This year, Schneider Electric extended its sustainability efforts by engaging with Far North Secondary School, Nooitgedacht Primary School, and the Emthonjeni Community Centre in the in the northwest of Johannesburg.

Schneider Electric's biodiversity programme focuses on planting indigenous and fruit-bearing trees to promote environmental awareness and foster sustainability in local communities. To this end, the company planted peach and apple trees at Far North Secondary School and added orange trees to Nooitgedacht Primary School’s existing peach and orange tree orchard which Schneider Electric established last year.

At the Emthonjeni Community Centre, Schneider Electric has been an active partner for over a decade. This year, the team planted Celtis Africana trees at the centre, known for its adaptability and environmental benefits. Alongside the tree-planting efforts, the company donated sand, manure, and vegetables such as onions, spinach, and mint to support Emthonjeni’s sustainable food-growing initiatives.

The initiative was spearheaded by key members of Schneider Electric South Africa who included Allaster Sibanda, Mpho Chabana, Isabella Nomvela, and Brandon Ramphabana and with the support of their colleagues, who all volunteered their time and effort.

“Our biodiversity programme forms an important part of our ESG efforts; it’s truly heartwarming to see the positive impact it has on local communities. Planting trees is about more than just contributing to the environment—it’s about empowering schools and local communities to create sustainable ecosystems for future generations,” says Allaster Sibanda, digital transformation consultant at Schneider Electric.