The South African Gary Player Invitational (GPI), presented by Coca-Cola, which features Major golf champions, celebrities and top-flight businessmen rubbing shoulders on the fairways, has chosen Wildlands Conservation Trust as one of their beneficiaries for the past several years.
In November 2012, an innovative and ground breaking partnership between Coca-Cola, Qhubeka and Wildlands was announced at the Gary Player Invitational. This partnership aimed to support the Wildlands Waste-preneur project rollout (community members who barter waste for livelihood support items), through the introduction of a Coca-Cola bicycle barter for plastic and PET bottles, with a view to incentivising the collection of these materials. In December 2012 and January 2013 this concept was presented to existing Waste-preneurs with a view to determining their interest in bartering plastic and PET for Coca-Cola bicycles. The model is based on the collection of an average of 4 000 2l PET bottles per bicycle.
On the 7th of March 2014, 77 bicycles were distributed to deserving Waste-preneurs from the uMsunduzi and uMngeni Municipality districts. One of these Waste-preneurs was 82 year old Nyakallo Allinah Khambule from Kwapata in uMsunduzi. “I will sell my bike and get money to buy food for my grandchildren,” she said.
The shiny red Coca-Cola bicycles, as a form of transport, will contribute to the reduction of a community’s carbon footprint, reduce travel time to school and work and enable its members to remain actively involved in a form of physical activity.
The partnership between the Gary Player Invitational (GPI) and Wildlands is aligned with Gary Player’s philosophy in his business operations to always respect the land and its natural beauty and biodiversity. The GPI is presented by Coca-Cola and by supporting Wildlands, Coca-Cola is also able to demonstrate its commitment to climate protection and active healthy living.
“Over 1000 Waste-preneurs have collected over 1 million PET (plastic) bottles this past year. This staggering achievement is real testimony to the impact of this wonderful project, made possible by the GPI and Coca-Cola,” said Wildlands CEO Dr Andrew Venter.
WILDTRUST (registered as the Wildlands Conservation Trust - IT No: 4329/1991/PMB)