Rotana Corporate Sustainability Report 2014

97 Coffee, Julius Meinl Rotana corporate office signed an agreement with Julius Meinl, a coffee producer committed to support sustainable farming practices, faretrade as well as rainforest alliance certified coffees. The company’s sustainable packaging dramatically reduced the amount of materials used for all of our packaging. Tea, Dilmah Our hotels food and beverage outlets use Dilmah tea. The tea producing company has pioneered a comprehensive commitment to minimising impact on the planet, fostering respect for the environment and ensuring its protection by encouraging a harmonious coexistence of man and nature. Their core values allow them to meet and exceed our expectations of sustainability. In 2014, we substituted 23 products to more environmentally friendly products. Rooms Toiletries L’Occitane has a charter for the eco-design of its packaging, focussed on reducing the weight of packaging, the amount of wasted product and to control the ecological commitment of their suppliers. We use L’Occitane amenities like shampoo and lotion in bottles in 30% of our rooms and the packaging is 100% recyclable. Chemicals A corporate agreement has been signed with chemical provider Ecolab. Our housekeeping, laundry, and food and beverage departments in 97% of our hotels use Ecolab cleaning products and detergents. Cleaning and laundry products are delivered in concentrated form which reduce waste, water and energy. Mattresses Intercoil shares our commitment to guest’s health and safety. The company’s social responsibility is derived from its mission statement to be proactive in serving the consumer, society and the environment. Being a leading manufacturer of orthopedic beds and mattresses, Intercoil is committed to promoting healthy sleep and increasing consumers’ awareness of its importance in contributing to a healthy life, the company has invested recently in several marketing and public awareness campaigns, such as the ‘Healthy Sleep Seminar’ and the ‘Healthy Kids Week’. Other initiatives • Providing guests with reusable cloth laundry bags in 100% of our rooms • All UAE hotels use A4 office papers made from 100% post- consumer recycled materials as part of the Green Office Programme, equivalent to 81% of total group A4 consumption • Switching/replacing to zero-VOC paints • Installing CFC and LED light bulbs in hotels • Selecting Energy Star rated office equipment • Serving Illy coffee, as declared by the company, ‘the world’s first company to earn the Responsible Supply Chain Process certification from DNV (Det Norske Vertias)’. The certification attests to the sustainable practices of Illy’s supply chain, and in particular, to the quality of Illy’s relationships with its suppliers: the world’s highest-calibre coffee growers • Using light weight plastic water bottles Rotana signed a corporate agreement with Masafi in the UAE. The company has a new light-weight 0.5 litre plastic bottles with 23% reduced plastic and is less harmful to the environment, by ensuring less carbon dioxide emission. The new bottles weigh just 13 grams instead of the original 16 grams. The new bottles will produce 0.023 kilograms less carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per bottle. For HDPE closures used in water bottles, the weight is reduced by 30% from 2.5 grams to 1.75 grams. The water bottles’ shrink-wrap packaging is made of oxo-biodegradable films, a significant step that reinforces the company’s commitment to the environment • Offering sustainably and responsibly sourced menu options, replacing sustainable sea food selections. The hammour is the most commercial fish in the UAE and it is dangerously over-fished, causing it to decline beyond its sustainable level of more than 80% since 1978 according to Emirates Wildlife Society. Khalidya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana Abu Dhabi stopped hammour service in all its outlets and distributes flyers together with the menu to educate guests to think twice before ordering this endangered fish in any other outlets outside the hotel Among the products that our hotels have substituted by environmentally friendly products are A4 papers, bio degradable garbage bags, takeaway disposal containers, napkins, tissue rolls and ink cartridges.