The Sustainabilist ISSUE 23
Together We Thrive
VOLUNTEERING & SOCIAL
DELIVERING ABOVE & BEYOND
COHESION
ISBN 978 - 1978357310
DEWA Gives Back to Society Through its Pioneering Initiatives
Talabat is Supporting the UAE and its Communities
ENERGY & WATER ACCESS
CSR ROLE MODELS Heroes from Across the Sectors
Schneider Electric Enables Economic and Social Development WWW.THESUSTAINABILIST.AE
Do a good deed! Become Super Recycler Follow @VeoliaMiddleEast
Issue 23 | May 2020
My dear friends, The holy month of Ramadan this year has fallen in unprecedented and unsettling times. Communities globally have been and continue to be highly impacted socially, economically, and physically by the COVID-19 pandemic, and our usual way of life has been disrupted. As we practice home quarantine and social distancing, now more than ever, is the time to uphold the fundamental principles of Ramadan and use this opportunity to assess our values and to consider and help those who are less fortunate. It is truly amazing what humanity can achieve when working together, and in moments of crisis, such as this one, we have all a part to play.
Eng Waleed Bin Salman Editor in Chief The Sustainabilist
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During the coronavirus outbreak, there are many ways in which we can help our fellow human beings, such as donating to local foodbanks and supporting local businesses, but safeguarding ourselves and our families comes first. Remaining indoors is vital to ensuring that the chain of transmission is broken to end the pandemic. It may be difficult for us as social beings, but we must be selfless and support those on the front lines of this battle against the virus, such as doctors, nurses, paramedics, and health sector administrators. This issue was compiled to showcase the initiatives undertaken by entities across the region to preserve the environment with a heightened focus on corporate
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It may be difficult for us as social beings, but we must be selfless and support those on the front lines of this battle against the virus.
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Letter from the Editor in Chief
social responsibility (CSR). In fact, in the era where consumer behaviour is driven by environmental awareness and sustainability, companies both small and large have an obligation towards themselves, their business competitors, and the community at large to embrace the concept and rules of CSR. This is a perfect opportunity for businesses to show their commitment to a healthy and safe planet, including their consumers, workforce, and supply chain. We may be in quarantine, but we can assure you that we are still here, seeking to shed light on sustained efforts made to preserve the environment and humanity. I invite you on a digital walk through sustainability in the region at a time of a pandemic and I am certain that soon enough we will be able to meet again. Until then, stay safe and stay home.
Contribute at: www.TheSustainabilist.ae/contribute 1
The Sustainabilist | RAMADAN
Contents
SUPPORTING VOLUNTEERISM AND SOCIAL COHESION
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The Sustainabilist ISSUE 23
Together We Thrive
VOLUNTEERING & SOCIAL
COHESION
DEWA Gives Back to Society Through its Pioneering Initiatives
ENERGY & WATER ACCESS Schneider Electric Enables Economic and Social Development
DELIVERING ABOVE & BEYOND
1
Editor in Chief Letter
5
Going for a Green Ramadan
8
When Keeping Visitors in the Dark is a Good Thing
12 Supporting Volunteerism and Social Cohesion
Talabat is Supporting the UAE and its Communities
CSR ROLE MODELS
16 The Source of All Life
Heroes from Across the Sectors
18 Why Energy and Water Access Matters Across Africa ON THE COVER
22 Sustainable Eating Habits from the Arctic Polar Bear
Dedicated to the Holy Month of Ramadan, this issue of The Sustainabilist looks at the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility in and out of the workplace.
24 The #LowCarbonCooking Challenge 26 I Am The Sustainabilist - Nila Pendarovski 28
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Building a Productive Work Culture During the Holy Month
30 What is CSR?
INNOVATION MEETS NATURE
32 Boca: Changing Dubai’s Food Narrative 34 Ditching Single-Use Plastics 36 Fancy Some Chocolate? 38 Nestlé Ensures Production of Essentials 40 Delivering Above and Beyond 42 Spreading Good (Food)Karma 45 Lettuce Be Sustainable 46 Lock Down a Quality Stay-Home Meal 48 Make the Most Out of This Ramadan 51
The Role of Academic Institutions in Promoting CSR and Sustainability
52 The Wave of Innovation 54 What About the Jobs?
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LOCK DOWN A QUALITY STAYHOME MEAL
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55 CSR Role Models 57 Innovation Meets Nature
THE #LOWCARBONCOOKING CHALLENGE
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Summertown Focuses on Wellbeing Alongside Sustainability
62 Why V8 for Sustainable Redevelopment?
The Sustainabilist
The Sustainabilist | RAMADAN
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Issue 23 | May 2020
FEATURE
Going for a Green Ramadan Veolia shares tips and tricks to reduce food and plastic waste during iftar By Veolia
D
uring the holy month of Ramadan, the topic of food becomes really important in the celebration of iftars. Food, and more particularly food waste, is also a cornerstone topic in the field of sustainability, when highlighting the fact that food production and consumption has an unassailable impact on our environment.
FOOD WASTE IS REAL Currently, the UAE ranks among the top nations for per capita waste generation in the world. An average person in Europe generates around 1.2 kg of waste a day, which is less than half of the UAE’s 2.7 kg waste generated per capita per day. However, this figure actually doubles to 5.4 kg during Ramadan, which is
the amount of waste we generate to be hospitable to our guests. When you think about food waste, you also have to think about all the natural resources which go into producing it: freshwater using, energy consumption of farming, pollution of transportation, deforestation, gas emission, and the list goes on. The approach by which communities produce and consume food is one of major threats to the planet and remains at the top of the many causes of climate change. If we all play our parts, we can significantly reduce our impact. AWARENESS AND CREATIVITY CAN HELP Ramadan is a time of reflection, spiritual re-focus, and self-improvement. It’s a time to ponder on the way you live and 5
The Sustainabilist | RAMADAN
to identify certain habits you want to leave behind and new habits you want to start. As such, experiencing green habits could be the first step you take towards a greener and environmentally-friendly way of life. Each year, at Veolia, we take note of great and pioneering initiatives that are taken across the planet and strive for a Green Ramadan by launching campaigns the likes of zero waste and green Iftars. It’s vital that this type of initiative is spread!
exactly what you need, sticking to the list will help you save money and food. Second, adapting the recipe to the exact number of guests, storing fresh food and leftovers properly can help to avoid wastage. Leftovers are made to be eaten! Don’t waste your leftovers, eat them, share them.
LIMIT PLASTIC AND ENSURE RECYCLING The production and consumption of food By enhancing its commitment towards generates a lot of more besides food-waste, improving sustainable development in UAE such as packaging. In Abu Dhabi and and widely across the Middle East, Veolia Dubai, more than 900,000 metric tonnes puts in all its efforts to play an active role by of plastic resin are used annually – 45% in raising awareness among current and future consumer packaging and 5% in consumer generations about environmental challenges. goods. This is a colossal issue because As the global leader in optimised resource most plastics don’t just ‘go away’, they end management, Veolia is the only company up in our seas and oceans, taking hundreds in the Middle East that works across the of years to degrade. entire spectrum of environmental services. In order to help to protect resources, raising From the community’s side, the awareness awareness is undeniably vital. about limiting single-use plastic is critical. Communities have a role to play in this urgent need to start combating food waste. It is especially convenient to address this challenge during Ramadan since we tend to be more conscious of our eating habits and behaviours. By taking simple steps towards decreasing food wastage, providing feasible solutions encouraging the community to change their daily food consumption trends by shopping, cooking and eating smarter, we can succeed in making a difference. WATCH THE QUANTITY OF FOOD Obvious and easy way to realise is keeping an eye out for the quantity of food that is bought or cooked. This is the first step to reduce food waste – you can’t manage what you don’t manage. First, make a list of 6
People need to be educated in order to limit the use of plastic. During Ramadan,
the initiative of a Plastic-Free Iftar is a very good one that can be extended to a daily way of life: replace your plastic single use dishes with glass ones, choose recyclable and compostable material, like bamboo, remove plastic straws and go for metal… Be creative! From the company’s side, initiatives can be taken in order to help citizens limit throwing waste and encourage them to segregate it in order to ease the recycling process. For example, Veolia has signed a partnership with Agthia Group whereby we will develop several initiatives about plastic recycling, such as launching a PET water bottles collection programme in the UAE, which includes the use of digital solutions, and various awareness programmes, along with incentive schemes and rewards. In addition, we will launch several sustainability initiatives, which will establish a circular ecosystem to pave the way towards more PET recycling in the region. We aim to make recycling easier and accessible by proposing different collection schemes.
SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY
CREATE AN IMPACT Sustainability Strategy: A sustainability strategy is an instrument for organisations to understand and improve their economic, environmental and social impacts caused by their everyday activities. It provides an agreed upon framework to efficiently utilise resources, create a positive impact, monitor progress and communicate results to key stakeholders. It also serves as a roadmap to improvement in all of the identified areas of importance.
HOW CAN A SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY HELP YOU? Assess and benchmark sustainability performance
Increase stakeholder engagement
Improve efficiency and reduce costs
Encourage innovation
Set clear targets and plans
Emphasise the link between financial and non-financial performance
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set targets and kpis
achieve
WHAT CAN DUBAI CARBON DO FOR YOU?
Attract capital from investors
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Review your current strategy and perform a gap analysis against international industry best practices Conduct training and build capacity within your team Engage your stakeholders and conduct materiality assessments to establish topics of key importance to your different stakeholder groups Develop a custom maturity model for your organisation
contact ME AT faizanr@dcce.ae 04-322-9869 for more details.
Develop a comprehensive sustainability strategy in accordance with global standards Develop a 1-5 year sustainability roadmap with KPIs and achievement milestones to guide your organisation’s long term strategy
The Sustainabilist | RAMADAN
FEATURE
When Keeping Visitors in the Dark is a Good Thing By John Pagano CEO, The Red Sea Development Company
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an’s relationship with the stars spans thousands of years and plays a key role in diverse cultures around the world. Since time immemorial, travellers have observed patterns in the heavens and used them to navigate their paths. On the Arabian peninsula, the stars were used by sailors, nomadic tribes, merchant caravans, and pilgrims to guide their journeys. And even as they followed the stars, they marvelled at the beauty of the night sky and commemorated it in mythical poetry, songs, and stories. Today it’s nearly impossible in cities around much of the world to see a clear starry night sky. The Milky Way is no longer fully visible to around one-third of the global population due to manmade light pollution. And while we no longer need the stars to navigate, we are nonetheless bereft of one of the most magnificent and humbling experiences that the natural world has to offer. When we can no longer see the night sky, we lose important connections with our past. 8
Unfortunately, light pollution has environmental impacts that go far beyond its effect on human cultures. Worldwide, around 30% of vertebrates and more than 60% of invertebrates follow a nocturnal way of life, including an estimated 70% of mammal species. These species are supremely adapted to hunt or to avoid being hunted at night. They have evolved heightened senses and distinctive physical traits, such as large, reflective eyes and muted colouring to aid their survival. And the natural rhythms of their life cycles are also dictated to a large extent by ambient light levels. The impact of light pollution on these species is enormous. Almost everyone has seen how nocturnal insects are attracted to bright lights. While the exact reason for this behaviour is not yet known, a dominant idea is that the light somehow interferes with the insects’ ability to navigate. However, light pollution has many more environmental effects that are less easy to observe from your front porch. Artificial light at night can inhibit breeding patterns and mating seasons by altering hormone levels. It can disrupt feeding
patterns by desynchronising lifecycles between food sources and the species that depend on them. It can increase the risk of predation or decrease the success of hunting behaviour for animals adapted to an environment with specific light levels. And the list goes on. Light pollution has been a factor in one form or another since human beings first tamed fire. The exponential growth of the global human population and the technological advances in artificial light have exacerbated the issue to an extraordinary degree. However, development and light pollution don’t necessarily have to go hand-in-hand. And it is the tourism industry that has the opportunity to ‘unlight’ the path forward. At The Red Sea Project on Saudi Arabia’s west coast, we are incorporating preservation of our spectacular night sky into our planning from the outset. We are developing a lighting management plan that will provide sufficient light to enable people to move safely around the destination while at the same time ensuring that we have minimal impact on the night sky and natural world.
