Partially used and discarded soaps from the UAE hotels will now be hygienically recycled into new bars and redistributed to the underprivileged, in an effort to promote sanitation and help the needy.

To combat hotel waste, Goumbook which is a social enterprise dedicated to promoting sustainable living has launched a new campaign Unisoap UAE, after collaborating with France-based non-profit company Unisoap (parent company).

This effort will allow circularity to hotel soap bars, reducing waste, supporting hygiene in vulnerable communities and increasing employability in the waste sector.

Tatiana Antonelli Abella, Managing Director and Founder of Goumbook, says, “In terms of waste, the first message we always convey is reduction. Another important thing is to look at waste as a resource, to be able to convert it into something valuable. We've done this with other campaigns as well, like how we convert a cigarette box into construction material. In this case, we understand Dubai is a tourist destination, and has hundreds of hotels. They consume a lot of amenities and one of them is soap. We have millions of soaps that go to landfills on a yearly basis worldwide.”

It is also explained that the soaps that are collected from one hotel will be kept together to keep their fragrances and their properties intact, after which it’ll be melted and formed into a new soap.

“This new soap will be distributed locally to communities in need. Apart from distributing these in labour camps, it can also be sold to families at a subsidized cost and sent to different charities. We also want to partner with humanitarian organisations to send soaps to refugee camps. One of our main goals is to also raise awareness about the importance of washing your hands. Around the world we have millions of people dying, because of the lack of knowledge on basic sanitation. So, this will hopefully have a social impact and raise awareness about the importance of hygiene.”

“We’ve had some people/hotels signing the letter of intent. We've already got some soap from one hotel, and it is being transformed. We'll have the first soap ready next month,” she adds.

With the operating unit, located in Dubai Silicon Oasis, in the first year, a minimum of 10 hotels will become a part of this initiative, each with an average of 500 rooms.

“This is incredible because Unisoap in France usually deals with smaller hotels with 50 rooms. The interesting part is that the volumes are totally different from Europe. Here the operation is massive, and the hotels are really big. So, for each hotel, it's a lot of rooms,” she adds.

The initiative also aligns with DET’s 19 Sustainability Requirements for hotels, focused on promoting green practices throughout the hospitality industry.

Meanwhile, senior officials from Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) hailed the efforts of local companies to develop the UAE as a sustainable travel destination.

Yousuf Lootah, Acting CEO of Corporate Strategy and Performance sector, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism said, “Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) is pleased to have supported Goumbook for a successful, thought-provoking Think Tank, which focused on responsible and sustainable tourism. DET is committed to ensuring sustainability in the tourism sector by working with communities and engaging residents in protecting the environment, partnering with hotels to promote sustainable practices, highlighting Dubai's natural beauty and biodiversity, and creating more opportunities for people to use public transportation.”

Source: Nandini Sircar, Khaleej Times

ne’ma, the National Food Loss and Waste Initiative, has successfully rescued and distributed one million meals to the underprivileged during the Holy Month of Ramadan in collaboration with MBRGI's UAE Food Bank. 

This achievement was made possible through the joint efforts of various partners in the public and private sectors in the UAE, showcasing the values of philanthropy, giving, and social responsibility during the holy month.

The initiative aimed to reduce food waste and manage surplus food by recycling inedible food in line with ne’ma's objectives and its "Food Rescue" programme during Ramadan. 

In February, ne’ma signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UAE Food Bank to launch joint initiatives to achieve the country's food waste reduction goals by collaborating with all stakeholders in the Food Rescue Working Group. 

The initiative aims to make a significant impact in reducing food loss and waste and achieving a sustainable circular economy.

Later on, both parties signed a Sponsorship Agreement whereby ne’ma supported the UAE Food Bank’s initiative to rescue one million meals of surplus food, in line with their similar food waste reduction activations during Ramadan. 

The agreement reflected both parties’ commitment to the national Food Rescue programme launched by ne’ma, which necessitates nationwide involvement, reiterating both parties’ pledge to honour the directives of the UAE’s government and overall strategy in halving food loss and waste by 2030.

