Nelspruit, 18 September 2013
On 04 September 2013 Sappi Southern Africa showed its support for The Kruger National Park Warburgia Salutaris project at a ceremonial cheque handover event that took place at the Lowveld National Botanical Gardens. The presentation was the culmination of the Typek Earth Kind™ Green promotion.
Since the Typek™ Earth Kind brand relaunch in November 2012, consumers were introduced to new packaging containing environmental messaging that communicated Sappi’s commitment to sustainability, responsible manufacturing and a business journey which respects not only the planet, but also the people and communities that depend on it.
To further build on the Typek™ brand equity and environmental consciousness, Sappi in conjunction with Makro launched a promotion during January to February 2013 whereby consumers were encouraged to purchase a box of Typek™ from any Makro store. This qualified them to nominate any community greening or tree planting project or a project involved in protecting biodiversity or rehabilitating the environment. For every box of Typek™ sold, R1, 00 would be donated towards the selected green cause.
Eye catching in-store promotional material was used to persuade Makro shoppers to make a responsible choice in paper and in the process make a difference to the environment. Their nominations were placed on www.typek.co.za and from these, the Kruger National Park Warburgia Salutaris Project was selected as the beneficiary, receiving R100 000 in support of the project.
The Warburgia Salutaris (common name of Pepper Bark Tree) is of medicinal and mythological importance to indigenous African people as well as western homeopathy. It is one of the protected trees of South Africa and a red data species that is classed endangered. The tree is heavily poached for the commercial muti market and in some areas is under armed guard.
In combining efforts The Kruger National Park Nursery, Sanparks through Botanist Michele Hofmeyr as well as Social Ecologist, Louise Swemmer, will use the funding received for various projects ranging from workshops with communities to identify tree custodians, increasing the holding of bagged nursery grown trees in the KNP Nursery for distribution to identified community traditional healers, training the tree guards in seed planting and propagation, providing bicycle transportation for tree guards and to bulk up supply of seedlings.
“Our commitment is to be Earth Kind™ and inspire a better life. Typek™ carrying the Earth Kind™ seal is a key brand for Sappi that consumers have come to trust. The Typek Green promotion was a vehicle to translate the message of responsible corporate citizenship. As Sappi’s plantations help reduce carbon which in turn combats global warming, it is fitting that the handover took place during Arbor week when tree planting initiatives are at the forefront of activities. It further provides us with opportunities to strengthen our community support as part of our corporate social investment strategies” says André Oberholzer, Group Head Corporate Affairs, Sappi Limited.
ENDS
More about Typek
Typek is a multi-purpose A4 and A3 paper product suitable for use in inkjet and laser printers, photocopiers and fax machines. The Typek range consists of Typek White, Typek 50% Recycled, Typek Tints, Typek White Board and Typek pastel rainbow packs and is sold at retailers, stationers, paper merchants and convenience stores.
Typek is produced locally at Enstra Mill in Springs and is ISO accredited and FSC™ (Forest Stewardship Council™) certified, meaning that the wood fibre used is sourced from well managed and responsible sources.
Sappi’s Earth Kind mark is a fresh visible, simple and relevant icon that captures the essence of Sappi's (and Typek brand’s) approach to sustainability and corporate citizenship. The Earth Kind symbol is a heart symbolising humanity, placed inside an orb shape that depicts the earth, encompassing nature and the people who inhabit it. It represents Sappi’s journey as a profitable company delivering value to its stakeholders and communities while minimising its impacts on the environment.
More about Sappi
Sappi Southern Africa, an integrated forest products company, meets the needs of local and international customers through a wide range of products from three divisions:
- Dissolving pulp is sold to converters for use in such products as fashion clothing, mobile phone screens, cellophane wrap, pharmaceutical, beauty and household products. Sappi is the world’s largest manufacturer of specialised cellulose.
- The Paper and Paper Packaging division provides products including, paper pulp, newsprint, coated and uncoated fine papers, office and business papers, security papers, speciality papers, and packaging papers (for the agriculture and FMCG industries). Leading local brands includes Typek, Triple Green and Masuga, print papers; Sentinel security paper; Kraftpride and Cape Flute packaging papers.
- Sappi Forests supplies 70% of the woodfibre needs of Sappi Southern Africa from 380,000 hectares of both our own and managed commercial plantations; currently with more than 34 million tons of standing timber. All our own-grown wood is Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC™) and ISO 9000 certified. A further 150,000 hectares of land is managed for biodiversity conservation, including wetlands, riparian zones and indigenous forests. Sappi’s land is available (with certain provisos) to the public for non-motorised recreational use eg mountain biking and trail running.
Sappi Southern Africa is a division of Sappi Limited (JSE: SAP); a global company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa with over 14,000 employees, and manufacturing operations on three continents in seven countries and customers in over 100 countries around the world. Learn more about Sappi at www.sappi.com.
Michelle Hofmeyr (Sanparks Nursery) receives cheque from OB Smith (Sappi Risk Manager) and Glen Walton (Makro).
More about Warburgia Salutaris
Further information on the tree species please visit www.sanparks.co.za or contact
Manager: Skukuza Indigenous Nursery
Scientific Services
South African National Parks (SANParks)
Telephone and Fax +27(0)13 735 4312
Michele.Hofmeyer@sanparks.org
For further information
Madelaine Fourie
Communications Manager: Brand Management
Sappi Southern Africa
Tel +27 (0)11 407 8190
Fax +27 (0)11 403 8236
Madelaine.Fourie@sappi.com
