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Second Consecutive Merit Award for Ford

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Ford Merit Award
The SJM Environmental Merit Award for Continuous Improvement acknowledges the Ford Struandale Engine Plant’s ongoing drive to reduce its environmental footprint and impact. Pictured (from left): Kevin Hustler (CEO, Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber), Mariona Padayachee (Environmental Co-ordinator, Ford Struandale Engine Plant) and Quintin Levey (Chairman, Exporters Club of South Africa – Eastern Cape).

The Ford Struandale Engine Plant has been recognised once again for its outstanding environmental record by earning a merit award for the second year running in the Exporter of the Year competition.

This event is held annually by the Eastern Cape branch of the Exporters Club of South Africa, and hosted over 450 high-profile guests and industry leaders at the Boardwalk Convention Centre in Port Elizabeth for the gala banquet and awards ceremony.

Ford received the SJM Environmental Merit Award for Continuous Improvement for the second consecutive year due to its noteworthy achievements in reducing its impact on the environment.

The company’s five-year plan to reduce its carbon footprint was commended by the independent judging panel. This wide-ranging programme included reducing the Struandale Engine Plant’s energy consumption by 15 percent over the past year, cutting plant effluent by 8 percent, waste to landfill by 9 percent and general waste by an overall 11 percent.

Along with ensuring that the plant operations are more eco-friendly, the far-reaching community upliftment and broader environmental projects conducted by the employees as part of the Engine Plant’s ‘Each One Reach One’ initiative also received special mention.

“It’s fantastic to receive this merit award, as one of our core focuses, both at the Struandale Engine Plant and at the Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria, is on the environment,” says Ockert Berry, Vice President Operations at Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa.

“We have stringent corporate targets in place each year, and the team has not only reached these stretch targets for our environmental scorecard, but has exceeded them throughout this year. So this is a great achievement that recognises their exceptional work in maintaining these high standards.

“One of Ford’s global brand pillars is ‘Green’, and we are working constantly to reduce our footprint and minimise our impact on the environment,” Berry states.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.