Issue 23 | May 2020
We have set as a benchmark the stringent International Dark Sky Association criteria. This set of standards was established as part of the International Dark Sky Places Program, an initiative founded in 2001 to encourage the preservation and protection of the world’s dark sky sites through responsible lighting polices and public education. Our objective is to become the first fullscale destination in the Middle East to achieve Dark Sky Reserve status, joining more than 100 locations around the world that are taking measures to reduce light pollution and preserve the night sky. This is not something that we undertake lightly. The complexity of lighting a destination that extends over several thousand square kilometres, including 22 islands and six inland locations, as well as the associated
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infrastructure, is extraordinary. However, we recognise that the night skies over the lagoon, the deserts, and the mountains of The Red Sea are a significant tourism attraction in their own right. Protecting the nocturnal environment will allow us to offer our guests uniquely memorable experiences. The destination offers prominent views of constellations and planets that are typically lost to view for the majority of the world’s population. Connecting to the night sky will connect visitors with this region’s history. And, by offering visitors the opportunity to experience the starscape in all its wonder, we can simultaneously protect the turtles, dugongs, dolphins, Arabian wolves, and other species that rely, to a greater or lesser extent, on the cover of darkness.
Tourism development and environmental enhancement do not have to be mutually exclusive.
Tourism development and environmental enhancement do not have to be mutually exclusive. On the contrary, by taking steps to enhance the natural environment as a part of the development of our tourism destination, we are essentially ensuring its long-term commercial success. The beauty and diversity of the area’s unique wildlife, both on land and in the sea, are a significant reason for people to want to visit our destination. Every measure we take
John Pagano
to enhance the environment is a measure we take to ensure that the destination will continue to attract discerning travellers well into the future. Our destination sits amongst some of the world’s most stunning, biologically-diverse natural environments, and protecting those environments is a responsibility we take seriously. It is why sustainable development is at the heart of every decision we make. By taking a holistic approach to sustainability, including protecting the night sky, we can ensure that we deliver a true constellation of experiences to our visitors for decades and generations to come. 9
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The Sustainabilist | RAMADAN
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Issue 23 | May 2020
A New Era of Ultra-High Efficiency module to deliver Lowest LCOE
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riven by the rapid industry transformation, continuous technology evolution and increasingly complex market demands of the solar landscape in recent years, JinkoSolar has utilised its technical leadership to create cutting-edge technologies of tomorrow, adding to its portfolio the new Tiger module using 9-busbar Mono PERC and Tiling Ribbon (TR) technology. With module efficiency of 20.78%, the new panel is capable of generating up to 460 Wp of peak power output which is suitable for both utility and rooftop installations. JinkoSolar incorporated Tiling Ribbon technology into the new Tiger module to eliminate the inter-cell gap and increase efficiency. The Tiger module comes in monofacial and bifacial, using half cut and Tiling Ribbon technology in order to achieve 460W per panel. The Tiger will gain traction in MENA as it is suitable to maximise on plant size with the best power density; that’s what our new Tiger technology is offering.
The possibility to use modules with higher Wp class can significantly reduce BOS costs and LCOE consequently. Deploying this product, you can maximise your plant power output by putting more powerful modules or reduce Balance of Systems: number of arrays, structures, and cables. For the rooftops, it translates into lighter weight per sqm. Lower EPC cost and lower BOS cost consequently contribute to lower LCOE and higher IRR. Gulnara Abdullina, JinkoSolar’s General manager for MEA said: ‘’At JinkoSolar, we are here to stay, we are invested in Middle East and Africa! I’m proud to say the company has the most localised footprint in MENA when it comes to our team. Clients trust us and we speak the same language. We remain committed to facilitate knowledge sharing by connecting clients in different geographies to exchange experiences and best practices; to learn and implement the knowledge in their unique environments’’.
ABOUT JinkoSolar is one of the leading and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world. Jinko distributes its solar products and sells its solutions and services to a diversified international utility, commercial and residential customer base in China, USA, Japan, Germany, UK, Chile, South Africa, India, Mexico, Brazil, UAE, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, and other countries and regions. Jinko has built a vertically integrated product value chain, with an integrated annual capacity of 12 GW for silicon wafers, 8 GW for solar cells, and 15 GW for solar modules, as of Sept. 30, 2019. When it comes to product quality, Jinko’s No.1 ranking in shipments for 3 consecutive years and a solid track record speaks for itself. As a leading module manufacturer, Jinko has shipped over 50GW solar modules to customers in 108 countries around the globe. middleeast@jinkosolar.com
www.jinkosolar.com
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The Sustainabilist | RAMADAN
COVER STORY
Supporting Volunteerism and Social Cohesion Through its pioneering CSR initiatives, DEWA encourages its employees to give back to society locally and internationally
By HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer MD & CEO, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority
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ince its establishment, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has been focusing on achieving a balance between economic, environmental, and social goals. This is in accordance with an institutional framework for community service. DEWA strives to become one of the biggest supporters to the integrated and sustainable system of volunteering in the UAE and Dubai through its
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Issue 23 | May 2020
DEWA volunteers in Tajikistan
continuous work to promote volunteering, social cohesion, launching and sponsoring several pioneering humanitarian and volunteering initiatives. DEWA employees are keen to participate in volunteering initiatives and programmes, organised by DEWA throughout the year nationally and abroad. DEWA launched 330 social initiatives from 2013 to 2019, with 129,636 hours of volunteer work. This contributed to elevating DEWA’s society happiness percentage up to 93% in 2019. DEWA employees’ engagement in volunteering work has consolidated its social responsibility. “His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said in the Fifty-Year Charter, ‘Our daily businesses and projects should not let us forget about giving to those who need help’ We strive to consolidate the principles of corporate social responsibility, by focusing on giving and
volunteering as means to build bridges and bring cultures together. DEWA’s pioneering initiatives, volunteering and humanitarian programmes are an indispensable part of its strategy and efforts to serve society. This is in accordance with the UAE Vision 2021 to build a cohesive society and preserved identity; and the Dubai Plan 2021 to make Dubai a city for happy, creative and empowered people who live in a tolerant and inclusive society embracing common civic values,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA. DEWA has launched the DEWA Programme for Voluntary Work on its website to enable employees to choose programmes and social initiatives that match their interests, capabilities and time. The programme enables our employees to participate in community service and charitable projects, by allocating some of their time to volunteering during and out of working hours.
DEWA VOLUNTEER DIPLOMA DEWA has launched the DEWA Volunteer Diploma, in collaboration with Amity University in Dubai in 2019. This is part of DEWA’s efforts to promote volunteerism in Dubai and among its staff. 80 employees from DEWA have received the diploma as the first batch. Each volunteer completed 32 training hours, with a total of 2,560 hours. DEWA Volunteer Diploma enhances the capabilities of participants and qualifies them to manage volunteering programmes locally and globally, as well as prepare them to become trainers in DEWA’s Volunteer Leadership Programme. This supports Law 5 of 2018, which regulates volunteerism in Dubai and outlines the regulations for encouraging and protecting volunteers, as well as promoting social responsibility and encouraging volunteering among society. 13
The Sustainabilist | RAMADAN
DEWA’s fifth Emirati Women’s Day Forum, 2019
. PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT IS ONE OF DEWA’S TOP PRIORITIES In 2019, DEWA participated in a campaign to clean the shores of Jebel Ali Wetland Sanctuary, in cooperation with the Emirates Marine Environmental Group (EMEG). Nearly 500 people participated in the clean-up, including 60 DEWA employees with their families, and 10 students from DEWA Academy. The campaign removed around 1,000 kilograms of waste from the shores of the reserve, which is one of the major natural reserves in Dubai. The Jebel Ali Wetland Sanctuary in Dubai was added to the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance in 2018. DEWA organised a 5-day impact study in Wadi Wurayah in Fujairah, UAE; in cooperation with Emirates Wildlife Society, in association with the Worldwide Fund 14
for Nature. The programme studied the impact of climate change on the UAE’s ecosystem, especially freshwater resources, to help the business community define risks and opportunities in development activities relating to the environment and the preservation of natural resources. The programme consists of two phases with the participation of a group of DEWA’s employees, graduates and members of DEWA’s Youth Council. The programme agenda includes a series of scientific research on the impact of climate change on freshwater ecosystems and the UAE’s biological diversification through a number of lectures, panel discussions, and field research activities. Aysha Mohammad Alremeithi, DEWA's Youth Council's President, highlighted her keenness to give to the UAE and the
society, raise awareness on the importance of volunteering. “I am always keen on benefiting from DEWA’s support for volunteering and the opportunities it provides for us to participate in humanitarian activities in the UAE and abroad. DEWA encouraged me to participate in several important initiatives, including a CSR campaign to Upper Egypt to complete water supply connections and social projects. I also participated in the youth initiative to clean solar panels on rooftops in Hatta, through the Dubai Youth Council, in addition to participating in specialised training of the DEWA Volunteer Diploma. The recognition of HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer for me and 15 other DEWA female employees, who participated in volunteering initiatives, was a kind gesture. The recognition was also an incentive that instils benevolence and tolerance among us.”
Issue 23 | May 2020
2015, becoming the first government organisation in Dubai to receive this global recognition. DEWA won three awards in the International CSR Excellence Awards 2017. DEWA received the Gold Award in the Best Initiative category for its Emission Reduction Programme, the Silver Award in CSR for
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the DEWA Sustainability Report 2015, and the Bronze Award in Education for its Rationalisation campaigns. DEWA won the People-of-Determination-Friendly Government Entity award at the 21st Dubai Government Excellence Program (DGEP). It also won the Dubai Giving award in the 21st DGEP in 2018.
DEWA launched 330 social initiatives from 2013 to 2019, with 129,636 hours of volunteer work. This contributed to elevating DEWA’s society happiness percentage up to 93% in 2019.
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INTERNATIONAL AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS By the numbers, DEWA has become a leading organisation locally and internationally in social responsibility and volunteerism, in addition to international recognition and prestigious awards. These include the MVO8000 in CSR in
Smart Response Service for electricity and water notifications allows simpler and faster management through DEWA’s smart app and website
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The Sustainabilist | RAMADAN
INTERVIEW
The Source of All Life Gurvan Dersel, General Manager at Qatra Water Solutions, spoke with The Sustainabilist about how the water system has been impacted by COVID-19 and Qatra’s continued operations to safeguard people and the environment
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ow more than ever, with the COVID-19 epidemic and the holy month of Ramadan, is the time to reflect on the scarcity of the resources we use on a daily basis. How is Qatra assisting in safeguarding the environment and its precious resources? With the lockdown in full effect, the majority of people are remaining in the safety of their homes. This generates a large consumption of water and subsequently results in a lot more wastewater. Wastewater needs to be 16
treated as releasing it would be a health hazard and it would also greatly impact the environment. Qatra Water Solutions works around the clock to clean and recycle wastewater so it can safely be returned to the environment. During this period, Qatra is facing an unprecedent demand for wastewater treatment from all over the Emirate of Sharjah. There has been an increase of up to 20% in the flow of wastewater as compared to the average, putting our wastewater treatment assets under pressure. However, our team is still hard at work to deliver.
What is Qatra mission and what strategy has been implemented to achieve it? Our mission is to provide Sharjah with an efficient and integrated wastewater and water reuse cycle. Qatra is an essential link between public health and the necessity for sustainable urban development. To implement this, we focus on developing facilities to reuse the treated water for applications other than the traditional landscaping. Improving our assets is key to us. We have successfully conducted a pilot to control the plant operations using artificial intelligence in order to increase output and quality. We are also developing a new type of wastewater plant with a technology not yet used in the UAE and that will bring about a substantial saving on power consumption. Without power, water and wastewater, the majority of our daily activities would not be possible. Is Qatra continuing to
Issue 23 | May 2020
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Any strategic decision must have a positive social and environmental impact.
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operate during these difficult times? Wastewater is a vital service for public health and our treatment assets are critical to Sharjah, we need to be 100% operational and keep the plant running 24/7. The management of risk related to infection is something normal due to the nature of a wastewater treatment plant. During the ongoing pandemic, we have taken stringent measures to ensure the safety our of employees who are at the core of our operations and follow government guidelines for the same.
No salary cuts or redundancies have been made at Qatra. During these tough times, we have made sure all our employees feel safe and secure. As a wastewater treatment plant, we need our employees now more than ever. How is Qatra supporting those working on the front line, the silent heroes that are providing essential services of water, wastewater and electricity to Sharjah homes and businesses? With regards to the team working on-site, we have taken strict measures to isolate them from the outside world. The core team working on the plant has been provided with accommodation on-site and are practicing social distancing thoroughly. The company has also made contingency plans to ensure continuity under any circumstances. We also focus on the protection of our 1,700 customers as they are in contact with the Sharjah community to deliver their duty. We ensure that the public guidelines are strictly respected, such as maintaining social distance and wearing gloves and masks.
