Nov 01, 2025 Mann+Hummel, Cedric Dackam, Onur Ozyapici, NPO Food and Trees for Africa, Christopher Wild,
MANN+HUMMEL makes significant contribution to NPO Food & Trees for Africa
MANN+HUMMEL (M+H), celebrated the opening of their new manufacturing plant in Kempton Park, earlier this year and underlined its commitment to sustainability with sizeable donation to Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA), at their stand at Automechanika Johannesbug.
The South African facility serves not only as a strategic gateway to sub-Saharan Africa but also serves as a model for sustainable and responsible industrialization. The local facility sets a new benchmark for sustainable, industrial practices in the region, integrating environmental responsibility into every stage of production. The facility rigourously applies the 3R initiatives: reduce, re-use and recycle to ensure minimal environmental impact in its daily activities.
By 2035 this facility aims to achieve carbon neutrality targets. It has already made progress by utilizing solar power in its day-to-day operations, water-efficient processing, transitioning to biodegradable packaging and implementing waste separation and recycling. “This approach ensures that every stage of manufacturing supports our goal of building a low-impact operation that serves both the planet and our communities. As we expand into Africa, this principle will shape the way we build and operate,” said Onur Ozyapici, M+H Vice President, Automotive Aftermarket ISMEA.
This advanced facility, which produces premium filters for Passenger Car, Commercial Vehicle, and Off-Highway segments, is future-ready. It was designed for expansion with the capacity and infrastructure to scale alongside Africa's evolving mobility and sustainability needs.
The company has now further underlined its commitment to South Africa’s environment and the wellbeing of its most vulnerable through the sizable donation of R100 000 to Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA), a leading non-profit organization, that focuses on food security, urban greening and environmental sustainability.
“In this day and age, it simply isn’t enough for a multinational, such as ours, to set facilities up in a new country. We have to ensure that we are socially and environmentally responsible. We want to led the way in sustainable filtration by not only delivering performance but by building solutions that protect the environment, reduce waste and support inclusive, long-term progress in every region we serve. I am proud to announce this donation to FTFA, that resonates with M+H’s sustainable production ethos and commitment for a greener Africa,” announced Ozyapici after the handover ceremony at Automechanika Johannesburg 2025. “Food & Trees for Africa has been conducting exemplary work in helping to curb the effects of climate change, not only on the environment, but on society at large. Its tireless efforts over several decades set an example for us all and we are proud of this association.”
"We commend MANN+HUMMEL for demonstrating that industrial success can—and must—go hand-in-hand with a deep commitment to investing in the environment. This strategic contribution to nature restoration and food security is vital, and it reinforces a fundamental truth: dedicated funding to non-profit organisations like Food & Trees for Africa is essential to translate corporate vision into tangible, lasting impact on the ground," says Christopher Wild, Executive Director at Food & Trees for Africa. Since inception, FTFA has planted over 4.7 million trees; developed thousands of permaculture food gardens; trained more than 1 500 farmers; and reached over 17 500 schools and communities. The donation from MANN+HUMMEL will help to further the excellent work carried out by the NPO.
Cedric Dackam, President and General manager MANN & HUMMEL Automotive Aftermarket division, said in terms of this donation, the company is constantly evaluating opportunities - particularly with an educational bias – where the company can support skills development within the automotive sector locally.
Dackam commented that currently the local production facility concentrates on a ‘Low Volume – High Mix’ range of Air and Cabin filters and expects a progressive expansion based on demand from both the local and SADC region based around economies of scale. Any requirements not produced in the local plant can be sourced from other M+H plants worldwide and include passenger, commercial, heavy-duty, agricultural and Yellow Metal vehicles.
Dackam concluded, “The market changes so fast that our goal is not only the manufacture of filters, but in providing the best service to our customer base. Our advantage lies in our exposure worldwide, which allows us to collate our data from other regions and be more agile in responding to market demands.”
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