“As an essential service, we believe the retail sector also has a responsibility to reduce our impact on the environment. This can be as simple as offering customers the choice of using a paper bag to carry their items or as large scale as ensuring that all of our buildings and stores use energy-efficient lighting.”
Althaf also cited the company’s commitment to reducing and recycling packaging. “Packing cartons and paper waste are some of the major waste products that are generated from our operations, so they are segregated and collected by approved recycling partners from all our outlets thereby helping them in our mission to create an ecofriendly space for all. Collected cartons and paper products are segregated and converted into useful products that can be reused,” he explained.
To demonstrate other sustainability measures in Qatar, LuLu Hypermarket chain introduced Qatar’s biggest and most comprehensive zero-waste refill zone at Abu Sidra where shoppers can refill reusable containers with dry goods, including pasta, grains, and other items. It Is to be noted that this area is kept plastic-free by providing paper bags.
During Qatar Sustainability Week, LuLu observed ‘No Plastic Day’ in selected outlets by replacing the plastic bags with paper bags. Also, LuLu planned a day for a free supply of reusable bags and the sale of LED lights at attractive prices until stock lasts during the sustainability week.
LuLu has identified a dedicated area as the ‘Energy Saving Zone’ at its Electronic Section to educate and promote the use of energy-saving devices. LuLu Hypermarket also set up a ‘Sustainability Booth’ at its Abu Sidra and Al Messila stores.
In February 2021, LuLu Group joined the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF), a UK registered charity that develops and promotes the idea of a circular economy, as a network member to facilitate collaboration for accelerating its ongoing efforts towards the transition to a circular economy.
The EMF envisages a global systemic shift from the ‘take, make, waste’ extractive model to one that designs out waste and pollution, keeps products and materials in use, and regenerates natural systems.
In May 2021, LuLu Hypermarket, Al Messila was chosen as one of the first retailers in the MENA region to achieve sustainable operations certification under the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) from the Gulf Organisation for Research & Development (GORD). Upon completion of necessary audits by the sustainability experts from GSAS Trust and GORD Labs, the project had achieved an overall score of 1.51, which corresponds to a ‘Gold’ rating under the GSAS Operations Certification.
Most recently, LuLu introduced an innovative food waste solution, ‘ORCA’, which recycles food waste by breaking it down into water (mainly), and some carbs, fats, and proteins, which are then captured or repurposed. This is currently being trailed at LuLu’s Bin Mahmoud store, championing the plant-based food options at LuLu, including a dedicated total area of 5,000sq m across all stores.
LuLu introduced both biodegradable shopping bags (made from potato starch), giving customers the option of using reusable shopping bags, as well as reusable bags in the Vegetable Section. LuLu also introduced the ‘borrow a bag’ programme to encourage customers to think about reusable bags.
Other sustainability measures taken by LuLu in Qatar include setting a policy around the correct collection and disposal of used cooking oil; designing new buildings with energy efficiency in mind and shifting to LEDs from the conventional lights, which also includes the introduction of energy-efficient refrigeration units and bakery ovens; educating staff about water usage and recycling; and working with LuLu’s local and international suppliers to reduce packaging and encourage recycling.
“We continue to work on a range of innovative solutions to encourage less waste and packaging. This includes the introduction of a refill option in some selected grocery categories soon, enabling customers to bring back and refill containers when they run out. This includes the introduction of waste recycling kiosks and a place where customers can safely dispose of used batteries.
“Commitment to the environment and to sustainability is part of LuLu’s DNA. We believe that you can offer customers an unmatched, state-of-the-art shopping experience while also working to protect the environment,” said Althaf.
LuLu Group has always been working on the integration and implementation of sustainability principles across different spheres of its activity for a long time, aligned with the sustainable development goals of the UN. As a multinational organisation with majority of its operations in countries that have food security vulnerabilities, LuLu Group is mindful of its responsibilities. In line with this, the company has taken various measures in cooperation with the local regulatory bodies to maintain food security in the region it operates and inhouse policies to reduce food wastage.
As a responsible retailer, LuLu Group has framed its own strategy on sustainability, which is put into practice in all its retail units and supply chains worldwide. The strategy mainly involved outlining of projects for overall improvements in environmental, social, and economic values (ESG), and contributions to improve people’s quality of life and satisfaction.
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