Pledge is aimed at transforming packaging recycling infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 22 April 2019 – A newly formed coalition comprised of government, NGOs, global and local private companies, has committed to tackling the issue of packaging waste pollution. To coincide with Earth Day (22 April), the coalition has signed a pledge with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) to develop a circular economy model to combat the issue of plastic and packaging waste pollution by improving collection in the United Arab Emirates.
Members of Coalition Circle (Coalition of Innovation in Recycling towards a Closed Loop Economy) include BASF, Borouge, Tetra Pak, Majid Al Futtaim, Coca-Cola, Dow, Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association, McDonald’s UAE, Nestlé, Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, Unilever and Emirates Nature – WWF.
The signing of the Pledge took place at a round table discussion attended by His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi and the coalition members. The objectives of Coalition Circle are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and the UAE National Sustainable Consumption Plan.
As part of the initiative, the coalition will launch a pilot project in Abu Dhabi to test the economic and environmental impact of a plastic and other packaging material circular economy and to develop recommendations to accelerate sustainability solutions for an optimized waste management infrastructure.
Speaking at the signing, His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment said, “Plastics will remain an important packaging material, however, we need to ensure that used packaging of any kind does not end up in the environment. Waste management and recovery is a complex problem that requires innovative solutions and strong partnerships and we are proud to work with Project Circle, which is driving the momentum to improve the collection and recycling of packaging materials. Collaboration will be key to success and we look forward to joining forces to achieve sustainable solutions and protecting the environment for future generations. The development of this pilot project is not only critical to support the environment but economic objectives and together we aim to contribute to the overall wellbeing of the UAE.”
Organizations, institutions and residential communities in Abu Dhabi are also being encouraged to play a role in the nation’s transition to a green economy by contributing their segregated packaging (bottles, multi beverage carton, bag and other materials) for the duration of the pilot.