By Rafiq Vayani
DUBAI: Agthia Group PJSC, one of the region’s leading food and beverages companies, announced today the Group’s sustainability practices and application of environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) standards in its business operations in the presence of His Excellency Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, His Excellency Eng. Dhafer Ayed Al Ahbabi, Agthia Group Chairman, and Tariq Ahmed Al Wahedi, Agthia Group CEO.
At a press event held on the sidelines of Gulfood 2019, the Group’s management announced their commitment to Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange’s recent drive to promote sustainable and transparent practices in listed companies. The Company also outlined the Group’s long-term environmental sustainability goals as well as where it stands today in terms of its ESG footprint.
His Excellency Dr Al Zeyoudi said: “We value the role of Emirati private businesses such as Agthia in supporting our nationwide commitment towards sustainability. Through embracing sustainable production and consumption patterns across all sectors and meeting the highest environmental and efficiency standards, multiple ‘Made in UAE’ products are now winning consumers’ trust and competing in regional and global markets.”
At a ghaf planting event that took place as part of the conference, His Excellency Dr Al Zeyoudi emphasized that the message of tolerance the UAE seeks to convey to the world includes the peaceful coexistence between people and their surrounding environment. Furthermore, he urged attendees to adopt environment-friendly habits to ensure a sustainable future for the current and future generations.
His Excellency Eng. Dhafer Ayed Al Ahbabi, Agthia Group Chairman, said, “Agthia is committed to going above and beyond regulatory requirements, embracing sustainability best practices and applying environmental, social and corporate governance standards. This helps Agthia lead by example and ensure a sustainable and profitable business that is good for our consumers, shareholders and wider stakeholders.”
Agthia has for years implemented numerous long-term initiatives that support the Group’s sustainable growth goals, market leading position, and very importantly, safe guard the environment wherever the Group operates.
Tariq Ahmed Al Wahedi, Agthia Group CEO, said, “Agthia has from the onset, adopted a careful and considered approach, integrating best ESG practices in our business and avoiding any harm to the environment and all others who may be effected, directly or indirectly by our manufacturing activities in all locations.”
Al Wahedi added, “We have been working silently for years to ensure the Group is not only bringing innovation and value to our customers and shareholders, but also looking out for the environment’s best interest. We are very proud of where we are today and are committed to further enhancing sustainability throughout the Agthia group, across all our operations, geographies and touchpoints.”
Agthia already uses 100% recyclable secondary packaging across all categories of which 99% are biodegradable. The Company has plans in place for all packaging to be 100% eco-friendly by 2020. Agthia also plans to achieve zero landfill fill waste by 2020 in addition to a commitment to use 10% of pet from recycled sources and 5% of pet from plant-based sources by 2021.
During the press conference, Agthia also announced its pilot partnership with DGrade, a brand-based company supplying the highest quality ECO friendly products made from recycled plastic bottles. As part of the pilot project, DGrade will collect PET bottles from various Agthia locations across the UAE and recycle them into textiles that will then be donated by Agthia to several non-profit aid organization.
