Lulu Hypermarket in Qatar has become one of the first retailers in MENA to secure sustainable operations certification under the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) from the Gulf Organisation for Research & Development (GORD).

After completion of necessary audits by sustainability experts from GORD, LuLu Hypermarket building located in Qatars Al Messila area has achieved an overall score of 1.51 which corresponds to a GOLD rating under the GSAS Operations certification. Dr. Mohamed Althaf, Director of Lulu Group International, received the GSAS certificate and plaque during the awarding ceremony held at Lulus Al Messila branch.

the plaque and certificate, Dr. Yousef Alhorr, Founding Chairman of GORD, said, By achieving GSAS Operations certificate with GOLD Rating, Lulu International has demonstrated its conscious efforts towards operational excellence which is incomplete without environmental sustainability. We congratulate the organization and hope that its initiative inspires others in the retail sector.

Dr. Mohamed Althaf said, Lulu Group has been making serious efforts to minimize our impact on environment and reduce our carbon footprint by half by 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Our cooperation with GORD began in 2019. We appreciate the support given by GORDs Founding Chairman Dr. Yousef Mohammed Alhorr and his dedicated, committed professional team.

MENA regions first green building certification system that assesses and guides projects on reducing their environmental footprint during design, construction and operations stages is GSAS. In this context, GSAS Operations aims to reduce the environmental impact of the existing buildings while also improving the health and wellbeing of its occupants.

Several site audits and desk reviews were conducted for the assessment of current operational and maintenance practices at Lulus Al Messila branch in order to achieve GOLD rating. These audits were conducted during operational hours without interrupting the day-to-day business at the hypermarket. There were six categories for evaluatin, namely energy performance, indoor environment, waste management, facility management, water performance, and environmental policy and awareness.

Based on the outcomes of the energy audits conducted during the certification course, Lulu and GORD are now initiating dialogue on facility upgrade through GORD-managed ESCO model approach whereby energy saving opportunities will be implemented resulting in cost savings and carbon emission reduction.