Gurvan Dersel
CSR has become vital for any business that wants to succeed in today’s market. How has Qatra incorporated this management tool and what benefits have been drawn from it? By nature, Qatra’s purpose is to be responsible towards the community and the environment. Any strategic decision must have a positive social and environmental impact. We are proud today that, in only two years, we have already made a significant contribution towards the community through the substantial reduction of waste going to the landfill. The partnership with Sharjah Cement to provide the company with an eco-fuel has been another milestone which has had a great impact on the Sharjah ecosystem. Very soon, we will launch the first facility producing and selling recycled water in Sharjah. We are also very proud of our large lakes hosting a variety of flora and fauna, including UN nearly-threatened bird species. 17
The Sustainabilist | RAMADAN
FEATURE
Why Energy and Water Access Matters Across Africa Energy and water are the enablers of economic and social development
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n March of last year, the World Bank put out a report on electricity access in sub-Saharan Africa. The study measured how people were both able and unable to access electricity by region and country. The findings were a wakeup call for policy makers. Much of Africa is lagging when it comes to the public’s ability to access the energy grid. On average, only 43% of people in Africa have
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access to electricity, which is just over half the global access rate of 87%. The report also warned that this percentage isn’t likely to shift, given Africa’s population growth. For many of us, the thought of living without uninterrupted access to electricity and water is unimaginable. But it’s a reality for hundreds of millions of people across emerging markets. The lack of access to
electricity dramatically alters people’s quality of life; it also holds back economic growth and educational opportunities. There are two core challenges when it comes to ensuring universal access to energy and water. The first is connecting remote locations to the grid. For marginal communities which are positioned far away from urban centers, the cost of bringing
Issue 23 | May 2020
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Schneider
Electric is focussed on building clean energy capacity communities.
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for marginal
these communities online can seem prohibitive. And then there’s the ability to provide power 24/7. How many people who live in marginal communities will be able to pay for both grid connectivity and reliable power? For most, the cost of connecting and ensuring a power supply is out of reach. But there are companies working on providing solutions to powering marginal communities. One is Schneider Electric. The firm is using its technology to provide sustainable power and water to hundreds of thousands of people across countries in Africa. “Having access to a safe, reliable source of energy is a basic human right, and yet far too many people do without. We’ve got to change this, and it has to happen through green, sustainable technologies”, explains Saif Eldemerdash, Home & Distribution Vice President for the North East Africa & Levant at Schneider Electric.
Schneider’s approach is both simple and effective. Give people both the technology and the training needed to maintain it. One example of this is the work that Schneider is doing in Egypt to provide marginal communities with energy sources. One such region is Abu Ghraked village in South Sinai, which is home to over 300 people and where the closest highway is 150 kilometres away and leads to Sharm El Sheikh. Schneider’s solution is both simple and sustainable. A solar power plant consisting of 55kWh photovoltaic cells, eight current inverters, a variable voltage protection system, and 48 deep-duty batteries power the village day and night. The company has also donated 24 Mobiya solar lanterns to residents and installed 10 solar-powered street lights. The system can be remotely monitored through software, and is being maintained by the village’s residents who have been trained to perform maintenance. The village loads are fed by solar energy
throughout the day, and additional energy is stored using batteries to feed the village at night. The new energy plant, which will serve Abu Ghoraked’s 300 residents, including 35 houses, a school, a mosque, a hospital and a meeting hall, is a transformation, not just in terms of reliability but also when it comes to the environment. The village loads were previously fed using a generator with a capacity of 30kvh for only six hours a day. The cost of the project is just over US$ 300,000, which has been donated by Schneider Electric. By working in partnership with both the authorities and residents, Schneider Electric is focussed on building clean energy capacity for marginal communities. As Eldemerdash points out, energy is an enabler of economic and societal development. Energy is often used for essentials such as lighting, refrigeration, and for pumping and irrigation. 19
The Sustainabilist | RAMADAN
was used before, like diesel generators. There are answers to powering marginal communities, and I hope what we are doing will serve as a model to others as to how we can best power remote communities and help them build sustainable ways of living and working”.
Schneider’s team has worked to put in place an efficient solution. Solar panels power submersible pumps, which feed water from two wells up to crops on the surface. The panels can generate over 180 MWh of energy a year, which is more than enough energy to extract 328,000 cubic metres of water annually. The solution includes flow meters and internet-enabled hardware, which allows El-Hiez’s residents to track both how much energy is produced and how much water is pumped in real time. That water feeds over 144 acres of agricultural land, which is tended to by 18 families in the area. The village’s residents have been trained on how to operate the system, and now the whole village benefits from reliable power and sustainable access to water. In addition, there’s minimal water wastage. Schneider engineers are able to help maintain the system remotely via an internet connection. The water extraction project in ElHottayah village, in El Farafra Governorate is another of Schneider Electric’s 20
initiatives to promote sustainable development. The residents of the village extracted water from their well using a 100-Kilowatt generator to operate a pump, which consumed 10 litres of diesel per hour. The extracted water was not enough to grow 60 acres. Schneider Electric’s solution now provides enough water to grow 380 acres, which will be a boon to developing the area and creating jobs. The new setup has reduced carbon emissions by 47 tonness a year, contributing to a healthier environment both for residents and for farming. “What we want to do is put in place technologies that are effective enough to change lives, but which are also simple enough for them to be looked after by those same communities,” explains Schneider Electric’s CSR and Social Lead, Asmaa El Shiemy. “These solutions are green, they’re suited to the landscapes of the region, and they’re efficient. They’re also much more cost-effective and environmentally-friendly than what
For Schneider’s Eldemerdash, the challenge of how to connect marginal communities to the grid is an opportunity in disguise. A focus of the Schneider Electric Foundation is training and development, particularly for renewable technologies in Africa and Asia. In South Africa alone, the Foundation has provided training to over 30,000 people. Last year, Schneider Electric joined a coalition to drastically expand trainings in the energy sector through the Power for All #PoweringJobs campaign. While its primary aim is to address the skills gap in emerging countries, the campaign is also focussed on speeding up the deployment of decentralised renewable energy solutions. As Eldemerdash points out, emerging economies stand to gain the most from the adoption of renewable solutions if they spend more on training.“The renewable energy jobs market is huge. The direct job potential for decentralised renewable energy solutions is 4.5 million by 2030. And data suggests that solar lighting alone could generate two million jobs. Many of these new roles will be created in emerging markets. Take the example of India, where rooftop solar creates seven times as many jobs per megawatt as utility-scape solar. Replacing kerosene lamps with solar lighting systems could create 500,000 new jobs in West African countries. Governments in emerging markets must see the potential of renewable energy to transform not just marginal communities, but their societies as a whole”.
Integrated Energy Logistics Provider The Tristar Group is a fully integrated Logistics Solutions provider that offers a comprehensive list of services to cater to the needs of the petroleum, chemical and petrochemical industries, both in the region and globally. The company’s core expertise lies in its ability to safely handle and distribute all types of retail fuels, lubricants, chemicals, petrochemicals and liquid gases. Specialized Warehousing for Chemicals & Dangerous Goods
Commercial Aviation Refueling
The JAFZA South custom built warehouse has the capability to offer both ambient and temperature controlled storage for a wider range of petroleum products, including industrial solvents and soft chemicals. Total warehouse capacity is in excess of 15,000 pallet positions. The facility has an in-house fully automatic tank cleaning facility installed by Groninger (Europe). The tanks will be cleaned with soft water with chlorine content less than 50PPM alongside with a high pressure pump of 100 bar and a Boiler designed to produce steam at 1.2 TPH, which generates hot water of 80 Degrees Celsius. A fully automated effluent treatment plant will treat and recycle all waste water from the cleaning station to be used for general cleaning and irrigation purposes.
Tristar is into Commercial Aviation Refueling operations in South Sudan and Liberia. It has a 25-year contract with CAA Uganda for the construction and operation of an Aviation Fuel Farm and Hydrant Line facilities at Entebbe Airport which will commence operations in the 4th quarter of 2020. Tristar’s Aviation facilities comply with international standards, specifications and guidelines set by IATA, JIG, AFQRJOS, as well as with IFQP requirements set by Airlines for Aviation Fuel Quality Control and Operating Procedures. Tristar has been a member of IATA since 2008 and recently became a JIG member. It has a technical service agreement with Hansaconsult.
Polymer Bulk & Bagging Warehouse
Fuel Farm
The multi logistics polymers facility in JAFZA South is designed for receiving bulk PP/PE granules into silos and bagging of the granules by fully automated bagging operation into FFS film bags and/or big bags. The packed material can be stored inside the warehouse in racking with a capacity of 8,000 tons. It also has a drum filling station with capability to drum from ISO tanks and road tankers thus providing customers a solution to receive in bulk and store and distribute in packed conditions.
Tristar owns, operates and manages 62 fuel farms globally with a storage capacity of more than 788 million liters for handling a wide range of petroleum products like Jet Fuel, Gasoline, Gasoil, Fuel Oil, etc. Tristar’s fuel farms and storage depots are constructed and maintained in the services of its clients. Our largest fuel farm is in the Pacific island of Guam which has a capacity of 4.2M barrels. All the operations comply with the local and international safety and environment standards, including OSHA and USEPA.
Road Transport
Shipping
Tristar owns and operates over 1,700 vehicles ranging from road tankers, trailers and delivery pickups in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Operations are certified for Integrated Management System including the latest ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 39001. Tristar is periodically assessed by the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association for SQAS (Safety and Quality Assessment System).
Email: info@tristar-group.co
The shipping business acquired Eships in early 2016 and now owns and operates more than 30 chemical, oil and gas tankers and bulk carriers trading globally, mostly with Oil Majors. The vessels include the six Eco MR tankers (50,000 DWT) delivered in 2016 and the six new build 25,000 MT DWT, IMO Type 2 Oil and Chemical tankers to be delivered between June 2020 till January 2021. These ships are fitted with fuel saving equipment such as the Propeller Boss Cap Fins and Trim Optimization System.
Website: www.tristar-group.co
The Sustainabilist | RAMADAN
Sustainable Eating Habits from the Arctic Polar Bear
eat local
cook at home
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minimise waste
store food
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FEATURE
The #LowCarbonCooking Challenge This Ramadan, we want to challenge you to try the low carbon recipes of some of the best chefs and restaurants in Dubai! By Musad Afzal External Relations Officer, Dubai Carbon
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third of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the food production value chain, but the majority of consumers remain unaware of how emission intensive their diet can be. As Dubai’s torchbearer of low carbon lifestyles, we decided to address this during last year’s Ramadan through the region’s first FoodPrint Calculator. The team at Dubai Carbon went to work researching the most commonly used foods in the region, combined with ones that were currently popular and would be used most during the month of Ramadan. Then, after sifting through scientific papers, previously done research, and coordination with local authorities, the footprint of each chosen ingredient was calculated. For the most part, the findings weren’t surprising: red meat and poultry led 24
the emission charts, but the outliers were vegetables that were flown in and needed cold storage to be sold in the UAE - such as the beloved avocado. The goal was for residents in the country to understand the importance of non-meat protein alternatives and local produce in the transition to a low carbon diet. The calculator also allowed people to pick frequency of consumption per week to see how much of a difference it would make to reduce consumption of certain
ingredients, rather than cut them out entirely. After communicating this information to Dubai’s community last year, our next step was to empower people through it. With a pandemic at large and people confined to their homes, we witnessed a notable increase in people cooking at home. This would continue during Ramadan, a period in which food is often at the forefront of conversation in the region. Naturally, the
Issue 23 | May 2020
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These recipes are downloadable through The Sustainabilist website and showcased across the magazine’s social media.
