{
  "id": 329068,
  "title": "‘Sustainability key factor for business decisions in Qatar’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/sustainability-key-factor-for-business-decisions-in-qatar",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-08T21:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf Times",
    "slug": "gulf-times",
    "url": "https://www.gulf-times.com/article/730722/qatar/sustainability-key-factor-for-business-decisions-in-qatar"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sustainability is becoming a crucial factor in business decision-making across Qatar, as eco-conscious procurement shifts from occasional campaigns to a routine commercial consideration across various sectors, reports Sampath Weerasinghe, operational manager at Ecossential. Sustainability is no longer seen as an optional initiative, but an integral part of corporate responsibility, procurement, and marketing strategies, Weerasinghe told Gulf Times. The change is driven by Qatar National Vision 2030's environmental development priorities, which enables organizations to reduce their reliance on disposable products through everyday purchasing decisions. The barriers to incorporating sustainability into procurement, such as high minimum-order quantities, limited product choices, and difficulty in finding items that match branding requirements, especially for smaller businesses and start-ups, are being overcome through more flexible quantities. This trend has implications for Qatar's various events, exhibits, conferences, sports tournaments, and community programs, which often require scaled merchandise production. Organizers should prioritize sustainable products that remain useful after an event to reduce waste, improve branding, and maintain hygiene, quality, and delivery schedules. However, the growing market for environmentally labeled products raises concerns about credibility, urging businesses to look beyond broad \"eco-friendly\" claims and examine material, source, lifespan, and potential for reuse, recycling, or composting. Transparency is essential for genuine sustainability, which focuses on the entire lifecycle of a product rather than merely attaching an \"eco-friendly\" label. Weerasinghe acknowledged that environmental impact depends not only on the label but also on the consistent reuse of products. The next challenge lies in managing the end-of-life of reusable products, with Ecossential exploring local recycling links, responsible disposal guidance, and circular-economy partnerships. Ultimately, sustainability in Qatar is evolving from one-off campaigns to repeated choices, emphasizing the importance of credible materials, thoughtful purchasing, and considering the entire product lifecycle.",
  "summary": "Environmental considerations are increasingly shaping what Qatar’s businesses buy for offices, events and customers, as sustainable procurement shifts from an occasional campaign to a routine commerci...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}