Ahmed Taleb Al Shamsi, CEO of the Emirates Foundation, and “ne’ma” National Steering Committee Deputy, stated, “We are proud to sponsor this key initiative of One Million Surplus Meals during the Holy Month of Ramadan as a national partnership and an enabler of the national goal of halving food loss and waste by 2030. These collaborative efforts we have witnessed during the Holy Month of Ramadan, stand as a testament to the genuine embodiment of ne’ma’s vision, in engaging major stakeholders nationwide, toward reducing food loss and waste. We are glad to have brought together various governmental entities and privately operating stakeholders, along with hospitality and catering sectors to make food waste reduction a consistent and inclusive national effort to achieve the ultimate elimination of food waste, self-reliance, and sustainable circular economy.”

“We are also delighted by our continuous cooperation with the UAE Food Bank, which is the key driver to realise these objectives as per the agreed plan and to make a positive impact towards rescuing food and recycling food waste,” added Ahmed Taleb Al Shamsi.

Manal bin Yaarou, Head of Operating and Managing Emirates Food Bank Committee, stated, “It was a pleasure to work together this year with ne’ma - the National Food Loss and Waste initiative, to achieve our joint objective in reducing food waste, as we put our extensive experience to use with the other partners within the overarching national goal that ne’ma seeks to achieve. We are proud of what has been achieved by recycling and diverting about than 908,145 Kilograms of food from landfill during the holy month, resulting in more than one million three hundred and fifty meals (surplus) being saved and provided to those in need in the country. In addition to segregating and recycling around 367,409.00 Kilogrammes of food unfit for human consumption in the event of damage from the source , it led to converting it into the equivalent of 73,482 Kilogrammes of oils and organic fertiliser, with the aim of preserving the environment and sustainability, as local farms in the country benefit from it.

Through this initiative, we managed to prevent more than 2,306,687 Kilogrammes of carbon emissions equivalent to planting 96,112 trees, contributing to combating the ever-discerning climate change.”

“We were also glad to work with other stakeholders in the hospitality and hotel sectors as we provided them with comprehensive technical solutions, training and awareness on effective ways to recycle food waste, segregation and recycling requirements, and how to prepare daily reporting on the environmental footprint and community economy using an application run by Reloop,” added Manal bin Yaarou.

Source: Muhammad Aamir / Hazem Hussein, Emirates News Agency (WAM)

A new project announced on Sunday will see thousands of mangrove trees planted in the UAE. The Today for Tomorrow: National Day Mangrove Project will begin with planting 10,000 mangrove trees.

These 10,000 saplings were featured in the stunning 51st National Day show the UAE hosted on December 2, 2022. The initiative comes as UAE celebrates 2023 as the Year of Sustainability.

According to the organising committee of the 51st National Day Celebrations, the project aims to fulfil the UAE’s pledge made at COP27 to plant 100 million mangroves by 2030. The initiative seeks to restore and enhance the mangrove forests along the UAE’s coasts.

Everyone that calls the UAE home, from nature and planting enthusiasts to environmentalists, is invited to join the collective efforts that will begin on Thursday, May 11, at 10am in Yas Beach, Abu Dhabi. Interested volunteers can register through uaetreeplanting.com

Mangroves are a vital part of the UAE’s ecosystem, protecting the country’s coasts from rising sea levels and storm surges, and providing critical habitats for biodiversity. They act as the ‘green lung’ of the land.

These unique trees are known for their ability to sequester carbon and effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions, making them an essential tool in the fight against climate change. Beyond their environmental benefits, mangroves are a rich source of food for numerous species and provide vital habitats for wildlife.

According to the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the country is home to 60 million mangroves that form forests spanning 183 square kilometres and capture 43,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.

The UAE had stepped up its ambition to expand its mangrove cover by raising the planting target from 30 million to 100 million by 2030. With the additional 100 million trees planted, the UAE’s mangrove forests will cover 483 square kilometres and sequester nearly 115,000 tons of CO2 per year.

Earlier this year, the President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, announced that 2023 would be the 'Year of Sustainability'. It aims to promote the nation's deeply-rooted value of sustainability to encourage sustainable behavior change and work towards a more sustainable and thriving UAE.