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cook their suhoors and iftars at home, it showcases that the best meals can be low carbon, without a compromise on taste or quality.
team developed the #LowCarbonCooking challenge – a campaign involving Dubai’s best restaurants and chefs to bring low carbon recipes for the community to make them at home. The response to this has been remarkable from the restaurant industry; from five-star establishments such as BOCA in DIFC joining the campaign to widely known Wagamama contributing their take as well. This not only empowers people to
Throughout the month, we’ll be bringing these recipes to the Dubai community, encouraging individuals and families to try them and send in their videos and experiences, all while staying home. These recipes are downloadable through The Sustainabilist website and showcased across the magazine’s social media. The campaign’s website also has key tips on how to make the complete transition to a low carbon diet, a personal toolkit from the Emirates Nature-WWF, and of course an updated version of last year’s carbon FoodPrint Calculator. Low carbon lifestyles require behavioural
change at their forefront, and currently the world is in the midst of a behavioural change cycle, born out of immediate necessity. Scientists have long said that a similar dramatic shift in behaviour will be needed to fight climate change, and through the low carbon cooking challenge, we want to put the UAE’s community ahead of that curve. The desired result is for large scale adoption of low carbon lifestyles, beginning with the food we consume this Ramadan. Once the campaign is completed, its results and recipes will be compiled into the region’s first low carbon cookbook, that will be made available to the public for free as an extension of The Sustainabilist and its monthly issues. These recipes and behavioural patterns adopted this Ramadan will aim to be a permanent fixture in this nation’s communities. 25
The Sustainabilist | RAMADAN
“Personally, I am still on a mission to live a green and sustainable life.�
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Issue 23 | May 2020
#IAMTHESUSTAINABILIST
NILA PENDAROVSKI General Manager, Rove Dubai Marina
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can honestly say that I grew up in the dark, because my parents always switched off the lights when they left a room, and energy conservation, recycling and reusing was and continues to be just a normal part of life when growing up in Germany, as it is in many other European countries. Throughout my adult life, I have lived in various countries, and it never ceases to shock me when I see a wasteful attitude towards the finite resources of the planet. Some years ago, I watched a documentary about Ocean Rescue and was shocked to learn about the amount of plastic in the ocean. Later that day, I received table tennis paddles and, after unpacking them, I ended up with a mountain of
made our mission. Moreover, our pools are saltwater pools, which are much better for the environment, and, on the F&B side of things, our chefs work with locally sourced food where possible. When the DTCM (Department of Tourism Thankfully, with Rove, I have just the right platform and freedom to go and Commerce Marketing) rolled crazy with my sustainability efforts. out their Sustainability Initiative in Dubai, we were honoured to be the My team at Rove Downtown were first hotel group to pass with flying able to implement the ‘Green Key Initiatives’ as one of the first hotels colours. in the country and the first Rove Personally, I am still on a mission hotel to do so. to live a green and sustainable life. Green Key is a voluntary eco-label, Being plastic-free is a big deal in our household, and we like to shop by which operates internationally and requires meeting certain standards reusing bags for fruits and veggies, as well as other groceries. But there in all aspects of hotel operations. is still a lot of work to be done in all In our hotels, we do things like garbage separation, recycling, food aspects of life, and I will continue composting, and more. Overall, we to find better solutions for not only myself, but also the business I work reduce plastic wherever possible in, because it’s the right thing to do. to help the ocean, which we have plastic. So, I decided it was time to put my money where my mouth was and made the decision to actively participate in reducing, reusing and recycling.
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The Sustainabilist | RAMADAN
FEATURE
Last year’s Ramadan food boxes donations byAgthia. Volunteers packed boxes and families were invited to help during the week.
Building a Productive Work Culture During the Holy Month It is important for businesses to support their employees and the community, especially during Ramadan By Mubarak Al Mansoori Chief HR Officer, Agthia Group PJSC
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lobalisation, fueled by connectivity and technology, has forever transformed business operations, and therefore shaped more flexible working environments. Enterprises that are quick to pivot and adapt by providing their
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employees innovative solutions have succeeded and become top employers of choice worldwide. Studies have shown that flexible work environments lead to more productive work cultures. Harnessing this truth is vital, not only on a global level, but on a local and regional level here in
the GCC, as the public and private sectors work to align with government initiatives, such as the UAE National Programme for Happiness and Well-Being, and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, aiming to create a better society for its residents and citizens alike. Navigating through the holy month of Ramadan can be a challenge on the human body and mind, especially to those in the workplace. A sacred time for selfreflection, giving, and quality time with loved ones, Ramadan calls upon people of the Islamic faith to fast from sunrise
Issue 23 | May 2020
to sundown. A published study about work culture in the time of Ramadan by DinarStandard found that employers can make a big difference in the degree of flexibility and understanding they show employees during the month of Ramadan. For those living in the GCC, the government has mandated reduced working hours, encouraging companies to put in motion flexible work schedules for their employees. The same study also found that the UAE loss in GDP, representing four per cent per hour of work reduction per day is $1.47 billion, and the same in KSA represented $2.4bn. While we may not have insights as to the causes behind the loss in GDP, we know there are a few key aspects we can improve on. The greatest challenges a company faces is building a productive, and motivating work culture, engaging employees, and supporting them in achieving their goals, to practice their fast. In order to accomplish higher productivity, a company’s Human Resources department must take the lead to plan and deploy measures that support their workforce. This could lead to a positive effect on employee output and satisfaction. A company’s HR department plays a vital role in orchestrating the business’ work culture, and this is especially true during Ramadan. This includes ensuring employees who are not fasting to gain a sense of cultural understanding and belonging with colleagues who are fasting. The best way to achieve this is to host a company-wide workshop session, briefing all employees on the meaning of the holy month, and on the cultural do’s and don’ts in the workplace during business hours for the duration of Ramadan. The workshops can be done in a fun and interactive way by partnering colleagues together or grouping them in teams to understand the meaning
of Ramadan. Not only will this create more meaning and foster a productive dialogue, it will also bring colleagues together as one. It is also vital to emphasise support and acceptance for more open communication during Ramadan between colleagues and their line managers. This fosters care and demonstrates how much the company values employees. A survey by American Psychological Association under the Psychologically Healthy Workplace Program showed that employees who feel more valued by their employer are 60% more likely to report feeling motivated to do their very best for their employer. This can be done through regular weekly check-ins, where topics can be openly raised without judgement. Topics can range from flexible working hours, to work performance concerns, and could also simply be an outlet to discuss work-related concerns or questions. The best time to host weekly check-ins during Ramadan are in the mornings, when your teams are most alert. Ramadan is synonymous with giving back to the community and observers of the holy month often research ways to give back. An Employee Engagement Study revealed that 54% employees who were proud of their company’s contributions to society were more engaged within their company. Therefore, a company’s HR department must work hand-in-hand with their CSR department to organise employee engagement activities, providing them with the opportunity to be a part of something bigger and contribute to society. While this may be most ideal in countries observing Ramadan, such as the UAE, companies located across the globe can adapt these best practices as well. Geo-strategically positioned as a
Mubarak Al Mansoori
cross bridge between Europe and Asia, the UAE has emerged as a global business hub, attracting some of the most soughtafter workforce talent in the world, across a range of industries. Home to the largest number of regional headquarters to global multi-national enterprises, the UAE is uniquely positioned to provide employees with global best practices in flexible work cultures. This, coupled with the GCC governments’ initiatives for a happier society, will support in bringing more work-life balance to the workforce of the nation and fostering more productivity during Ramadan. 29
The Sustainabilist | RAMADAN
What is CSR? Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and interactions with their stakeholders. Consumers, now more than ever, are passionate about global issues and expect companies to address these issues in their operations. CSR is no longer an option for companies that want to be perceived favourably by consumers. As CSR continues to develop and grow, companies should explore new methods and strategies for performing and communicating their CSR initiatives to their consumers
The Empowered Consumer
According to the 2018 Cone/Porter Novelli Purpose Study, consumers demand that companies behave responsibly and address critical social and environmental issues
would buy a product from that company
would try an entirely new product line from a company they already support
would switch from a product they typically buy to a new product from that company
would pay more for a product from that company
How Consumers Engage in CSR
say they would be more loyal to a purpose-driven company
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say they feel a stronger emotional connection to purpose-driven companies
say they would be likely to defend a purpose-driven company if people spoke badly of it
would pay more for a product from that company
Issue 23 | May 2020
Benefits of CSR
The potential benefits of CSR to companies include:
POSITIVE BUSINESS REPUTATION
BETTER BRAND RECOGNITION
OPERATIONAL COSTS SAVINGS
INCREASED SALES AND CUSTOMER LOYALTY
BETTER FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
GREATER ABILITY TO ATTRACT TALENT AND RETAIN STAFF
EASIER ACCESS TO CAPITAL
ORGANISATIONAL GROWTH
How to integrate CSR into a business model
Forbes has highlighted these approaches to engaging in CSR
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Align CSR to your business strategy
CSR initiatives should connect to your core business purpose and strategy in a way that makes intuitive sense. Example: Increase recycling of waste
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Strong, sustainable partnerships equal automatic succes
Partnerships let you draw on the capabilities of other networks who have expertise in different fields. Example: partner with other entities to develop a thoughtful CSR initiative faster
Source: 2018 CONE/PORTER NOVELLI PURPOSE STUDY
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Earn support from the top with engagement at all levels
Getting senior leaders, including the CEO, senior legal counsel, and c-suite executives on board is vital for moving projects from paper to reality. Example: Get senior support and approval for new CSR programmes
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The Sustainabilist | RAMADAN
FEATURE
BOCA: Changing Dubai’s Food Narrative A restaurant in DIFC is sourcing solely local produce, fish, and seafood for its exquisite menu. The reason? Sustainability!
By Jovana Djak Freelance Food Writer
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t’s not uncommon in a city like Dubai, where over 80% of the food is imported, that restaurants simply need to surrender to the way business is done. For most establishments in the hospitality industry sourcing locally isn’t always feasible. For one, it’s often more expensive, and it’s inconvenient since most produce doesn’t grow yearround. Although the number of local farms is on the rise, most of them face a common challenge: how to be part of restaurants’ constant supply chain. To source locally grown ingredients, a restaurant that doesn’t change the menu seasonally needs
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Issue 23 | May 2020
to purchase the produce from two or more suppliers to maintain the consistency. Some restaurants, however, go beyond just feeding their customers and instead, choose to be mindful of the carbon footprint they leave on the planet. Boca in DIFC does just that, keeping sustainability at the core of its operations, taking Dubai’s restaurant scene to a whole other level. Omar Shihab, General Manager of Boca, was well aware that there was so much that could be done; determined, he decided to take a step in the right direction and launch numerous initiatives to reduce waste and contribute to fighting the climate crisis.
sourced, and each day, measures are taken to increase that number even further. Apart from only a few meat dishes, the majority of protein on the menu comes from locally sourced fish and seafood, including local oysters from Dibba Bay. The kitchen waste is constantly being audited and food prep adjusted accordingly; restocking is demand-driven rather than on a daily/weekly basis, which ensures not only less food waste but a constant supply of only the freshest ingredients. The result: kitchen food waste has been reduced to
Can you run a profitable business and have a stellar menu all while being more environmentally friendly? It takes vision and courage. It all started in 2014, when Boca first opened. The goal was to source as much local fish and seafood as possible. Over the years, that share grew. Two years ago, single-use plastics were eliminated from the kitchen, and didn’t stop there. With its mission to reduce even more waste and source as many local ingredients as possible, efforts continued by reimbursing the kitchen staff only when their receipts from the local fish market were little slips with scribbles on them. Boca’s accountant wasn’t very pleased, but Shihab was determined: from now on, this is how we do things here. Half of the fresh produce is locally
an astonishing 4-6%, by adjusting the menu to fit the new vision. Head Chef, Matthijs Stinnissen, is constantly pushed to think in bigger and more creative ways. The self-imposed constraints foster creativity while maintaining a focus on the bigger picture. Having experience in the kitchens of Northern Europe (where meat is considered a staple food), after moving to Dubai and untimely Boca, Stinnissen’s was not expecting to be told: tonight, the entire menu should be made only
using locally sourced vegetables. Things are always tougher the first time, so as a compromise, Stinnissen and Shihab agreed that guests that evening should be able to order a side of meat. As it happens, no one did. At the end of 2019, Boca hosted another special event: a zero-waste dinner, along with environmental activist and film producer Jo Ruxton. The event included a screening of her award-winning documentary film "A Plastic Ocean". On regular evenings, the seafood-rich à la carte menu boasts creative dishes using local seasonal vegetables which dazzle even the most avid meat-eaters. This year, Boca will prepare four (seasonal) menus using locally sourced ingredients. The highlight? Dry-aged meat-root: beets that have been treated with the same respect and integrity as beef steak, and that are so much more than what one would expect. It’s not hard impressing diners when you fly in exclusive ingredients from all over the world. It takes courage to be the first one to make a change in such a fast-paced industry, to see the bigger picture, and to work towards a better future for this planet. It also takes great skill to build something special and extraordinary with such limitations; creating something unique yet simple, using local and regional vegetables, or local, obscure fish varieties. In a city that takes pride in the idea that everything can be flown in daily as the ultimate symbol of opulence and extravagance, it may seem odd to take the other direction. But, it is efforts like these that should inspire and drive others to have a direct, positive impact on the environment, slowly but surely, changing Dubai’s local food narrative. 33
The Sustainabilist | RAMADAN
FEATURE
Ditching Single-Use Plastics KRUSH Brands is on a mission to disrupt the conventional food industry and guide others to follow suit By Ian Ohan Founder & CEO, KRUSH Brands
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RUSH Brands is a Dubaibased company founded by Canadian entrepreneur Ian Ohan. This is the group behind brands like Freedom Pizza and Salad Jar. KRUSH Brands is a fullservice, multi-kitchen brand development operating and franchising company. Cool brands that people love, bound together by technology, convenient and reliable, better for everyone, from a company that cares. As a company that has been able to flourish in the UAE, there is a certain amount of responsibility to protect the local communities in which it serves. Taking measures to behave more sustainably and just be better has always been part of the KRUSH mission. Freedom Pizza was sending out over 500,000 pieces of plastic cutlery and straws with orders every year. In 2017,
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Given that there is a culture of receiving excessive cutlery with food deliveries in the UAE, many people have plastic cutlery lying around their homes and offices that will never be used. In 2019, Freedom embarked on a campaign alongside local marine conservation initiative Azraq, and so the #UselessUtensils campaign was born. This was an initiative where people would donate their excess plastic cutlery to local schools who would then use the cutlery to create artistic sculptures to illustrate the impacts of marine debris on the environment.
