, broken geysers being replaced with solar water heaters at households and villages and the use of energy-efficient air-cooling for refrigerators and air-conditioners.

It is Malilangwe’s goal to have our own solar plant which will provide the bulk of our energy requirements. We are in the final stages of the administrative process for developing this and look forward to the installation and development of this project.

Malilangwe is in a water-scarce area and most of the reserve’s water is supplied by Malilangwe Dam, which was built in 1963 by the Sparrow family. Water consumption is monitored for both raw and treated water usage in all areas across the reserve, which includes wildlife watering holes. Irrigation management practices are in place to prevent evaporation. One of our sustainability goals is to install a rainwater harvesting system at Mikela.

Beautifully kept outdoor areas on Malilangwe are encouraged for well-being and to prevent the consequences of soil erosion. There is an annual competition for the best-kept garden and staff are urged to grow indigenous plants, which they can choose from an indigenous nursery at Malilangwe. Posters are used as an educational tool for residents to be aware of the exotic and alien invasive plant species, which could become problematic.

Malilangwe’s sustainability initiatives encourage change in households through educational talks, practical lessons and an inhouse newsletter, called The Greenletter, which is emailed quarterly to all Malilangwe email users. The Greenletter presents the latest updates in our sustainability efforts and includes key data of our environmental impact, as well as practical tools and information on how all Malilangwe residents can make a difference.

Due to The Greenletter not being far-reaching enough, we encourage open dialogue for all Malilangwe employees through regular evening events. During these sessions, we discuss eco-friendly living practices and the sustainability challenges that Malilangwe residents face in their working and living environments and how these can be addressed to effect positive change.