According to a McKinsey report, 90% of companies’ impact on the environment comes from supply chains. It makes sense, therefore, that sustainability at giant fast-moving consumer goods companies now means more than just eco-friendly packaging and environmental consumer social responsibility projects. With a growing realisation of the effects of consumerism on the environment, both consumers and companies are actively moving towards more sustainable practices.
That’s where global initiatives like the Living Business programme are helping companies become more competitive and productive by incorporating socially and environmentally sustainable practices into their business operations. By offering one-on-one expert strategic guidance, Living Business improves companies’ business governance and embeds sustainability more deeply within existing strategic, governance and reporting frameworks.
IFFCO, the UAE-based international group, which manufactures and markets a well-integrated range of mass-market food products, related derivatives, intermediates, and services, has been invited to participate in the Living Business program for three consecutive years. Their participation allowed the company to co-develop foundations for wider sustainability priorities beyond palm sustainability, where it started in 2019.
“We want to create products that not only our customers and consumers enjoy but also contribute to positive environmental and social impacts, thus, sustainability is the way forward. IFFCO first joined the Living Business program in 2020 to learn the best practices from field experts and to challenge ourselves to better understand how to implement sustainability in every action we take,” says Rizwan Ahmed, Executive Director at IFFCO.
When assessing sustainability in FMCGs, important environmental metrics to consider are carbon footprint, use of energy and water, waste handling, recyclable and climate-efficient packaging and sustainable sourcing. IFFCO's participation in the Living Business program has confirmed the importance of embedding sustainability as an ingredient in manufacturing its products and have since appointed a senior executive to run sustainability initiatives globally, reporting to the Executive Director. The growing sustainability team is driving a sustainability strategy and action plan at its 23 production sites and across the organisation globally. During its participation in 2021, IFFCO identified 25 sustainability projects that were undertaken and planned at various sites, one of which was the Living Business-sponsored energy audit conducted by external expert with plans to implement scaled energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
From solar-powered plants for olive oil in Spain and seed crushing in Pakistan that are using 43% and 14% respectively of their energy consumption from renewable sources, to sourcing traceable and sustainable palm oil at its facilities in Indonesia, UAE, KSA, Egypt and Pakistan, to innovation in making sustainable packaging using less paper and plastic materials, as well as collaborating with an Egyptian recycling project, Green Pan, to help collect used cooking oil from households and turn it into biofuel, IFFCO’s sustainability actions are becoming second nature.
As IFFCO recognizes that its impact on environment also comes from supply chain, the company has been working on palm sustainability since early 2019 and is is committed to sourcing and processing traceable and sustainable palm oil for its facilities. Its palm oil roadmap will guide its progress towards that commitment and light the way to establishing partnerships that create scalable impacts.“While IFFCO does not own or operate palm oil plantations and mills, our company is dedicated to only source from third-party suppliers that embrace the same sustainability commitment and achieve traceability to mill and plantations. Our refinery in Indonesia, which supplies nearly 50% of IFFCO Group palm requirement, is constantly working with suppliers to map the supply base, to obtain understanding regarding deforestation risk and properly inform the necessary action. This helps us to establish global footprint and baseline traceability scores for our palm oil supply chain,” Ahmed says. The refinery in Indonesia achieved 100% traceability to mill (TTM) and 84% traceability to plantation (TTP) for the volume processed in 2020/21 and is set to continue the effort it has begun since 2020 to further increase the TTP score for 2021/22 volumes.
Sustainability allows companies to improve their environmental footprint and their market reputation but can also deliver benefits at the checkout counter. According to the EY Future Consumer Index, 43% of global consumers want to buy more from organisations that benefit society. That intention offers a major growth opportunity for consumer-facing companies as the industry rebuilds value chains in the wake of the pandemic, the report says.
But while green business strategies will pay off at the checkout counter, delivering the value consumers seek must become an integral part of operations.
For its part, IFFCO understands that sustainability is a journey, not a destination. As Ahmed puts it, “Building a sustainable practice requires transformational organisation change and a continuous effort that extends across the business. Our collaboration with HSBC Living Business program helped us pinpoint challenges and areas of improvement within our processes.”