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By simply asking people “give us your plastic cutlery”, Freedom received over 40kg of plastic cutlery during an 8-week period.
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something had to change, and along with some inspiration from Adrian Grenier’s #Stopsucking campaign, Freedom removed all plastic cutlery and straws from customer orders. At the time, this was an industry first that gained great attention and lead to other major companies, like Jumeirah Group and Waitrose, following suit.
With a delivery fleet of over 250 drivers, Freedom had the capability to collect the cutlery from people’s homes and offices. By simply asking people “give us your plastic cutlery”, Freedom received over 40 kg of the single-use cutlery during an 8-week period. This was a powerful initiative and helped increase awareness among people on their habits related to using plastic cutlery.
the Wildflower Sustainable Earth Collective, which is a unified community movement between the company and its customers, to make eco-friendlier lifestyle choices. KRUSH Brands ended 2019 as hosts of the UAE’s first sustainability roundtable. The event was even attended by Adrian Grenier and other sustainability thought leaders in the region from Tesla, Dubai Tourism and Dubai government. KRUSH Brands is committed to continuous research and innovation to enhance its sustainability efforts in an effort to ensure a better future for the generations of tomorrow.
Sister-brand Wildflower Poke & More was co-founded by Los Angeles Chef Justin Snyder. Serving a diverse and daring nutrient-dense menu, Chef Justin was determined to make sustainability a core pillar of the Wildflower brand. Partnering with Ecopack, Wildflower uses eco-friendly compostable packaging with each order. The bowls and sauce cups might look like plastic, but they are actually made from PLA, which is a compostable and natural plant-based starch. It’s biodegradable and better for our environment. Wildflower puts the responsibility in the hands of its customers to order whatever cutlery and sauces they need in order to reduce unnecessary food and package waste. In addition, Wildflower launched 35
The Sustainabilist | RAMADAN
When we heard about DEWA’s launch of the net metering system, we immediately jumped at the opportunity as we’d be able to contribute our share of being environmentally friendly, to differentiate, and to reduce financial costs. That got the ball rolling on the rest of our sustainability initiatives.
INTERVIEW
Fancy Some Chocolate? The Sustainabilist spoke with Omar Masri, General Manager at La Ronda, about how the chocolate factory has embedded sustainability in its core
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ell us a bit about La Ronda and what prompted the shift to using renewables, reducing energy consumption, and overall increasing sustainability among your business operations. La Ronda is part of Notions Group, which is a group of companies centred around innovating food concepts and then manufacturing, marketing, and distributing
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them to our global network of clients. As the competition in the confectionaries industry is quite fierce, with players much larger than us dominating the market, we thought the best way to stay ahead of the game was to differentiate, and the only way to do that was to leverage our smaller size and flat organisation to our advantage.
Which would you say is your most sustainable product? Chocodate is probably our most sustainable product from all angles. From a supply chain perspective, it’s non-GMO, UTZ, and Fair Trade certified which means there was no child labour involved and fair wages were paid to the farmers of our ingredients. Since it’s also our most successful brand, we’ve also spent the largest effort in making it as energy efficient as possible, with the final goal of one day making a carbon neutral claim on the packaging. As a first mover in deploying net metering and other energy monitoring equipment in the UAE, what benefits have you been able to draw from these practices? There’s a massive financial benefit of course, it would be difficult to convince a board of directors to go for an investment otherwise.
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However, there’s an intangible cultural benefit that inadvertently spreads amongst the company employees where sustainability becomes a consideration and then a priority, where previously it was not, and that’s definitely a source of pride. It’s also an added value when pitching to clients who also have their own sustainability initiatives, such as Carrefour, Mars and Trader’s Joe, and part of those initiatives is to select sustainable suppliers.
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It’s also an added value when pitching to clients who also have their own sustainability initiatives.
As such, all investments in equipment prioritised a lower initial cost despite an inefficient mode of operation and a high running cost. Being a 27-year-old company, we are guilty of this ourselves. In recent years, the awareness has unanimously shifted towards sustainability and consumers are voting with their dollars for sustainable products. This is creating the right environment for us and our suppliers to invest in the right direction and pursue goals such as carbon neutrality.
However, there are third party certifiers such as LEED that will take that burden of proof off of companies and create a credibility structure around sustainability. We are currently in the process of getting our LEED certification.
Do you think it’s important for ‘eco’ companies to prove they are sustainable, rather than just say they are? What’s that expression? “Data is the new gold”. We take that seriously whenever we can, otherwise we’d just be shooting in the wind.
How much importance does La Ronda place on informing all employees about sustainable practices? Sustainability is part of our DNA now. Our employees are now reinforcing sustainability initiatives and informing the management about them!
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How do the FMCG supply chains in the UAE differ from those in other continents, and have you witnessed a growth in sustainability awareness among consumers and suppliers? Classically, there has always been a stereotype about sustainability initiatives being ineffective and expensive. Moreover, the Middle Eastern consumer, manufacturer, and investor lacked the sort of awareness about climate change that we do today.
What eco-friendly projects are in the pipeline for La Ronda? Our next milestone is to electrify our logistics network by integrating electric vehicle charging stations, solar car parks, as well as hybrid and electric vehicles into our fleet. Finally, our goal is to be a platinum LEED certified and carbon neutral company through no offsets whatsoever, which is in line with our CSR initiatives and our flagship brand - Chocodate - which is also a whole food, superfood and completely natural product. 37
The Sustainabilist | RAMADAN
FEATURE
Nestlé Ensures Production of Essentials The Sustainabilist in conversation with Rainer Mueller, Nestlé Communication & Marketing Services Director in MENA, on the company’s commitments during the pandemic
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s one of the world’s largest F&B company, what strategy has Nestlé ME adopted to maintain a steady flow of supplies to consumers amidst the challenges brought about by COVID-19? During these unprecedented times, we are committed to ensuring the production
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Issue 23 | May 2020
How is Nestlé ME ensuring the safety of its workforce and frontline employees? People are at the heart of our business. We are working tirelessly to ensure that our employees, business partners and the community where we operate remain safe. In addition to our usual strict hygiene standards, we have put in place safety measures and protocols in our factories, offices and distribution centres. This includes social distancing and regular disinfections of the workplace. Our employees in factories, distribution centres, our merchandisers, and office workers are wearing masks to protect themselves and others. Has production changed in terms of quantity and types of products since the lockdowns have begun, and how does this reflect the change in consumer behaviour? Millions of individuals and families across the region rely on our continued production and distribution of needed food and beverages during the COVID-19 pandemic. To achieve this, we have increased our production and have evolved our supply planning to meet the growing demand of essential food. We continue to work closely with local entities and
governments to assess the situation and address challenges daily. Choices and actions taken by entities in response to the pandemic reflect culture and purpose. How is Nestlé’s “Good Food, Good Life” mission statement
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Our company is stepping up its efforts and mobilising relief in several ways around the world.
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and delivery of the much-needed food, pet food, and beverage products to our consumers in the UAE and in the entire MENA region. To achieve this, we are working closely with our supply chain, distribution and retail partners, and we have implemented extra hygiene measures that span our activities across the value chain. We also maintain regular engagement with the local authorities in the UAE, as we work together to find solutions to continue to ensure the continuous supply of essential foods.
being applied in the company’s initiatives to support communities in these difficult times? As the world’s largest food, pet food, beverages company, we have a critical role to play in ensuring the continued production and delivery of our products during the coronavirus crisis affecting the world and our region. Individuals and families are relying on us to do so despite any difficulties affecting our supply chain and distribution network. This is our commitment.
Rainer Mueller
Our purpose of enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future does not stop there. Our company is stepping up its efforts and mobilising relief in several ways around the world, including donations of much-needed products, as well as support for medical institutions, local authorities, food banks, and local relief organisations. Globally, Nestlé is joining forces with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in response to its emergency appeal. 39
The Sustainabilist | RAMADAN
FEATURE
Delivering Above and Beyond Talabat, the online food platform, is leveraging its networks to support the UAE government and its residents to offer its support
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mid the COVID-19 pandemic, Talabat, the online food and grocery delivery platform, is placing the community’s needs at the forefront. In March, Talabat announced that
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delivery fees would be waived, along with commission fees for small and medium businesses. The deferral has been implemented to help spur business while mounting pressure is placed on the food and beverage industry due to the novel coronavirus.
As F&B venues across the world are being severely impacted by the mandatory closures and movement restrictions, online delivery platforms are helping the struggling restaurants and workers. Commission deferrals, renewal fee waivers, and onboarding new restaurants
Issue 23 | May 2020
Talabat UAE Managing Director Muhammed Yildirim stated: “In these challenging times, we have set ourselves two very clear objectives. First, we have the responsibility to ensure we do everything possible to keep everyone safe and healthy. Secondly, we need to ensure business continuity - for everyone in our ecosystem, including our restaurant partners, and particularly the smaller ones.” In addition to this, Talabat has expanded its Daily by Talabat service to deliver groceries 24/7 across a larger area within Dubai at hypermarket prices. The Daily service was launched over two months ago and supports the stay-home measures by reducing people’s needs to leave their homes to purchase groceries. As part of the precautionary measures put in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Dubai has extended its sterilisation programme, and movement of traffic and people in the emirate remains restricted. Daily’s 24-hour free-delivery service provides customers with unlimited choice on when and what to order, unlike the many existing grocery deliveries whose capacities are being stretched with long lead times to deliver. “We’re not here to make you wait days, or even half a day, however, potentially somewhat longer than the usual 15 minutes, as we have increased our delivery radius to provide greater benefit for the residents of Dubai”, added Muhammed Yildirim. While this is all being carried out with
the maximum precautions to ensure the safety of customers, riders, and restaurant partner workers, Talabat has pledged to do even more to support the community and government in the UAE. As one of the few businesses that has been able to operate throughout the 24-hour lockdown, the food and grocery delivery platform reached out to the UAE government to offer its support and asked “How we can
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The food and grocery delivery platform reached out to the UAE government to offer its support.
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to the food delivery platform free of charge are part of Talabat’s community continuity plan to support the 4,500 small and medium size restaurants on the platform.
be of service to the community?” Through its extensive networks and logistics services, a number of initiatives have been rolled out. The first is the expansion of the medicine home delivery, DAWA’EE, by Dubai Health Authroity (DHA), across the UAE. Thanks to a partnership with Talabat,
DHA is able to deliver medication to more elders and people of determination with valid ENAYA or SAADA health insurance membership programme from the DAWA’EE pharmacy. The project aims to safeguard the health of those whom are most at risk from the virus, by allowing them to obtain their medications while remaining at home. The second initiative taken by Talabat to give back and support the community stems from a partnership with Kitopi, the leading cloud kitchen platform. Together, the two are distributing thousands of free meals to support those heavily impacted by the virus and the resulting movement restrictions. In close collaboration with Dubai Police, DHA, and Dar el Ber Society, Kitopi prepares 1,000 meals daily which are then delivered by Talabat riders to communities around Dubai that require support, such as those in Al Ras. Muhammed Yildirim said, “People are struggling, and it is particularly those who are living day-to-day or week-to week who are most affected by this, who need the most help. We would like to thank the Dubai authorities for diligently and calmly managing the situation, Kitopi for cooking the fresh meals, but also our riders – not only for delivering these meals, but for continuing to deliver food, medicines and groceries across the emirate so people can stay home.” In ensuring the provision of essential goods, like food and groceries, to people in the UAE, Talabat and its restaurant partners have been taking enhanced precautions since January, in line with the strict health and safety protocols mandated by authorities, to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 41
The Sustainabilist | RAMADAN
FEATURE
Spreading Good (Food)Karma The innovative app FoodKarma is here to rescue our food By Eugenie Dronneau
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Founder of FoodKarma
aving worked for over 10 years in the F&B industry in the Middle East, I became more and more conscious of food wastage in the region and realised it is a critical environmental issue across the globe. The level of waste is incredible; at a high level, one third of food produce is wasted, representing 1.3 billion tonnes of food a year. The global food system is responsible for up to one third of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, making it one of the largest contributors
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to climate change, according to the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, which is affecting the environment and contributing to global warming. By looking deeper into it, I could see that there was a movement to address the problem in other countries, but not in our region. Accordingly, I decided to endeavour upon developing a solution for F&B businesses by creating a platform to help reduce food waste, not only in restaurants, but
also for wholesalers, local producers, supermarkets, and hotels, by providing a B2B and B2C solution geared towards ‘rescuing’ the 3.2 million tonnes of food wasted every year in UAE, which is estimated to cost the country AED 13 billion. Here’s a simple analogy to consider: There is approximately 2.7 kg of food wasted per day per person in the UAE; this is akin to each person in the UAE throwing away approximately 10 burgers or 27 apples each day. One key myth to dispel, is that surplus means wasted, or gone off, or any similar negative connotation! The food that is wasted is usually perfectly good for consumption by an individual, had he or she arrived at that café 5 minutes earlier and happily purchased and eaten it. This is the mindset that we are trying to shift. We
Issue 23 | May 2020
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There is approximately 2.7 kg of food wasted per day per person in the UAE
Part of FoodKarma’s mission is to educate people on both the merchant and customer side, and shift the paradigm in terms of dealing with food wastage, by educating the merchants to be proactive with their menu items, ingredients, specials, etc.
