Etisalat Facilities Management L.L.C, a pioneer of integrated sustainable facilities management services and solutions in the UAE, today announced a strategic initiative that will see the company utilise eco-friendly cleaning products in all its operationsas part of its commitment to promote public health, safety, and environmental awareness of sustainable living.
The programme, which is aligned to the UAE’s 2021 sustainability goals, will see Etisalat Facilities Management phase out conventional cleaning products in favour of those that are environmentally friendly and free of health risks.This process will take one year, and the company already started implementing its strategic plan in the second quarter of this year.
Ali Hasan Harmoodi, Business Development Manager at EFM, said: “By using eco-friendly products that do not cause harm to human health or to the environment in general,Etisalat Facilities Management is supporting the UAE’s vision and efforts towards implementing the principles and practices of sustainable development.”
“Such initiatives increase awareness about preserving the environment and public health, through the practices of individuals or companies, in order to lay the foundations of a green and sustainable economy in the UAE.”
Harmoodiadded: “We at Etisalat Facilities Management do our best to elevate the quality of facilities management services, and to face the major environmental challenges in line with our corporate mission and continuous commitment to social responsibility.
Explaining the economic impact of switching to eco-friendly cleaning agents, Harmoodi said: “This will involve a slight increase in costs, which Etisalat Facilities Management will completely absorb given the great expected benefits. There will be no impact whatsoever on our fee structure, which is already competitive.”
EFM’s switch to eco-friendly products is also in line with a growing trend in the global facilities management sector, where procurement policies are being reviewed to favour the usage of green cleaning products. Many of the chemicals usually found in traditional cleaning products have active ingredients that may cause respiratory and dermatological problems to employees, building occupants and the environment. Green cleaning programmes are designed to alleviate such hazards to end users.
On 15 January, 2012, His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced the launch of a long-term national initiative to build a green economy in the UAE under the slogan ‘A green economy for sustainable development’. The country is coordinating efforts to become a global hub for the export and re-export of green products and technologies, and maintain a sustainable environment to support long-term economic growth.
