Doha: the Italian Embassy reduces its environmental impact

The Italian Embassy in Doha and the local Elite Paper Recycling company, a pioneer in the recycling of paper in Qatar, signed a partnership to launch a joint paper recycling system for the waste paper of the Embassy and thus limit the environmental impact of the Embassy’s activities. The agreement, which was signed on Global Recycling Day – the international day dedicated to raising social awareness on the theme of the reuse of recyclable materials and on protecting natural resources – also envisages that the Embassy intensify its commitment to public diplomacy in favour of environmental protection and sustainability, promoting awareness-raising campaigns to contribute to supporting the commitment that Qatar took in the Qatar National Vision 2030, in order to spread greater awareness on the importance of conserving natural resources among the younger generations. The partnership with Elite Paper Recycling is in line with the spirit of the “Green Embassies and Consulates” programme promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and aimed at encouraging the adoption of high levels of sustainability and “green” technologies in the Italian diplomatic and consular offices throughout the world, also in cooperation with the private sector. The Italian Ambassador in Qatar, Pasquale Salzano, said: “I am very proud to enter into this partnership with Elite Paper Recycling, a company that, under the forward-looking management of its young CEO, embodies the commitment of new generations to build a more sustainable future. With this partnership, we want to give a tangible demonstration that the reuse of materials contributes to increasing the efficiency of work procedures and the shouldering of responsibility by the personnel, improving the wellbeing in the organisational and working environment.” He went on: “Our cultural programme has always dedicated special attention to environmental sustainability. Last October, we organised ‘The Shapes of Water’, an exhibition of design objects connected to the different uses of water, in cooperation with La Triennale di Milano as part of the Qatar Sustainability Week 2018. On 20 March, on Italian Design Day in the World, we will organise an important event on sustainable urban design and “smart cities”, a particularly relevant topic in Qatar in the light of the goals set in the Qatar National Vision 2030 and of the great infrastructural upgrades that the city of Doha is undergoing also in preparation for the FIFA World Cup 2022.” Ambassador Salzano concluded: “The new generations – Italian and Qatari – are very sensitive to environmental issues and are engaged in the conservation of natural resources. We deem it important to do our part in promoting the adoption of procedures in the workplace capable of meeting the productivity needs of the present without jeopardising the needs of young people in the future.”