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live in a country with a culture of generous hospitality and high F&B competition, coupled with the complexity of anticipating customer demand from the merchants’ side, which result in perfectly healthy, good-quality meals and ingredients being thrown away every single day.
This means that they must not allow those perfectly good and fresh food items to end up in the bin, but, instead, should make sure those items fulfil their purpose and end up in our bellies! The food items that are listed to be rescued on our app every day are offered at a cheaper price and are perfectly delicious and great quality items. They are exactly the same items that you would find in the merchant outlets or on delivery platforms. We are not trying to be another delivery company or a discount app, nor are we
trying to compete with the big boys out there. We are trying to stand for and promote sustainability, while empowering people to change their daily habits toward food consumption and wastage. Moreover, we want to encourage the ethical production and distribution of food, which is a passion of mine. All the merchants we have on the app, along with those that will be joining soon, are efficiently deminishing their wastage by being proactive and making their food available to be rescued on FoodKarma. So how does it work? Well it is pretty easy: Partners will list their food at a discounted price every day on the app. The customers can download the app for free on their Apple or Android devices. They will then be able to see all the items available to be rescued on that day from all our partners. 43
The Sustainabilist | RAMADAN
Customers can search through a world of choice, which caters to different diets, allergies, healthy or naughty treats. Additionally, they can choose from dine in, pick-up (both encourage us to save on those greenhouse emissions and help stretch our legs a little more each day) and delivery up to a 14 km radius. Our delivery radius is greater than many other delivery companies, as we are trying to broaden the market that these vendors typically have access to on the delivery side. FoodKarma is a locally developed and selffounded company, and since we launched on March 1, we have been receiving a lot of enquiries, from small homegrown concepts to larger operations.The reality is that food wastage is an issue for all stakeholders in the F&B market, big and small. The fact is, sadly, wastage might increase during this difficult and challenging time, as a result of COVID-19, due to lack of demand from either local producers or
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wholesalers, given the lack of customer orders, high commissions from delivery platforms, restaurant closures, job losses, and lock-down restrictions. In order to help our vendors during this challenging time, we have waived any commission fees from our side until September 1, 2020. We are (very) small and we are new, but we are motivated and working as hard as we can. We are trying our best to help anyone and everyone, within our financial capabilities, to get through this challenging time, and, in doing so, continuing to reduce the dramatic impact of perfectly delicious food items ending up in the waste. All food producers and manufacturers are always conscious about revenues and the bottom line, but, increasingly, they are cognisant about ethical production and distribution of food. FoodKarma provides a win-win for everyone. On the merchant side, it provides the ability to be more
sustainable and ethical in the production and distribution of food, which, in turn, reduces financial loss and boosts brand visibility while driving customer respect. On the customer side, it presents customers the opportunity to buy greatquality, fresh, and delicious food at a cheaper price, which helps and supports local F&B merchants who are doing their bit to help the environment. We are very excited to have partnered with some fantastic brands, all of whom are focussed on sustainability and ethical food production. These brands include Wild &The Moon, Dusit Thani Hotel (Jones The Grocer and 24th St. World Street Food), Cooloo Tamam, Appetite, Ultra Brasserie, Common Grounds, Foxxy Keto, Levant Corner, PokeMe, and more. It’s simple really; FoodKarma is great for the planet, great for your appetite, and great for your wallet!
Issue 23 | May 2020
Since we are only one hour away from the city center, our produce is on shelves the same day it is harvested, with a minimal carbon footprint, whereas imported goods have been stored and travelled for days before reaching the market. We are able to provide fresh, high quality, and much cheaper produce to our end consumers. What is Armela Farms’ overall mission and how will it benefit the UAE’s community, economy, and the environment? Our mission is to sell our hydroponic produce that is of high quality and high nutritional value to maximise its benefits towards healthy living in the UAE and gradually expand our footprint into the GCC.
INTERVIEW
Lettuce Be Sustainable Armela Farms’s Director Rachana Shah shares with The Sustainabilist how they are growing the UAE’s sustainable greens
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hat projects are Armela Farms currently developing? Armela Farms is dedicated to food security and sustainability. We have recently seen a huge demand in locally produced premium lettuce. Taking this into consideration, we are now in the expansion of our 2021 Abu Dhabi project. The new project, based on 3.3 hectares, is a high-tech fully-automated data-driving growing facility which will produce approximately 2,300 tonnes of lettuce per annum. As our commitment to healthy living, Armela Farms is introducing two new products, the super greens: baby spinach, and curly kale, both produced
locally, pesticide-free, and available 365 days of the year. Is the fresh produce grown in your hydroponic farms economically competitive compared to traditionally farmed and imported goods available in the UAE’s grocery stores, and why? At Armela Farms, we use hydroponic technology, which uses 70% less water than traditional farming and a much higher yield per annum. The harsh climate condition that we are exposed to in the UAE does not affect our growth and we produce both in winter and summer, unlike traditional farming which is highly affected by adverse weather conditions.
In pursuing this mission our goals are: • To achieve sustained growth • To be responsive to market changes • To be innovative in the application and development of technology to both our customers and our operating systems • To ensure the UAE is self-sustaining in terms of lettuce production
Given the recent and exponential coronavirus outbreak, how does growing produce in a controlled environment help ensure health and reduce reliance on the limited imports? Due to external unforeseen circumstances, the virus outbreak, food security and sustainability is one of the top agendas in the UAE. Our produce is pesticide free, minimum human contact, ensuring health and safety standards are to the highest level. Our fully closed production facility ensures lettuce production throughout the year, reducing the reliance on imports. 45
The Sustainabilist | RAMADAN
FEATURE
Lock Down a Quality Stay-Home Meal Pick up some healthy eating habits this Ramadan from your favourite environmentally friendly grocer
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tay-home measures have been implemented globally, but people are permitted to head to grocery stores for essentials. The Sustainabilist spoke to Warwick Gird, Marketing Manager: Brand and Commercial, Waitrose, for insight on how the British quality grocer is meeting customers’ needs during Ramadan
and other commodities available in the nation such that customers do not need to stock up items from retailer stores. Warwick Gird confirmed, “Waitrose is working as hard as possible to maintain a steady flow of products onto shelves”. He also added that contingency plans have been made by the grocer to meet demand, including considering alternative sources.
As the wise leadership of the UAE assured us, there is enough stock of food supplies
The retailer is popular among residents for its ‘quality over quantity’ philosophy,
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offering a variety of local, delicious produce, sourced from farmers and producers who share its commitment to sustainable and ethical practices. Waitrose removed unnecessary packaging in its supply chain where possible and introduced alternative packaging materials to help customers recycle, and encourages them to use reusable bags where possible. Throughout Ramadan, consumers buy more groceries as the number of dishes served for suhoor and iftar increases regardless of how many people they will be served to, as well as the fact that traditional dishes are more elaborate, and that people consume snacks and beverages throughout the night. As such, despite the movement and gatherings restrictions, we can still expect to see an increase in retail purchases during the holy month, just as in previous years. Waitrose, as every year, is ready to supply the products which are
Issue 23 | May 2020
typically in high demand during the holy month. “Customers can expect our stores to be stocked, just as they would have been during last Ramadan”, confirmed Gird.
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Cooking at home is a brilliant way of bringing the family together to switch off and explore new dishes.
In fact, the retailer has opened its eleventh branch across the UAE in Dubai’s Motor City, which is the third-largest in the country. The branch is home to the first ‘refillable zone’ which encourages customers to bring in their own containers and fill up on certain staples, including nuts, coffee, and pulses in a bid to reduce the use of plastic. Moreover, the supermarket and car park have been fitted with environmentally friendly solar panels.
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“Waitrose is committed to the highest standards in quality and environmentallyfriendly practises. A key priority is removing unnecessary plastics - something we know is equally important to our customers”. In order to practice a greener Ramadan, it is important for individuals and families to consider limiting their waste, especially in terms of food. As Muslims across the globe fast and focus their attention on giving to charity, people must also consider ‘giving’ to the environment, and not ‘taking’ its resources. Although it is part of the tradition to cook and serve an excessive quantity of voluminous dishes and meals, individuals should take the time to consider those who are less fortunate and hence not able to indulge in such ample banquets. Moreover, food waste is responsible for a substantial amount of global emissions of greenhouse gases released when sent to landfills to decompose. Ramadan is the perfect opportunity to exercise moderation on the overconsumption of meat, vegetables, fruits, juices, and snacks, especially during this time of uncertainty. In line with this,
Waitrose is asking its customers to buy only what they need in order for there to be enough for everyone. Since the initial recommendations to stay home, delivery platforms remain one of the few businesses permitted to continue to perform their services as restaurants are still open for takeout and delivery. Although quick and easy, studies conducted have found that ordering food online is causing people to do two unhealthy things – ordering more and ordering food higher in calories. We are now subject to unprecedented levels of stress so it is entirely understandable if an individual’s eating habits have changed, nevertheless we recommend adopting healthy practices, such as cooking your own meals. You might even find spending time in the kitchen to be therapeutic! Waitrose also encourages home cooking.
“Not only is it really important to be eating nutritious meals to help boost our immune system during these times, cooking at home is a brilliant way of bringing the family together to switch off and explore new dishes”, claimed Gird. On the grocer’s website, a new section has been included, titled ‘At Home, With Us’, to provide inspiration during isolation and to help people make the most of staying at home. In this section, “customers can find recipes, cooking tips and wellness activities - whether making a new dish or honing culinary skills, we hope it helps people to stay positive and healthy”, he continued. Waitrose is expecting to have its e-commerce platform up and running as soon as possible to deliver their fresh premium groceries as well as sustainable practices to your doorstep. 47
The Sustainabilist | RAMADAN
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uring Ramadan, communities, friends, and families gather to break fast and celebrate the holy month. This year, in light of the pandemic, mosques are closed and social gatherings have been banned. These precautions are necessary and leave room for us to consider our ways of living, adopting new helpful habits and discarding adverse ones. Here are some tips for a green, insightful, and joyous Ramadan:
Channel your inner Marie Kondo and tidy your space Now that we are confined to our homes, it is essential to clear the clutter and get rid of unnecessary things. Donate what is in good condition but you no longer make use of, keep and reuse the essentials, and throw the rest in the recycling bins.
Reduce your foodprint Demand for food products typically surges during the holy month as people prepare more meals to be hospitable to their guests. Avoid throwing all that delicious food down the drain by preparing the right quantity for the number of people you are feeding. Making a list before you head to the grocery store will help.
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Issue 23 | May 2020
Put those Twitter fingers to good use As people have more downtime and stay up later during Ramadan, social media usage increases. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important to only share factual information from reliable sources. Follow the government entities!
Turn off the lights We’ve all seen the images of clearer skies in China and blue waters in the Venice canals. It’s undeniable that the shutting down of factories around the world is benefitting the environment in terms of air quality. As we spend more time at home, however, it is important to try and limit our offsetting of these benefits by reducing domestic energy consumption. Turn off the lights and AC when you leave the room, take short showers, and unplug unused appliances.
Back to school. Entities, the likes of Amnesty International, Amazon, LinkedIn and many more are providing free online courses across a variety of subjects during the virus outbreak. Indulge your brain and remember that the beautiful thing about education is that it never stops!
