CHEP Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) recently opened a service centre in Cornubia with sustainability integrated in the design phase to address local issues such as water scarcity and energy use. Water scarcity is one of the greatest challenges facing SSA with Cape Town recently experiencing ‘Day Zero’ with its municipal water reserves predicted to run out. 

Sustainable design features for the plant include large windows for natural light, reduced air-conditioning, heat-pump water heaters, and critically, CHEP’s first water harvesting solution able to capture 500 kilolitres of roof and stormwater runoff, providing an estimated 66% of the plant’s needs. 

The harvested water is pumped through a high-quality filtration system to a storage tank before being pumped into the Container Plant for use at the washbay for pallets and other equipment. 

By capturing the rain and stormwater, the Container Plant will be close to water self-sufficiency and be able to run up to six days without any municipal water. In times when rainfall is low, the system will be topped up with municipal water supply. 

SSA has set the CHEP standard with the Cornubia Service Centre by considering the local sustainability context in the design and operation of the facility.