CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

Canal Walk strives to create an eco-savvy shopping environment. Ensuring that the centre is managed in an environmentally responsible manner, reducing energy consumption, waste production, and water usage, as well as re-using and recycling where possible.

The focus has been on the water crisis and due to this, the centre has implemented a crisis management plan with solutions to reduce water consumption focusing on store and customer usage, and other ways to save and reduce water consumption through infrastructures, such as chiller plants and waste yards. Furthermore, the centre has installed waterless urinals, tap aerators have been installed to reduce water and greywater is being used for toilet flushing.

Using new energy-efficient technologies and clever initiatives, Canal Walk is remaining green and reducing its carbon footprint. By utilising energy-efficient electronic ballasts, green roofing, glass glazing, efficient insulation, greywater structures for irrigation, monitoring systems, and monitoring hazardous waste produced and disposed of by eateries. The centre has installed an In-Vessel Composting machine within the waste yard where all food waste is being turned into pre-compost whilst all other waste is sorted and recyclable materials extracted thereby significantly reducing that disposed of at waste sites.

In August 2024, the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) awarded Canal Walk a 5-Star Green Star EBP v1 Rating. Canal Walk is the first Super Regional shopping centre in South Africa to be awarded a 5-star rating by the Green Building Council, attesting to the fact that the operations and management of Canal Walk are efficient and maintain optimal performance. Canal Walk achieved the 5-Star Green Star Rating for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at achieving high performance in management, indoor environmental quality, energy, transport, water, land use, and ecology, as well as emissions.

Waste reduction and recycling initiatives have resulted in the following savings during the past year (1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024):

Canal Walk Shopping Centre is involved with numerous community and social projects, which include Reach For A Dream, CANSA Shavathon, WP Blood Transfusion, Cupcakes for CANSA, SPCA, Santa Shoebox Project and many more.

To celebrate Madiba’s legacy, we embrace Mandela Day with unique initiatives, inviting members of the public and corporates to donate their 67 minutes at the centre on Mandela Day, supporting worthy beneficiaries such as Santa Shoebox Project, LEAP Science & Maths Schools and Stop Hunger Now.

We have previously hosted a corporate Golf Day where the proceeds raised were donated to a charity. The supported charities have included Ikamva Labantu, an organisation that works in disadvantaged communities and place enormous importance on Early Childhood Development, which lays the foundation of a child’s future learning. We have also supported the Smile Foundation, a non-profit charity, dedicated to transforming the lives of South African children with facial abnormalities in need of surgical intervention.

Each December we have two gift wrapping stations in-centre to assist customers. All proceeds are donated to charity.

Throughout the year, we assist schools and charity organisations in the Western Cape with their fundraising efforts. We encourage all visitors to participate in our various initiatives, as we aim to support our community.