Make the most out of this Ramadan 49
Rubicon Exotic Drinks were the pioneers of exotic juices founded in the UK in 1982. The company's mission is to create juices that taste identical to the actual fruit packed in sustainable packaging. Rubicon specialises in flavours such as mango, passion, guava, lychee, soursop (guanabana), pomegranate and watermelon. All flavours are available in both no sugar added 1 litre Tetra Brik and 330ml aluminium carbonated variants. From the consumer's perspective, they are lightweigh, shatterproof and quicker to chill. For brand owners and retailers: cans are easily stackable with high cube efficiency, meaning fewer vehicles on the road and more cans on shelves. Rubicon's products are available across the GCC at all major retailers including Lulu, Carrefour, Spinneys, Zoom, Union Co-op and Aswaaq.
www.rubicon-drinks.com
@rubiconarabia
Issue 23 | May 2020
ACADEMIA
The Role of Academic Institutions in Promoting CSR and Sustainability Academia and industry must come together for societal improvement By Dr Flevy Lasrado Programme Director for Management, Marketing and Operations at University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD)
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orporate social responsibility (CSR) has been a fixture in the business world for decades and has become embedded as leaders seek alternative ways to achieve sustainability. Universities, as the centres of knowledge generation and sharing, play a vital role in solving world’s problems by ensuring a sustainable tomorrow. Universities around the world are integrating social responsibility into their mission statements, including their research and teaching missions, for higher education is better off when it gives back to the society. The academic ecosystem has the ability to provide advanced yet frugal technical solutions, products, and technologies
for societal improvement. Industry, on the other hand, offers the activation energy and resources to deliver these solutions to beneficiaries at grass root level. CSR collaborations provide a platform to happily marry the solution providing the strength of academia with the transformational capability of industry to create empowering solutions. This quest of societal improvement also brings industry and academia closer to become valued and trusted partners while strengthening a talented and responsive network to serve an “innovation-hungry” global marketplace. Jointly executing social projects also helps build basic foundations to successfully establish longterm strategic business partnerships. At UOWD, students and staff are actively encouraged to engage with communities by partnering with local and international organisations to maximise impact on society. CSR Majlis is an initiative of the Faculty of Business to encourage greater collaboration, aimed at developing young undergraduate students to be responsible business leaders and embrace culture of corporate philanthropy. Through the curriculum, students gain a greater understanding of the conceptual toolkit for considering and practicing responsible
and ethical commerce. Through the initiative, students are exposed to several aspects of CSR from a variety of theoretical and practical perspectives. At UOWD, we believe it is important to inculcate values of sustainability and CSR in today’s graduates and tomorrow’s leaders. Overall, through the Majlis, students gain an understanding of corporate social and moral responsibility, pushing them to explore the importance of ethics in institutions and corporations and the society at large. Senior leaders with roles in promoting, leading and executing CSR provide insights into the various layers of an organisation’s work while also shedding light on the possible career choices students can contemplate. With over 120 students in attendance, it ensures a systemic and sustained thinking is inculcated in our next generation of leaders. Amidst global sustainability and sustenance concerns, the importance of corporate social responsibility and corporate responsiveness at the interface between business and society cannot be underestimated. After all, today’s youth have greatest stake in the future of this world. 51
The Sustainabilist | RAMADAN
FEATURE
The Wave of Innovation STEM recipe makes for a self-learning and environmentally aware child By Tariq al Ghussein CEO, Taqeef
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he pace of technological advancements in today’s world has unleashed a wave of innovation - creating new industries, new jobs and new expectations for tomorrow’s workforce. Indeed, according to the report ‘Future Skills – Supporting the UAE’s Future Workforce’, released by the British Council early last year, local job seekers of tomorrow will need to sharpen their skills to the highest level in order to succeed in an extremely competitive market. So, it’s no surprise to see STEM taking centre stage in education throughout the world. In today’s digitally driven climate, Science,
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Technology, Engineering and Maths skills are underpinning everything our children do – in school and at home. With e-learning and e-playing, our children are now tech-savvy from a young age. So the key for us as business and industry leaders is to harness this passion for technology and channel it into developing a generation of innovators and pioneers, right here on our doorstep. According to the 2018 edition of the ‘Future of Job’ report by the World Economic Forum, jobs for data analysts and scientists,
Issue 23 | May 2020
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Initiatives such as UAE Vision 2021 and the Emirates Mission to Mars are milestones that prove to today’s youth that the sky really is the limit.
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software and applications developers, and e-commerce and social media specialists, will increase in the years up to 2022. And, as we look beyond this, while the jobs of the future might be nameless right now, they’ll certainly be centred around technology. If we’re going to give our children the head start we all want - a STEM education seems like a sensible investment. Our own experience with STEM education
programmes (Taqeef established the iMatter CSR Schools Innovation Project in 2017) has shown us how easy it is to excite young minds, break down gender barriers, and widen horizons through hand-on experiential learning. By exposing students to STEM - by getting them into coding, robotics, clean energy design, sustainability and so much more we’re encouraging them to question and use their reason and logic to reach some new conclusions. And we do this with the hope that it will help them find their innate talent and passion in one of these fields to become the change-makers of tomorrow. It’s today’s students who will not only drive growth and stability in the economy but also project the UAE into the future. The UAE government has been instrumental in motivating the younger generation and instilling a belief that they can bring about a positive change for the country. With around 60% of the population under the age of 29, and half of those under 15, initiatives such as UAE Vision 2021 and the Emirates Mission to Mars are milestones that prove to today’s youth that the sky really is the limit.
Tariq al Ghussein
Studies show that 1.9 million jobs in the UAE will become redundant because of technology, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, 3D printing and self-driving cars. And while that’s a scary figure, it’s also an inspirational one, as the jobs of tomorrow will be created by the enquiring minds of today. By asking our children to face new challenges and opportunities, by changing the way they learn, by asking them to think about real world problems and help find solutions – we’re building the economy and the workforce of tomorrow. One idea at a time. 53
The Sustainabilist | RAMADAN
#THEGREENECONOMIST
What About the Jobs? By Ivano Iannelli CEO, Dubai Carbon
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In March, the International Labour Organization (ILO) predicted that as a result of the virus, 200 million full-time jobs were on the line. These is a menacing figure given that, at the beginning of the year, global unemployment stood at 190 million.
While all countries and sectors have been hit with a hard blow, a cause for more concern is that low and middleincome countries have some of the most impacted industries, whose workers are largely low-wage earners that have limited access to health services. These workers are at high risk of falling into poverty and will face extreme hardship during the recovery period. While 81% of the global workforce is currently affected by full or partial work closures, in Asia and the South Pacific, it is anticipated that employment reductions of 125 million full-time workers will take place.
The workers in the food and beverage, accommodation, retail and wholesale, business services and administration, and manufacturing sectors, which sum up to over 1.2 billion, are experiencing the most drastic effects caused by the disease and resulting reduced production. These sectors globally make up for almost 40% of global employment and as the ILO Chief put it, they are at the “sharp end� of where the pandemic impact is being felt.
In low-income countries, the majority of workers are employed in the informal economy, meaning that they are not covered by formal arrangements. In India, the share of those working in the informal sector is 90%, and as a result of the containment measures, approximately 400 million workers in the informal economy are severely subject to detriment. Many are being forced to return to rural areas whereby health
he coronavirus outbreak has resulted first and foremost in a human tragedy that has affected millions of people worldwide. In addition to this, the pandemic has disrupted the global economy and its impact continues to intensify.
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services are scarce, and further reversing the economic development of these countries. The largest economic sector in the majority of developing countries is agriculture. Agriculture has not yet been impacted by the coronavirus outbreak, but food insecurity risks are now emerging. With the enactment of containment measures and closing of borders, it is possible that this sector will be severely impacted and with it, its workers. As with much at this time, there is great uncertainty at large about the long-term impacts of the virus on developing countries. Government action is necessary to contain the spread and produce a jobrich and prosperous economic recovery upon the suppression of the virus. Stimulating the economy, employment, and businesses’ call for fiscal stimuli and targeted interventions by leadership in order to emerge from the crisis with minimised damage.
Issue 23 | May 2020
GREEN SEAT
CSR Role Models
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n this issue, instead of our typical Hot Seat piece, we are highlighting some of the best initiatives taken across the country to support this nation during the COVID-19 outbreak, by the CSR Role Models. Across all sectors, entities are going above and beyond to serve the community and lend a helping hand. In the hospitality sector, Millennium Hotels & Resorts MEA has pledged to provide its rooms and facilities to support the UAE during these difficult times. 60 of the group’s hotel rooms have been facilitated to be used by medical staff to rest while they wait for emergency calls. The retail giant, Majid Al Futtaim, in light of the surge in both physical and online orders at its Carrefour stores, has redeployed over 1,000 staff from VOX Cinemas, Magic Planet, Little Explorers, and Ski Dubai to new roles within the Carrefour operations. This initiative is
seeing to it that all Carrefour customer needs are met, and it also ensures staff employment. In the mobility sector, CAFU, the region’s first on-demand fuel delivery app, is providing ambulances operated by the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services (DCAS) with free fuel for a fortnight. Eliminating the need for health workers and the ambulance fleet to go to petrol stations, CAFU provides contactless fuel delivery. You’ve probably received a message from your friends or seen a story on Instagram about the Mawwal, Dolphina, Hazara Darbar, and Al Fareej Restaurants and Kitchens serving free food. These are all part of the Hazara Group. A team of 84 have handed out over 1,000 meals to people across the emirates, from workers who have lost their jobs to stranded travellers. The food delivery app, Zomato, has launched a number of programmes to
help partner restaurants and consumers alike. Loans, free subscription extensions, and funds to cover earnings lost are being offered by Zomato to restaurant partners in an effort to support the industry. Zomato customers are given the option to order a meal for someone in need. In addition to the UAE’s Central Bank’s AED 100 billion economic stimulus package unveiled last month, major national banks of the UAE are providing financial relief to their customers by adopting measures, such as the postponement of payments between one to three months, reductions in charges for cash advances, and lower down payments for first-time home buyers. The UAE is a great nation whose loyal citizens and residents are united and eager to assist each other during these trying times. With hopes that this dire situation will come to an end soon, we applaud these CSR Role Models for tirelessly supporting our community. 55
Issue 23 | May 2020
JOURNEY THROUGH THE RAINFOREST The Green Planet is located in the heart of the city at outdoor retail complex, City Walk. The 60,000 sq foot structure is inspired by the idea of an origami cube. The exterior surrounds and protects the structure’s core, a cylinder-shaped biome that houses the living environment for the thousands of species that inhabit The Green Planet.
FEATURE
Innovation Meets Nature Armstrong Ceiling Solutions brings the exotic indoor rainforest to life
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unique opportunity to experience and understand the deep diversity of tropical ecosystems and to educate themselves about fostering sustainability in these environments for the future.
The immersive science centre recreates an archetypal rainforest ecosystem, sustaining over 3,000 species of tropical plants, mammals, insects, fish and more. The centre gives visitors the
Armstrong Ceilings had the incredible opportunity to work with project architects, Grout McTavish, Dubaibased property developer, Meeras, and a number of qualified experts and consultants, to bring this remarkable project to life.
he Green Planet Dubai is not only an impressive architectural feat but also, a truly exotic experience that transports visitors from the urban desert emirate of Dubai, to the lush, tropical rainforests of the Equatorial region.
A visitor’s path through the structure has been carefully curated to showcase the rich biodiversity that inhabits every level of Equatorial rainforests. The interior of the cylindrical core is inspired by the Kapok tree. Visitors begin their journey at the base, in the flooded riverbanks of the Amazonian rainforest, full of freshwater fish and lush aquatic plant life. They are then transported to the very top of the rainforest, the upper canopy, and descend down through the biome using a series of beautiful, spiralling wooden ramps, experiencing the bountiful biodiversity that each layer of a tropical rainforest has to offer. The exhilarating journey from the skies of the rainforest, filled with birds, butterflies and bats, down to the forest floor, teeming with beetles, lizards and colourful ants, is a truly magical insight into the vibrant ecosystems that exist thousands of miles away. Visitors have the chance to connect with diverse species, helping to nurture a sense of respect towards these tropical organisms, and foster greater understanding for the importance of sustainability. SPECIALISED CEILING SOLUTIONS Given the project’s unique purpose and architecture, Armstrong Ceilings was tasked with providing innovative and beautiful solutions that would survive the structure’s simulated tropical environment, whilst 57
The Sustainabilist | RAMADAN
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Armstrong Ceilings is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of people where they live, work, heal, learn and play.
Utilising a variety of specialised materials, Armstrong Ceilings provided thoughtfully engineered metal and wood ceiling solutions for the radial walkways and video presentation rooms. Metal R-H 200 ceilings on a concealed grid system and radial bulkheads were installed along the perimeter of the building. Each ceiling type was custom made by Armstrong Ceilings with dozens of different components engineered and installed to fit perfectly.
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still remaining safe and aesthetically pleasing for visitors.
