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1. Introduction

This reports provides an independent overview of the environmental performance of Rocking the Daisies, a music and lifestyle festival, held from 9 to 11 October 2009 at the Cloof Wine Estate just outside of Darling.

Although the event has had a “green” focus since it’s initiation in 2006, this was the first year that an external eco audit was done. The festival organizers, Complete Events, appointed Steadfast Greening to do the eco audit to enable them to determine where they can improve and to take stock of their current actions. Part of their brief was to do a carbon footprint of the event to determine the best way for offsetting the emissions created. Grace Stead was the team leader and Andy le May, Belinda Mills, Wiehahn Diederichs, Gwyllion Stead, Tracy Adams and Carla Brandt assisted her.

1.1. Methodology

The main purpose of the eco audit was to get feedback about the actual implementation of the event from an environmental point of view, as well as to get feedback on the perceived implementation from festival-goers. To enable this two pronged approach, the team was split into two groups.

Grace and Gwyllion focused on checking on the actual implementation as was discussed at the preparation meetings and getting data around actual consumption of resources and waste production. The rest of the team did interviews with festival-goers to get their input around how they experienced the event. Wiehahn also did some additional interviews with some key people behind the scenes to give some feedback on their experience and their reason for getting their fingers green.

The report will combine the feedback and some additional statistics are provided at the end of the report. The report format is based on the green goals of the event for easy reading. Many photographs were taken throughout the event by the audit team to document the situation and these are also available.

1.2. Environmental Policy

The motto of the event is “party hard, tread lightly” and this was emphasized in the media leading up to the event and at the event itself. The intent was there and the implementation supported this very strongly. The green goals were not clear initially, but this was clarified prior to the event and published on the internet and festival magazine.
The environmental strategy for Rocking the Daisies included their aim and objectives as outlined below, as well as the green goals they were trying to achieve.

1.2.1. Aim:
The Rocking the Daisies team aims to host a premier music and lifestyle festival in an environmentally and social responsible manner under the motto of ‘Play Hard, Tread Lightly’.

1.2.2. Objectives:
The objective of hosting the festival in an eco-friendly manner is to minimize the negative environmental impact that the event will have and simultaneously to maximize the positive social and economic benefits through effective resource management.

1.2.3. Green Goals:
The green goals are reflected through the actions at the festival and we believe that these were met in a practical way. It is however suggested that a more formal environmental policy is developed for next year to assist with providing clarity to more role players and be used as an opportunity for creating awareness.

The green goals are a core part of implementing Rocking the Daisies in an eco-friendly way:
• Procurement of goods and services should be done in a sustainable manner, including the use of local products that have a minimal negative effect on the environment.
• The generation of waste should actively be reduced during the planning and implementation of the event. Provide waste separation at source to encourage recycling and reduce waste to landfill.
• Use of water at the event should be done in a responsible manner. Participants and sub-contractors should be encouraged to implement water conservation principles.
• Energy efficiency should be encouraged through energy saving technologies, management systems and responsible behavior. The use of natural light and ventilation should be used whenever possible, as well as the use of renewable energy such as wind or solar energy.
• Air pollution should be reduced through encouraging non-motorized transport and efficient management of all vehicles on-site.
• The natural environment should be protected to reduce any negative impact on the biodiversity.
• Economic growth should be promoted within the host region and the organizers should try to encourage the local community to assist with provision of services required on site.
• Participants should be informed about the greening goals and should be encouraged to actively participate in achieving these goals with the view of behavior change towards more sustainable living.
• The implementation of the green goals need to be monitored and evaluated so that lessons learnt can be captured and improvements made. An open and transparent report should be made available.

2. Event Feedback

2.1. Procurement

Procurement of goods and services should be done in a sustainable manner, including the use of local products that have a minimal negative effect on the environment.

The procurement of goods and services is a key aspect in the greening of an event and has an impact on many other aspects such as economic growth, waste, energy usage and much more. This is essentially the point at which the battle for greening is won or lost.

2.1.1. Venue
Cloof Wine Estate is a biodiversity champion in the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative (BWI), contributing to the re-growth of indigenous fauna and flora unique to that area. Cloof Wine Estate works very hard at contributing to this natural environment through protecting rare and endangered flower species such as the Renosterveld. This is a highly threatened vegetation type, mostly because the soil on which it grows is very fertile and therefore these were the first areas in the region to be ploughed and used for agricultural purposes. The 105ha of pristine Renosterveld protected at Cloof and Burgherspost is therefore an important contribution to local and global biodiversity. To ensure that this was protected, an eco-officer did and Environmental Impact Assessment prior to and after the event.

2.1.2. Merchandise
The festival t-shirts and caps sold on-site were made from hemp, which was a collaboration effort between Hemporium and Levi’s®. Festival branded sandals by OceanMinded were made from recycled material including plastic bottles and although the concept is great, it is a pity that they were made in China and not manufactured locally.

2.1.3. Electronic Media
Focus was placed on electronic communication (website, facebook, webticket) to reduce the amount of paper required (www.rockingthedaisies.com). The number of printed flyers was reduced from 20 000 to 10 000 in comparison to previous years. The festival also had a policy of not distributing any promotional flyers on cars during the event, which is generally common practice at festivals such as these.

Reusable Webticket cards (www.webtickets.co.za) were produced to eliminate further printing of tickets as future shows can be loaded onto this card – a first for South Africa. The only other option was buying your tickets online. Another exciting web based initiative that was launched just before the event was LiftSplit (www.liftsplit.com) and this assisted 33 people to connect up and share lifts to and from the event. These should be better marketed in the future.

2.1.4. Print Media
All posters and flyers for the festival were printed on fully recycled paper (Reviva), while the festival magazine was printed by Tenfour Media on acid-free recyclable paper, made from using chlorine-free wood pulp from sustained forests. The posters that were put up on street poles were all done on standard wooden backing that can be re-used, instead of cardboard that is disposed of after the event.

2.1.5. Bioware
All participating restaurants / food suppliers on-site were requested by the festival organizers to serve their products using 100% biodegradable and fully compostable packaging and utensils from Greenhome (www.greenhome.co.za). Unfortunately some of the suppliers were more diligent than others and only four (Portabella, Knead, Arnolds and the Campsite Kitchen) of the restaurants really complied with the requirements, based on the orders placed with Greenhome and the products found on-site. Some of the others procured their cups and serviettes from Greenhome, but this was just on a small scale. Refer to the waste section for more information on the waste generated.

2.1.6. Soap
The shower blocks were all supplied with 100% biodegradable soaps and shampoos provided by Hemporium (www.hemporium.co.za). This was well received, but a suggestion was made that biodegradable products are sold at the entrance to the campsite and the green village to create more awareness and encourage lifestyle change. It was also found that many of the showers did not have soap in by the end of the weekend, either because it had all be used, or the container had been taken away. It was suggested that the availability of soap be managed to avoid the use of non-biodegradable soap during the event.

All participating restaurants were given 100% biodegradable detergents (EarthSap), which they were expected to use at the event. It was however found that this was not sufficient in quantity or strength for some of the oil-based utensils that had to be cleaned. Most of the restaurants had run out of the biodegradable detergents and some other detergents were found on-site. It is proposed that additional soap be made available to address the needs to the restaurants and to explain to them why this is being done.

2.1.7. Ablutions
A total of 174 toilets were provided on-site for the weekend and the majority of these (128) were standard chemical toilets provided by Sanitec. In addition to this Sanitec provided 13 units (26 toilets) VIP toilets, which look similar to the Woshbox concept, but no additional information was available on them. Some of these toilets had to be pumped out and the sewerage had to be disposed of at a sewerage treatment plant. It was intended that this be done at Malmesbury, but they closed by midday on Saturday and thus the trucks had to drive all the way to Vissershok to safely dispose of the sewerage, which had a negative impact on the carbon footprint of the event due to the additional travelling requirements.

