Supa Quick has announced that it has planned to plant a tree a minute in indigenous forests with Greenpop. This is to help restore the eco-system. Through its 'Tree O'Clock' campaign, which was launched in 2021 (in which Supa Quick planted 1 000 trees), the tyre fitment centre group will continue this partnership by planting one tree every hour, or 2 609 trees in 2022.
The company has donated more than R433 000 to the non-profit organisation Greenpop, amounting to R120 per tree. This is a contribution that will go towards decreasing the carbon footprint in South Africa, according to the campaign.
It is estimated that one mature tree can absorb as much as 22kg of carbon a year, releasing oxygen in exchange.
"We at Supa Quick consider ourselves as more than tyre experts, but as a part of the communities in which we live and operate, which includes nature," says Yolandi Grundeling, Supa Quick's brand manager.
"It is for this reason that we consider the long-term sustainability of the eco-system integral to our long-term existence as an industry and the wellbeing of our fellow South Africans," adds Grundeling.
"Our partnership with Greenpop recognises the importance of trees, which are vital sources of the inputs in many of our products, most significantly, rubber from rubber trees. Trees also help to clean the air and water, which are critical to life on the planet, while also being a source of many of our food products," she says.
This project will also contribute to South Africa's Low Emission Development Strategy, which has set a target to move the economy towards net zero emissions by 2050. This means a complete offsetting of emissions through activities such as:
- planting trees
- waste management / reduction
- recycling
- water treatment
- clean energy, and
- sustainable infrastructure.
Greenpop says that it has made it its mission to restore ecosystems and empower environmental stewards through forest restoration, urban greening, food gardening and environmental awareness projects across sub-Saharan Africa.
In pursuit of this, the organisation has been planting trees since 2010, starting from its first small-scale reforestation and alien clearing project in Africa's southernmost forest, the Platbos Forest Reserve. It has been working with:
- nature conservancies
- private landowners, and
- key stakeholders.
Greenpop's work has expanded to include over 150 000 trees planted in reforestation and urban greening projects in South Africa, Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania. By 2030, the project plans to have planted one million trees in the ground.
"Working with Supa Quick has proven to be a great partnership of shared values. This is to not only invest in planting trees but raise awareness about the need to take care of our waterways and plant life in our personal and professional lives, as well as in the operation of businesses," says Misha Teasdale, co-founder and director of The Greenpop Foundation NPC.
"We will continue to work closely with various stakeholders in the public and private sector to achieve the goal of preserving the beauty and integrity of Africa’s landscape for future generations," concludes Teasdale.
For more information, visit www.supaquick.com. You can also follow Supa Quick on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.