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CONSTRUCTION WORLD
AUGUST
2015
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DIARY AND APPOINTMENTS
APPOINTMENTS
During this year’s programme, BASF created conversations around
the universal topic of sustainability. Explains vice-president and
head of business center South Africa and Sub-Sahara, Joan-Maria
Garcia-Girona: “Sustainability is firmly embedded into BASF’s strategy and
organisation. Sustainability management supports the company’s strategic
principle ‘We drive sustainable solutions’ and follows its corporate purpose
of ‘We create chemistry for a sustainable future’” he says. “BASF defines
sustainability as balancing economic success with social and environmental
responsibility, both today and into the future.”
BASF is celebrating its 150
th
Anniversary during 2015 and, as part of the
year-long anniversary programme, the company is focusing on global chal-
lenges regarding Urban Living, Sustainable Food and Smart Energy. These
topics have been transferred into a cutting edge exhibition at Sustainability
Week 2015 which stimulated the audience into experiencing these chal-
lenges and engage in conversations in a mini ‘Creator Space’.
Says Garcia-Girona: “Creator Space™ was introduced by BASF as a global
interactive platform to stimulate ideas for solutions to global problems.
At SustainabilityWeek 2015 we created this same space where visitors were
able to generate their own energy through activities.” Among the innovative
displays of 3D sculptures highlighting the topic of waste, food and how to
generate energy, the company posed challenging questions on the ‘What
If’ wall and participants could register at BASF’s Creator Space™ on-line
platform in order to participate in global conversations.
Garcia-Girona adds: “BASF’s sustainable understanding is that the
company is on a journey. For BASF, sustainability is core business and the
company has implemented global standards for its value chains as well as
with products that enable sustainable development. Over 150 years the
company’s winning recipe has not changed – we recognise societal trends
and the needs of people and, with research and development, BASF continues
to find innovative solutions to meet these challenges again and again.”
NMC
Construction
Group
Brad Wantenaar, director
of its Gauteng region.
KEY PARTNER
BASF was a key partner in the Sustainability Week
initiative held from 23 – 28 June 2015 at the CSIR
International Convention Center. Under the theme
‘Get ready to put ideas in motion’ BASF did exactly
that with the other thought leaders, policy makers,
practitioners and producers who shared knowledge
and ideas at the event with the aim to ultimately
improve environmental and economic performance.
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WSP | Parsons
Brinckerhoff
Vishaal Lutchman, divisional
director within the company’s
development, transportation
and infrastructure business unit.
Pierre Fourie, managing
director.
Xylem South
Africa
A total of 27 flooring companies, from
South Africa and overseas, introduced
their latest product lines and discussed
new looks and developments in flooring with
about 350 interior designers, architects, building
contractors and end-users from various parts of
the country who attended the expo.
Chryso Southern Africa
Trevor Sawyer, country manager of
Chryso Eastern Africa.
TRENDS IN
FLOORING
Leading South African flooring
supplier and installer, Kevin
Bates Albert Carpets (KBAC),
recently showed the latest trends
in flooring from some of the
world's top brands at a special
exhibition staged in Cape Town.
Brian Wilkinson, CEO of the Green Building
Council of SA, pictured with Lesley Fidrmuc,
Interface Consultant at KBAC, at the KBAC
Flooring Expo in Cape Town recently.
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Lafarge South Africa
Vishal Devan, general manager:
supply chain.