It draws on the UAE's heritage to inspire sustainable practices and collective action, bringing together everyone that calls the UAE home.

Source: ZAWYA

Artificial intelligence research will play a key role in harnessing global opportunities and creating practical, tangible solutions for increasing AI adoption as well as generating economic and social value, said H.E. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and President-Designate of COP28, during a visit to Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI).

Dr. Al Jaber, who is also the Chairman of MBZUAI, said: “AI adoption across industries will help meet the nation’s goals in advancing technology and diversifying its economy. Projections show AI solutions are on course to contribute an estimated $13 trillion to the global GDP by 2030, optimizing the industries of tomorrow, and dramatically improving the lives of billions of people in the process. We stand on the brink of a technological revolution and MBZUAI is providing a world-leading pipeline of AI specialists, and an ecosystem nurturing industrial collaboration to support the UAE's innovation trajectory.”

During his visit, alongside G42 CEO, Peng Xiao and Professor Eric Xing, President and University Professor of MBZUAI, H.E met with leading researchers from MBZUAI and the Inception Institute of Artificial Intelligence (IIAI) to discuss key research projects that will deliver on UAE national priorities including sustainable environment and infrastructure; world-class healthcare and education systems; and exploring large language models, particularly in Arabic.

The Chairman also met with MBZUAI faculty focusing on the institution’s three core pillars of climate, health, and education, where he reviewed research on energy efficient language models and machine learning systems, maximizing solar energy outputs, and real-time autonomous malaria diagnosis and assessment. Dr. Al Jaber was also given a demonstration of environmentally friendly chatbot – Vicuna – a global collaboration between researchers at MBZUAI, UC Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon University, Stanford, and UC San Diego.

Peng Xiao commented: “The UAE’s unwavering commitment to advancing artificial intelligence and digital transformation is evident in a thriving academic institution like MBZUAI. In the three years since its establishment, MBZUAI has attracted world-renowned researchers from the most prestigious educational institutions globally. This concentration of talent has catalyzed a massive wave of growth in the local AI ecosystem and has helped the UAE build a strong platform for AI development to foster an environment conducive to driving meaningful and sustained innovation, with far-reaching impact across various industries worldwide.”

Dr. Al Jaber also emphasized the role of AI in climate based solutions saying: “AI will contribute to the UAE’s net zero strategic initiative by 2050 and help unlock advances in climate progress. Technologies being developed today have the potential to increase energy efficiency, reduce emissions, and ensure that economic growth and climate progress go hand-in-hand while advances in technologies like artificial intelligence, analytics and robotics will enable us to better decarbonize high emitting sectors, and measure and reduce energy consumption and emissions.”

It is estimated that AI could be used to help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 5.3 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent gases (CO2e) if applied globally, playing a major role in limiting global temperature increases to 1.5C.

During the visit, Dr. Al Jaber was also updated on a joint MBZUAI, IBM project that aims to provide a data engine to identify urban areas in Abu Dhabi with excessive heat, which could be used to inform climate and sustainability policies. With its capability to analyze vast quantities of global data, AI can be used to measure greenhouse gas emissions and climactic trends, and spot potentially important patterns that will prove invaluable to scientists and policy makers.

On his part, Professor Eric Xing said: "MBZUAI is already leading global efforts to develop and deploy sustainable AI solutions and applications as we showcased today. Harnessing the power of AI, we are delivering state-of-the-art research that can solve the world’s most pressing issues such as in healthcare, education, and environmental sustainability. There has never been a greater need for well-trained AI professionals and investments into AI R&D. By pushing the boundaries of AI and continuing to collaborate with key industry leaders for the application of AI solutions, we can have profound social and economic impact. In the recent hype of AI, we must remain focused on its massive potential for good.”

MBZUAI is among 12 UAE-based universities and higher education institutions to join the Universities Climate Network (UCN). The taskforce enables collaboration to advance ambitious climate action nationally and internationally to accelerate positive change for a low-carbon, resilient world. Eight MBZUAI students from eight countries have also been selected to participate in the Climate Ambassadors Program (CAP). They recently took part in an immersive roleplay simulation of a COP28 UAE proceeding, where they were given an opportunity to study, explore, and learn about the diverse challenges nations face due to climate change.