Woshbox provided 10 units (20 toilets) on-site at an additional cost for the festival-goers. These toilets are based on an eco friendly modular design with LED lights running on solar power. They use no formaldehyde and the fact that they have a venturi system the chemicals requirement are in line with the sewerage treated. No external pumping was required for the duration of the event, which also saved on carbon emissions related to transport costs. They claim that it saves 5000 liters for every 1000 flushes.

2.1.8.

Energy
With an event of this nature it is inevitable that generators are needed on-site, however in this case the generators were powered by bio-diesel, produced from used cooking oil. In addition to this renewable energy was purchased with renewable energy certificates from the Umzimkulu Mill bio-energy generator and provided via the Eskom grid in terms of an estimate done prior to the event. The Lemon Tree Theatre only uses LED lighting. More details given below under the section dealing with energy.

2.1.9. Auditing and evaluation
The event organizers appointed specialists to do an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) prior to and after the event to ensure that the natural environment was not degraded in any way. An eco officer was on-site for the duration of the event. In addition to this the Eco Audit team did an audit during the event to check on the actual status of the implementation of various greening initiatives.

2.1.10. General
Outdoor direction signs at the event were made from untreated scrap wood that was sustainably harvested. The event organizers focused on the procurement of durable and re-usable goods to reduce wastage such as re-using shade netting from last year. Some of the restaurants did not sell any meat products to encourage people to eat less meat and the Campsite Kitchen even gave away free fruit.
2.2. Waste Management

The generation of waste should actively be reduced during the planning and implementation of the event. Provide waste separation at source to encourage recycling and reduce waste to landfill.

The waste generated at an event often has the most visible impact when hosting a green event, especially when separation at source is encouraged. It was initially intended to have a three-bin process in place for separation at source (recyclables, non-recyclables and organic waste), with additional sorting back of house.

The disposal and treatment of waste can produce emission of several greenhouse gases (GHGs), which contribute to global climate change. The most significant GHG produced from waste is methane. It is released during the breakdown of organic matter in landfills. Other forms of waste disposal also produce GHGs but these are mainly in the form of carbon dioxide (a less powerful GHG). Even the recycling of waste produces some emission (although these are offset by the reduction in fossil fuels that would be required to obtain new raw materials). Waste prevention and recycling help address global climate change by decreasing the amount of GHG emissions and saving energy. (Environmental Protection Agency).

2.2.1. Reduction of waste
The first aim was to reduce the amount of waste created during the event and this was done through conscious procurement requirements such as biodegradable cups and plates at the restaurants and that no water bottles were sold on site. General festival management included aspects such as no distribution of flyers onto cars (although some flyers were distributed without permission). The hay bales that were used during the event for seating were taken back by the farmer and used for cattle feed after the event.

2.2.2. Bin labeling and placement
Unfortunately the bin labeling and placement was not done optimally, which led to confusion and contamination of waste. During the interviews this was the biggest concern from festival-goers as many people felt that they wanted to “do the right thing”, but they were unsure which bins to use.

The first main aspect that needs to be kept in mind for next year is the clear labeling of the bins for the duration of the event; this requires clear labeling of the bins in such a way that people know what bins to use and that this is visible and practical even when bins are rotated. The second aspect that needs to be addressed next year is the placement of the bins, because it is important to always clump a set of bins together at a recycling station and not have bins on their own.

A few people commented that there were more bins last year and if possible additional bins should be provided next year. In an interview with the farm manager he mentioned that he was very impressed with the waste management compared to previous years, but would also recommend that there should be more bins and that they should be better labeled.

2.2.3. Recycling
We are pleased to confirm that although the separation of source was not very well managed during the event, the back of house separation and recycling was very well done. All the waste that was received was sorted on-site. Glass, tin cans, cardboard and plastic was separated from waste going to landfill, which mostly included contaminated waste. Clean organic waste was kept one side and made into compost.

The surface of the recycling area was however not appropriate as it was gravel stones which could not be cleaned easily. It is proposed that a flat surface area that could be swept be provided in the future; with suitable wastewater drainage systems as is a standard requirement with refuse collection stations. It is also recommended that additional shade cloth be erected to avoid the wind blowing waste away.

The following parties helped make the recycling a reality:

Vernon, Joseph and their Team
They were responsible for the main arena, restaurants, kids and main recycling area. They had a team of 43 people plus a bakkie and trailer to move bins around. Their roaming team moved between the festival-goers and also coordinated the bins. They wore t-shirts from Give-it-Bag and the ladies wore a decorative “skirt” made from scrap pieces of t-shirt material. They wore hats that they made themselves from tin cans during a preparation workshop. During this workshop they were also encouraged to decorate the bakkie with plastic bottle tops so that it would be colorful.

This team also interacted with Heather around the ten restaurants and 30 traders to ensure that the back of house recycling was collected (glass, tin cans, plastic, organic, non recyclable, cardboard). They also worked with Foena around the four bar areas that recycled glass, tin cans, plastic behind counter, as well as non recyclable, cardboard back of house and needed additional back-up storage for glass, tins, cans and plastic.
An important aspect in the success of this team was that Joseph selected the team members and made sure that they were all reliable. Previous years local farm workers were used to do this, but apparently they started drinking early in the day and were not effective. This team must however be complimented for their good behavior and continuous effort to clean up around loud festival-goers throughout the day and night.

Warren and the No Standing Team
They were responsible for the campsites, car parks and around the dam. They had a team of 16 people and one vehicle (combi and trailer). They also provided assistance to the Campsite Café and Kreef hotel. Noel from the Campsite Café took all the organic waste for inclusion into his worm farm so that it could be composted instead of going to landfill.

The combi was not very practical for waste collection, as it had to be used for transporting waste when the trailer was full. It is recommended that a bakkie rather be used next time and if possible that the bakkie runs on bio-diesel.

WasteMan

The waste removal was done by WasteMan who supplied three skips (10m2 each) and 170 bins (240 liters) with yellow and green lids. They confirmed that the following recyclables / waste was removed at the end of the event:

Waste generated at event
Glass
11,32 tons
57%
Metal / tin cans
3,28 tons
16%
Plastic
2,57 tons
13%
Cardboard
1,2 tons
6%
General Waste
1,62 tons
8%
TOTAL
19,99 tons

In comparison to last year the total amount of waste and the amount of waste recycled is very similar. It is however interesting that both glass, plastic and cardboard is a bit higher, while the amount of tin cans is a lot lower. The plastic that was recycled was separated as Polyethylene Terepthalate (PET = 0,67t), high Density Polyethylene (HDPE = 0,84t) and Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE = 1,06t), which reflect the policy of no bottled water sold at the festival.

2.2.4. Refuse bags
Each festivalgoer received a set of plastic bags made from 100% recycled material (Tuffy) and there was an insert saying that the green bag was for recyclables and the black bag for refuse. Although this was a great idea that supported the concept of waste separation at source, it was not as practical to implement. Many empty or unused bags were found at the end of the event and fewer bags could have been distributed (one per tent) or provided as required from a central point in the campsite.

2.2.5. Goody Bags
The goody bags handed out at the entrance were made from brown paper bags (biodegradable and recyclable) and the contents were generally limited to the festival magazine, refuse bags from recycled material (in a plastic bag with advertising for Tuffy the sponsor on a slightly glossy paper), Levi’s condoms (in recyclable card packaging) and McNabs Energy Tablets (in a non-recyclable foil sachet). Some of the festival-goers also received give away’s such as a plastic water gun made in China which was not in line with the spirit of the event. The idea of the goody bags was to add value to the festival-goers, but this should be weighed up against the actual impact and the possible related effects such as waste generated.