● The platform aims to accelerate the transition to sustainable mobility in the UAE through flexible and convenient electric car-sharing
● MOTOR offers customers access to premium leading electric vehicle brand Tesla, including the Tesla Model 3 and soon the Tesla Model Y, with EVs from other leading brands to follow
● Businesses and individuals who utilise the service can also enjoy perks such as complimentary RTA parking across Dubai and EV charging across key areas in Dubai
● Upcoming plans include expanding further across the Emirates through the rollout of an EV subscription platform and a charging network service by the end of 2022
Dubai, UAE: MOTOR, the electric vehicle car-sharing platform, has announced its launch in the United Arab Emirates. As a part of its mission to reduce the region’s carbon footprint through responsible transportation, MOTOR provides access to world-leading electric vehicles (EVs) through its car-sharing platform, Motor SHARE, which offers users short and long-term options at affordable prices.
With fuel costs on the rise around the world alongside the ambitious visions of the UAE, including the 'UAE Net Zero 2050' and the government's commitment to converting 20% of its fleet of government-owned automobiles to electric alternatives by 2030, has seen a substantial increase in demand for electric vehicles across the Emirates.
Thanks to a simple registration process on the MOTOR Share app, UAE residents can locate and rent MOTOR’s electric vehicles, which feature the Tesla Model 3 and soon the Tesla Model Y alongside other leading brands, in just a few taps. The platform provides lucrative perks, including complimentary parking in all public RTA spaces across Dubai, free EV charging, comprehensive insurance, and affordable tariffs.
In addition to accessing features of leading EVs state-of-the-art technology and design, the MOTOR Share app offers advanced features, including the option to cool the car ahead and during rides. Additional AI features will also soon be rolled out, including a ‘safety score’, which will reward safe drivers and warn drivers at risk.
The MOTOR Share platform offers car-sharing opportunities for consumers, who can enjoy the flexibility of renting a vehicle by the hour or for up to two years. Moreover, consumers also have the option to display their owned vehicles on the platform.
Businesses who utilise the platform will benefit from many efficiencies, allowing companies to aggregate car rentals into one platform thanks to custom mobility solutions, providing a flexible opportunity to increase their car rentals' own fleet utilisation.
Hamad AlMazrooei, Co-Founder of MOTOR, said: “As the UAE moves towards reinforcing its resolve to fight climate change through the ambitious 'UAE Net Zero 2050', more and more businesses and residents are looking to convert to electric vehicles. Our goal at MOTOR is not only to further accelerate the sustainable transition to EVs, but we also want to make sustainable mobility more accessible, affordable, and flexible.”
Following the launch of its EV sharing platform, MOTOR aims to roll out its EV subscription service and a charging network by the end of 2022. Moreover, the platform plans to roll out a sustainable driving award points system aimed at unlocking rides and discounts.
Source: Press release
Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD), the Agency announced today the launch of the ‘Green Industries’ environmental labelling programme.
The innovative programme is tailored based on best international practices in the field of eco-labelling while taking into consideration the nature of the industrial sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The programme aims to build mutually supportive partnerships to enhance and appreciate the contribution of industrial facilities in the field of environmental protection.
The ‘Green Industries’ environmental labelling programme encourages industrial facilities to find innovative pollution control solutions and apply best environmental practices leading to an increase in environmental compliance levels across all sectors, by granting an ‘environmental label’ to those organisations with outstanding environmental performance.
The programme was launched during an event held at the headquarters of EAD in the Al Mamoura building by Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of EAD, in the presence of Mohammed Saeed Al Nuaimi, Assistant Under-Secretary of Support Services Sector of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.
Also attending were several representatives of government entities and strategic partners in the country, in addition to representatives of various industrial sectors.
During the event, EAD bestowed honorary recognition on selected industrial establishments for their impeccable environmental compliance with environmental laws, legislation and conditions. The facilities were also recognised for their investment in the application of best practices in the field of research and development to find innovative environmental solutions for pollution control and conservation of natural resources. All in the support of the UAE’s green march and to help realise Abu Dhabi’s Vision 2030 initiative, created to integrate the three aspects of sustainable development; economic, social and environmental.
