The 2023 World Rally Championship (WRC) Rally held in Naivasha from the 22nd to the 25th of June 2023, presented an opportunity to showcase that thrilling events can embrace environmental responsibility.
In the fast-paced world of motorsport, where excitement, speed, and adrenaline reign supreme, KCB, took the centre stage to lead the charge towards a greener future. The thrill of watching rally cars zoom through challenging terrains captivates fans around the globe.
However, it is essential to recognize that such events also have negative implications towards the environment. The anticipated emissions, waste generated, and ecological disruptions caused by motorsport activities are significant concerns that cannot be ignored.
For this reason, days leading to the rally, KCB joined forces with its sponsored drivers, planting a total of 500 trees in Naivasha Boys Boarding Primary School. This act symbolised commitment to offsetting the rally's carbon footprint and forged a powerful bond between the drivers and the environment.
Beyond the checkered flag, this act instilled a lasting sense of environmental responsibility.
Before the rally, the Bank made a deliberate move to educate and empower its suppliers to integrate ESG practices into their business during the rally and in the future. This was done in line with KCB Group Suppliers’ Code of Conduct to educate the suppliers on how they can mainstream sustainability into their activities for the rally.
The Code of Conduct aims to have our suppliers run a sustainable business that contributes to the welfare of society and the environment while realising profits. It requires suppliers to adhere to labour and human rights, ensure a healthy and safe working environment, to have an effective environmental policy and Emergency preparedness and response.
Sustainability was woven into every aspect of the supply chain, ensuring that the event embraced environmentally conscious principles. As the rally roared to life, the suppliers’ dedication to sustainability took center stage as they played a pivotal role in transforming the rally site into an eco-friendly haven exemplifying the principles of a circular economy.
In a circular economy, the goal is to minimize waste and maximize the value of resources by keeping them in use for as long as possible. Instead of following a linear "take-make-dispose" model, a circular economy aims to close the loop, creating a system where materials and products are reused, repaired, or recycled to create new value.
With ingenious creativity, they repurposed and used recycled materials like pallets, old oil drums, and tires, metal creating stunning decorations and furniture.
This not only reduced waste but also showcased the astonishing beauty and functionality that waste and sustainable practices can achieve.