SUSTAINABILITY
Earth is our only home…
We believe that it’s our responsibility to ensure that future generations may enjoy a planet that is healthy and inhabitable by all species. Therefore we strive to do business the right way and making a positive change in the world by becoming aware of how we impact the lives of everyone, communities and our planet so that we may all thrive.
“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief
– Robert Swann
that someone else will save it.”
Sustainability refers to avoiding the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance. The adoption of the concepts of sustainable development be it weak or strong sustainability is a choice to be made. We have chosen to adopt the concept of strong sustainability as we believe that natural capital cannot be viewed merely as a stock of resource; it’s preservation is key to longevity and we cannot adopt a view which leads to profit-maximisation at the expense of the environment.
MARINE STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL (MSC)
The MSC is a global organisation that works with fisheries, seafood companies, scientists, conservation groups and the public to promote sustainable fishing. The MSC’s environmental standard is the world’s leading sustainability certification for wild-caught fish. We have been certified by the MSC due to the views on sustainability that we have adopted.
OUR COMMITMENT
We at Anchor Management take our role as a corporate citizen very seriously. Not only do we comply with the regulation imposed by the South African government as well as other international regulators, we actively participate in initiating further measures to protect environmental resources. A role that has become more crucial than ever with the current depletion of fish stocks and pending collapse of not only the anchovy fishing industry but the ecosystem.
Blueprint
A World with out Waste
We aim to purely use biodegradable and zero waste by 2030
Reduced Carbon Footprint
Through our actions, we aim to reduce the carbon footprint of the products we sell by 25% over the next five years
Responsible Fishing Practices
With the current decline in fish stocks we together with inter ministerial task force work to come up viable solution to implement responsible fishing practices by the end of 2020
We are pleased with the progress that we have made in achieving the goals laid out within our first year of operations, but we recognize that there is a lot more that needs to be done as well as other areas of focus requiring our attention. We will continue to take action and cultivate a business environment driven to succeed the right way; not the easy way.
CORE FACTORS
ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS
We at Anchor Management pride ourselves on nurturing a culture that values our impact as much as our achievements so much so that we base our success on it.
We have therefore established a multitude of initiatives and projects driven to forge a lifelong impact that brings about a positive change in the world.
These projects include but or not limited to; weekly beach cleanups, planting of trees and the education of employees on environmental issues and what can be done to help make a difference in peoples lives, communities and our planet.
ENVIRONMENTAL CARE
Compliance with all environmental permits, laws and regulations relevant, especially the interim regulations implemented to combat the increasing decline in available fish stocks while a more permanent solution is being outlined.
Reduced fresh water consumption as a means to protect the resource as it becomes more scarce in South Africa
Limiting/preventing by-catch to protect non-target species
A world without waste: making use of zero waste and biodegradable items as well as implementing recycling programs to both reduce the waste we generate and the waste in landfills or that possibly ends up in the ocean and endangering the aquatic life.
Any waste produced on the vessel at sea must be contained as not to contribute to the pollution of the ocean.
Harbors and jetties must be monitored daily for any pollution and beach cleanups are to occur on a weekly basis to prevent pollution on the coastline
WATER
MANAGEMENT
Due to the the drought and water crisis recently experienced in the Western Cape we have decided that we should better use this scarce resource so as to not deplete it.
We have implemented certain controls at our facilities which has seen that we have consumed approximately 20% less of the freshwater that we have expected.
We are currently looking into new developments and ways to improve the quality of drinking water in communities where it is needed most.
CARBON MANAGEMENT
Anchor Management is driven to pursue ways in which to reduce our carbon foot print especially because we are so dependent on the provision of natural resources.
We endeavor to address and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change and the potential threat it poses on our fish stocks which of course means that we have to constantly adapt in order to continue providing as we do for future generations
As we have always been concerned with our carbon footprint since incorporation we have been monitoring our carbon emissions from both direct and indirect operations.
We intend to decrease our total carbon emissions in future.
WASTE MANAGEMENT
We are firm believers that the way forward is to monitor our impact.
We endeavor to decrease our waste primarily by instituting recycling practices and create a sustainable waste economy and by recycling materials from all stages of production we ensure that minimal waste ends up in landfills.
All waste is disposed of in a manner that is environmentally acceptable.
With our recycling initiatives we have recycled roughly 75% of our waste and provides the company with substantial income while benefiting the environment.
OVERALL IMPACT
WHAT IS RESOURCE DEPLETION?
Resource depletion is the consumption of a resource faster than it can be replenished. It is when the renewable and non-renewable natural resources become scarce and results in a shortfall between the supply of resources and the demand for them.
Resource depletion becomes exacerbated in a situation where there is a shared-resource system and users act in a manner that is driven purely by their self-interest putting what they have to gain over everything else which would be behaving in manner that is contrary to the common good. This is clear cut example of the tragedy of commons which occurred in due to the grazing practices followed on public grounds.
IMPACT OF RESOURCE DEPLETION
Economic activity has the largest impact on natural resources depletion which in turn has a great impact on business operations. This constitutes to a vicious cycle.
Businesses contribute to, but are also affected by environmental degradation. Natural resources are at the beginning of every supply chain, and failure to manage it introduces uncertainty into supply chains and core business operations which increases business risks. It can bring new interruption and liabilty and negatively impact the business model, as well as result in non-operation of the business. Therefore management at Anchor Mnanagement Ltd. as always been increasingly concerned with understanding and contributing to environmental sustainability.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
As mentioned many times before, Anchor Manangement Ltd. is not only profit driven. Our company’s goal is to make a profit while making impact. We operate to contribute to the greater good.
By looking at the bigger picture, we can see the spiral effect that resource depletion has. Resource depletion results in an imbalance in nature, a shortage of materials leading to high inflation rates, which in turn leads to the struggle for human life and a slackening of economic growth. By looking at it from a business perspective, the process is as follows: Business are driven to raise output to maximize profits. Output requires natural resources. The intensity of its use raises output, but increases its depletion rate which in turn could lead to a fall in economic growth, therefore there is only short-term benefit. In addition, resource depletion indirectly contributes to severe health effects, since resource extracation causes pollution, which in turn could alos contribute to global warming. This is where the importance of sustainable yield comes into play.
SUSTAINABLE YIELD
The standard definition of sustainable yield of natural resources is the extraction level of the resource which does not exceed the growth of that particular resource.
If we apply this definition to fishing businesses, it refers to harvesting (of fish stocks) which is not more than the growth of fish stocks. It is the yield that can be extracted without reducing the base of its capital itself.
Governement regulations as well as FRAP aids in promoting sustainable yield. It ensures that sustainable practices are being followed and that resources are being conserved and lowers the chances of negative externalities occuring.
EXTERNALITIES
What is an externality?
It is an economic term referring to a cost or benefit incurred or received by a (unrelated) third party. The third party has no control over the creation of that cost or benefit, hence unrelated. Externalities can be both positive or negative and can come from producing or consuming a product or service.
Most externalities are negative and also most of it are as a result of business operations/actvities. Examples include carbon emissions, water use, pollutants etc. Presently, externalities are no longer just the government’s problem, businesses all over are required to play their part. It is understandable why much emphasis is put on businesses intergrating environmental sustainability into their everyday operations. Since most (negative) externalities are associated with a business’s operations it is only fair that they do their part i.e. to base every aspect of business operations on the principles of sustainability and value creation.
Anchor Management Ltd. 