Konica Minolta South Africa

Konica Minolta South Africa (KMSA) is wholly owned by the Bidvest Group, and is the principal importer and distributor of the innovative and award winning Konica Minolta range of bizhub multifunctional products, laser printers, fax machines and INFORMETA product solutions.

Partnering with South Africa’s national greening and food gardening organisation, Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA), KMSA has distributed a large number of trees to schools around South Africa during Arbor Week and aims to plant a great deal more before the end of this year in an effort to offset its carbon emissions.

These trees are being distributed through FTFA's award winning Trees for Homes initiative, which aims to develop sustainable settlements through the planting of indigenous or fruit trees in under-served communities to help with food security and shelter.

Through the distribution of these trees to homeowners around South Africa, KMSA are contributing to improved properties for the residents in dusty settlements and also spreading awareness about climate change and environmental issues.

As part of KMSA's Corporate Social Investment initiative, KMSA have committed to the FTFA Carbon Standard programme in an effort to offset carbon emissions. One of the best ways to do this is by planting trees. In addition to absorbing carbon dioxide, one of the most important green house gases, these trees provide many other environmental and social benefits such as preventing water runoff and erosion, settling the dust, providing shade and shelter, lessening noise and beautifying neighbourhoods.

By taking travel, electricity and paper usage into account, the FTFA online carbon calculator provides a high level estimation of companies’ annual carbon footprint as well as the number of trees it will take to absorb that amount of carbon.

It's easy to feel helpless and frustrated in the face of daily news stories about global warming, environmental pollution and declining biodiversity however all efforts make a difference.