Hino South Africa is making substantial progress in addressing environmental challenges at its manufacturing plant in Prospecton near Durban, with special focus on greening its electricity supply and decreasing the amount of waste going to landfills.
“Hino South Africa, like all the other Hino factories and distributors around the world, is committed to assist Hino Motors Limited in its Environmental Challenge 2050, where the target is carbon neutrality,” commented Anton Falck (photo), Vice President of Hino SA.
“We have already taken substantial steps on our pathway to lower the carbon footprint of our products and our manufacturing facility in Prospecton. This year will see us double the energy output from our solar roof panel project, as well as targeting to divert 81% of factory waste from landfills,” he explains.
“Currently, the roof panels provide 600 kWp. A further 800 kWp will be added by the middle of the year as a further 6 600 m2 of roofing are covered with solar panels. This will bring the total energy output to 1 400 kWp.
“Roof repairs and strengthening of the support structure are already in progress with the installation of panels, inverters and cables due to commence in April. Construction will take place at night to prevent any impact on manufacturing operations during the day,” he adds.
Hino SA is aiming to become a zero waste to landfill manufacturing facility. Hino SA’s factory waste amounted to 31.67 tons in 2021 and 72% was diverted from going to landfills. In 2022, 77% of the 28.84 tons of waste were diverted and last year the amount of waste decreased to 20.88 tons, with 71% diverted from landfills. As mentioned earlier, this year the target is to divert 81% of waste from going to landfills.
Waste segregation takes place at source and then there are various methods of disposing of it, so it does not go to landfills. Dry, hazardous waste is disposed of through incineration, while food waste from the canteen is recycled using a biological method – the Bugology Treatment – which involves feeding waste food to maggots, more specifically the amazing Black Soldier, which converts it to compost in a nine-hour cycle.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) estimates that 32 million tons of food waste are sent to landfills in South Africa each year. The negative effects on the environment and the country are massive. Harmful methane emissions as well as soil/water/air contamination and the spread of disease are all linked to food waste being dumped. Hino SA’s use of the Bugology Treatment is one of the most effective ways of countering these occurrences.
“We are putting a great deal of focus on reducing our waste to landfills, with the aim of the Hino plant becoming Toyota SA’s Durban-based operations first Zero Waste to Landfill facility,” Anton says.
ZF Aftermarket has named Maic Dressen as Managing Director of ZF Services South Africa (Pty) Ltd and Sub-regional Head for Sub-Saharan Africa and the DomTom regions. He will lead the company’s South African operations and support its growth across the continent.
Volkswagen has marked 75 years of vehicle production and sales in South Africa with a gala event in Kariega attended by President Cyril Ramaphosa, while also revealing the new Volkswagen Tengo, the third model to be built at the local plant. The Tengo will be produced for the South African and wider markets.
BAIC South Africa used the Festival of Motoring 2026 at Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit to highlight both its established range and new energy vehicle ambitions. The event marked the first public appearance of ARCFOX in South Africa, alongside the unveiling of BAIC’s X55 Plug‑in Hybrid Electric Vehicle.
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BAIC South Africa used the Festival of Motoring 2026 at Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit to highlight both its established range and new energy vehicle ambitions. The event marked the first public appearance of ARCFOX in South Africa, alongside the unveiling of BAIC’s X55 Plug‑in Hybrid Electric Vehicle.
When Volvo introduced the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric to South Africa in late 2021, the timing raised eyebrows. The country was enduring a severe power crisis, with loadshedding recorded on 200 days that year.
Three months after launching its off-grid, solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging network on the N3 corridor, Zero Carbon Charge (CHARGE) has confirmed plans to double charging capacity at both Charge hubs.