2.2.6. Cups
There was a big discussion around the use of recyclable versus PLA (compostable) cups because all the drinks in glass had to be decanted from glass. Due to the additional cost implication it was decided to go for normal plastic cups that can be recycled. It was considered having a deposit on the cups, but this was not implemented. The bar managers felt it was not practical to have a deposit system as it is not easy to manage the quantities and rate required for large bar areas. They also did not have the ability to wash the cups on-site and felt it was not worth their while to recycle the cups for future use. It would be great if a deposit system could be implemented at future events, but the logistical implications would have to well managed, to avoid chaos. It is very important that this is prepared well in advance with the input from the bar managers.

2.2.7. Banners
Larger banners were made for promoting the event that was put up at different areas around the city such as at Rafiki’s. Large banner maps were also made for the event to help people get around and to inform them about the greening initiatives. These banners were all kept and will be made into useful products for next year, such as bags or furniture.

2.2.8. Food Containers
Although all the restaurants were requested to only use biodegradable products (Greenhome) on site the following was found:
♣ Butlers Pizza provided their pizza’s in cardboard boxes and although it is indicated on the box that it is recyclable, it can’t actually be recycled if it is contaminated. It was felt that boxes were not really needed because most of the people ate their pizzas immediately and Greenhome plates could have been used. The used cardboard took up a lot of space in the recycling depot and could have been avoided.
♣ Hudson’s Burgers said during an interview that they had not been informed about the Greenhome requirements and provided white cardboard boxes with a thin lamination. There is in our opinion no reason why Greenhome products would not have worked as well as the cardboard boxes provided.
♣ Tong Lok brought polystyrene containers for their pasta, but when concerns were raised around this they arranged to have aluminum containers brought in. Their sushi was however provided in plastic containers and although it is indicated as being recyclable, it did not have a poly-logo.
♣ Seattle Coffee came on as a sponsor and was not requested to use biodegradable products as they “slipped through the cracks”. They used standard paper coffee cups with a plastic coating.
♣ Other: In addition to this there was also polystyrene and other packaging material of which the source is unknown.

It is recommended that stricter guidelines be implemented in the future to ensure that suppliers are fully aware of what is expected from them, and why. It is important that the type of and requirements for the food containers be considered.

2.3. Water Conservation

Use of water at the event should be done in a responsible manner. Participants and sub-contractors should be encouraged to implement water conservation principles.

2.3.1. Water Consumed
The farmer confirmed that the water used at the event came out of the local dam and made no difference to the overall water requirements on the farm. The only additional water was the 50 000 litres that was required for the showers due to the showers not being managed appropriately.

2.3.2. Dam
Many of the festival-goers had a swim in the dam and this was very well received due to the warm weather. Lifeguards were on duty in case of emergency and the dam was cleaned up after the event.

2.3.3. Bottled Water
A specific decision was made that no bottled water be sold at the festival due to the fact that bottled water has a huge environmental impact. As an alternative branded reusable sports water bottles were sold at R40 each and festival-goers could refill their bottles with tap water purified on-site or at the normal water tap points. Although this was generally well received, many people commented that there should have been more water points throughout the venue and felt that the bottles were too expensive. Some people that did not buy bottles complained that they were not allowed to re-fill their bottles with the purified water. The bottles did not have a poly-logo on, which makes it difficult to recycle afterwards.

It is proposed that for next year the bottles should have a poly-logo on, that the taps should be better marked as drinking water, that there should be more filtered water points and that the bottles should be sold at a cheaper rate.

2.3.4. Grey Water at Restaurants
Last year the grey water from the restaurants caused some problems, but this year it was all under control with all their wastewater collected into two 1000-liter IBC containers and disposed of responsibly after the event.

2.3.5. Grey Water at Showers
The shower water also caused some concern last year, but this year it was better managed. The showers were piped into temporary pipelines, which went into the storm water drains on-site as the grey water will not have a negative impact on the environment. Hemporium supplied 100% biodegradable soaps and shampoos in all showers blocks.

2.3.6. Runoff Water at Taps
There was a bit of a concern around the run-off water from taps used by the general public and specifically in the campsite. The water was not very well managed and ended up being a bit of a muddy mess. Although this would not have a negative effect on the environment, it could be managed better in the future.

2.4. Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency should be encouraged through energy saving technologies, management systems and responsible behavior. The use of natural light and ventilation should be used whenever possible, as well as the use of renewable energy such as wind or solar energy.

2.4.1. Biodiesel Generators
The event organizers arranged a total of seven large generators on site for the effective management of the event, with two back-up generators at the concert areas. All nine of these generators ran on bio-diesel.

The Biodiesel Centre has developed many techniques for converting waste vegetable oils, crude high fatty acid oils, lard & various animal fats into high grade Biodiesel. It is a diesel fuel substitute produced from renewable sources such as vegetable oils, animal fats, and recycled cooking oils. It can be used in neat form, or blended with petroleum diesel for use in diesel engines.

Biodiesel is biodegradable, non-toxic and reduces emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) by approximately 50% and carbon dioxide by 78% on a net lifecycle basis because the carbon in biodiesel emissions is recycled from carbon that was already in the atmosphere, rather than being new carbon from petroleum that was sequestered in the earth’s crust. (Sheehan, 1998)

In addition to this one very large generator (150 KVA) was on-site as a back-up, which was unfortunately needed on Sunday due a power outage scheduled for routine maintenance in the area. This generator used a total of 120 litres of normal diesel.

2.4.2. Electricity
A total of 6338kWh electricity was provided by the farmer (Eskom) for the duration of the event, during which time normal farming activities were stopped. One mega watt-hour (MWh) renewable energy was purchased with renewable energy certificates (REC) from the GreenX Umzimkulu Mill bio-energy generator and provided via the Eskom grid in terms of an estimate done prior to the event. Additional RECs will be purchased to cover the shortfall.

The LED lights in the Greenhouse were run from renewable energy generated from wind turbines. Two stationary bicycles were connected to LED lights so that when people peddled the bicycles the lights would light up. This gave people a hands-on experience about the effort that goes into the generation of (kinetic) energy. Some of the toilets and showers had LED lights that were powered by built in PV solar panels.

2.4.3. Lighting
The Lemon Tree Theatre used only energy efficient lights, with the majority of the lights being LEDs. Some of the trading stalls also used LED, while others mostly used energy efficient compact fluorescent lights. On the first evening it was noted that some of the traders were using incandescent lights and it was brought under their attention that energy efficient lights would be better; by the second evening most had managed to change their lights to CFLs.

Unfortunately the lights in restaurants and bar area were all incandescent lights as these were provided by the stand builders and could not easily be replaced. There was a concern raised around the use of CFLs due to their mercury content and the fact that they are expensive and tend to get stolen at events such as these. It is recommended that energy efficient lighting be considered for next year in the general usage areas however, it is understood that the stage lights have special requirements.

2.4.4. Other
Over and above the electricity (Eskom), generators (biodiesel and diesel) and renewable energy (wind and solar) used on site; a total of 357 litres of petrol was purchased from the farmer for general usage during the event.

2.5. Air pollution

Air pollution should be reduced through encouraging non-motorized transport and efficient management of all vehicles to and from the event.

2.5.1. Shuttle Bus
It was the first year that shuttle busses were provided from five locations around Cape Town to and from the festival to reduce the number of vehicles needing to drive to the festival. Apparently only 29 people took the bus that was arranged by Cape Xtreme. Although it was advertised, it was not very well received and many people were not aware of it. It could have been perceived to be a bit too expensive and many people like the convenience of flexibility. Initially five pick up points were planned, but in the end only two pick-up points were implemented (Newlands and Rafiki’s on Long Street).

