Sponsored by the National Beverage Company and Al Taif Dairy Company...environmental quality and consumer protection celebrate “Green Work Week 2026”

Ramallah - Ofoq News - Under the patronage of the Chairman of the Environmental Quality Authority, Engineer Zaghloul Samhan, the Environmental Quality Authority and the Palestinian Consumer Protection Association organized a workshop entitled “Sustainable Production and Consumption,” within the activities of “Green Business Week 2026,” sponsored by the National Beverage Company Coca-Cola/Cappy and Al-Tif Dairy and Food Products Company (Candia), with the aim of enhancing dialogue on ways to establish more sustainable production and consumption patterns, raising the efficiency of resource use, reducing loss and waste, and encouraging responsible practices that It contributes to protecting the environment, supporting the local economy, and achieving sustainable development in Palestine.

The workshop came in the context of national efforts aimed at promoting the concepts of sustainable production and consumption, in line with the specificity of the Palestinian reality in light of limited natural resources and increasing environmental and economic pressures. It also aimed to examine ways to transform concepts of sustainability from general trends and policies into practical practices, by enhancing the participation of government institutions, the private sector, civil society organizations, local communities, and consumers.

The workshop was opened with speeches by the Head of the Environmental Quality Authority, Engineer Zaghloul Samhan, the President of the Federation of Palestinian Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, Mr. Abdo Idris, the President of the Palestinian Consumer Protection Association, Mr. Salah Haniyeh, and the President of the Supreme Council for Public Procurement Policies, Mr. Muayyad Odeh, during which they stressed the importance of integrating national efforts and strengthening the partnership between official institutions, the private sector, and civil society institutions to develop more efficient and sustainable production and consumption patterns, reduce resource depletion and pollution, and support initiatives that contribute to protecting the environment. Palestinian.

Engineer Zaghloul Samhan, Head of the Environmental Quality Authority, stressed that the green economy is not just a slogan, but rather an integrated concept that requires taking practical measures to reduce pollution, developing legal and legislative frameworks that define the powers and responsibilities of each party, in addition to providing financial arrangements, informational, planning and supervisory tools, and enhancing community awareness.

Samhan pointed out that the Palestinian reality is witnessing limited trends towards a green economy, in light of the presence of laws that still require executive regulations, incomplete policies, and scattered initiatives, stressing the need to enhance coordination and integration between the various concerned parties to unify efforts and achieve tangible results.

He reviewed the interventions of the Environmental Quality Authority in a number of sectors, including agriculture, food processing, and housing, especially green construction, and eco-tourism, in addition to promoting extended producer responsibility, reducing food waste, encouraging sustainable purchasing, developing eco-tourism itineraries, improving post-harvest practices, implementing programs to raise awareness and environmental knowledge, protecting soil and controlling pests, and supporting projects through small grants programs.

For his part, Mr. Abdo Idris, President of the Federation of Palestinian Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, called for strengthening efforts aimed at providing a safe and sustainable environment, explaining that the concept of consumer protection is no longer limited to the quality and safety of products, but rather has extended to include the protection of natural resources and resources by adopting sustainable production and consumption patterns.

Idris stressed the importance of the pivotal role that the Palestinian Standards and Metrology Institution should play in supporting the transition towards a green economy, and the necessity of strengthening this role in a way that ensures integration between relevant institutions. He also reviewed the importance of reducing environmental and health damage resulting from quarrying activities, stressing the necessity of preparing a media and awareness plan in cooperation with chambers of commerce to enhance awareness of these issues.

For his part, Mr. Salah Haniyeh, President of the Palestinian Consumer Protection Association, stressed the importance of promoting a culture of responsible consumption and linking it to consumer rights and responsibilities towards the environment and society, pointing out that rationalizing water and electricity consumption, reducing food waste, reducing waste, and encouraging local products and sustainable practices, represent essential steps towards building a more aware society and the ability to make optimal use of resources.

