Inclusive Procurement in Action: Delivering Social and Economic Returns in 2026

At EnviroServ, we believe that ESG should deliver measurable results, not just good intentions. Our national Dress a Learner programme demonstrates how strategic social investment, combined with purposeful procurement, can create meaningful impact for learners, communities, and local businesses.

In the week of 9–13 February 2026, we launched the 2026 rollout of Dress a Learner in the Eastern Cape and Thembisa, Gauteng. This programme reinforces our commitment to turning ESG commitments into tangible outcomes.

For 2026, EnviroServ has allocated over R400,000 to support no fewer than 350 learners with full school uniforms — restoring dignity and enabling children to focus on what matters most: their education.

The initiative is deliberately designed to generate dual impact: social upliftment through education and economic participation through local procurement. This year, 80% of the school uniforms were procured from community-based small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs). Eight local SMMEs were contracted, embedding enterprise development directly into our social investment spend. These small businesses include Simingempumelelo Cooperative, CENGISIZWE Trading and Projects, Kalla Knitwear Manufacturers, and NPL School Suppliers. Collectively, these SMMEs employ approximately 50 people, helping to support local jobs, sustain skills, and strengthen small businesses. Since its inception in 2014, Dress a Learner has dressed thousands of learners nationally. Beyond educational outcomes, it has strengthened supplier diversification and advanced our inclusive supply chain framework. The initiative aligns directly with EnviroServ’s ESG priorities, particularly in socio-economic development, supplier development, and responsible procurement practices.

The programme exemplifies disciplined ESG execution: clearly defined beneficiaries, measurable reach, structured local supplier participation, and tangible community impact. It reflects EnviroServ’s transition from ESG commitments to ESG execution — embedding sustainability, enterprise development, and social return into operational practice.

At EnviroServ, we see ESG as an opportunity to create lasting value — not only for learners and communities but also for local economies and small businesses. By combining social impact with inclusive procurement, we are building a model that demonstrates measurable results, accountability, and shared value.