2.5.2. LiftSplit (www.liftsplit.co.za)
An online portal for car-pooling was launched three days before the event for getting to and from the festival to reduce single occupancy vehicles and to encourage car sharing. Many people commented that this would be a good idea, but was not aware of it. It is however something that should be encouraged in the future and arranged in advance.

2.5.3. Walking the Daisies
A total of twenty-four people walked to the festival as an awareness campaign and to highlight the Cape’s natural Fauna and Flora. It took them two days to walk up and they slept over in Silverstroom and they got their entrance tickets for free. Food and snacks were sponsored by Fruit and Veg City. Hemporium sponsored hemp caps and socks, while OceanMinded sponsored sandals. A support vehicle accompanied them on their trip up and they returned with friends or the Cape Xtreme Shuttle.

2.5.4. Cycle the Daisies
A total of seventy-eight participants cycled to the event to promote cycling as an eco friendly and healthy activity. These participants received their entrance tickets at half price and Loaded sponsored their t-shirts. A total of 104 cyclists registered, but only 78 actually rode and it took them between 3 and 6 hours to get there. Four people cycled home after the event, while the others got lifts back with friends or the Cape Xtreme Shuttle. The cyclists that were interviewed indicated that they did it because they enjoy cycling, because of the environmental impact, because it was fun and because they got their tickets for half-price.

2.5.5. Flights
A total of 34 artists were flown in to participate in the event and two meetings were held up in Johannesburg in preparation for the event. This will be off-set through the planting of trees with Food and Trees for Africa as outlined in section four of this report.

2.6. Biodiversity

The natural environment should be protected to reduce any negative impact on the biodiversity.

Cape Lowlands Environmental Services (CLES) were appointed by Rocking the Daisies as the independent biodiversity assessment specialist for this project to ensure that the natural environment was not degraded in any way. Their findings were summarized as follows:
♣ The proposed site is suitable for the activity as the site has low conservation value.
♣ The report finds that the activity did not impact negatively on any listed fauna or flora species.
♣ No significant breeding, roosting or habitat on the site has been impacted upon.
♣ The waste removal and recycling system was effective during and after the festival.
♣ The demarcated wetland area was not impacted upon.
♣ There were no visible signs of sewage or wastewater pollution at ablution and or restaurant facilities.
♣ Mr. Peter Duckitt (Estate Manager) advised during the site visit on 14 October 2009 that there were no complaints concerning the environmental aspects and impacts of the festival on Cloof Wine Estate.

CLES is of the opinion, and based on the survey and study done, that the activity did not impact significantly on the biodiversity of the area.

2.7. Social and Economic Development

Social and Economic development should be promoted within the host region and the organizers should try to encourage the local community to assist with provision of services required on site.

2.7.1. Social Development:
Since its initiation Rocking the Daisies has had a strong social responsibility which has grown over the years. This year a total of 5000 pairs of used jeans were collected from the public through the “Get rid of your jeans for good” coordinated by Levi’s. These denims will be distributed to disadvantaged communities in Darling and Alexandra (Johannesburg).

During last year a total of 250 trees were planted in Koringberg in association with Food and Trees for Africa. This year trees will be planted in the Darling community once again in association with Food and Trees for Africa to offset the carbon emissions created due to the festival.

2.7.2. Economic Development:
Rocking the Daisies approached the Malmesbury Lion’s Club to assist with the management of the parking requirements during the event. Learners from the local school were also roped in to assist festival-goers with taking their luggage between their cars and tents for tips. The learners indicated that they enjoyed doing it and the money that they received was spilt between their school and the learners that did the work.

The Kreef Hotel also has a principle of getting at least half of their casual staff from the local community. Prior to the event they visited the community to get to know some of the locals through whom they could make arrangements for casual staff. They have a practice of always buying a gift for the local community such as a guitar. A proposal was made to do some additional environmental training with the casual staff so that they can take this back to their communities and this should be followed up on next year.

In an interview with the farm manager he mentioned that they generally sell only about 50% more wine compared to a normal weekend on the farm. What they did however find was that their wine sales in Cape Town increased since Rocking the Daisies moved to Cloof Wine Estate.

Although the event organizers promote the purchase of local economic growth through purchasing products made in South Africa, they have no dedicated procurement policy and this could be formalized. Most of the building material is purchased in Cape Town due to having preferred suppliers with agreed terms of payment.

2.8. Inform Participants

Participants should be informed about the greening goals and should be encouraged to actively participate in achieving these goals with the view of behavior change towards more sustainable living.

The event coordinators went to a lot of trouble to inform the participants about the fact that this was hosted as a green event. Information was provided on the website and festival magazine about the greening initiatives to encourage active participation. Large banners were made with the Festival Green Map to showcase the green initiatives to the festival-goers at the event.

The Daisies Greenhouse was dedicated to informing festival-goers about environmental and social initiatives. It included a conscious cinema, information stands for WWF and Food and Trees for Africa and the Hemporium shop.

PARK(ing) Day is a one-day, global event where artists, activists and citizens collaborate to temporarily transform metered parking bays into park areas on 18 September. It started in 2005 as a temporary art project to raise awareness about the lack of green spaces in San Francisco’s downtown. It’s based on the idea that feeding a parking meter is like “renting” a space. But instead of parking a car, why not park something better! Every September, people around the world are now transforming ‘car parks’ to ‘people parks’. These PARKs are fun and visual symbols of communities wanting to improve urban quality.

The event organizers of Rocking the Daisies participated in this event by converting a parking bay in front of their office on Long Street into a park. This highlighted the importance of:
♣ Calling attention to the importance of urban public spaces
♣ Rethinking the way we use our streets
♣ Creating diverse conversations about how we make sustainable cities

Volunteers from UCT known as the “Green Police” attended the festival to assist with raising awareness around the greening of the event. A suggestion was made to take festival-goers on tours to showcase the greening initiatives “behind the scenes”.

2.9. Monitoring and Evaluation

The implementation of the green goals need to be monitored and evaluated so that lessons learnt can be captured and improvements made. An open and transparent report should be made available.

Besides the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which focused on the monitoring of the biodiversity, the event organizers also appointed an Eco Audit team to specifically monitor and evaluate the greening aspects of the event. The Eco Audit team did an audit during the event to check on the actual status of the implementation of various greening initiatives and also held interviews with festival-goers.

During the festival some of the eco audit team members did interviews with the participants about how they perceived the importance of the environmental initiatives and their feedback is indicated in section three of this report.

3. Feedback on Interviews

Interviews were conducted with approximately 50 people during the festival to ascertain their sensitivity, awareness and actions in relation to green issues and the festival organizers greening initiatives. Not all questions were asked off all respondents because of the time it would take.

3.1. The survey

The questions for the survey were broken down into 9 main areas. These were:
• • Travel
• Recycling
• Bio-degradable products
• Energy
• Education
• Social initiatives
• Water
• Biodiversity
• Festival

In each area we tried to establish the respondents sensitivity to the issue, aside from the festival, then their understanding of what was happening at the festival and, where relevant, their own opinion of how much of a difference they thought they were making. The respondents were asked to rate their response on a scale of 1-5 where 1 was low and 5 was high. They were also asked if they had any other comments to make.

3.2. Result summary

The main highlights of the results are as follows:
• Sensitivity to green issues was high.
• Knowledge of what was being done at the festival was low. Very few people knew little or anything about the measures being taken. Most had not taken the time to read the information in the booklet or on the web site
• Everyone agreed with not selling bottled water but found the water bottle price high and felt that they should be able to refill their other bottles too.

For the detail on the average scores to all the questions please see Appendix 1.