Source: Zawya

Now in its seventh year, the Emirates Soil Museum has become a leading destination for soil researchers, enthusiasts, and environmentally conscious people seeking to broaden their knowledge of soils and their critical role in ecosystems in the UAE and other countries with similar environments.

In 2022 the museum made a number of significant achievements, attracting through its educational offerings over 1,740 people, including school and university students, researchers, and professionals. It ran various activities, events, and programs for corporates, schools, and other institutions to encourage environmental sustainability and behavior.

One of the highlights of the year was a visit by UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. This helped to reinforce the museum’s reputation as a crucial repository of information about the UAE’s natural heritage.

Other highlights included a soil exhibition in Dubai jointly with the Save Soil movement led by Sadhguru and a virtual excursion to the museum in collaboration with the Global Soil Museum Network to mark World Soil Day.

Throughout the year, the museum worked with its local partners such as Eedama, Companies for Good, and Goumbook to organize different awareness activities and events around environmental protection and soil conservation.

What is more, in partnership with The Waste Lab, the museum established an on-site composting station at its park to demonstrate sustainable organic waste management. The goal of the composting station was to engage members of the public in composting and educate visitors on different sustainable practices. By November 2022, the program had 96 families participating and learning about the value of composting. The program collected 10,180 kg of food scraps for making compost, which was then used during planting activities at the museum or given to the families.

The museum also hosted and participated in a number of special campaigns and events like “Nature’s Harvest: Growing Sustainably for a Growing World Sustainability @ EXPO” under the Programme for People and Planet at Expo City, Dubai; the Food for Future Summit; “Food for Life” by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment of the UAE and the Emirates Nature – WWF on Earth Day; and “Food for all” on World Food Day.

To celebrate World Soil Day, the museum also ran a four-week awareness campaign involving 342 professionals from nine organizations. Not only did participants learn about the types of soil found in the UAE and threats to them, but they were also introduced to some of the work done by ICBA to tackle land degradation and planted 359 Ghaf trees. As part of this campaign, the museum, in collaboration with its partner Eedama, also engaged 157 schoolchildren in various learning activities under the slogan “Soils, where food begins”, and hosted a special family day out.

Another campaign managed by the museum continued to raise public awareness about the health and other benefits of cooking and consuming healthy dishes using locally grown halophytic, or salt-loving, crops. Dubbed the Halophytic Kitchen Lab, the program held 10 sessions and trained 494 participants in preparing halophyte-based recipes.

The museum also worked on improving its soil resources and exhibits. For example, the collection of books and references available at the museum library was reviewed and upgraded. And as an extension to the museum library, a soil archive was added to showcase a special collection of soil samples collected during the UAE soil survey in 2006-2009. This archive will be linked through QR codes to Virtual Soil Monolith, an interactive educational tool.

This and other work will enhance the museum’s standing as a unique place of knowledge and education on soils in the UAE and beyond. The museum will continue to increase the number, reach, and impact of its initiatives tailored to inspire action on environmental issues.

Source: International Center for Biosaline Agriculture

The UAE will launch an international eco-education programme to help teach the next generation about crucial efforts to protect the planet.

The Ministry of Education has announced a Green Education Partnership with Unesco and Unicef that will offer schools across the UAE a national framework to support climate education and action among young people.

As many as 1,400 principals and 2,800 teachers will be trained by the ministry with the goal of ensuring half of the country's schools and campuses are 'Green Accredited', ahead of the Cop28 summit in Dubai this year.

The project aims to equip pupils of all ages with the necessary knowledge to bring about a change in attitudes to environmental issues.

Announcing the drive on Tuesday, Ahmad Al Falasi, Minister of Education, said Cop28 would provide a road map for using education to achieve sustainable development goals and combat climate change.

Education sector has critical role to play

“Individual behaviours toward climate change are still the key to making a real impact, and with that comes the significant role of education in shifting minds, actions and attitudes about the environment today, and in the future.

“At the Ministry of Education, we have a critical role to play to advance the role of education in addressing climate change, by building environment-friendly curricula and schools, and training educators to build sustainable green communities,” the minister said at a press conference.