The honourary recognition was awarded to Emirates Global Aluminium, the world's largest ‘premium aluminium’ producer and the biggest industrial company in the UAE outside of the oil and gas sector. Nawah Energy Company (Nawah), the Joint Venture subsidiary of Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), in charge of operating and maintaining the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, the first civil nuclear energy plant in the UAE and the Arab World, located in the Al Dhafra Region and Al Wafi Food Products Company, part of the Wafi Group of Companies, were also awarded.
The three facilities were recognised for their outstanding environmental performance, judged via environmental inspections and environmental monitoring reports, which demonstrated the efficiency of the companies’ environmental management in applying best practices to reduce pollution and protect the environment.
The programme will award facilities a Green Industries label based on environmental criteria split into four major categories. The first category is the demand-side management of resources, which looks to rationalise consumption, while considering the optimal use of energy and preservation of resources. The second category relates to pollution reduction from primary and secondary operations.
The third category involves entities, that in the view of EAD, have an impeccable history of compliance with EAD requirements. This is based on compliance score(s) that are included in the facility’s monitoring reports, allied with EAD environmental inspection reports.
Finally, the programme also includes an assessment category that distinguishes novel and innovative approaches by entities to protect the environment, promote economic growth, and enhance the quality of life for Abu Dhabi residents. Industries must adhere to criteria in all four categories to be recognised and awarded a ‘Green Industries’ environmental label.
In a speech given at the initiative’s inauguration event, Dr. Al Dhaheri, said, "This programme was created in support of the directives issued by the UAE and Abu Dhabi government in the field of environmental protection, and sustainability of its natural resources, stemming from the diligent and continuous work laid down by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The late Sheikh Zayed’s legacy is continued by our wise leadership, and the culmination of EAD’s consistent efforts to ensure the ongoing development in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is in accordance with the best environmental standards."
Dr. Al Dhaheri affirmed, "The launch of ‘Green Industries’ is fully aligned with the newly launched Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy and comes under the framework of our comprehensive programme to protect environmental gains in Abu Dhabi through an integrated strategy for sustainable development, the integrated management of water resources, and improvement of air quality and waste management. This multidisciplinary effort helps preserve biological diversity, increase environmental awareness and develop EAD’s institutional capabilities, as well as help contribute to the UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative."
Dr. Al Dhaheri added, "Several countries are implementing environmental labelling programmes to achieve their strategic goals. Studies have proven that companies' commitment to their environmental responsibilities towards society helps raise performance efficiency and facilitates market access, in addition to enhancing the reputation of these companies in the local and global community. They need to overcome the challenges of visualising environmental tools as a cost centre, and not as a source of enhancing revenue. Our main objective of this programme is to increase consumer awareness of the environmental impacts of industrial processes and the importance of choosing the most environmentally friendly products. The shift in market demand for eco-products will encourage these enterprises to apply best environmental practices in a bid to attract more consumers."
The launch of the new programme aims to celebrate industrial facilities that adopt and follow best environmental standards during the manufacturing process, with the ‘Green Industries’ label granted for a period of one year.
The Agency has been working on upgrading its compliance activity portfolio, and now through its ‘Green Industries’ programme, industrial facilities can apply for the label online.
The Agency will review and evaluate the applications, with visits conducted to the participating facilities to ensure their compliance with the programme’s criteria. The Green Industries label will be awarded to compliant facilities to market their company and products.
After launching the programme today, EAD will carry out in-depth training for facilities in various industrial sectors to educate them on how to comply with the programme’s criteria and application procedures. This is in addition to launching a wide media campaign to educate consumers about the programme’s objectives, and publicly recognise facilities that have been awarded the ‘Green Industries’ label.
Source: Zawya
Abu Dhabi renewable energy company Masdar has launched an online platform, SkillUP, to equip one million young people by 2030 with the knowledge and skills necessary to fight climate change in their communities, schools and workplaces.
Launched under Masdar’s Youth 4 Sustainability (Y4S) initiative, SkillUP platform harnesses the appeal of a gamified mobile app to engage young people in the fight against climate change by offering them opportunities to develop skills critical to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Masdar said in a statement on Saturday.
The programme will also enhance their employability, Masdar said.
