Durban beach clean-up

Durban beaches were devasted by flooding in April and May, and many remain closed due to high pollution levels in the wake of damaged sewerage infrastructure and a sludge overflow from an oil refinery. Plastics and debris continue to wash up onshore, weeks after the last floods, contributing to existing levels of coastal beach pollution.We wanted to do something to help, and so we planned a clean-up event with Umgeni Estuary Conservancy – a local group established in 1991 that works to generate an interest and active participation in others to conserve and restore the Umgeni River and surrounding region.

We all met beforehand for an induction and to make sure we were on the same page, and then we got stuck in! After cleaning up the beach, we sorted the plastics collected for recycling (they’ll be taken to a local recycling centre for repurposing), and then we enjoyed a braai together.

Restonic SA, iDream Beds and Deslee Mattex are all part of the Integrated Bedding division of KAP Industrial Holdings. “We’re all committed to sustainability and environmental awareness, and the beach clean-up is one of several events that are planned for the year,” says Michael Robinson, Manager: Sales & Operations for Restonic iDream and Green Coil“At Restonic, we’re consistently working to manufacture the greenest beds in Africa,” he says. “For example, through our iDream Beds range, we partnered with the Seaqual™ Initiative to use plastic removed from the ocean in the production of textiles for our mattresses. These beach clean-ups are not only a way that we can serve South African communities – especially in KwaZulu-Natal, in the wake of the horrific flooding – but they speak to our values; the foundation of our brand. Many people don’t know that when they purchase selected iDream mattresses, the equivalent of 50 PET plastic bottles is removed from our oceans per bed.”