As part of its commitment to sustainability, MAN is leveraging solar potential and innovative green technologies to reduce CO2 emissions and ensure environmental compliance.
Due to the energy crisis in South Africa, the government aims to partner with the private sector to address the issue. Alongside its membership in the UN Global Compact initiative, which seeks to promote fairer globalization across industries and borders, MAN South Africa recognized the need for more economical and sustainable energy sources to support its operations. Consequently, seven MAN sites in South Africa—including the Modderfontein Head Office, Truck Assembly Plant, and several dealerships—have installed photovoltaic systems with a peak capacity of 1.32 MWh. Furthermore, they have implemented various energy-saving measures, such as LED lighting, battery-operated equipment, and overall improvements in energy efficiency.
Through these efforts, MAN has recorded significant reductions in CO2 emissions. From 2023 to 2024, they achieved a total reduction of 2,234 tons of CO2 and a 14% decrease in energy fixed costs across all sites. This equated to an investment payback period of 2.3 years. In addition to reducing CO2 emissions and lowering overheads the introduction of sustainable energy solutions has ensured productivity up-time. MAN has also allocated waste segregation bins inside their facilities for employees to dispose of their waste, promoting recycling and further reducing environmental impact. MAN earned its ISO 50001 Energy Management System Certification and reinforced its position as a leader in sustainable manufacturing.
MAN’s (MTB SA) goal is to reduce CO2 emissions by 70% by the year 2030. They aim to achieve this by prioritizing source energy from photovoltaic systems and reducing energy consumption. MAN acknowledges its responsibility to contribute to reducing carbon emissions and mitigating the impacts of global warming. The recent floods in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) had a significant impact on MAN’s manufacturing site, disrupting operations and affecting the supply chain. As MAN continues to roll out its multi-year plan to reduce emissions, it targets a total reduction of 36,000 tons of CO2 by 2030.
Ncamisile Shezi, Head of Process and Quality Management affirmed, “To save the planet, we need to work together to reduce environmental impact and combat climate change. This can be achieved by adopting sustainable practices, such as using renewable energy, reducing waste, and conserving natural resources”.