The two du retail outlets have combined the best in global standards with environmental consciousness alongside the telco’s commitment to enriched smart city experiences
du, from Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC), has been acknowledged for its undeterred focus on sustainability best practices with the announcement the company’s Mirdif and Fujairah City Centre retails precincts have become the Middle East’s first Platinum Certified retail outlets under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) V4.1 Recertification O&M Interiors rating system – the highest LEED ranking possible.
The Signature Shop at Mirdif was certified Platinum (Existing Interiors and V 4.1 recertification Operations and Maintenance) using the hi-tech Arc Platform, scoring 84 out of a possible 100 points. Moreover, du’s Fujairah Store scored 80 out of 100 points and achieved the LEED Platinum under the V4.1 Recertification O&M Interiors rating system. This is the second LEED Certification for the Mirdif City Centre store after it was certified as LEED Platinum during the construction process, thus making it the UAE’s greenest telecom retail outlet.
The certificates were presented by Mr. GopalaKrishnan Padmanabhan, Managing Director of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and Green Business Certification, Inc. (GBCI). Abdulwahed Juma, EVP Brand & Corporate Communications, of du received the award on behalf of the company.
As well as being environmentally focused in their design and construction, the du Shops are also operated with the same strategy whilst delivering the highest standards of customer experience and seamless transactions.
‘Innovation of the highest standard’
Abdulwahed Juma, EVP Brand & Corporate Communications, du, said: “Our newest du Shop is the embodiment of our commitment to adding value through services that bring more convenience, while showcasing our sustainability values aligned with the UAE leadership’s directives. This raises the benchmark for the possibilities of making retail increasingly sustainable via innovative ways that will enhance and enrich the customer service experience.”
‘du’s sustainability drive gains traction’
LEED certification is awarded to buildings that employ best-in-class building strategies and practices. Meeting the criteria needed to achieve certification, the Mirdif du Shop’s score of 84 out of a possible 100 points, and the Fujairah shop’s 80 out of 100 points under the under V4.1 Recertification O&M Interior rating system, signals the company is making strong progress in key areas of the Arc Platform.
The Arc Platform evaluates projects based on actual performance and accordingly rates the combined score across Energy, Water, Waste, Transportation, and Human Experience categories. du will continue its sustainability drive to achieve similar certifications for other stores.
du has a strong commitment to sustainability, and has implemented initiatives across its business to achieve its sustainable goals. These include the installation of hybrid energy solutions in its base transceiver stations to cut back on fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions; e-billing to reduce paper consumption. The telco is also enabling easier communication for UAE’s expatriate labour workforce, deploying cloud services for lower cost and playing a lead role in driving the UAE’s Blockchain Strategy, thereby increasing automation and lessening reliance on paper-based processes. These innovations are a key part of du’s strategic focus, creating positive social and environmental impact for the long term.