Mall of Africa Known as, the ‘Coolest Mall’ for three consecutive years according to the Sunday Times
Generation Next Awards, Mall of Africa has recently bagged another prestigious accolade; a Four-
Star Green Rating for Best Practise in Eco-conscious Retail Development. This achievement makes
Mall of Africa Gauteng’s first super-regional mall to be recognised by the Green Building Council of
South Africa (GBCSA) in the category.
“Sustainability and eco-conscious best practice has always been a priority for Mall of Africa. As a
team, we are continuously seeking new and innovative ways to operate in an ever-more
environmentally friendly manner, and it is a great honour to be recognised for our efforts,” saidys
Johann Fourie, General Manager of Mall of Africa.
Mall of Africa achieved a score of 49 out of 51 from the GBCSA, earning four of the maximum six
starsix-starsix stars in the Green Star rating.
The Mall’s rating was based on its sustainability initiatives in the following categories:
-Energy efficiency and energy metering
-Renewable energy
-Public transport
-Water efficiency and rainwater harvesting
-Materials
-Ecology
-Emissions
-Innovation
This environmental accolade is the result of a 12-month assessment which showcased Mall of Africa’s
ability to minimises its impact on the environment. The review highlighted that the Mall improved its
own waste recycling rate by 25% over this period, which allowed vast amounts of waste to be diverted
from landfill as part of Mall of Africa’s waste recycling programme. This concerted improvement
programme was a key contributor to Mall of Africa’s score, adding significant points in the evaluation
allocations.
In addition, the Mall’s carbon dioxide (CO2) levels were at 800ppm (parts per million) which is
significantly lower than the required accepted standard of 1 000 ppm. Overall, these indicators, amongst others, demonstrate that Mall of Africa provides a healthy, well-being-conscious , indoor
environment for shoppers and tenants.
When it comes to renewable energy implementation, Mall of Africa is leading the industry. The Mall is
home to the largest rooftop Solar PV system in the Southern Hemisphere, which is also the world’s
biggest integrated rooftop PV/Diesel hybrid solution. This system allows the Mall to significantly
reduce its reliance on the country’s power grid, which is particularly crucial in a time of load- shedding.
Additionally, for efficient water usage, the Mall uses naturally harvested rain and groundwater
seepage stored in its 450 000 litre capacity tanks for its site irrigation as well as all non-potable uses,
such as toilet flushing for efficient water usage.
Lastly, Mall of Africa’s proximity to the Gautrain and three of Johannesburg’s principal feed-bus
routes, the M3, M4-1 and M-4-2, encourage tenants and visitors to use public transport, thus reducing
both carbon emissions and traffic congestion.
“Mall of Africa has become a keystone of Attacq’s retail portfolio and offering. We have seen it grow
from strength to strength, not only as a premier super-regional mall that offers a holistic lifestyle and
leisure experience, but also in its ability to operate in a sustainable manner with the least possible
impact on the environment. It is encouraging to be recognised with a four-star rating and we believe
we are well on our way to achieving the next level of rating,” concludes Jackie van Niekerk, Attacq’s
Chief Operating Executive Officer.
