B E L G O T E X
Sustainable footing
The CEO is also determined to make a positive ecological impact on South African society. “We have done some really exciting stuff on the sustainability side of things so far,” says Colle. “This not only has a positive impact environmentally but also for our bottom line – we are able to reuse and repurpose more resources than ever before. “But we don’t want this just to benefit us. We are living in a fragile environment and if we are to make a meaningful difference we need to share our IP with
others, even companies in our sector. We are proud of what we have done so far and welcome anyone to come in and see for themselves.” The numbers back this up. By embracing change in its traditional manufacturing process, Belgotex has been able to repurpose harvested rainwater and reduce overall water consumption by 35-45 percent since 2015. Some R20 million has been invested in solar power, resource efficiency and plant upgrades to date, part of a continual bid to reduce Belgotex’s
carbon footprint. Further, more than R5 million has been invested in waste management, with wide-reaching recycling programmes allowing the Company to reduce material waste rates to near zero. “We used to send out a lot of waste material to external waste converters, but now almost nothing leaves the factory apart from canteen waste,” Colle says. “This all helps to add an authenticity to the Company, and the future consumer is certainly going to be sensitive to these issues.” Such investment in sustainability has been enabled by an altruistic family-backed leadership – Colle’s parents have not taken a dividend out of the business for 32 years; the funds instead being channelled back into the organisation.
Investing in people
Another vital component in ensuring Belgotex enjoys another 35 years of success is investment in human capital, with BEE becoming a particular focus for Colle and the family business. Examples of this include a plan to establish a shareholding system, while a specialist BEE team has been set up to scrutinise the Company’s supply chain network, shifting suppliers to local providers if the price and quality is up to standard. “We are also focussed heavily on upskilling our own team of employees, readying them for industry 4.0,” Colle adds. “For me, success on this journey looks like employing double the amount of people and making a difference to more lives. But there are challenges, and there is a fascinating discussion to be had about the role of automation, a moral discussion more than anything else.” Beyond changing lives through direct employment, Colle also details ways in which Belgotex is investing in its surrounding communities. “We are heavily invested in a food security programme, so much so it has
Edward Colle, CEO
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