platform to buy more than 16,000 solar cells to power and supply battery storage for the farm, Cars.co.za is using its balance sheet to drive sustainable energy development.
There is strong evidence from around the globe that companies, such as Cars.co.za, that prioritise sustainability, perform better. They attract more customers and better talent, reduce costs, optimise investment returns, have better stakeholder relations and staff retention rates, and avoid investments that have longer-term environmental implications. Data shows that sustainability can affect operating profits by up to 60%.
The scope for action is wide and limited only by our ingenuity and willpower. During just the one meeting between Eskom and 70 business leaders, attendees identified many private sector actions, from own generation and purchasing power from IPPs, to wheeling agreements, energy efficiency, protection of energy infrastructure and contributions to policy development.