Footwear Importer becomes SA's First Carbon Neutral Footwear Company

CAPE TOWN (SA) – Footwear importer Version One has become “the first SA footwear company to be certified as carbon neutral”, according to member Michael Cloete.
“In fact, at this stage it’s neither comprehensive nor difficult,” he said, “but it is a first step, and we intend to continue on the same road.”
The spur came from the company’s decision to put a major part of its effort behind its own brand, Ozone, which is attempting to create more ‘environmentally friendly footwear’ – mainly through the use of natural materials.

To make the company – as opposed to the product – ‘greener’, it commissioned Global Carbon Exchange SA to “conduct a carbon footprint analysis of its operations”.
As an importer, Version One’s major contribution to pollution is through shipping, although vehicle use, electricity consumption and other factors were measured. Rather than cutting back on those, Version One has followed the route taken by many European companies – ‘purchasing carbon credits’ – which actually means sponsoring carbon-saving projects elsewhere. In its case, Version One off-set its emissions by purchasing carbon credits from the Welbedacht Low Income, Energy Efficient Housing and Climate Change Project in KZN. This project supports the installation of solar water heaters, compact fluorescent lighting, a cooking option using LP Gas, solar cookers and/or gelfuel, and electricity generation for households.
Obviously a major part of the reason for ‘going green’ is to have a marketing point of difference, and the guidelines for using its carbon neutral status for marketing purposes are strict.
“We’re looking at this as a long term project,” Cloete said. “Environmental awareness is growing, and it will grow faster. From a marketing perspective, whatever verifiable progress we make in terms of environmentally harmless products and operations will benefit us and our retail customers. But, frankly, it’s not just about that. This is something we believe in, and everyone else will have to start believing in it too, sooner rather than later.”