The UAE will host the UN Cop28 summit from November 30 to December 12.

Mr Al Falasi said it would provide an opportunity to mobilise international efforts to include green education in schools in the region and around the world.

Elaborating on the initiative, Dr Amna Al Shamsi, assistant undersecretary for the Care and Building Capacity Sector at the ministry, said the green education strategy would not be introduced as mandatory classes in schools.

Instead it will be incorporated as a framework in all learning and extra-curricular activities.

Greening Schools and Communities

The official said the scheme would be have four core themes — Greening Schools, Greening Learning, Greening Capabilities and Greening Communities — each aiming to achieve a set target.

For instance, the Greening Schools will provide a framework for schools and universities to become more environmentally friendly to reduce their environmental impact, while also promoting sustainable practices among students and the wider community. The ministry said it wants to 50 per cent of the UAE schools to be ‘Green Accredited’ and have more than 70 eco-friendly campuses in the country by the end of the year.

Under Greening Learning, the ministry will introduce guidebooks for the creation of sustainability focused co-curriculum activities based on developing three pillars — knowledge, skills and values. Since 2019, the ministry has teamed up with the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) to develop a cross-curriculum framework to ensure that pupils at all levels are exposed to sustainable development concepts.

“But the new national educational framework endorsed by the UAE will make sure that whatever we create, we are talking a universal language that all other educational systems can adopt,” said Dr Al Shamsi.

“This is not just for Cop. Through the open tool kits we are working on [for UAE schools] we will create an abundance of resources and will allow other countries to build on those resources.”

Under the Greening Capacities segment, Dr Al Shamsi said, master trainers will work in every school to train teachers. A comprehensive programme has been developed alongside Unicef for training 1,400 principals and 2,800 teachers across UAE schools.

There will be at least one master trainer per school. They will receive five days in-person training to implement and deliver the framework with Unicef and an additional 30 hours of online, self-paced training on climate education, said the official.

Under the Greening Communities segment, the Ministry of Education, in partnership with Unesco, is developing a school and university engagement model to promote sustainability in communities. Under this model, each emirate will have its own unique approach to engaging schools and universities in promoting sustainable development.

Pupils will have opportunities for increased community engagement and participation, and green initiatives will involve collaboration between schools, community groups and local government.

First education pavilion at Cop 28

Dr Al Shamsi said the UAE would introduce the first education pavilion to appear at a Cop when it hosts the climate summit in November at Expo City in Dubai.

The pavilion, which will be set up in partnership with Unesco, will act as an international platform to promote climate education teamwork.

“The facility will be the centre to learn how the Ministry of Education has come to tackle climate change actions and what measures we can take to ensure its essential place in the ecosystem,” said the official.

Source: Anjana Sankar, The National

Recent developments in the retail space are geared towards a conscious shift to sustainable means. This year, with Dubai Shopping Festival, Sharaf DG invited electronics donations at their retail outlets to give back to the surroundings in a pivotal way. The e-waste collection drive created a means to encourage individuals to help reduce the carbon footprint.

Families could bring old and used accessories, smartphones, laptops, tablets and other hard goods to Sharaf DG and get Gift vouchers for contributing to the noble cause. A whole hearted contribution turn this into the largest e-waste collection drive of its kind in the region with 25 kilo tons of E-waste collected. And YES Solutions responsibly supported the endeavour by recycling the collection.

Creating solutions for nature has steered the team to drive several initiatives for sustainable growth. Sharaf DG went paperless and encourages customers to accept green bills over emails. Cloth and paper bags have been introduced at all the stores to take home premium products in green covers. Added to that, collecting used electronics for recycling and extending their life purpose. A well rounded approach has helped gain and serve the environment consistently since they first began.

The e-waste collection drive is a strong force directed towards livelihoods on the larger front. It incentivises businesses, families and stakeholders which keeps the cycle moving. Sharaf DG has truly sowed the seeds for a greener tomorrow this season and hopes to continue making a sustainable shift through future endeavours. If you wish to contribute to the cause or are a brand and wish to partner with us in the initiative, visit the nearest Sharaf DG store.

