# Evaluating sustainability claims in UAE technology buying An emerging technology supplier may claim that digitisation, automation or a new operating model reduces environmental impact. Such a claim needs a defined. Category: New Economy Published: September 13, 2026 Source: https://www.vendoreye.ae/blog/evaluating-sustainability-claims-in-uae-technology-buying An emerging technology supplier may claim that digitisation, automation or a new operating model reduces environmental impact. Such a claim needs a defined comparison and evidence. A digital service still uses resources, and a faster workflow does not automatically establish a specific reduction. Keep the evaluation focused on what the buyer can verify for the proposed use. ## Define the claimed change Ask what activity is reduced or replaced and what remains in the new process. Identify the baseline, measurement period and scope. A statement about less paper may be credible for a particular workflow, but it does not by itself establish the overall environmental performance of the product or supplier. Separate measured results from projections. If the claim relies on another customer's setting, ask how that setting compares with the buyer's operation. Retain uncertainty rather than converting a case-study estimate into a guaranteed saving for the new contract. ## Examine added dependencies Identify additional equipment, services or processing required by the proposed solution. Ask whether the supplier's comparison includes those elements. The buyer does not need to perform an unsupported technical lifecycle analysis, but it should notice when a narrow claim omits material parts of the arrangement. If the supplier provides a certification or report, check the entity, service and period covered. Do not assume that a hosting provider's statement proves the performance of every application using it. Describe the specific evidence reviewed and the limits of what it supports. ## Consider practical resource choices Assess whether the product reduces unnecessary duplication, repeated manual work or avoidable physical handling in the actual workflow. Also consider whether it creates new reporting or storage that nobody uses. A simpler configuration may be more practical than adopting every feature because it is included in a demonstration. Ask how the buyer can control retention and usage through the appropriate organisational process. Those controls should follow business, legal and technical requirements, not an arbitrary environmental target that removes records the organisation needs or preserves unnecessary data indefinitely. ## Record a bounded conclusion Use precise purchasing language, such as a verified paperless approval step, instead of declaring the whole service sustainable without evidence. Agree proportionate measures if environmental performance is material to the award. Revisit them after implementation using actual use. This keeps sustainability claims connected to the contract and prevents an appealing technology narrative from replacing a defensible comparison. ## Related buying guides - [Renewing an emerging technology contract in the UAE](/blog/renewing-an-emerging-technology-contract-in-the-uae)- [Scaling emerging technology across UAE business sites](/blog/scaling-emerging-technology-across-uae-business-sites)- [How to choose an emerging technology supplier in the UAE](/blog/how-to-choose-an-emerging-technology-supplier-in-the-uae)[Browse all New Economy guides](/blog?category=New%20Economy). [Find businesses listed under New Economy on Vendoreye](https://www.vendoreye.ae/find-vendors?q=New%20Economy&term_kind=Category). Check each candidate’s actual offering, availability and relevant evidence. A directory listing is a starting point for evaluation, not an endorsement.