TECOM Investments first in UAE to adopt Sustainable Procurement Policy

Through the policy, TECOM Investments aims to reduce the impact on the environment while procuring material for use in operations, maintenance, and building upgrades.

Abdullatif AlMulla, CEO of TECOM Investments, said 'TECOM Investments is pioneering market transformation by becoming a significant consumer of sustainable products. As a large organization, TECOM Investments' annual procurement runs into tens of millions of dirhams. By shifting towards environment friendly products, TECOM Investments is driving a shift in the market while contributing to Dubai's 2015 strategic vision on sustainability.'

TECOM Investments' Sustainable Procurement Policy intends to:

• Reduce the impact of procured materials on the indoor air quality of buildings, by optimizing the use of green-compliant materials including paints, adhesives and carpets.

• Mitigate the volume of waste stream production from buildings that may end up in landfills, by buying products with less packaging.

• Reduce ozone depletion in the atmosphere by committing to the procurement of refrigerants that are more environmentally compliant.

• Drive its current water management programme by committing to procure the following: water fixtures that comply with efficiency standards (EPA 1992); energy saving products that meet the ENERGY STAR label specifications; other devices such as LED & CFL light bulbs.

Ali bin Towaih, Director of Sustainable Energy and Environment Division (SEED), TECOM Investments, said: 'Procurement is a key activity of large organizations like TECOM Investments. This is a critical function that is well positioned to drive sustainability not only within an organization, but also transform the entire sustainability industry in any given region. We, at TECOM investments, strongly believe that sustainable procurement is one of the fastest ways to translate the vision for a green Dubai.'

As part of the Sustainable Development Policy, SEED launched a comprehensive energy conservation programme in April 2007 by optimizing the operations of electro-mechanical equipment at facilities owned by TECOM. The initiative resulted in reducing CO2 emissions by more than 3,600 tonnes over a period of seven months from April to October 2007.

Muna Al Muhairbi, Procurement Manager, TECOM Investments, said: 'Through our Sustainable Procurement Policy, we will now encourage our suppliers to make a quick shift to sustainable products that are energy efficient, environmentally friendly and resource efficient.'

TECOM Investments has the largest number of projects in the Middle East pursuing LEED certification guidelines. It also won the Best Company Award in Alternative Energy presented by Future Fuels magazine, Qatar, in 2007.

Supporting Dubai's commitment to sustainable development, TECOM Investments launched the Energy and Environment Park (ENPARK) in Dubai last year, as a free zone dedicated to companies in the sustainability business.