Growing more than just your retirement savings

360 trees were planted yesterday at the Alexandra Community Library as part of a joint initiative between Old Mutual Corporate and Food & Trees 4 Africa - South Africa’s first and o­nly social enterprise that addresses sustainable development through climate change action, food security and greening.

Food & Trees 4 Africa was formed to educate settlements o­n global warming and other major environmental issues. Contributing nationally to improve quality of life and create sustainability, the project provides fruit and indigenous trees to low-income communities, as well as training, short-term employment and environmental awareness education.

Bongani Madikiza, Managing Director, Old Mutual Corporate, says that trees play a crucial role in providing myriad products and services to rural populations, including food, timber, fibre, medicines and energy, as well as fertilisers and water and biodiversity conservation.

“Through initiatives such as this we are also able to play a part in growing and protecting South Africa’s natural environment.

“The principles of protection and sustainable growth underlying this initiative can equally be applied to financial resources in the form of retirement savings. Our Sustainable Investment Philosophy is aimed at achieving similar protection and sustainable growth for our customer’s retirement savings. “

The Old Mutual Corporate and Food & Trees 4 Africa tree planting initiative began at the 2010 Institute of Retirement Funds (IRF) Conference, where delegates were asked to leave their business cards, so that trees could be planted o­n their behalf by Food & Trees 4 Africa, sponsored by Old Mutual Corporate.