Recycling old technology greatly helps nurture our very own green cover by reducing the consumption of all that destroys it. When we donate them, we prevent the impact it creates on the environment and hence reduce their footprint. Wondering how? Did you know, UAE alone produces 162 kilo tons of e-waste every year! Digest that.

Source: Zawya

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and RECAPP by Veolia have partnered to promote aluminium recycling across the UAE’s schools and universities.

The initiative will start with 12 schools near the EGA’s operations in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. In addition, RECAPP will manage the deployment of recycling drop-off locations that are easily accessible to students to help generate more interest and awareness among young people about recycling.

RECAPP by Veolia is a member of the Aluminium Recycling Coalition, founded by the EGA earlier this year to bring the company together with can-makers, beverage producers and waste management companies to promote aluminium recycling in the UAE.

Abdulnasser bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of EGA, said, "Aluminium is an infinitely-recyclable material, vital for creating a sustainable society. Despite its potential, too much aluminium is discarded in the UAE, impacting our economy and environment. 

“Our partnership with RECAPP by Veolia aims to transform this behaviour by engaging young people, who are most receptive to change and have the greatest stake in our collective future. By fostering a culture of sustainability and environmental stewardship, we empower the next generation to become leaders in environmental responsibility, paving the way for a more sustainable and circular economy."

Jérôme Viricel, General Manager of RECAPP at Veolia Near & Middle East, said, “Closing the aluminium recycling loop in the UAE requires multiple solutions that encourage consumers to the right behaviour and make it simple and rewarding. By working hand-in-hand, we will support national sustainability efforts through promoting the recycling reflex and diverting waste from landfill.”

RECAPP is a digital recycling solution for individuals and businesses with some 52,000 users in the UAE. It is centred on an app that enables its members to order a collection of their recyclables from their location and, in return, receive discounts in a dedicated marketplace. 

Last November, RECAPP by Veolia launched GoRECAPP.com, the first B2B digital recycling platform in the UAE, which enables businesses to deploy recycling boxes on their premises.

Recycling aluminium takes 95 per cent less energy than making new metal. Last year, the EGA announced it intends to build the largest aluminium recycling facility in the UAE.

Source: Esraa Esmail/ Rola AlGhoul - Emirates News Agency - WAM

In line with UAE Net Zero 2050 and the UAE’s direction towards sustainable economic development and industrial decarbonisation, the Ministry of the Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) is hosting high potential technology start-ups with a focus on sustainability and decarbonisation to participate in a start-up competition launched ahead of COP28.

The Ministry created the Make it in the Emirates Start-up Competition to provide technology start-ups with a platform where they can meet investors and network with policy makers and industry partners.

The competition invites transformative start-ups seeking to have a global impact to showcase and pitch new innovations and technologies and provides them with the opportunity to learn from some of the best and brightest minds working in the fields of sustainability, manufacturing and technology. The competition will also provide the startups with the opportunity to further develop and deploy their technologies in the UAE in collaboration with various industry partners.

The Make it in the Emirates Startup Competition seeks to enable forward-looking technology startups with pioneering sustainability related innovations that can transform and green existing industries, while also seeding the green industries of the future.

Taking place at the Make it in the Emirates Forum from 31st May to 1st June, the competition is open to just 24 start-ups from all over the world. Startups from various sectors with a focus on sustainability, decarbonization-and digitalization are welcomed to apply.

Tariq Al Hashimi, Director of Advanced Technology Adoption and Development at MoIAT, said, “We are living in an age in which start-ups have the power to disrupt entire industries and rewrite the playbook. These startups also have promising solutions for some of the world’s most pressing issues including climate change. However, access to funding and other enablers remains a huge challenge for startups all over the world. That is why the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology is leveraging the Make it in the Emirates Forum as platform to provide promising tech-driven, sustainability-focused companies with a stage at one of the region’s largest and most attended industrial investment events to pitch, learn and connect."

Al Hashimi added, “Start-ups participating in the competition will be able to access unique investment and collaboration opportunities, as well as get exposed to a suite of incentives offered by the UAE’s Advanced Technology ecosystem. The Ministry is committed to supporting companies of all sizes as part of our mission to create an industrial and technology ecosystem that generates inclusive and sustainable economic growth.”

