Conscious Conferencing: Your Event Makes A Difference
From our auditorium to the Manor House, Spier is able to cater for events both large and small. But by conferencing at Spier, you're also doing your bit to make a positive social and environmental impact – through a host of different ways.
HOW SPIER MAKES A DIFFERENCE
Spier recycles:
- 100% of wastewater
- 97% of solid waste
- Most organic waste
There are 400 water-saving devices on showers, basins and toilets at Spier. By 2017 we aim to reduce our municipal water usage by 50% from our 2007 levels.
Natural light and ventilation and energy-efficient lighting is used where possible. By 2017 we aim to reduce our carbon emissions by 30% from our 2007 levels.
Our beef is free of hormones and antibiotics and comes from grass-fed cattle reared on Spier’s pastures by Farmer Angus McIntosh.
Fresh produce is grown organically in Spier’s vegetable garden, without the use of pesticides and artificial fertilisers.
Our eggs are laid by hens that scratch around freely in Spier’s fields.
We promote and offer sustainable seafood choices as a participant South African Sustainable Seafood Initiative (SASSI).
Local seasonal fruit juice, organic rooibos tea and Fair Trade filter coffee is provided. Organic and Fair Trade wine is available.
Pens are made from 100% recycled newspaper.
Vivreau filtered bottled water is served in reusable glass bottles ensuring no waste, no water miles and no carbon footprint.
Healthy snacks of dried fruit and nuts are served to delegates.
Spier supports a number of youth employment initiatives and is a partner of the Treepreneurs project which encourages members of impoverished communities to grow indigenous trees in exchange for essential goods.
HOW YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Leave your leftover stationery behind in the donation baskets at the end of your conference. We distribute this stationery to school children from surrounding communities.
Locally crafted beaded lanyards are available to purchase from a social upliftment company.
In partnership with Pack for Purpose, Spier has selected two social development projects which guests can make a contribution to. If you have spare space in your luggage, you could make a huge difference by packing in a donation of stationery, games, sports gear and soccer balls.
Explore sustainability in action:
- Take a tour of the Treepreneurs nursery.
- Inspect our wastewater treatment plant where water is recycled using environmentally friendly methodology.
- Visit our worm farm and compost site where organic waste from Spier’s kitchens is transformed into nutrient-rich fertiliser.
- Collect eggs from our free-roaming chickens.
- In our kitchen garden, learn how to prepare soil for planting and how to grow vegetables – and then pick a few for lunch.
- Visits can be arranged to:
- The Sustainability Institute where you can learn from experts about organic farming and the food system.
- Stellenbosch municipality’s Devon Valley Landfill.
Interested? Contact us at 021 809 1100 or email us at conference@spier.co.za.