The announcement was made on Earth Day (April 22) and represents QDF’s first step toward a plastic-free, more environmentally responsible airport.
The retailer collaborated with the specialized manufacturer Supreme Creations to produce its branded cotton shopping bags made from sustainable materials.
The bags can be reused at least 500 times, are vegan-certified, and are made from locally sourced, lightweight cotton.
They are accessible at the hub’s eight Day2Day Essentials stores.
“On Earth Day, Qatar Duty Free is proud to have taken the first major step toward becoming a plastic-free travel retailer,” said Thabet Musleh, vice president of Qatar Duty Free.
“By using eco-friendly bags in our Day2Day stores, we advance QDF’s vision of becoming an eco-friendly, sustainable airport retailer and contribute to the reduction of plastic-related pollution.
This initiative is the first major step towards attaining QDF’s goal of increasing its positive environmental impact at airports and establishing our leadership position in promoting sustainability in the travel retail industry.
Hamad International Airport (HIA) is also demonstrating its commitment to environmental sustainability through a variety of initiatives, such as its wastewater management strategy, which directs wastewater and sewage to HIA’s dedicated wastewater treatment plant, which returns the treated water for irrigating the airport’s landscape features.