Industry responds to the UAE's crackdown on carbon emissions

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The hospitality sector is taking serious steps to stamp out excessive carbon emissions in operations.

The UAE Ministry of Environment and Water has appealed to the F&B industry in an effort to crack down on the region’s carbon emissions.

The UAE Ecological Footprint Initiative - known as Al Basama Al Beeiya - calls for the cooperation of all companies in order to accurately gauge the UAE's total emission profile.

"This is primarily so that we can better understand our nation's ecological footprint," said UAE Minister of Environment and Water, Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahad.

F&B suppliers to the region could respond to the call by reducing carbon emissions accrued in production and transit, explained Simon Woolley, founder of New Zealand-based water brand Antipodes.

"I think people in Dubai are starting to take more of an interest in the green issue."

"That's why we have started to include eco-awareness in our logistics and operations," he said.

On a regional and international level, Six Senses Resorts & Spas is reducing its footprint by removing imported drinking waters from the menus at all its resorts, effective from October 1.

This initiative is in recognition of the considerable and unnecessary carbon emissions that result from shipping drinking water long distances, said the group's chief operating officer Jamie Waring.

"We surveyed many guests and held blind tasting sessions with Six Senses water. Many people were not able to distinguish between their favourite branded water and the Six Senses water," he said.

The Fairmont Dubai is also taking steps to reduce its carbon footprint through environmentally-friendly practices explained PR manager and Green Team leader Alka Patel.

"In an effort to conserve water, the Fairmont Hotel has installed aerators (flow restrictors) on all faucets in the hotel."

"Normal faucets deliver three to four gallons of water (11 to 13 litres) per minute. Aerators cut this amount in half, with no detectable difference in performance. The end result is a reduction of water consumption by almost 40%," she said.

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