“Empowering young people to become sustainability champions is the core mission for Y4S as we at Masdar recognise that young people have significant untapped potential to drive sustainable change, and it’s critical that we educate and prepare them now to meaningfully contribute to our global energy transition,” Lamya Fawwaz, Masdar executive director of brand and strategic initiatives, said.
“Masdar works through Y4S to engage students and young professionals wherever they are, and in ways they find compelling, which is why SkillUp’s globally accessible, mobile platform is so promising.”
The UAE is taking the lead regionally and stepping up efforts to hit its target to reach net zero emissions by 2050 through a wide-ranging green strategy focused on a shift to renewable energy and the adoption of new technology.
The UAE will host the Cop28 climate conference at Expo City Dubai in 2023. The meeting of world leaders in November 2023 will seek to find solutions to the threats posed by climate change.
At the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties, as it is formally known, leaders will be urged to commit to tougher action on climate change, including cutting the use of coal-fired power stations, reducing reliability on fossil fuels and boosting renewable energy sources.
The Y4S SkillUp platform provides 42 hours of learning and engagement opportunities, from video presentations to information materials, activity sheets, and quizzes, all of which focus on more than 20 skills that are relevant to achieve the SDGs, Masdar said.
Users can complete specific courses to earn certificates for each of the skills. Some focus areas include Stem (science, technology, engineering and math) knowledge, critical reasoning, digital fluency, innovative thinking and new media literacy, among others.
The platform also offers users guided lessons about each of the 17 SDGs. They can define SDG-related challenges in their daily lives and pitch workable solutions for their communities, schools, and workplaces, Masdar said.
The Y4S initiative hosts two year-long education and skill training programmes: the Future Sustainability Leaders and Sustainability Ambassadors schemes.
Both aim to empower the next generation of sustainability leaders by connecting them with global policymakers, corporate decision-makers, entrepreneurs and technology pioneers to learn about best sustainability practices, according to the statement.
The FSL programme targets university and post-graduate students aged 18 to 35, while SA targets students aged 13 to 17 in high school.
Source: The National UAE
Plastic ban, recycled plastic trolleys, efficient energy systems, and more, Grandiose Supermarkets led the way ahead of the ban on Single-use plastic.
Among the industry's leaders in sustainability, Grandiose Supermarkets remain at the forefront. A change ‘maker’, not an ‘adopter’, the corporate giant was the first retail chain to completely replace single-use plastic bags at checkout with free-of-cost paper bags back in 2018. Since pioneering the movement, Grandiose Supermarkets have saved more than 15 million bags (including both in-store and e-commerce sales) which would otherwise end up in landfills and pollute waterways.
In addition to banning single-use plastic shopping bags, Grandiose has heavily invested in shopping trolleys made of recycled ocean plastic. The recyclers utilize ghost fishing nets and ropes which when left at sea cause pollution through toxic gas emissions, statistically killing 100,000 marine animals each year. The materials are made of polypropylene (PP) and every kilogram of the thermoplastic equates to 2.5kg of CO2, which, when recycled, is reduced by 80 % by Grandiose Supermarkets.
Supplementing their efforts to reduce the carbon footprint even further, the retail chain has employed energy-efficient machinery, technology, and store fit-outs to reduce emissions through state-of-the-art fridges, freezers, and storage. Having streamlined operational processes by sourcing and supporting locally grown products, carbon by-products produced through supply chain logistics are also negated. Other measures include having an efficient lighting system which deploys LED lighting and implementing occupancy sensors and day/night sensors to reduce electricity wastage.
Since its inception, Grandiose works to continually add more initiatives to its extensive sustainability portfolio to amplify their True Family Value promise. While these practices make a positive contribution to the environment, they also encourage consumers to partake in the movement, and shop and consume sustainably. This is furthered by hosting child-friendly workshops by Grandiose to ensure environmentally conscious values are inculcated well in their formative years and the principles of recycling are integrated into their daily lives.
Grandiose CEO, James Scott, is set to extend sustainable morals through more initiatives set to launch in 2022, and says, “The UAE is slowly transitioning towards a greener and cleaner future and the vision of Grandiose Supermarkets is attuned with the region’s target to achieve a Net Zero on carbon emissions by 2050. The responsibility of being environmentally conscious rests on all of us but more so on retail chains and corporations for the significant contribution we can make to pull the region out of ‘environmental vulnerability.”
