Staff of Bryanston-based Promethium Carbon, keen to offset the company’s carbon footprint, deserted the comfort of their office to plant trees at Skeen Primary School.
The trees were planted with the help of experts from Food and Trees for Africa. Khathu Mikosi of Eduplant and Food Gardens, a department of Food and Trees for Africa, said 10 peach fruit trees were planted and five indigenous trees.
Company director Harmke Immink said they felt the best way to offset the business’ carbon footprint was to plant trees at the school which was situated in one of the barren areas of Johannesburg.
The school’s deputy principal Cornelius Setshedi thanked all staff members of Promethium Carbon and Food and Trees for Africa for considering the school as a worthy and ideal place to use as a model towards improving the environment.
“Our young environmentalists in the school are excited and eager to nurture the trees that will in-turn not only alleviate the carbon in the air, but also provide them and their schoolmates with fruit and shelter from the scorching sun and wind elements,” he said
Setshedi said the school was keen on educating pupils about agriculture and the environment. “I am personally not happy that in a country of 50 million people, we rely only on 36 000 farmers to feed the nation, and at the same time export some of the harvests to our neighbours,” he said.
“We desperately need to change this anomaly, as with climate change impacting upon us, these few farmers may not cope with the load to provide food security for a nation of 50-million.”
