Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) is about far more than just ticking boxes. It is an initiative to build credibility, foster investment and enable effective monitoring and disclosure of performance. ESG criteria are a set of standards for a company’s behaviour used by socially conscious investors to screen potential investments. The transport, logistics and supply chain industries are particularly impacted by ESG and are under increasing pressure to create tangible and sustained outcomes that drive value and growth, whilst strengthening the environment and communities.
With this in mind, the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport: South Africa (CILTSA) is organising a half-day event for the industry titled: “Demystifying the ESG landscape for people in logistics, transport and supply chain” on Thursday 21 July at the Imperial Wanderers Stadium in Illovo, Johannesburg.
“Over 90% of companies’ carbon footprint is located in the supply chain, with almost 30% of this emanating from transport and logistics,” explains Elvin Harris CMILT, President of CILTSA. “Our sector therefore has a lot of work to do to explore, implement and drive sustainability programmes.”
However, there are many more aspects to ESG than greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and this is exemplified in the transport sector. As well as being critical to economic growth, transport systems carry risks of local environmental and social impacts. They are also more susceptible to poor governance and corruption than other sectors; perhaps more so because of the public private partnerships.
“The economic pressure the COVID-19 pandemic has placed on some industries has affected companies’ exposure to ESG risks and their ability to manage them,” continues Harris. “Companies face rising complexities and greater scrutiny if they are not adequately managing their ESG or climate risk. Investors are increasingly applying these non-financial factors as part of their analysis process to identify material risks and growth opportunities.”
ESG is not just about climate change and good intentions alone. It is a practical plan embedding these principles to create sustainability. The aims of the CILTSA event are to demystify the ESG landscape; share the ESG journeys of industry leaders; create a platform for the industry develop a better understanding of ESG; and showcase solutions/products/services are out there to assist them in their ESG journey .
The speaker line-up includes
- Shameela Ebrahim – Chief Sustainability Officer: JSE
- Esha Mansingh – Executive Vice President: Corporate Affairs & Investor Relations: Imperial
- Feroz Koor – Group Head of Sustainability: Woolworths Holdings Limited
- Julia Rosa – Value Shaper at 8Hundred
- Lauren Rota – Vice President Environmental, Social and Governance: Imperial
Registration fees are R600 for members and R750 for non-members. Members of the Road Freight Association (RFA), the SA Express Parcel Association (SAEPA) and the SA Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) qualify for member rates. qualify for a discount to attend the event. To register for the event, visit https://ciltsa.org.za/esg-landscape-event-registration
The event is sponsored by Imperial, Ctrack and Global Dominium Services and Institute.