He further said, “The ban on single-use plastic is imperative to modulate operations and progress the future towards a circular approach. Once corporations see the ecological sense in these economic measures, they will not just adopt the change but also embrace it.”
Source: Zawya
In line with its commitment to the net-zero climate impact and to reaching Panasonic Environment Vision 2050, the brand has announced PANASONIC GREEN IMPACT initiative globally with an aim to contribute to society-wide reductions in CO2 emissions by switching customers to energy-saving products and supplying energy-saving solutions and green energy technologies to B2B/B2G customers.
Climate change is a defining issue that requires immediate action to help build a more sustainable and inclusive future. While it may seem that the impact is a slow burn and a direct effect rarely felt, climate change is still a severe threat that could endanger lives on earth. In fact, CO2 emissions continue to increase. In 2021, global emissions increased by nearly 5% over the previous year. According to a report published by Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, the world now has a 66% chance of surpassing 1.5°C of global warming over pre-industrial levels within the next decade.
Panasonic GREEN IMPACT Initiative
“As Panasonic, we are now focused on achieving a global CO2 emission of net-zero by 2030 across the entirety of our business operations. Around the world, it is estimated that more than 1 billion customers using Panasonic products every day create 86 million tons of CO2 emissions based on electricity consumption figures. This amounts to approximately 110 million tons of CO2 emissions across our entire value chain, a number that is equivalent to about 1% of total emissions from global electricity consumption. Thus, it is Panasonic's duty to reduce these emissions as they have an enormous impact on our planet. The GREEN IMPACT policy will make Panasonic better in the coming future and thus help us manner a more sustainable future for the coming generations,” commented Mr. Hiroyuki Shibutani, Managing Director, PMMAF.
Panasonic factories located in the various parts of the world use renewable energy for power, and have energy-efficient fixtures and smart lighting, and HVAC system. Meanwhile, in the regions such as the middle east, where the brand doesn’t have production facilities, it continues to provide energy-efficient products helping to reduce the impact by Panasonic customers.
“We will continue and expand upon our work to reduce emissions caused due to the use of our products by developing and providing new technologies and solutions to increase efficiency for our customers in the business and government sectors. By strengthening our efforts in these areas, we aim to accelerate society’s transition to clean energy,” Shibutani added.
By 2050, Panasonic Group aims to create impact that reduces CO2 emissions by more than 300 million tons*1, or about 1% of the current total global emissions*2
*1* 300 million tons calculated with 2020 emission factors
*2* 33.6 billion tons of energy-related CO2 emissions in 2019 (Source: IEA)
Contributing to a "Global Energy Revolution"
In countries around the world, we are now seeing efforts to accelerate the switch to renewable energy in grid power. This has given rise to a movement, including among individual energy consumers, for promoting "electrification" - the process of replacing equipment that burns fossil fuels with electrical equipment - spurring Panasonic Corporation to seize the opportunity to advance its efforts in a range of areas.
Lithium-Ion Batteries for Electric Vehicles
Critical to the achievement of a carbon neutral society is the popularization of environmentally friendly vehicles. Panasonic is leveraging its battery technology and production know-how cultivated over many years to strengthen its competitiveness (on battery capacity, cost and supply capability) in the development and mass production of lithium-ion battery packs for electric vehicles (EV). Take, for example, the cylindrical, high-capacity 4680 cell set to become the mainstream: while continuing to improve the strengths of its batteries, which include high quality and high safety, Panasonic aims to lead the industry on cost competitiveness through consistent productivity advancements.
Strengthened competitiveness is extremely important to the evolution and spread of electric vehicles. Combined with advancements on the below-mentioned initiatives for reuse and recycling, we will make exhaustive efforts at reducing the environmental burden.
RE100 Solutions
RE100 Solutions is Panasonic's initiative to power energy consumption across its entire operations with 100% renewable energy generated in-house utilizing combined technologies of pure hydrogen fuel cells, solar cells, and storage batteries. A proof-of-concept started in April 2022 at the fuel cell factory in Kusatsu, Shiga Prefecture. Panasonic will cultivate new paths for the expansion of renewables through the full-scale application of hydrogen.