Main comments:
• Lack of signage on the bins. This was a very common comment. Very few people were able to tell which bins were for what rubbish or even knew that recycling was happening.
• Better solution for cigarette butts required

For a complete list of the comments please see Appendix 1

3.3. Recommendations

• Use the main stage for more announcements of green issues and information
• Use green team to educate folks around the event. Bins, water points etc.
• More signage especially on the bins.
• More education as to green initiatives.

4. Carbon Footprint

The calculation of the carbon footprint for the event included the energy usage, print media and transport for the preparation and implementation of the event. A total of 10256 people attended the event over a period of three days (Fri to Sunday) with an estimated total of 277 ton CO2eq.

The estimated carbon dioxide equivalents can be summarized as follows:
Total Carbon Dioxide Equivalent
Energy
11 013 kg CO2eq
Print Media
1021 kg CO2eq
Transport
265 054 kg CO2eq
TOTAL
277 ton CO2eq

4.1. Energy

The energy consumption was based on the following inputs:
♣ Electricity provided by Eskom during the event;
♣ Electricity provided by Eskom to the event coordinators offices prior to the event;
♣ Petrol, diesel and bio-diesel used during the event.

Description
Quantity
CO2eq
Comment
Electricity
6338 kWh
6274,6 kg
Measured by farmer for duration of event
Electricity
990 kWh
980,1 kg
Estimated for office during preparation
Petrol
357 liters
832,1 kg
Provided by farmer during event
Diesel
120 liters
320,3 kg
Provided by farmer for red farm generator
Biodiesel
1630 liters
2606,4 kg
Provided by Biodiesel Centre (B50 Blend)
Total carbon equivalent in kg
11 013,5 kg CO2eq
Total carbon equivalent in ton
11 ton CO2eq
Total number of RECs
11 RECs
Equivalent in trees (for information only)
8 trees

It is calculated that a total of eleven ton of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq) was created through the use of the energy as outlined above. This has been offset through the procurement of eleven renewable energy certificates (RECs), which provides 11 MWh of renewable energy onto the grid.

4.2. Print media and transport

The print media considered all the paper required for the print media (festival posters, flyers and magazine) as well as the paper needed in the office, which translated into a total of 547 kg of paper and 1021kg of CO2eq according to the Food and Trees for Africa Carbon Calculator. This will be offset through planting 28 trees.

The transport included an estimate of the number of cars, busses, trucks and flights directly related to the preparation and implementation of the event, including performers, suppliers, crew and festival-goers. The estimated carbon equivalent for the transport is 265 ton, which will be offset through planting 193 trees.

4.3. Offset of carbon emissions

The total carbon dioxide equivalent is estimated at 277 ton CO2eq, which is offset through planting 222 trees in partnership with Food and Trees for Africa, and purchasing 11MWh of renewable energy from GreenX Energy (done). See website for tree planting update early 2010.

5. Other Feedback

The following additional feedback was received from the Eco Audit Team members:

5.1. The Rocking behind the Daisies; Wiehahn Diederichs

Yes, indeed the daisies have been rocked! Darling’s Green Festival, Rocking the Daisies was an absolute success in my eyes. It presented a strong presence of unity between mankind and nature, true passion for the well being of our Mother Earth and the determination and commitment to uphold the reason the festival was created in the first place. It was my first year visiting Rocking the Daisies and my experience was nothing short of mind-blowing.

The motto ‘Play Hard, Tread Lightly’ was brilliantly out in motion. A round of applause is owed to the public for they took the green aspects of this festival seriously. Many shared rides, minimizing air pollution, and many took to walking or riding bicycles. So the event went on with everyone doing his or her part. The waste management was done awesomely. The waste was separated into their categories and every second bin had large ashtrays for all the smokers.

A bicycle on a stand was stationed near the food court area where you could exercise while you generated environmentally friendly electricity for the event. A wind turbine also pierced the sky, catching the high blowing winds and almost taking off as it produced massive amounts of natural energy. Of course solar power was integrated very well too. And those who thought they could get away with ecological surliness; they were well monitored by the Eco Audit team.

I was so impressed by this event mainly because people came to create and not to destroy. But I think it’s important to get to know the people that contribute to this festival and their input into this breathtaking event. This is a ‘behind-the-scene’ look at Rocking the Daisies 2009.

Say hi to Levi’s
Levi’s played a big part in Rocking the Daisies as they were one of the event’s biggest sponsors from the start. This is also the only green event they have sponsored. Among the festivities Levi had a stand and there I talked to Curt Marshall on behalf of Levi’s.

The Levi’s shack was built entirely out of recycled materials including oriented scrap boards for the walls and wooden crates for the floor. It took 4-5 people to build it in a week. Interesting objects to be seen in and outside the shack was a desk made out of old school lockers and a bath converted into a funky bench, designed by Aiden Bennets.

Curt told me about a jean exchange system they had put in place as their respect for the event’s purpose. You could bring any pair of old jeans, regardless of brand and you would receive a voucher. With this voucher you can get discount on any purchase made at a Levi’s store until the end of November. The collected jeans will then go to various charities within South Africa. Loop cards could be purchased exclusively at Rocking the Daisies with which you became part of a Levi’s SMS service which informs you about sales and discounts; you get discount on your birthday; with every purchase you get points on your loyalty card and it notifies you of future events. One of Levi’s upcoming events is a HIV charity event.

I asked Curt about his personal perception of Rocking the Daisies and he answered: “Gee wiz, Rocking the Daisies is a real eye opener. The event is growing and I really think it’s working as a green event.”

Vernon and Joseph – recycling our waste
This year was the first time Vernon Pendlebary attended Rocking the Daisies where he acted as the overseer of the waste management. Although he admits he isn’t a ‘waste man’, he says: “My love for Mother Earth is greater than my dislike for waste.” His love for nature was inspired by his father who he regularly spent time with in the outdoors. “Nature was and still is my biggest teacher” he says. He also adds that he doesn’t have to do this because waste doesn’t have to exist. Read these words carefully: WASTE DOESN’T HAVE TO EXIST.

So Vernon took the job knowing that last year the Cloof Wine Estate owner, Peter Cloof, had the problem of ankle deep waste occupying his beautiful farm. Although this year was more successful, waste still filled one 30t container, 170 wheelie bins a number of times and three 10t skips in a single weekend. The good thing is however that most of this waste was sorted out on-site with cans, glass, tins, cardboard and organic waste being recycled.

But Vernon isn’t always spending his time among the waste of our world. At festivals such as Vortex, Origin and Earthdance he hosts Peace Camps. These camps consist of drum circles and focuses on healing through meditation and ceremonies such as the Vedic Agnihotra. At Earthdance he also held a Saturday carnival parade with drummers, clowns, stilt walkers, clowns and costumed performers. “I do things because of my passion for people and the environment and not for the money.” Vernon says.

Joseph Dlamini works with Vernon and he managed the waste separation at Rocking the Daisies. He explained to me that the waste he handled is divided into the categories of cans, plastic, glass, organic and cardboard. He has been working with waste since last December. But his story doesn’t start there. He had done merchandising for a large company in Johannesburg but due to financial cut-backs he lost his job. He came to Cape Town and had many difficulties finding work, but being a devoted Christian, he prayed each day for a job and went to church each Sunday. The church realized that within Joseph there was a very special man. After much praying, he one day received a call from the Church offering him a job to paint the Church walls and so began his life in the Western Cape.

Even though it might seem that his problems were disappearing, Joseph has many things to keep his mind on. He has four kids to look after, their ages ranging from 7 to 21. He lives in Houtbay and says that in his life, where each day’s earnings is a blessing, he still, at least, doesn’t work for 14 days a month. He is a man of many talents, as I realized, after him telling me he is also an artist in water painting and enamel. “My jobs change as much as Cape Town weather” he says. He has experience in painting (walls and artworks), waste management and plant transplanting. He knows he struggles but he says he would rather “struggle than go to jail.”

