There is immense opportunity at the intersection of technology and sustainability
Saskia van Gendt, Chief Sustainability Officer, Blue Yonder, weighs in with her prognosis of sustainability forecasts for 2026 in this contribution to LogisticsGulf.com
In 2026, sustainability will move from aspiration to accountability. With the UAE Circular Economy Policy 2021–2031 now being operationalised, including a 2025 national Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) pilot for packaging, e-waste and batteries earlier this year, businesses across the Emirates are facing heightened pressure to improve resource efficiency, reduce waste, and demonstrate measurable progress toward circularity.
The year ahead will see circular economy principles embedded in core business models. Companies will redesign products for durability, reuse, and recyclability while investing in technologies that provide full visibility from raw material to resale.
Artificial intelligence will be central to this shift, driving efficiencies through predictive demand planning, energy optimisation, and smarter reverse logistics. By connecting data across supply chain tiers, AI will enable companies to trace materials, verify compliance, and prevent waste before it occurs.
There is immense opportunity at the intersection of technology and sustainability. According to Blue Yonder’s Supply Chain Compass report, which surveyed nearly 700 global supply chain leaders, respondents who named sustainability as a top three strategic priority are on the leading edge of technology and AI adoption: 94% say end-to-end data connectivity is fundamental to the success of their business (vs. 85% total), 80% say AI is already changing how they operate (vs. 74% total) and 61% say they are currently investigating generative AI.
This convergence of regulation and technology is ushering in a new era of transparency. The UAE’s 2024 Federal Climate Law, the nation’s first binding, economy-wide legislation mandating greenhouse-gas measurement and reporting, reinforces this.
It has been setting a new expectation for verifiable sustainability data, obligating compliance by May 2026. This law is reshaping how companies approach emissions transparency and it is poised to establish environmental disclosures as a key regulatory standard across the region’s supply chains.
At Blue Yonder, we see customers already leading the change: retailers preventing food spoilage through dynamic pricing, fashion brands curbing overproduction with intelligent planning, and manufacturers reclaiming value through optimised returns.
By the end of 2026, the circular economy will no longer be aspirational; it will be a regulatory and technological reality. Those who lead through innovation and transparency will define the next generation of sustainable business.