"Aquarea" Heat Pump Hot Water Heater
The Panasonic Aquarea hot water heater with built-in heat pump now available on the European market transfers heat captured by a heat pump from ambient air to make hot water with minimal power and with much lower CO2 emissions than conventional heaters powered by fossil fuels. In addition to increased use of power from renewable sources, electrification enables an energy time shift by storing sometimes unreliable renewable power as hot water, thereby limiting the burden on the power grid and contributing to the faster spread of renewables.
Contributing to a Circular Society
Also, critical to resolving the Earth's environmental issues are efforts to create a circular society. Panasonic's initiatives are not dependent on the consumption of natural resources; Panasonic is working towards reduced CO2 emissions throughout the product lifecycle based on the concept of a circular economy for sustainable growth.
Recycling Resin from Home Appliances
To make the best possible use of resin found in many home appliances, Panasonic is expanding the applications of resin recycled from obsolete home appliances. Panasonic's proprietary technology allows for rapid classification and collection of three types of resin in highly purified form. The resin retrieved through this process is reborn as part of new products. Panasonic is working to develop technologies for the efficient collection and recycling of these kinds of resources, while also minimizing resource investment at the manufacturing stage and improving quality across every process in the resource cycle.
Model for Recycling Battery Materials
As already mentioned, Panasonic is working to strengthen the competitiveness of its EV lithium-ion battery business which also ties into the realization of a circular society. We are strengthening the reuse of resources not only through collection and recycling of batteries according to each country and region's regulations, but also through the recovery of losses in the production phase and discontinued products.
Moreover, as well as working to make products last longer, by developing technologies such as controls on charge/discharge based on the specific characteristics and usage conditions, Panasonic can ensure every battery is used for longer, thereby further advancing its contributions to the achievement of a circular society.
These are just some of Panasonic's wide-reaching initiatives. Panasonic aims to contribute to a carbon neutral future in all facets of society, solving global environmental issues by reducing CO2 emissions from operations and products, offering solutions for operational efficiency, and supplying a range of technologies to harness renewable energy resources.
Not Only For Us, For Future Generations Too
Panasonic embarked on a new organizational structure from April 2022, with divisional companies operating independently. While each company's purpose differs, the common goal is the realization of "an ideal society with affluence both in matter and mind."
Panasonic's founder Konosuke Matsushita declared his goal for achieving this "ideal society with affluence both in matter and mind" when he devised the 250-year plan. Concurrent affluence in both material and spiritual terms is the key to happiness, and Panasonic committed itself to being the one to realize this "ideal society in which every individual is happy" over 250 years. The concept is not one of sacrificing ourselves for the sake of future generations, rather it is about experiencing happiness in living out our lives and making the next era better on top of that.
Essentially, at the root of Panasonic's mission is the concept of achieving a state of well-being - happiness in both body and mind - to pass on to future generations through sustainable management. Sustainability management is achievable by putting that concept into practice, and Panasonic's Basic Business Philosophy revised last year for the first time in 60 years is simply a code of conduct to that end.
Panasonic GREEN IMPACT represents an extremely important component of that mission. The brand stands as one to take on the challenges for people today and for future generations.
Source: Zawya
DUBAI: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has announced that Dubai Taxi Corp. has added Tesla Model 3 to its taxi fleet for a trial after operating 172 Tesla vehicles since 2017, according to the Dubai Media Office.
During the trial run, the vehicle will be deployed on the emirate’s taxi fleet to test its efficiency.
Mattar Al-Tayer, director general and RTA’s board chairman, said: “In 2017, RTA started the operation of 172 Tesla vehicles as part of the limousine fleet of the Dubai Taxi comprising 80 Tesla Model S, 50 Tesla Model X, and 42 Tesla Model 3,” he said.
Al-Tayer noted that these vehicles were highly efficient, especially in terms of carbon emissions and customer satisfaction.
“The success of that experiment prompted us to widen the scope of using electric vehicles as part of the Dubai Taxi fleet over the upcoming years,” he said.