He asked me to add that the team he worked with at Rocking the Daisies 2009 was absolutely awesome seeing that at previous festivals, a team not chosen by himself, was only interested in drinking the leftover beer in the cans and by eleven o’clock in the morning couldn’t work anymore because of intoxication. After hearing this I knew that Joseph was also a very good judge of character. Everyone I talked to about Joseph confirmed that I was right. So if you are ever looking for an extremely hard and committed worker, call Joseph Dlamini at 073 165 2514. You won’t be disappointed!

The Wonder of the Campsite Kitchen
Noel Marten ran the Campsite Kitchen for the second year in a row, which operated in the camping area 24 hours a day. After eating quite a few butternut soups and enjoying many coffees I can tell you their food and drinks were absolutely mouth-watering. But it’s what went on behind the counter that really interested me. His contribution to Rocking the Daisies and ultimately the environment was taking the organic waste and turning it into compost, preventing the waste from releasing harmful methane gasses into the air. He practices the same process at home where he grows his own vegetables and says he has been doing it for years. “My father and his father and his father before that were all gardeners.”

He and his partner Natalie also started a company called Earth Shine that is run from the comfort of their home. The purpose of this company is to provide training and assistance for those who wish to transition to a lifestyle which is both healthy to you and the environment. They take in about fifteen people at a time. Their teachings include permaculture, raw food preparation classes and consultation on starting a food garden. If you wish to know more visit Earth Shine on Facebook. He’s also working on an “integrated eco food system” at his Pinelands home. He says it’s still a work in progress but it incorporates growing vegetables, medicinal plants, home composting, gray water management and worm farming. All of the organic waste gathered at the event also went into this system, especially the worm farm.

I asked Noel what the main reason was for living a healthy lifestyle and he told me that “healthy food is one of the keys to awaken your consciousness. The fresher, the better. It provides you with a relaxed mind, clarity and helps one to focus.” Noel asked me to add that he thinks the biggest improvement at Rocking the Daisies was a new staff member called Ofir. He wishes to thank him for “seeding many elements of the Euro green scene in South Africa.” He’s reaction towards the festival seemed very positive. “There is a huge difference between last year and this year. The public are reacting a lot more to the goals of the green event. I take my hat of to Brian and Craig (the event organizers), because it now has a more natural environment and it’s a lot more organized.”

My bru, it’s May Bru
Sadly I couldn’t meet Robin Fletcher Evans in person but Tim Stark from Ocean Minded was kind enough to speak on his behalf. Robin is a surfboard shaper that works and lives in Jeffrey’s Bay. But what separates him from many board shapers in the world is the fact that he still makes wooden surfboards, called Alaia boards.

It’s a solid piece of wood and it has no fins. Tim Stark is a surfer himself and feels that these “boards ride better and are more reliable.” These boards are known to be “super fast” and best of all they are eco-friendly, unlike modern conventional surfboards. In my opinion Alaia boards just look cooler too. They take about half an hour to shape and are then covered in Linseed oil and left over night to dry.

It’s a dying art seeing that time is money and these boards are shaped by hand and aren’t produced in mass quantities. I think it’s pretty lame that surfers would support the conventional surfboard industry that could one day destroy the very oceans the riders surf on.

A new board made by Evans, called Sarah Jayne (interesting story about that and can be found on the web at www.thebombsurf.com), can be won. Whenever you spot somebody with the Sarah Jayne board, take a picture and the best picture wins the competition with the proceeds going to the Shark Spotters. More details can also be found on the above mentioned website.

Cooking for the Crew
Nkululeko Dyantyi was the cook for the staff and crew of Rocking the Daisies. This was his first year at the festival and he feels it is very well organized. “I’m glad to see people are becoming aware of the threats that waste poses towards our planet.”

Nkululeko lives in Greyton and his life revolves around working with the earth. “Work is my therapy, my way of meditating. It is my form of medicine. Working with a positive mind cleanses you and creates a positive environment around you.” His house is made out of mud and various natural materials. His electricity comes entirely from solar power, which feeds his lights and music entertainment system.

He grows his own vegetables such as lettuce, green rock heads and kale. He propagates bushes and collects plants because he “loves diversity.” He also makes his own compost and pesticide and feeds his ground with ash he gets from the fires that keep him warm at night. His loving and caring nature has produced 30 cm long beans and it all comes from working with a positive mind he says. Nearly everything Nkululeko has he receives from the earth without spending a cent. He is proof that money is not needed to survive. He ends off by saying: “Live naturally and work creatively and you will never be sad.”

5.2. Belinda Mills

5.2.1. Greening: Public Comments
♣ Dustbin sign posting & waste recycling (I think we’ve covered that one!!), in short: people wanted to do the right thing, but were confused by signage/ lack of, as well as the different types of packaging (what can/can’t).
♣ Blog (on the official website) – specifically for green issues – where people can discuss / comment / ask questions – this will also help the organisers to then explain why they’ve done things in a certain way; i.e. after explaining to one guy why bottled water wasn’t sold on site (initially he wasn’t too impressed with the idea) he commented: ‘well, when explained in that way, it makes a lot of sense…I didn’t realise’. It’s a one-on-one opportunity for awareness to filter through. (commitment from the organisers vital)
♣ Bio-degradable / Organic products – there should have been at least one stand selling/promoting BD/organic products i.e skin care, detergents etc.
♣ Cycling/walking initiative was an excellent idea and very effective.
♣ Water bottles – excellent idea, but thought to have been over-priced (especially since there was only one water station)
♣ Hydration station – needed another one at the campsite (by the time you’ve walked back from the station to your tent, the water was finished/hot)
♣ 100% of the people where aware that RTD was promoted as a green / eco-friendly event; however very few knew of the measures (RE, tree planting, use of BioD. products etc.) put in place to achieve this. As one lady said when we spoke about the fact that everything is on the web page: ‘People don’t read anymore!’ (unless you have a specific interest in the greening topic, it’s not likely that you’ll open that section). However, once the measures were explained, the responses were entirely positive, words like ‘wow’, ‘awesome’, ‘that’s incredible’ and ‘did you hear that Honey!’ came up a lot.
♣ Some of the dustbins had actual cans/bottles posted over them showing what should go into that bin. A lot of people liked that, and it relates back to p.7 – people don’t want to think (or don’t know) – visual effects are very effective.
♣ Most people are very clueless re. bio-diversity and many don’t see the need / understand why we should try and save (the habitat of) a particular specie.
♣ ‘The organisers can be commended.’
♣ ‘Event of high quality’
♣ No water on Saturday morning for showering – not cool.
♣ In between musician sets – when the crew is setting up for the next muso – how about bringing in the comedians to do 5/10 minute (unofficial) sets (preferably before their actual set – this would give them the extra exposure and advertising) to entertain the crowd.
♣ VERY SAFE AND VERY CLEAN.
♣ WELL RUN AND ORGANISED – DEFINITE IMPROVEMENT ON LAST YEAR.
♣ AWESOME LINE-UP OF SOUTH AFRICAN TALENT!! Don’t need to travel anywhere!
♣ OVERALL THE FEELING TOWARDS GREENING THE EVENT WAS RESOUNDINGLY POSITIVE; but people are not generally interested in the (how) details.

5.2.2. Personal Feedback
I guess the general idea of greening is a lot like spirituality/religion – most people are aware of the concept in one way or another, however until a person personally gets to the point where he starts questioning & believing in it, no amount of preaching/flogging is going to convert them!

What CAN be done is simply putting the message out there (for picking) and leading by example. Which is exactly what the RTD team is doing and for which they can be commended 100times over! Of course there is room for improvement – it is a continuous ‘work in progress’ – but they have the key ingredients to succeed – passion and commitment.