Wood Grille was one of the key materials used in this project. Wooden slats are strategically installed above the walkways to create impact and lead visitors through the structure. These wooden slats are made from Ipe wood, a beautiful exotic wood from South America. Ipe wood is almost twice as dense as most woods and up to five times harder. It is naturally resistant to rot, abrasion, harsh weather and insects, making for perfect high-humidity resistant ceilings that can endure the simulated weather conditions and constant wear and tear that the project demands.
FOSTERING SUSTAINABILITY Armstrong Ceilings’ commitment to sustainability made this project a natural fit. The organisation’s belief in reducing waste is upheld in their ability to operate facilities that design and manufacture innovative products in a way that reduces their environmental and social impact. In fact, their Metal R-H 200 material has been Cradle to Cradle Certified™. Cradle to Cradle is a globally recognised measure of safer, more sustainable products that support a circular economy and make a positive impact on society. It is this consideration for the environment that The Green Planet attempts to capture in their immersive experience and share with their visitors. Through their Slow Loris and Silent Forest programmes, the centre aims to foster conservation efforts in the UAE. Through more sustainable and effective solutions that can reduce noise, enhance daylight and improve air quality, Armstrong Ceilings is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of people where they live, work, heal, learn and play – and The Green Planet captures this perfectly. Armstrong Ceilings places people at the heart of every interior space, understanding that one’s choice of ceiling material can have a positive influence on wellbeing and comfort. Ultimately, Armstrong Ceilings seeks to inspire great spaces and foster sustainability to enhance lives. A passionate commitment to sustainability is the driving force that allows Armstrong Ceilings to contribute to the creation of a greener future.
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Issue 23 | May 2020
INTERVIEW
Summertown Focuses on Wellbeing Alongside Sustainability The Sustainabilist interviewed Marcus Bish, Managing Director of Summertown Interiors, on the fit out’s sustainability strategy and the emphasis placed on CSR
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ummertown Interiors was the first SME to receive Dubai Chamber’s Advanced CSR Label. What are some of the recent developments that have allowed Summertown to receive such accreditation?
In March, we proudly received the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Advanced Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Label for the second time. Summertown was one of seven companies to be awarded the advanced level CSR label for its achievements in 2019, and it is the
ninth consecutive year the company has received a CSR label award. The Dubai Chamber Advanced CSR Label considers a company’s approach to CSR and sustainability across seven impact areas: four standard impact areas Workplace, Marketplace, Community, and Environment; and three additional areas - Stakeholders’ involvement, Steering, and Governing. Across these seven impact areas, Summertown received an average score of 75.8% (+9.3% vs last year) for the advanced level; compared to the overall company average for the advanced level of 72.4% (+10.2% vs last year). This year, we scored 90% for ‘Workplace’ demonstrating the strength of our Health & Well-being Program, commitment to 59
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our people and human resources policies and procedures. Summertown has been measuring its performance against these seven impact areas for nine years now, and every year it has improved its overall score through its continued focus on embedding sustainability into its business practices. How much emphasis do you place on sustainable and CSR initiatives? We put a large emphasis on sustainable and CSR initiatives because they are a part of our core values, business strategy and approach – sustainability is our unique selling point. So much so that last year, Summertown developed and launched ‘JOURNEY2030’ - its three 2030 Sustainability Goals. These three goals align with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the UAE’s sustainability agenda and it includes external international green building standards. The JOURNEY2030 goals are:
Summertown Interiors
• Deliver 100% sustainable projects • Improve happiness & well-being • Zero waste by 2030 Under the ambition to ‘deliver 100% sustainable projects’, Summertown now offers all clients with projects over 2,000 sqm free Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified level certification and free ECO-SSI certification (our in-house green standard) for all projects under 2,000 sqm. This key initiative has cemented the company’s green credentials in the fitout industry and by aiming to have all Summertown projects meet externally accredited green and sustainability standards by 2030, the company is doing its part to make the cities of the UAE more sustainable. How do you measure the outcomes of your sustainability strategy? At Summertown, we measure them through two methods: sustainability reporting and sustainable practices.
We publish an annual sustainability report, which provides insight into our business and sustainable practices, and details our environmental, social and economic performance against eight material issues the company believes matter most to the business and stakeholders: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Economic performance Environmental impact People Health, safety and environment Responsible procurement Community Technology Transparency & anti-corruption
Summertown’s fourth Sustainability Report (2018-2019) continues to be prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the most widely adopted global standard for sustainability reporting. Examples of our sustainable practises
Latest results for the advanced CSR label 90%
Workplace
75.8%
Marketplace
75%
Community
57.5% 85%
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88.3%
Stakeholders inv. 71.7%
Steering
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include our Health and Well-being Programme under our ‘People’ material issue and our waste, energy and water usage which is part of our ‘Environmental Impact’ material issue.
the top five happiest countries by 2021.
We also submit annually all the information required by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce as part of their CSR label programme, who then make a detailed assessment of our progress and impact.
What do you identify as areas of opportunity? In addition to our ‘JOURNEY2030’ ambitions – technology is one of the future key areas that we identified that matters most to us and our key stakeholders, and thus we added it as a new material issue in our latest sustainability report.
What can you say about wellness and its relevance to Summertown and its products and services? Our Health and Wellbeing programme aims to reduce stress, boost morale, promote a healthy lifestyle and improve employee engagement and teamwork. We aim to integrate the fit out of office space and wellbeing programmes and policies – both in our offices and for our clients, which has a significant positive impact on people’s happiness and wellbeing. This in turn supports a more productive, engaged and fulfilled workforce, and is an important component in the UAE’s goal to be among
Also, we recognise that integrating new technologies into our operations represents an exciting opportunity including increasing efficiencies and productivity through real time data, automated and robotic equipment; improving our customer delivery through Building Information Modelling (BIM) and delivering fit outs in a more sustainable way through wireless sensors, smart buildings. All our efforts aim to contribute to the ‘United in Knowledge’ pillar of the UAE Vision 2021, focussed on building a competitive economy.
What does “doing the right thing” mean to Summertown and to you specifically? Our Vision, Mission and Values together with our sustainability strategy guide us to the ‘do the right thing’. We strive to identify and manage the environmental, social and economic impacts of our business on society and the planet in a responsible way. These include addressing the impacts which occur at different stages across our business and understanding and addressing the issues that matter most to our people, clients and stakeholders. We have been on our sustainability journey for over 10 years and we are committed to continue this legacy through our JOURNEY2030 goals. We will do this by aligning our sustainability strategy to support local and global sustainability ambitions – such as the United Nations SDGs and UAE Vision 2021, Energy Strategy 2050, Happiness Charter and 2030 Green Agenda. Our leadership believes that our business needs to be sustainable to be viable in the future – our sustainability strategy is core to this vision. 61
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CASE STUDY
Why V8 for Sustainable Redevelopment? Retrofitting buildings ensures the development of a circular economy, as well as a future for our cities By Michiel Raaphorst Architect Director & Founding partner, V8 Architects
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s a little kid I loved to destroy structures. Breaking them apart until the very last piece. Only to be able to build something bigger, more imaginary, and more efficient with the same bricks. Ask yourself, why does this pragmatic approach of our youngest generations get lost when growing up? The planning, design, and construction industry is heavily involved in creating new structures whilst often leaving existing structures behind as waste. In the insight that we overuse the capacity of our planet with more than 175% on a yearly basis, a number that is rapidly
Sijthoff - retail and offices The Hague, NL
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increasing, we radically need to change our perception. We need to learn how to harvest our existing buildings. In the Netherlands, we have a strong tradition of organic city building. We maintain buildings which have an economic value and which can
be transformed into a newly adapted usability. It is the way the Dutch are used to deal with assets they already invested in and which hold value for years to come. You could almost say it is part of our cultural DNA. In the last year and a half, my team and I have frequently worked in the UAE. Initially, to start the construction of The Netherlands Pavilion for EXPO 2020, but our journey has gone further than that. During the very first visits we got inspired by the great and genuine ambition of the UAE to change its urban environment to facilitate a post-carbon society. It is so promising to see that this change is to a substantial extent driven by the younger generation, who are able to connect global knowledge with the very resourceful local Arabic culture. Since we are architects and our key attribution is to link
Issue 23 | May 2020
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We foresee that the UAE is only at the beginning of a vital and sustainable urban development.
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technology with evolved culture, we foresee that the UAE is only at the beginning of a vital and sustainable urban development to make comfortable livable places and to facilitate communities for future generations.
neighbouring building owners to invest in the same, resulting in an even more attractive urban context for users and inhabitants. In that sense, we like to speak about a so-called catalyst. The context changes, the building responds, and the context gets stronger. This has a positive effect on real estate value.
When returning to a building after extended periods of time, like decades, 9 times out of 10, you will find that the urban context of the building will have changed drastically since its origin. Its context will have changed from monofunctional into multifunctional alongside the growth and development of the city. But it could also have moved into another direction as districts may have become economically less viable, so vacancy is felt heavily and an impulse is required.
It’s simple mathematics. Approximately 40% of total construction costs is present in buildings’ main structural components, so redeveloping makes it possible to substantially reduce costs, by eliminating the need for excavation works, substructure, and skeleton. Add to this the fact that concrete globally contribues to CO2 exhausts of over 5% and it becomes clear that a shift towards retrofitting is essential.
Our team has realised numerous inner-city redevelopments, where asset values have increased significantly, not only because the building became more efficient in maintenance costs, energy efficiency and usability, but also because the building revived its context, thus incentivising
Eager to learn more, we began having in depth talks with government bodies, knowledge institutions, and a wide
Building Layers diagram
range of experts in urban planning, economy, sustainability, architecture, and construction. We concluded these talks with a very inspiring and surprising lesson. In parallel with the Dutch way of ‘making city’: from development towards redevelopment.
R R R R R
STUFF
This pragmatic and tangible necessity to reuse existing structures serves not only the interest of the building owner and its users. The retrofit approach makes a city more resilient. Cities are in a sense just like humans, when they grow older and they are kept in good health, they become stronger and mature. In this way, cities become valuable, not only from an economic perspective but, equally important, from a perspective of identification. This creates a meaningful relation between the buildings, the urban spaces and its users.
5 years
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10 years
Redesign
SERVICES
Refurbish
SKIN
Recyle
STRUCTURE
15 years
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100 years
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©Steward Brand
SITE eternal
Like a city, a building is a complex system. It consists of different layers, each of them with their own value and lifecycle. This system can be broken down to six so-called shearing layers: Site, Structure, Skin, Services, Space plan and Stuff. Redevelopment is all about understanding the individual economy and potential of these layers and redesign, refurbish or 63
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Headquarters KPN, Rotterdam, NL
recycle them into something sustainable. To get a grip on this complexity we use a threefold approach: buildings, building components (‘layers’), and building material. The first approach is to see if the building as a whole can be reused. This deals with the relation between building and context. Redesigning some crucial parts of the building can already make a great difference: for example, upgrading the ground floor façade and entrance which provides a better connection between inside and outside to activate the public space. The second approach is to refurbish the building as a system. This may involve upgrading or replacing MEP systems, recladding the framework with a new façade to allow for an improved energy performance and fire safety. This method 64
replaces some of the ‘layers’ which have reached the end of their lifecycle but will maintain the layers which are still of value and functional. And with the third approach, we look at the smallest scale, in essence harvesting usable raw building material. This could imply aggregating concrete, reusing steel or even turning upholstery into new fabrics. All these approaches share one very important aspect: circularity. It is our responsibility as developers, designers and engineers to use the already limited resources wisely. One of the most important lessons is that there is no such thing as a fixed blueprint for redevelopment. Every building is unique and requires a realistic concept. It can be applied to vacant buildings and to buildings which need to be prepared for a
new lifecycle and to attract new users. But the tools for this concept are known and proven. Redesign, refurbish and recycle. Which makes real estate valuable in a sustainable way. Architecture and city development start with dreams, imagining a new reality in a nearby future. But this future is for a major part already here, in existing buildings and their components, which we - where possible - can redesign, refurbish and recycle. Together with building owners, governments, and institutions we continue our mission to reuse buildings in the UAE in a generous way. To apply for a more sustainable way of city making, which makes people relate to their environment and creates resilient and adaptive cities, combining long-term real estate value with an inclusive habitat for all citizens.
The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) was established in February 2018 to drive the future direction and provisioning of the emirate’s energy sector in all its forms and to create an efficient system that enables economic growth, energy security and sustainable development. DoE’s mandate includes enacting policies and regulations and developing strategies to ensure an effective energy transition that underpins Abu Dhabi’s sustainable growth, all while protecting consumers and the environment.
abudhabidoe
doe.gov.ae
Department of Energy Abu Dhabi