In his view, the experiment supports Dubai’s effort to transform 90 percent of its limo fleet into eco-friendly vehicles by 2026.
Circular economy transition
As part of its drive toward sustainable economic development, the UAE has approved 22 policies aimed at accelerating the country’s transition to a circular economy.
According to the government, the UAE Circular Economy Council’s policies will cover four main sectors: Manufacturing, food, infrastructure, and transportation.
Furthermore, the council identified 16 circular economy activities that offer opportunities for businesses, such as upcycling textile waste into new products and developing AI-driven waste management solutions.
Minister of Climate Change and Environment and Minister of State for Food Security Mariam Almheiri said: “Our current linear economy consumes valuable materials and resources without being able to benefit from them after use, which represents waste in the modern concept of sustainability.”
“Our approach seeks to protect our environment and to ensure the long-term economic and social prosperity of our country,” she added.
Circular economies focus on reducing the extraction of natural resources, minimizing waste, and restoring natural systems.
Renewable energy sources fuel economic activity by maintaining the value of raw materials, components, and products.
Source: Arab News (https://arab.news/ynfe9)
Al Masaood Power Division, leaders and experts in power solutions, has signed a distribution agreement with Sunstream International to spearhead the future of solar panel solutions in the GCC.
The agreement, which was signed on June 7, 2022, is aimed at creating the widest and the most sustainable range of patented containerised, towable, and movable solar stations, which can be used in the agriculture, oil and gas, mining, and road construction sectors in the GCC region.
The agreement between Al Masaood Power Division and Sunstream International - a French innovation company with a production site in Germany - also intends to generate green and local electricity even in hazardous, remote, and challenging conditions.
Sustainable energy
Hani El Tannir, CEO, Group Industrial, said: “The UAE and other countries in the Gulf region are ambitiously transitioning toward more sustainable energy sources with solar energy emerging as an important solution to fulfil the energy needs of the region. The UAE is pioneering the adoption of innovation and best-in-class technologies that will help build a sustainable future for the country in line with our commitment to reducing CO2 emissions. Other countries across the GCC are also working towards realising their national decarbonisation goals by fostering solar energy as the anchor to national renewable strategies.”
With this agreement, Al Masaood Power Division intends to use Sunstream International’s first generation of mobile and modular plug-and-play solar solutions on a larger scale to meet the energy demand of the GCC, as there is little presence of clouds, 20 per cent around the year in the region. Solar power plants in the region can expect 1,750 to 1,930 hours of full-load operation per year.
Accelerating the shift
Rasso Bartenschlager, General Manager, Al Masaood Power Division, said: “We are a pioneer in power solutions with our top focus on accelerating the shift to sustainable energy sources, solar being one of them. The Middle East is at the center of the global energy transition with a huge influx of investment for renewables, including the solar energy sector. We as a leading power solutions provider understand our role in facilitating the transition to clean and renewable energy sources, with GCC countries switching to green and sustainable economies.
“The GCC solar photovoltaic (PV) market is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 12.5% during the coming years with the countries in the region targeting to increase the share of renewable energy in their energy mix by 2050. This partnership also represents an important short-term and long-term business opportunity as the GCC countries are an ideal market for renewable energy deployment.”
Hence, such a trend is expected to create opportunities for the market to grow in the near future. Despite trends showing that natural gas will remain the primary source of power in the region, Al Masaood Power Division will continue to heavily invest in renewable energy to provide sustainable electricity through solar energy.
Path to net-zero
Frederic Bouvet-Haas, CEO, Sunstream International said: “It would be challenging to enable net zero strategies and deliver paths to sustainable growth without working together to come up with lasting solutions. We need to understand that the path to net-zero is unique for every nation, but we must find new ways to meet the surging energy demand while rapidly reducing carbon emissions. We, at Sunstream International, believe that innovation will save our planet. The shared agenda to generate green and local electricity is in line with our partner Al Masaood Power Division’s commitment to facilitate the region's transition to clean and renewable energy sources aimed at fostering sustainable economies.”