5.3. Gwyllion Stead

My name is Gwyllion Stead and I helped with the eco audit for 2009 Rocking the Daisies. My experience with working at this event was really educational and interesting to find out lots about recycling, biodegradable products, social initiatives, the use of a renewable energy source and how much of this people know about and actually used in their daily lives. I really enjoyed myself meeting new people and finding out how much they knew about the whole event being a greening event to make people aware of the different ways to help save out future.

I noticed that a lot of people we interviewed are really keen and would like to learn and do recycling, but lack the knowledge how and the resources to be able to take part. The event was well organized except for the recycling bins. They didn’t have enough or even the right types of bins but they did such a good job of sorting out all the rubbish. I think personally that the greening event was a success and I hope they keep up the good work. One thing that bugged me was the fact that none of the artists made any speeches about the greening to make people more aware about the greening and how they can contribute.

6. Conclusion

The eco audit takes into consideration the actual measurable facts (such as kWh electricity used or waste produced), as well as the operation of the event (such as the process for recycling and procurement of goods and services) and general feedback based on interviews (such as the festival goers and traders).

The conclusion is that the event was planned and implemented as a green event and that the event organizers did this with integrity. Their commitment to their motto of “party hard, tread light” is a true reflection of what they set out to achieve. As with any event of this nature there is always something to improve on, however the overall consensus was that Rocking the Daisies 2009 was a success and an improvement from previous years.

We would like to commend Brain, Craig and their whole team for the dedication in hosting Rocking the Daisies as an environmentally friendly lifestyle festival and urge them to keep this up.

The Climate Change Leadership Awards recognize, reward and celebrate South African businesses, community-based organisations or individuals who are leaders in climate change issues, and who are taking the lead through positive voluntary action by implementing a range of activities related to combating global warming. We are incredibly honoured to be included in these awards as it is an affirmation of all of our hard work and the hard work of everyone involved who have been grafting with us day and night to produce a festival that can simultaneously entertain and change peoples perceptions. We would especially love to say a huge thank you to Hemporium and Tony Budden for being a part of this process right from the beginning and offering green guidance and advice every step of the way. Together we have created an experience that we can be very proud of. Thank you so much for all of your dedication and support in sharing our goals, we are so proud to share this award with all of our partners who worked so hard to promote our green efforts!

SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Green Electricity?
Green Electricity – also called Green Power – is electricity which is derived
from renewable energy resources and which is generated in a sustainable
manner. The Association of Issuing Bodies (http://www.aib-net.org/) defines
green electricity as that generated by wind, solar, water (small hydro, wave,
tide), geothermal, biomass. It excludes electricity generated from nuclear
energy and landfill waste.

What are RECs and how do they work?
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) represent units of certified green
electricity. In essence, a REC is an auditable financial instrument that reflects
the attributes of green energy independently of the actual units of energy –
i.e. the ‘greenness’ value is separated from the electrons. RECs are normally
denominated in 1MWh units.
A green generator (suitably registered as such) produces electricity which is
distributed into the national grid and becomes undifferentiated from normal
coal generated electricity. However at the time of generation the green
generator also produces a certificate (REC), which certifies the quantity and
type of green electricity produced. This certificate can be marketed and
sold separately from the associated electricity. A consumer purchases the
certificate and when electricity is consumed together with the purchase of
the green certificate, effectively green electricity has been consumed. The
REC is redeemed at this point and the consumer is able to claim the benefits
(environmental and others) at this stage.

Why the REC concept?
By using renewable resources, generation directly avoids climate change
emissions. Because the certificate is transferable, it allows the consumption to
be separated from generation – i.e. it isn’t necessary to have a renewable
generator on one’s premises in order to realise the benefits of green
electricity. The concept is designed to stimulate investment in renewable
energy projects by providing a revenue stream for developers thus
stimulating the renewable energy generation industry. Further it directly
matches buyers and sellers in the most efficient and cheapest way, and
finally enables customers to use any quantity of green electricity up to 100%.
The green benefits experienced by the consumers are as real as they would
be with direct local supply.

What are the benefits of purchasing RECs?
RECs provide proof of an enterprise’s procurement choice in terms of energy.
Using green electricity, as reflected in terms of RECs, makes a significant
contribution to a company’s sustainability targets and triple bottom line
reporting. RECs have the significant advantage that there is no physical
impact on the customer – i.e. no additional equipment required. It is the
cheapest way to procure renewable energy as it optimises the use of existing
transmission and distribution infrastructure.
By outsourcing the local carbon issue to achieve economy of scale, the REC
based certificate system allows generation to be at optimal sites and the
benefits to accrue at a customer site anywhere. Further, greater system
diversity provides protection against future fossil fuel price uncertainty as well
as supply security in the economy.

How does a generator get registered in order to produce RECs?
Renewable energy generation plant may be registered as a Green Power
Generator (known as a Renewable Energy Production Device) by
completing the Renewable Energy Declaration process and the Registration
of a Renewable Energy Production Device. This document is completed on
the basis of an in-depth inspection of the generation system under the
auspices of the South African Tradable Renewable Energy Certificate Issuing
Body (SATIB). Currently SATIB is in the process of being formed – the
Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) in South Africa has commissioned
a study to examine the industry and confirm the appropriate governance
mechanism.

How are RECs priced?
Currently in South Africa, electricity generation is by the state utility Eskom
and is based on low grade coal production. As a result Eskom electricity is
amongst the cheapest electricity worldwide. The costs of renewable energy
generation are considerably higher than that supplied by Eskom. RECs are
priced at the differential between the cost of new renewable energy
generation and the Eskom supplied cost for existing coal-fired plant. This
premium will provide the new green energy generation an income stream to
ensure that the generation project goes ahead.
Normal administration and marketing costs are added to arrive at the final
REC price. The cost of Eskom power will rise significantly in the near future as
the costs of investment in new capacity are factored into the pricing
structure. This will have the effect of reducing the apparent premium on
Green Power.

Is there an independent governance body and, if so, what is its role?
The green electricity certificate industry is in its infancy in South Africa. The
South African Government has ratified the Kyoto Protocol and, through the
Department of Minerals and Energy (DME), has published, in the Energy White
Paper in 2003, a renewable energy target. The DME has commissioned a
study to examine the most effective way to stimulate the growth in
renewable energy generation and as part of the study will consider the
industry governance issues. The SATIB (SA TREC Issuing Body) is in the process
of formation and will ultimately be the governance authority for the industry.
It will be based on the European AIB (Association of Issuing Bodies). In the
meantime the registration of Production Devices is undertaken by suitably
qualified energy consultancies and GreenX Energy maintains the central
certificate register.

From where does GreenX Energy source RECs?
RECs can be sourced from any green generator that has completed the
Renewable Energy Declaration process and has been registered as a
Renewable Energy Production Device as laid out in the Principles and Rules
of Operation of the AIB.

GreenX Energy currently sources RECs which are based on electricity
generated in the sugar industry in South Africa. Green electricity is produced
from burning of bagasse (fibrous residue from the sugar production process)
in boilers to produce steam which is converted into electricity in turbine
alternators. Bagasse is a renewable energy source as the sugar cane plant is
an annual crop which absorbs carbon dioxide in its growth cycle. Each
turbine has a calibrated meter which records the production output.
Currently, GreenX Energy is negotiating to purchase wind generated RECs
from a new wind turbine in Namibia, as well as RECs generated from a rural
Solar Water Heating project, and also looking at sourcing RECs from a small
hydro plant.

