QATAR. Qatar Duty Free has pledged to replace 100,000 single-use plastic shopping bags every month and introduce eco-friendly alternatives across eight Day2Day essentials stores at Hamad International Airport. The announcement is timed to coincide with Earth Day (22 April).
The initiative was launched in partnership with Supreme Creations, a manufacturer of reusable bags and eco-friendly packaging. The company has been commissioned to produce branded sustainable cotton shopping bags for the retailer.
These bags can be reused at least 500 times, are vegan-certified and made from lightweight and locally sourced cotton.
Qatar Duty Free Vice President Thabet Musleh said: “Qatar Duty Free is proud of taking the first big step towards transforming QDF into a plastic-free travel retailer on Earth Day. By switching to eco-friendly bags at our Day2Day stores, we promote QDF’s vision of becoming an eco-friendly, sustainable airport retailer and participating in reducing plastic-related pollution.
“This initiative is the first significant step in achieving QDF’s target of increasing its positive environmental impact at the airport and marking our position as leaders in promoting sustainability in the travel retail industry.”
Further underlining its commitment to the environment, Hamad International Airport has also introduced a waste water management strategy. This includes directing waste water and sewage to its dedicated treatment plant, which returns the treated water to help irrigate the airport’s landscape features. ✈