Residents of all ages attended a community outreach event to learn more about the 3Rs and the benefits of plastics in Dubai Festival City Mall as part of the week-long campaign
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 16 February 2020 – Residents and families of all nationalities and ages in the Emirate of Dubai learned about the benefits of plastic recycling and the role that individuals can play in contributing to a more sustainable future at a free community outreach event in Dubai Festival City Mall as part of the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association’s (GPCA) 8th Waste Free Environment (WFE) Campaign.
Aimed at raising awareness about responsible resource consumption and the benefits of practicing the 3Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, the event attracted visitors of all ages at an awareness kiosk in the mall who enjoyed a wide range of activities, including working with local artisans to produce handicraft from used plastics, received branded giveaways and the chance to win a special prize in a competition by disposing of their unwanted plastic at a reverse vending machine, organized by Bee’ah, the campaign’s sustainability partner.
During the week-long activities, GPCA hosted a series of school visits filled with education, entertainment, competitions and giveaways to Gems Wellington Primary School, Cambridge International School, Kent College and Our Own High School Al Warqa’a in Dubai from 9-12 February, with over 1,000 students taking part in the campaign.
Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA, commented, “Now in its 8th edition, Waste Free Environment aims to reinforce the message and the collaborative action taken by government, industry, NGOs and world-leading brand owners that plastic as a material is too valuable to end up in landfill. By providing a platform for learning and education based on scientific evidence, WFE empowers communities, particularly our youth, to take the future into their own hands and act responsibly, with care towards the environment and future generations.”
He added: “On behalf of GPCA, I would like to thank our community event sponsor, BASF, the campaign’s associate sponsors, LyondellBasell, Dow and Cosmoplast, as well as our sustainability partner, Bee’ah, for their valuable support in helping to facilitate this important awareness campaign.”
Waste Free Environment (WFE) is an annual environmental and educational initiative that falls under GPCA’s broader advocacy pillar. Starting as a beach clean-up initiative, the campaign has evolved into a global sustainability movement, attracting over 23,000 participants in 29 cities, 18 countries and three continents in 2019 alone.
To learn more about the initiative and how to get involved, visit: www.wastefreeenvironment.com