“After having installed big wind and solar parks worldwide for more than a decade, we have decided to design the first generation of mobile and modular plug-and-play solar solutions, minimising environmental impacts and eliminating the use of concrete or cement. The GCC region is ready for achieving more sustainable production of green electricity, in record time without complex civil work requirements,” he added.
Al Masaood Power Division has been a trailblazer in power solutions since 1970, with a strong focus on fostering innovation, best-in-class technology, and infrastructure to meet the energy needs of the region. Credited to be the first to introduce the hydrogen-powered flying boats and world-class electric generators in the country, the division offers leading power brands such as MTU, Leroy-Somer, and Volvo Penta generators and after-sales services to the UAE and Bahrain.
Source: Zawya
Initiative aims to promote the emirate’s environmental and biological diversity
The Abu Dhabi authorities have installed bird boxes in parts of the capital to provide safe places for the animals to nest.
It has also provided bird baths and feeders for them to get through the hot summer.
The Department of Municipalities and Transport is leading the project, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said on Sunday.
It aims to promote the emirate’s environmental and biological diversity.
Photos of the initiative showed wooden bird boxes hanging from trees in several parks.
Abu Dhabi has long been committed to safeguarding the environment.
The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi's latest annual report highlighted its success stories.
The 2021 report highlighted the launch of a coral reef rehabilitation project in the region, which led to the rehabilitation of a million pieces of coral reef in the capital.
The agency also released 150 turtles back into their natural habitat.
Source: The National News
The new policies will focus on four main sectors of manufacturing, food, infrastructure and transport
The UAE has approved 22 policies aimed at accelerating the country's transition to a circular economy, as part of its push towards sustainable economic development.
The UAE Circular Economy Council's policies will focus on four main sectors: manufacturing, food, infrastructure and transport, the government said on Sunday.
“Our current linear economy consumes valuable materials and resources without being able to benefit from them after use, which represents waste in the modern concept of sustainability,” said Mariam Al Mheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment and Minister of State for Food Security.
“Our approach seeks to protect our environment and to ensure the long-term economic and social prosperity of our country.”
The UAE, which has pledged to reach its net-zero carbon goal by 2050, has announced measures to drive sustainable economic growth and work towards its climate change targets.
A circular economy is an economic system that focuses on reducing the extraction of natural resources, minimising waste and regenerating natural systems. Raw materials, components and products keep their value for as long as possible, while renewable energy sources are used to fuel economic activity.
Adopting circular economy principles could deliver $26 trillion in economic benefits by 2030, according to the Global Commission on Economy and Climate.
Last week, the Abu Dhabi government said it would invest Dh10 billion ($2.72bn) to double the size of its manufacturing sector by 2031. To support this, it will develop a new circular economy regulatory framework to ensure that the industry is operating on a sustainable basis.
The UAE Circular Economy Council approved the 22 policies during its second meeting this year.
During the meeting, the council highlighted eight relevant trends, including waste-to-resource, reuse, artificial intelligence, remanufacturing, bio-based materials and repair work.
It also identified at least 16 circular economy activities that open opportunities for businesses, such as upcycling textile waste into new products, developing artificial intelligence-enabled waste management solutions and remanufacturing electronic waste.
“Many key stakeholders in the UAE have already started to embrace circular economy principles,” the minister said.
With 45 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions resulting from manufacturing cars, clothes, food and other products used daily, the circular economy has great potential to reduce emissions and mitigate the climate crisis, she said.
The committee continues to implement the UAE Circular Economy Policy 2021-2031 through programmes and projects that are set to attract investments to this field, said Abdulla bin Touq, Minister of Economy and head of the council’s Circular Economy Policies Committee.
“Efforts are also being exerted to establish a circular economy database, in addition to offering incentives to encourage the private sector to shift towards clean production methods, thereby enhancing the UAE’s competitiveness as one of the leading circular economies regionally and globally,” he said.
Approved in January 2021, the UAE Circular Economy Policy identifies the best approach to the country’s transition to a circular economy. Its objectives include building a sustainable economy and promoting efficient use of natural resources. It also encourages the private sector to shift to cleaner industrial production methods by using AI and other advanced technologies.
The UAE Circular Economy Council comprises 17 representatives of federal and local government entities, private sector businesses and international organisations.
Source: The National News
