In the Paris Agreement of 2015, governments around the world recognised that any increase in global warming must be limited to a well below 2°C threshold and ideally not more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. In order to comply with the Paris Agreement and limit rising temperatures to 1.5° C, environmental experts and eminent scientists have stated that global greenhouse gas emissions must fall to net-zero as early as possible. 

Farnek unveiled its roadmap to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, in January this year, with the objective of supporting the UAE’s net-zero strategic commitment. We felt it was important to start now, particularly as Dubai is hosting COP28 in 2023. This and it sets the right example to our stakeholders and industry peers..  

Using 2021 as a baseline, we identified the scope and boundaries, to accurately measure our carbon footprint.  As we began this process, we were faced with a critical dilemma – how can you manage something you haven’t measured? Apart from building performance, such as energy and water consumption, we chose to take into account employee travel, logistics, purchased good and services, waste disposal, as well as placing a focus on recycling, renewables and other lower carbon alternatives.

Emission targets were set for each category and we applied an initial five-year reduction goal, which will be reviewed annually to gauge progress, make adjustments if necessary and to disclose our results to be transparent. 

VERTICAL FARMING

One practical and sustainable project that we are extremely proud of is our vertical rooftop garden at Farnek Village, our state-of-the-art staff accommodation centre, which was inaugurated last year. Kitchen staff and volunteers helped to grow salad plants for the staff canteen, producing over 3,000 leafy greens such as lettuce, coriander, kale and spinach, as well as tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, capsicums and chillis.

The produce is grown using vertical farming columns for a “mistponic” application, which is by far, the most sustainable soil-less growing technique, as it uses up to 90% less water than the most efficient conventional hydroponic and aquaponic systems. 

Moreover, we recycle the condensate water from the air handling units to provide irrigation (misting water), we even reuse the nutrients washed into the runoff irrigation water. The food waste generated, which is calculated at around 125kg per day, is composted and returned to the garden. This saves 10,000 cubic metres of water and 127 tonnes of CO2e per annum.

GREEN FLEET SYSTEM

We are well on track with our short to mid-term net-zero goals, as planned, this year we will reduce our carbon emissions by 5%, through innovative initiatives utilising smart and sustainable technologies for decarbonisation.  Scope 1 (direct emissions) fuel consumption (Diesel and Gasoline) in vehicles has been reduced by 1.7% and refrigerant emissions reduced by around 13%, resulting in savings of 225 tonnes of CO2e emissions this year with respect to our 2021 baseline year. 

We have also introduced a green fleet system (electric car and bikes), a smart fleet management system for route optimisation, fuel management, tracking and smart surveillance.

We also conducted comprehensive energy assessments for all of our owned facilities and implemented low-cost measures such as Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) optimisation and utilise free cooling of Fresh Air Handling Units (FAHUs), as well as retrofitting LED lamps, de-lamping and installing light motion sensors.

This has resulted in a reduction of around 8.4% of Scope 2 emissions - around 418 tonnes of CO2e. To further reduce our electricity consumption, we are planning to install 659 kW of solar PV system at Farnek Village, that will generate around 1,068,552 kWh/year and will help to eradicate a further 210 tonnes of CO2e annually.

SCIENCE BASED TARGETS INITIATIVE 

Supporting the Dubai Can initiative, we have eliminated single use plastic PET bottles in our offices, we have installed water dispensers, saving another 4.3 tonnes of carbon emissions per year. By 2026 we aim to reduce our electricity, water, refrigerants, and fuel consumption by 30%. We will also cut our waste by 10% and lower emissions associated with purchased good and services by 5%.

In 2031 our objective is to decrease our emissions in these categories by up to 50% and by 2048 our carbon footprint will have been cut by up to 90% overall. It is impossible for any organisation to become carbon neutral by reduction methods alone, so the remaining 10% of our emissions will be offset, by supporting officially certified, international carbon offset projects, thereby achieving our net zero target by 2050.

We are also planning to validate out targets through the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) next year to demonstrate concrete sustainability commitments to our Net-zero Program. 

DIGITALISATION

Digitalization has been one of the most significant enablers in addressing climate change. 

In order to transition to net-zero, organisations need to accurately measure and audit data about their sustainability performance. Responding to market demand and developed by Farnek’s in-house carbon management experts, we have launched a state-of-the-art online carbon footprint calculation tool, ‘CarbonTek’ which can measure and analyse carbon emissions and identify carbon emission hotspots. 

The online tool caters to any type of business and has the flexibility to adapt to any operational activity. As previously mentioned, measuring carbon emissions and identifying hotspots is essential to achieving decarbonisation goals. 

POWERTEK

In addition to this, we have also developed an environmental performance tool called ‘PowerTek’, which supports businesses’ operational efficiency, by identifying potential savings through continuous monitoring, analysing and benchmarking energy and water consumption as well as waste generation. 

This digital solution manages all kinds of data complexities, providing full transparency about operational activities and can aggregate data seamlessly across multiple sites and locations in real-time and perform complex calculations, providing a more accurate picture and ongoing analysis of progress, towards achieving net zero. 

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP

One way that businesses can show support directly to governments and the wider public sector, is to publicly commit to net zero. Recently, Farnek has joined a group of major UAE organisations and signed a Climate-Responsible Pledge to support the UAE’s decarbonisation drive in line with the UAE net zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative. 

The signing ceremony took place at the Fifth National Dialogue for Climate Ambition (NDCA) in Abu Dhabi, hosted by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE). By signing this pledge, we along with other like-minded, UAE-based corporations have committed to stepping up our efforts to combat climate change by measuring and reporting our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions openly, as well as sharing science-based, net zero targets and milestone achievements. 

INCREASING MARKET VALUE

We will continue to support the UN Sustainable Development goal No 13, for taking urgent climate actions to combat climate actions and its impact on the environment. The transition to a climate-safe world with net-zero emissions is imperative.

Corporate business is facing significant pressure to demonstrate their practical and measurable progress towards achieving net-zero. Many businesses see it as a challenge to traditional ways of conducting their business operations. But adapting to a net-zero strategy in the current market will allow companies to gain a competitive edge in terms of both business processes and brand image. 

Companies can maximise the efficiencies which can be found through reducing energy & water consumption and waste generation, resulting in operational cost savings. Businesses which can demonstrate an authentic commitment and progress towards net-zero will be more attractive to climate-conscious investors, stakeholders and potential customers, therefore increasing their market value and market share.

Increasingly, governments around the world will begin to look more favourably upon potential suppliers that have tangible evidence that they are making concerted efforts to become more sustainable and can show real progress on their journey to net zero, prior to issuing contracts. 

Farnek has pivoted and made a commitment to becoming a net-zero business in the years ahead. Through initiatives such as vertical farming, transitioning to green energy sources, digitalization, and partnering with governments – Farnek’s strategic vision is well on its way to delivering measurable results, increasing the company’s overall market value.