Tristar is making green strides - find out how in our final page 5 minutes with interview.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE RECENT EFFORTS THAT YOU HAVE MADE TO ‘GREEN’ YOUR OPERATIONS?
Tristar’s management team drives a ‘business for purpose’ ethos, which focuses on having a positive impact on the community, and reducing the company’s carbon footprint. The company has set a goal to decrease its dependence on fossil fuel generated electrical energy, and has initiated several projects across its operations. Some of these projects include waste water treatment, EURO IV technology, green buildings, and a rooftop solar project.
Waste Water Treatment
Hazardous waste water poses a high risk to the environment and the health of the community, if not disposed with adequate measures. In order to address the safe management and disposal of hazardous waste water generated at our operations, Tristar has installed an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) at its head office in Dubai. A second upgraded ETP was installed at Tristar’s JAFZA operation, which recycles the waste water to a standard that can be reused within the facility for washing and irrigation. In 2018, 2.8 million imperial gallons of waste water was safely treated by the two ETPs.
Green Buildings
Tristar integrates green building standards into the construction of operations, such as its new warehouse in JAFZA South. The facility received the US Green Building Council LEED Gold certificate for its compliance with green building standards.
Energy intensive conventional lights have been replaced with LED lights at Tristar’s UAE, Oman, Haiti and Tanzania operations and renewable solar lamps are used exclusively at its facility in Haiti.
Furthermore, Tristar aims to assess the feasibility of solar energy infrastructure at its other operations in line with UN SDG 12 Responsible consumption and production and SDG 13 Climate Action.
WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THIS IS IMPORTANT?
Since its establishment in 1998, Tristar has been committed to operating as a socially responsible business, and address the triple bottom line of sustainability: environmental, social, and economic sustainability.
The company has and will continue to support the advancement of the 17
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as it has an obligation to recognise and promote the need for environmental stability and acknowledge the social impact of its business in the communities in which it operates.
HOW HAS ‘GOING GREEN’ SUPPORTED YOUR OPERATIONS?
The Effluent Treatment Plant project was implemented with the involvement of all key stakeholders including employees, government entities and external agencies. By installing the Effluent Treatment Plants, Tristar also achieved considerable economic savings in municipal wastewater disposal charges.
With the construction and occupation of a green warehouse that is LEED Gold certified, Tristar has achieved energy savings of over 300 MWh/year and economic savings of over AED100,000 every year compared to operating a standard warehouse of its size.
Tristar’s sustainability efforts are regularly communicated to stakeholders through workshops, quarterly newsletters and annual sustainability reports.
This communication has aided in providing an open channel of communication with stakeholders and continuous support from clients in our sustainability initiatives.
TRISTAR IS WORKING TO ‘GREEN’ ITS ENTIRE OPERATIONS FROM END-TO-END.