Inspiring Climate Action Since 2009
It’s my great pleasure to share with my readers the launch of our #ZeroWasteUAE Initiative a few days back on the occasion of Earth Day at Pullman JLT. #ZeroWasteUAE Initiative aims to reduce waste and targeting healthier & more sustainable lifestyle in the UAE.
As you all are aware since the start of 2016 I embarked on a personal journey to reduce waste. I was already trying to eliminate plastic from my life and living a sustainable lifestyle, but I realized back then that you can not really live a sustainable as well as a healthy lifestyle if you are creating waste and that is how my journey towards less waste started. It was a huge challenge in a place like UAE but I decided to take a plunge. We even successfully attempted a zero waste road trip and family camping in Oman last summer read here.
After a year’s experience of reducing waste, I thought it was time to share my journey with you lovely readers, so our sustainability tribe started #ZeroWasteUAE initiative as a new year green resolution of 2017, read here.
But to be honest, I haven’t really reached the Zero Waste target yet. We lack an infrastructure in UAE to go Zero Waste or can I even say go back to roots? Can we imagine how our forefathers lived before plastic was invented? How was life then without all these convenient but wasteful disposable items? Our life is now so dependent on the cycle of consuming and wasting, so there is no surprise why an average person in UAE creates 5.4 Kg of waste every day.
#ZeroWasteUAE initiative will not just create awareness in society, but will also connect with businesses who have products or services which can help residents in reducing waste to create a Zero waste infrastructure locally. We have many plans in the pipeline under the #ZeroWasteUAE Initiative to create a resource to reduce waste and create a community of Zero waste warriors in UAE.
On 21st April, during Earth Week when we launched the #ZeroWasteUAE Initiative, we received strong support from the sustainable business community in UAE. Our host and event partner Pullman JLT & Accor Hotels who are proud supporters of #ZeroWasteUAE organized a beautiful event for us.
To mark the #ZeroWasteUAE launch head chef of Pullman JLT specially prepared zero-waste beetroot shooters. These shooters were made with whole beetroots, avoiding any food waste. We are particularly impressed by Accor Hotel’s internal sustainability goals and an amazing example of reducing food waste in their one the property in UAE so there couldn’t have been a better host for our #ZeroWasteUAE Initiative launch than Accor Hotels.
Sustainability Tribe’s Amruta talking about the initiative
During the launch event, Sustainability Tribe presented UAE’s waste facts, collected from Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority which are based on data collected in 2015. We also shared with our guests the information on how to join #ZeroWasteUAE Initiative and who can join and most importantly what positive changes #ZeroWasteUAE Initiative will bring to society. You can read all the information about #ZeroWasteUAE Initiative on below clickable links,
Things to know about #ZeroWasteUAE Initiative
During the event, our proud supporters of the #ZeroWasteUAE Initiative talked about their sustainable products, which can help in reducing waste in the UAE. Their products are our favorite tried & tested products, included under our Green Consumer choices on Sustainability Tribe.
Indoor hydroponics by Italian Food Masters
Reusable Products by My Organic Baby Shop
Urban farming solutions by My Green Chapter
Since we started the Zero Waste UAE Initiative, it’s humbling to see the immense support we are receiving for this cause by residents and the business community in the UAE. This initiative is totally non-glamourous and is action-oriented but when UAE is taking center stage for sustainability action worldwide, our society is definitely getting ready to take steps toward Zero Waste in UAE.
Amruta Kshemkalyani, an expert sustainability professional turned social entrepreneur, is the founder of the Sustainability Tribe, AK Sustainability
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Well done! Such an amazing initiative and I hope to implement some of what you’re advocating!
I was honoured to be invited to this event and inspired to see how passionate you are promoting such a huge lifestyle change and mindset in the UAE Amruta. Looking forward to following your success.