There is no planet B
reduce, reuse, recycle
You can’t claim to be a champion fruit juice without championing the rights of Mother Nature. After all, she’s a single parent, who works pretty hard to keep us all alive. But, in all seriousness, sustainability is a very real and complex issue.
That’s why Sir Fruit has taken every step available to mitigate our plastic footprint. You will find our Sir Fruit bottle is made with 50% recycled plastics. We have also significantly reduced the amount of plastic we use in our bottles using super smart design. And, that’s just for starters.
Sir Fruit believe in the ‘Three P’s’: People, Planet and Prosperity. We’ve already kicked-off some great initiatives, but we haven’t come this far to only go this far. So, keep your monocles fixed squarely on this space and click below for more details.
Discussing latrines would be utterly distasteful in such esteemed company. However, it’s necessary as nothing is as distasteful to us as water wastage. So, to combat this menace, we at Sir Fruit have replaced our privy cisterns in Joburg and now save 170 000 litres of water each year.
Furthermore, we became concerned with our disposal of soap-water – a by-product in the cleaning of our motor carriages. Fearing that this may contaminate storm water reserves, we sprang into action, and built a spiffy new drainage system in Johannesburg . We now ensure that all excess runoff is sent straight to the depths of sewerage system where it belongs.
Ever we strive to reduce water consumption. Even our pipes are kitted out with special, water conserving nozzles.
Water usage
Our high court wizard, Merlemon, has implemented a new, eco-friendly system which works towards the maximum efficiency of our distribution network. This has seen a wonderful reduction in our fuel consumption.
In conjunction, powerful spells, er, initiatives, have been cast on our coachmen to monitor their average revs per minute and speed which has further benefited fuel consumption and driver safety.
Furthermore, our Gauteng blending plant has been fully fitted with Day/Night switches to ensure non-essential lights turn off automatically.
While we still bring the heat, we’ve replaced our heaters with air conditioners, which are, naturally, more economical.
Another illuminating initiative has taken place at our Durban factory which now operates using light sensors. These guarantee that our lights are only operational when there is movement in the realm.
Energy
One of our primary goals at Sir Fruit is to use as few disposable marketing materials as possible and we’ve taken several steps to ensure this.
All of our waste is expelled by a waste management company exclusively, ensuring that all recyclables are disposed of responsibly as well as ensuring that minimal waste is sent to the landfill. We have partnered with the terrific fellows at Wasteplan who strive to seek out recycling opportunities elsewhere, instead of relying on dumping. They are now our national supplier, meaning everyone benefits.
Furthermore, all our sampling is now done using 100% biodegradable cups, and wet food waste is supplied to pig farmers and peels from the processing of citrus are supplied to cattle farmers for animal feed.
Waste not want not
Straws are for bores. And, since Sir Fruit prefers to be the life of the party, we have strongly discouraged their use at soirées, shindigs, or indeed, solo sipping for some time now.
So, wherever adventure may take you, we hope that you follow suit and keep your satchels straw-less (unless they’re made of straw, but that is an entirely different thing all together. Why even bring it up?)
Our straw policy
Not too long-ago Sir Fruit participated in a UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organisation) research programme along with 12 other companies in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors of South Africa and were identified as one of the worthy recipients of their patented Low Carbon Climate Resilient technology. Hooray!
This means Sir Fruit is able to look into new green solutions within our production line. One of these bold new initiatives is a naturally-occurring gas compressor. This bad boy harnesses enough heat on site to render archaic gas heaters redundant and we will soon start phasing them out of our operating line. Another win for green!
Oh! And, all savings from our green switch-over are being put towards new solar panel technologies. Queue dancing emoji!
UNIDO
Social
At Sir Fruit, we endeavour to set our B-BBEE policy as the industry standard. That’s because Sir Fruit has always maintained a strong emphasis on community upliftment and equality in opportunity. We’ve embraced empowerment wholeheartedly through our employment initiatives in ownership, management, skills and social economic development. As such, we are proud to say that we’re set to achieve Level 5 B-BBEE status by October 2017. But, for us, this isn’t enough, which is why we aim to improve upon our corporate B-BBEE responsibility every year
Sustainability encompasses the social as well. In 2008, we launched our basic education project to ensure that all staff are able to drastically improve their literacy.
Once a year we provide our employees with full medical check-ups, as well as financial support in the case of certain major conditions.
Furthermore, in 2012, we opened a clinic at our Gauteng plant. This gives all our staff access to medical services on site and is one of the first of its kind in South Africa.
Sir Fruit has also banished the use of systemic pesticides. You will find our fruits’ free of said chemicals in all stages of their production. Studies by our French copains have linked these pesticides to the decline of the bee population, otherwise known as 'colony collapse disorder', so, rather safe than sorry we say.