Haniyeh pointed out that achieving the shift towards sustainable consumption requires concerted efforts between official institutions, the private sector and consumers, providing knowledge and tools that help citizens make more responsible choices, in addition to supporting local initiatives that provide practical solutions to environmental and economic challenges.

Haniyeh added that the participatory society that leads to sustainable production and consumption, and this society leads to activities for exchanging seeds, exchanging clothes and food, reducing the use of plastic, knowing why we consume and how we consume, preserving sustainable products, and not turning what we consume into waste, but rather for reuse and recycling.

In turn, Mr. Moayed Odeh, Chairman of the Public Procurement Council, stressed that talking about sustainable production and consumption necessarily leads to talking about sustainable public procurement, as it is one of the practical tools that allow the government to transform environmental, social and economic trends and policies into actual practices on the ground.

He explained that adopting sustainable public procurement practices contributes to enhancing the role of government procurement in supporting sustainable development, and achieving a balance between economic, environmental and social considerations, thus enhancing the efficiency of resource use and supporting the trend towards a more sustainable economy.

The event included an introductory video about “Green Work Week,” which is organized during the first week of October every year, with the aim of encouraging communities to adopt sustainable consumption patterns through the exchange of resources, knowledge, skills, and services, and promoting participatory initiatives that allow for more efficient use of resources and reduce waste and environmental impact.

The workshop included three main sessions: The first session, entitled “Sustainable Production and Consumption: Towards a Green Future,” addressed the concepts of responsible production and consumption and their relationship to sustainable development, in addition to reviewing a road map to reduce food waste and the action plan for extended producer responsibility, with a focus on single-use plastic.

The second session, entitled “From Environmental Policies to Green Practices,” discussed the green and circular economy in Palestinian legislation, the sustainable purchasing policy, the electrical and electronic waste management policy, and related legal instructions.

The third session, entitled “Green Experiences,” reviewed Palestinian models and initiatives in the field of sustainability and youth empowerment, which included Safa’s model project for growing bunicam and sprouted barley, the “Injaz Palestine” experience in empowering youth to make change, in addition to the experience of the Palestinian Environmental Conservation Corps in empowering youth through a professional diploma and circular economy applications.

In the context of their sponsorship of the workshop, Mr. Imad al-Hindi, General Manager of the National Beverage Company Coca-Cola/Cappy and Al Taif Dairy and Food Products Company (Candia), stressed the importance of strengthening the partnership between the private sector, official institutions, and civil society organizations to support national efforts in the field of sustainability and environmental protection, saying:

“NBC and Al Taif Company believe that sustainable production and consumption represent a fundamental foundation for protecting natural resources and promoting sustainable development, and that achieving the desired change requires concerted efforts, encouraging responsible practices, and innovation in the optimal use of resources and reducing loss and waste. From this standpoint, we are keen to support initiatives that enhance environmental awareness and contribute to transforming concepts of sustainability into practical practices, in a way that serves the Palestinian community and preserves natural resources for future generations.”

Al-Hindi added: “Our sponsorship of this workshop stems from our belief in the importance of cooperation with national institutions in promoting a culture of sustainability, exchanging experiences, and encouraging local solutions and initiatives that contribute to achieving a balance between economic and social needs and environmental considerations.”

The workshop stressed the importance of adopting a comprehensive approach to sustainable production and consumption, starting from product design and use of resources, through production, distribution, purchasing and consumption processes, all the way to reuse, recycling and sound waste management. It also highlighted the importance of encouraging local initiatives and pioneering experiences that provide applicable models and contribute to reducing pressure on natural resources and promoting innovation and the circular economy.

The sponsorship of the National Beverage Company Coca-Cola/Cappy and Al Taif Dairy and Food Products Company (Candia) for this workshop comes within the framework of their commitment to social responsibility and supporting environmental initiatives that strengthen national partnerships and spread a culture of sustainability, which confirms the role of the private sector in protecting the environment, consolidating the responsible use of resources, and supporting the process of sustainable development in Palestine.