As of 2022, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), the United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s hospitality industry accounted for 3% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To demolish this climate footprint, DesertBoard® has built a carbon-negative board. Specifically, our factory’s manufacturing process retains 60,000 tons of CO2 annually. Besides implying remarkable climate benefits, this sustainably sourced board is highly versatile, thus fitting both interior and exterior applications.
Before revealing further details on how this innovative building material goes beyond net zero, this article will highlight the current limitations to sustainable hospitality.
Sustainability Challenges in the Hospitality Industry
One of the major hurdles to a more sustainable hospitality sector in the UAE is the environmental impact of the raw materials needed. As reported by MarkNtel, the construction of hotels & resorts has driven the demand for timber, whose market size reached USD 2.87 billion in 2024 in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region. However, especially when harvested from uncontrolled sources, wood consumption inevitably drives deforestation, thus reducing nature’s ability to remove CO2 from the atmosphere. The growing demand for wood products in hospitality will exacerbate this issue. Therefore, it’s paramount for companies to look for more eco-friendly feedstock.
Sustainable Solutions in the Hospitality Industry
There are a series of strategies that can improve the timber supply chain traceability. For example, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification as well as the EUDR (EU Deforestation Regulation) helps minimise illegal logging. Furthermore, a study jointly led by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Princeton University found that reduced-impact logging for climate change mitigation (RIL-C) can slash the carbon emissions of wood harvesting by up to 40% in Indonesia.
Having said that, as sustainably as it can be done, turning Earth’s forests into consumables still depletes natural resources. So, what if we could reduce the logging considerably? That’s where circular solutions such as DesertBoard®’s Palm Strand Board (PSB®) come into play. Besides sporting excellent technical features (bending strength of ca. 30 N/mm2, suitable for 90-min fire-resistant doors, and noise reduction of up to 40 dB), our Palm Strand Board (PSB®) is crafted through the upcycling of annually regenerative palm frond biomass. Moreover, it can be recycled at the end of its lifetime, thus implying significant savings for hospitality players. By following this circular route, we’ve totally steered away from tree cutting, thus improving mother nature’s ability to capture the CO2 that comes with it. In addition, PSB® is manufactured and employed in the same place, i.e. UAE. This obviously cut down the GHG impact associated with the transportation step.
Aside from aligning with sustainable practices in the hospitality industry, PSB® is also safer for indoor environments, which is typical in hospitality settings. That’s because our eco-conscious board is formaldehyde-free. Formaldehyde is a toxic chemical whose exposure can cause a series of health problems, including respiratory issues, skin and eye irritation, allergies, nasopharyngeal cancer and leukaemia.
DesertBoard® – A Sustainable Solution
Along with a lower carbon footprint, sustainable raw materials suitable for hospitality applications have to meet aesthetic and functional expectations as well. PSB® is a durable and greener alternative to carbon-heavy wooden boards commonly adopted across the hospitality sector.
On top of preserving biodiversity and mitigating global warming, this zero-formaldehyde material enhances guest experience. Our product is the world’s first engineered palm-based board and has already been successfully tested in a wide range of projects such as Vida Hotel & Residence (EMAAR) and the Kempinski Residences at The Creek Dubai (Swiss Properties Development).
To find out more on how this sustainable building material can help you meet your business net zero targets, contact us today!