Start-ups can apply here: 
https://moiat.typeform.com/to/EiBm1pnJ. Applications close on 5th May 2023.

The 24 start-ups will initially be selected from the pool of submissions based on the innovation they have demonstrated, their disruptive potential, their scalability and sustainability, as well as their marketing potential, competitive advantage, and positive social impact.

The judging panel will include representatives from Aspire, EDGE Group, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, Technology Innovation Institute, Dubai Industrial City, UAE University and Strata.

The competition is one of several initiatives launched under the Make it in the Emirates umbrella. Make it in the Emirates aims to attract investors, industrialists and innovators to the UAE to benefit from the country’s competitive advantages.

In 2022, MoIAT launched the inaugural Make it in the Emirates Forum, which received the attendance of around 1,800 stakeholders, including investors from around the world. The forum resulted in offtake agreements worth AED 110 billion with national enterprises committing to purchase more than 300 products from local suppliers to support their future growth plans.

Source: Khoder Nashar, Emirates News Agency - WAM

As more companies in the UAE look to offer innovative solutions to help tackle climate change, one organisation in Abu Dhabi is aiming to transform the construction and events industry by turning landfill waste into a replacement for plywood.

Terrax, which is owned by husband-and-wife duo Theresa and David Wernery, along with their partner Cameron Cairns, is bringing technology from Brazil to the warehouses of Mussaffah in a bid to offer a more sustainable solution to developers and contractors.

Construction plywood has a heavy toll on the environment, the company says on its website.

The process of harvesting and manufacturing causes air and water pollution, while shipping it to the UAE, where it is not made locally, is expensive and environmentally unfriendly. In many parts of the world, deforestation also has to happen in order to create the product.

“It’s used a lot in construction and events for stand building,” Ms Wernery told The National.

“For events, it’s single-use. In construction, it’s used for concrete pouring. You can generally use it six to 12 times maximum and then it goes to a landfill."

“You can buy good quality forestry-certified plywood but most construction companies don’t. Standard plywood often comes from unsustainable sources.”

Once they realised this, the trio — who also have a company that manufactures recycled flooring tiles that were used across the Expo 2020 Dubai site — set about looking for a solution. In their search, they came upon a father-and-son team in southern Brazil who have been using a technology since 2006 that utilises unwashed and unsegregated waste that can be extruded into all manner of products.

“It can make boards, replacing plywood boards, but you can also do plastic composite stuff like decking, pergolas and cladding,” Ms Wernery explained.

They will also make formwork and shuttering products for the construction industry, as well as hoarding, fencing, pallets, countertops and more.

“It’s a really interesting technology because the waste doesn’t need to be washed, which is important for this part of the world," she said.

Another plus point is that the plywood replacement product has more than 100 uses.

The waste used in the machine that is due to arrive in the UAE in September, would otherwise go straight to a landfill.

“We don’t want to use any good plastics — the good stuff that can be recycled and ought to be. Our input material will be like Tetra Pak [plasticised cartons for milk and other liquids], which can’t be recycled here in the UAE. Or carpet waste, which is generally not easily recycled globally,” she said.

They also use fibreglass, multi-layer packaging, films, crisp packets and other non-recyclable items and materials, she said. To source it all, they’ll work with waste management companies across the country.

While Ms Wernery is confident in the product, she said the company has faced hurdles in terms of suppliers understanding the benefits, while the lack of producer responsibility legislation is an added challenge.

On the other hand, she said, they need to be competitive against suppliers of normal plywood.

“It’s not a bad thing in many ways. It makes you lean, makes you look at your business, price sensitivity is a big thing," she said.

Master developers such as Emaar and Aldar, too, are pushing their construction companies in the right direction, and trial runs in the UAE have so far been successful, she added.

The journey to get to this point has taken time and, along the way, the team self-funded using income from their existing business. But it’s worth it, said Ms Wernery.

“To solve these problems we need solutions, scalable solutions, physical hardware, otherwise we can’t process waste," she said.

“It’s a physical by-product of our existence and as long as we produce the volumes we produce here, there needs to be a physical solution.”

Source: Katy Gillett, The National