Leading UAE-based smart and green facilities management (FM) company Farnek, has signed an agreement with Oriental Press, to manage its carbon emissions and to realise its goal as the first carbon neutral printer in the UAE and wider Gulf region.

The first phase of the project involves measuring the existing carbon footprint of the printing operation, including raw materials, energy consumption, production facilities, transportation, and other supply chain components.

Once Oriental’s CO2 footprint has been measured, Farnek can then focus on effective ways to reduce existing emissions and subsequently plan to offset the remaining unavoidable emissions, using cutting-edge software provided by ClimatePartner, Farnek’s strategic carbon management partner. 

“That enables Oriental to offer carbon neutral paper products and pave the way for an upstream and downstream sustainability strategy, encouraging its suppliers and customers to become net zero too,” said Markus Oberlin, CEO, Farnek.

“A positive environmental strategy is no longer an option for commercial organisations, consumers today are demanding products that are sustainable and it is not only the printing industry that can benefit from carbon neutral products, the manufacturing industry in general can as well,” added Oberlin. 

Established in 1952 the Oriental Group has grown to become one of the world’s premier printers, exporting products to over 80 countries worldwide. With modern manufacturing plants in Dubai and Bahrain, and Sales & Marketing offices in the Middle East and Europe, Oriental manufactures a comprehensive range of high-quality products in six business divisions: books, commercial printing, paperboard packaging, flexible packaging, security printing, and of course digital.

Oriental has two main production facilities, one in Jebel Ali, Dubai, where the focus is on soft and hard cover colour book manufacturing, most of which are exported to global markets. In Bahrain, through their 23,000 sqm printing complex, a commercial printing facility produces magazines, promotional material, annual reports, calendars and office stationery. In addition to this, there are separate facilities for production of paperboard packaging and flexible packaging products. And a separate security printing factory produces postage and revenue stamps, cheques, share certificates, and many other high security items. 

“Amongst other certificates, we are already FSC accredited, which means that we only source paper that comes from well-managed forests and recycling. Reducing and offsetting our carbon emissions is the next stage of our environmental journey,” said Mohamed Al Zeera, Managing Director, Oriental Press. 

“Carbon offset projects help counteract the release of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, whilst simultaneously improving the livelihood of people around the world. By supporting carbon offset projects, we can offset emissions that are currently unavoidable and therefore reduce our overall environmental impact. 

“If the UAE is to achieve its commitment of net zero emissions by 2050, the government will need the support of the private sector, not only by reducing but offsetting their emissions,” added Al Zeera.   

ClimatePartner has been offering a wide variety of environmental solutions since 2006, ranging from carbon management strategies to enabling climate neutral products and services. They are also involved with numerous internationally recognised carbon offset projects and in addition, the company has also developed an IT solution for calculating carbon footprints and offsetting carbon emissions in order to make products and services carbon neutral.

“The climate neutrality of products can be verified online and stakeholders are be able to see the amount of GHG emissions that are generated during the production process and the type of climate action project that has been selected to offset those emissions,” said Nadia Ibrahim, Head of Sustainability, Farnek. 

Practicing what it preaches as well as underscoring still further, its green credentials, earlier this year, Farnek inaugurated a rooftop vertical garden which grows salad plants for Farnek’s staff canteen. The food waste generated, which is calculated at around 125kg per day, is composted and returned to the garden closing the loop and creating a circular economy.