Leading carbon manufacturing company Orion Engineered Carbons (OEC) SA, was awarded the 2024 Chemical and Allied Industries’ Association (CAIA) Award, in the Responsible Care Report category.
The award is for the company’s innovative Brown Water Reclamation Sustainability Project at its business premises in Deal Party.
This project has significantly reduced the need for municipal water by producing 1.6 million litres of demineralised water daily.
The facility, had a R68 million Rand investment and started operating in October.
It sources reclaimed water from a neighbouring municipal wastewater facility, benefiting both the company and the local community of Nelson Mandela Bay.
Nomfundo Faltein, Managing Director of OEC SA, said the ward “reflects OEC’s continued focus on providing solutions that drive sustainable practices within the industry and the community we operate in. By relying less on municipal water, OEC is contributing to local water resource management and resilience.”
With water being a scarce commodity, more businesses should commit to adopting sustainable practices that focus on reducing waste, optimising water use, and supporting the health of local ecosystems.
Basil Mugwagwa, the Chamber’s Lead for Water and Sanitation Task Team, said by implementing cutting-edge water-saving solutions, businesses can yield substantial long-term savings and help improve resilience against water supply disruptions caused by droughts or other environmental challenges.
Picture: Left to Right: Skhumbuzo Mzoboshe (OEC’s Environmental Health and Safety Manager), Nomfundo Faltein (OEC’s Managing Director) and Kobus de Vry (OEC’s Project Manager).