Who are some of GreenX Energy’s clients?
GreenX Energy numbers amongst its client base multinational corporations
such as oil major BP and pharmaceuticals giant Johnson & Johnson. The
agreements vary in duration but generally extend for between 3-6 years.
Longer term contracts are attractive because they recognize the essence of
green electricity – price consistency over a long period.
In addition, GreenX Energy supplies RECs to numerous conferences that
desire to operate a carbon neutral conference.
Emissions saving in South Africa from green electricity generation
Electricity in South Africa is produced primarily by the state owned utility,
Eskom, using fossil fuels, mainly low grade coal. By displacing “dirty”
electricity through the use of green electricity, the emissions eliminated and
resources saved per 1 MWh – i.e. per REC, are as follows:
• Water consumption saved: 1290 liters
• Coal consumption saved: 500kg
• Ash production avoided: 142 kg
• Ash emitted avoided: 0.28 kg
• SO2 emissions avoided: 8.22 Kg
• NO emissions avoided: 3.62 Kg
• CO2 emissions avoided: 1000 kg (including transmission losses)
(Source: Eskom Annual Report)

What is the difference between RECs and carbon offsets via CDM?
Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) form part of the Clean Development
Mechanism (CDM) process establish at Kyoto. RECs and CERs are different
but complementary in as much as RECs provide a mechanism to supply
green electricity within a voluntary market (in Southern Africa) and CERs
provide a framework for funding and transacting global emission reductions
in terms of the Kyoto Protocol.
In essence, CERs can be generated from any project that reduces emissions
(the project needs to be duly registered as part of the CDM process) whereas
RECs access the wide ranging benefits associated with green electricity
generation e.g. not only emissions reductions but also increased price
certainty, generation diversification, better job creation opportunities and the
establishment of a viable renewable energy generation industry.

How long has GreenX Energy been in business?
GreenX Energy is a privately owned company (100% subsidiary of AGAMA
Energy (Pty) Ltd) with offices at the Green Building in Westlake, Cape Town,
South Africa.
It was established in 2003 based largely on the experience derived from a
pilot Green Power trading project in 2002. The project supplied 854 RECs
(corresponding to 854 MWh of electricity) to two of the main venues for the
World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg in 2002.
Glynn Morris, one of the founders of GreenX Energy, secured a budget and
was the project leader of the Green Power for the WSSD Project. The project
was implemented by AGAMA Energy and other partner organisations
including the National Energy Regulator (now the National Energy Regulator
of SA, NERSA).

What is the nature of the GreenX Energy business?
Essentially GreenX Energy markets and sells green electricity certificates,
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), also known as RECs, green tags, or
green certificates. The primary aim of the company is to value the
‘greenness’ or non-energy benefits of renewable energy production and
provide a commercial mechanism for trading this value in a Green Power
market. Initially, GreenX Energy’s customers are predominantly multi-national
corporations (in retail, manufacturing and commerce). We are currently
looking at ways to provide Green Power solutions to the individual household
customers.

What products does GreenX Energy market?
As already mentioned, GreenX Energy sells Renewable Energy Certificates
(RECs) which attest to the fact that the customer is paying for the benefits of
green (or cleaner) electricity.

Where can I get more info?
For additional info about green energy, renewable energy
certificates or GreenX, contact GreenX Energy (Pty) Ltd,
The Green Building, 9b Bell Crescent Close, Westlake
Business Park, 7945, South Africa, or visit the website on
www.greenxenergy.com or contact Marisa Naude on 021-
701 1755 or marisa.naude@greenxenergy.com

Check the pressure: Before you head out to Darling, make sure that your tyres are inflated correctly. This should improve your fuel economy, as well as wear and tear, which also saves money.

Check the map: Make sure you know where to go, because getting lost will just use more petrol and take more time – which leaves you with more time to party.

Catch a lift: By driving with a friend you will be able to share petrol costs and we will have less cars at the event. Fewer cars on the road means less CO2 emissions.

Bring bio: When selecting your toiletries, make sure it is biodegradable to reduce the impact on the environment. This is specifically important when you go camping or spend time in nature.

Reduce, Re-use, Recycle: To make it easy for you we have provided recycling bins around the festival site for recyclables, non-recyclables and compostable items. Please help us to sort the waste so that we can minimize the waste going to landfill.

Eat Less Meat: Many people do not realize the impact that the meat industry has on our natural environment. We do not all have to be vegetarians, but we can make a choice with each meal we have.

Bin the butt: Cigarette filters are not biodegradable and contain cellulose acetate, a type of plastic that has a negative impact on our environment. Please treat your cigarette butts as litter and place it in the bin.

Get switched on: When camping it is always important to take a torch along – bring a wind up torch that does not need batteries and uses LED lights. Alternatively, make sure your torch has re-chargeable batteries.

Drink tap water: It takes 26 liters of water to produce one bottle of bottled water, while we have the third cleanest tap water in the world. Bring your own water bottle along so that you can drink tap water instead of bottled water.

Local is lekker: When buying local products you support our local economy and help build a better future. Local products require less transportation, storage and packaging.

We have identified the following green goals as a core part of implementing Rocking the Daisies in an eco-friendly way:

• Procurement of goods and services should be done in a sustainable manner, including the use of local products that have a    minimal negative effect on the environment.
• The generation of waste should actively be reduced during the planning and implementation of the event. Provide waste separation at source to encourage recycling and reduce waste to landfill.
• Use of water at the event should be done in a responsible manner. Participants and sub-contractors should be encouraged to implement water conservation principles.
• Energy efficiency should be encouraged through energy saving technologies, management systems and responsible behavior. The use of natural light and ventilation should be used whenever possible, as well as the use of renewable energy such as wind or solar energy.
• Air pollution should be reduced through encouraging non-motorized transport and efficient management of all vehicles on-site.
• The natural environment should be protected to reduce any negative impact on the biodiversity.
• To promote economic growth within the host region the organizers should try to encourage the local community to assist with provision of services required on site.
• The participants should be informed about the greening goals and should be encouraged to actively participate in achieving these goals with the view of behavior change towards more sustainable living.
• The implementation of the green goals need to be monitored and evaluated so that lessons learnt can be captured and improvements made. An open and transparent report should be made available.

Greenpeace has been working in Africa to end environmental destruction and fighting for the right of Africans to a healthy environment since the early 1990s. From campaigning to end destructive logging in the unique Congo Basin rainforest to working to stop the plunder from the bountiful waters of West Africa by industrialized nations’ fishing fleets and pirate fishing.

Greenpeace brings to Africa a long tradition of empowering people, expertise, and environmental action to achieve sustainable change. Working in partnership with local organizations, we hope to give Africans a stronger voice by channeling African ideas, expertise and leadership internationally and create truly global solutions for a greener future.

By opening offices in South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Senegal, Greenpeace is at the heart of areas pivotal to challenging some of the most urgent environmental problems facing Africa today.

All around the world, biodegradable packaging is moving into the mainstream. Progress in bio-technology means that plant based starches, for example sugar cane and corn, can be used as a more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional, petroleum based plastics.

After use, their product can be thrown into compost bins and will completely biodegrade into water, CO2 and healthy compost within a few weeks!

Green Home prides itself in its outstanding product quality, low prices, great customer service, and taking the lead in South Africa’s environmental pollution solution. For more information about Green Home or Green Packaging, contact them and they will gladly assist you. CLICK HERE for more info

CLICK HERE to show your support

Did you know:
It was only during the last century that cannabis hemp has been associated with its narcotic cousin marijuana and therefore banned in many countries. For 8000 years or more before that it was the world’s largest agricultural crop, producing the majority of our fibre, paper, fabric, lighting oil, medicines, as well as food oil and protein for both humans and animals.

Hemporium is the official green consultant to Rocking the Daisies and an integral part of the RTD brand. This partnership has seen Levi’s and Hemporium colaborate to bring you limited edition hemp festival t-shirts, a first for the jean giant.