Financial services firm FNB's 5-Star Green rated Portside building, which is the tallest building in Cape Town, hosted sustainability awards the Earthshot Prize Awards 2024 from November 4 to 7.

"Our Portside building is a visual representation of sustainability, climate impact and social responsibility, and is the ideal venue in alignment with the initiative’s vision," says FNB for the Western and Eastern Cape provincial head Stephan Claassen.

The event aims to raise awareness and find solutions for some of the environmental challenges faced by the planet in partnership with some of the brightest environmental innovators in the world.

“For the event, we provided a space for dialogue around sustainable initiatives and solutions that will better the future of our planet and, as such, are promoting both social and environmental progress.

“The Portside building is a testament to our continued dedication towards sustainability and protecting the planet. We are proud to lead the way in green building and encourage others to follow suit,” he says.

The 139-m-tall, 34-storey Portside Building is the first South African skyscraper to receive a 5-Star Green Star SA rating awarded by the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) and is the tallest green building in Africa.

The iconic building has a distinguished azure-blue glass reflective exterior. More than 95% of the façade can be disassembled and reused, which is a feature that contributed to the building’s achievement of the 5-Star Green Star rating, Claassen adds.

It also became the first building of its kind to acquire a South African National Accreditation System Energy Performance Certificate, in accordance with the South African National Standard SANS 1544:2014.

“This recognition has set a standard for all locally built skyscrapers, and further underscores the importance that the banking group places on sustainable design, and the importance of making decisions today that will positively impact the planet for future generations.”

The Portside building also has advanced water harvesting systems to promote water conservation. These systems include two 15 kℓ rainwater-harvesting tanks from its podium roofs and balconies, greywater harvesting from its office tower wash basins, and borehole water harvesting for flushing toilets and cooling the building's mechanical systems.

These efforts reduce the building's environmental impact, and demonstrate FNB's commitment to sustainability and responsible resource management, he says.

“During Earthshot Week, we hope to further spotlight what each of us can do to bring about a movement of change where everyone gives greater consideration to the everyday choices they make, and the impact that small changes made today can have in making our world a better place,” says Claassen.

FNB has committed to significantly reduce its carbon footprint by 2030, which means decreasing the amount of greenhouse gases it produces through its operations.

Additionally, the bank's commitment to sustainable practices not only benefits the environment, but it has also had a positive impact on its performance overall, he notes.