In a collaboration aimed at fostering a recycling culture for single-use plastic bottles, Aldar Properties has joined forces with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD). As part of its Sustainability activities, Aldar will assume responsibility for eight significant Big Zero installations, providing community members with a convenient means to dispose of their single-use plastic bottles, which will subsequently be sent for recycling.
According to the news source – Emirates News Agency, Aldar’s commitment to sustainability will be demonstrated through the takeover of eight large Big Zero installations. These installations were initially introduced by EAD during the Abu Dhabi Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) last year. The new installations will be strategically positioned in eight locations within Aldar’s portfolio that experience high footfall, including the prominent Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi’s largest shopping destination.
Additionally, the Big Zero installations will be featured in various Aldar residential communities, such as Gate and Arc Towers on Reem Island, Al Muneera, Al Zeina, and Yas Acres. Furthermore, installations will be present at Aldar Education’s Al Yasmina, Al Bateen, and Al Mamoura Academies.
To ensure public awareness of the locations of these Big Zero installations, EAD and Aldar are planning to launch an informative campaign on social media. Aldar has been a staunch supporter of EAD’s Mission to Zero campaign since its launch in June of last year. This campaign strives for zero single-use plastic, zero waste, zero emissions, and zero harm to biodiversity within the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Ahmed Baharoon, Executive Director of Environment Information, Science Outreach Management Sector at EAD, highlighted the success of partnerships with private sector entities, particularly Aldar, in executing impactful environmental campaigns. Aldar has played a vital role in supporting EAD’s Single Use Plastic Policy and Mission to Zero campaign by installing Big Zero installations in their projects. This collaboration aligns with EAD’s objective to eliminate single-use plastic in Abu Dhabi.
Salwa Al Maflahi, Director of Sustainability and CSR at Aldar, emphasized the company’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the UAE’s biodiversity. Aldar incorporates environmental considerations into its operational philosophy and utilizes its residential and commercial properties to contribute to the Big Zero initiative and EAD’s Mission to Zero campaign. These partnerships complement Aldar’s comprehensive Net Zero by 2050 plan and its endeavors to enhance community well-being.
EAD’s Mission to Zero program encompasses a wide range of initiatives, including the “Pile it Up” school challenge, an SMS campaign, outdoor advertising, a government Baadr Challenge, and the Big Zero installations, among others. To date, the Big Zero installations, dispersed throughout Abu Dhabi, have facilitated the collection of approximately 1,500 kilograms of single-use plastic bottles.