Recent research commissioned by Epson, highlights the growing importance of sustainability to both organizations and their employees across the UAE, following the positive environmental recovery seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Green credentials are a growing priority for the region. Sustainability is a pillar of the UAE Vision 2021,as well as playing a key part of Expo 2020 Dubai. In the survey results, the UAE leads EMEA, with 95% of respondents believing that environmental and social impact will become more important post-COVID-19. Youth are driving change; in the Middle East, 94% of Millennials now place a higher value on environmental and social issues.
Demand for green standards in all fields is increasing in the region. On the other hand, sustainable development is a fundamental pillar of the UAE Vision 2021 and it also plays a major role in the highly anticipated international event, Expo 2020 Dubai.
Enterprises must take into account the importance of protecting the environment when planning for the future, and we have noticed that big environmental solutions are attracting the interest of the business community, such as solar panel projects and wind turbines. But it is also imperative that business decision-makers take into account the tangible and direct contributions of green technology solutions that are easy to adopt.
The pandemic has led to the acceleration of many trends, such as increasing awareness and interest in environmental values, according to Husam Al-Zughayyar, regional sales manager for Epson for the UAE and the Gulf region. He says, “Countries in the region must move quickly to ensure they are ready for the next wave of revolution. Sustainable development, considering that the current challenges, are an opportunity that should be exploited by institutions with a future outlook that are looking to make simple changes with profound impact.”
It is useful to remind companies operating in the UAE that the small steps they take in order to reduce their environmental footprint can have a big impact. Making simple changes, such as upgrading the printing technology, can have a prompt and direct effect, achieving energy savings, reducing waste and reducing carbon dioxide emissions, in addition to saving money.
If every business laser printer in the UAE was switched to an Epson business inkjet printer, up to USD 2.1 million could be saved each year in energy costs.”
Habiba Al Mar’ashi, chairperson of the Emirates Environmental Group, says, “Sustainability is a business approach to creating long term value. You have to take into consideration how a given organisation operates within an ecological, social, and economical environment. Sustainability is built on the assumption that developing such strategies will force company longevity and continuity. We need to look and understand the true value created.”
She added, “Small or medium-sized entities are not looking at big disruptive changes. They are implementing incremental changes that are pushing the agenda of sustainability in the region. If you look at the hospitality sector, for example, they are doing an excellent job to make their operations more efficient, cost-effective and less impactful on the environment, because it makes more sense financially for them.”
Epson’s Environmental Vision 2050 is setting new standards for corporate sustainability. Epson’s business inkjet printers, with their innovative and low-power Heat-free technology can deliver enhanced reliability, productivity, and sustainability. Organizations switching from laser printers to Epson’s business inkjet printers could save up to 95% on energy and CO2 emissions.
