On the occasion of World Environment Day 2021, Veolia Middle East, the global leader in optimized resource management offering game-changing solutions for water, waste and energy management, hosted an afternoon of talks, workshops and activities on the topic of Ecological Transformation.
Taking place at KAVE in the Alserkal Avenue arts district of Al Quoz, the event brought UAE-based entrepreneurs together with Veolia’s environment experts for sessions on achieving ecological transformation and a circular economy in the UAE. The speakers explored topics including slow fashion, food security, organic farming, sustainable agriculture, composting, and recycling.
Throughout the sessions, Veolia’s experts presented enlightening statistics and figures that highlighted the crucial importance of adopting eco-conscious practices. These include the fact that the UAE consumes almost 3 billion plastic bottles per year; the average UAE resident uses seven trees a year in paper, wood, and other products made from trees; and that most UAE families throw away about 50 kg of plastic per year, which could otherwise be recycled.
Kicking off the event, Araceli Gallego and Maya Tawil introduced attendees to the fundamentals of waste and the concept of a circular economy. Later, Sabira Huda and Amna El Nour provided an overview of food waste, and how it can be reduced by changes in our approach towards manufacturing, distribution and retail. Hervé Faujour outlined how organic waste can be put to use through composting, and Yazen Al Kodmani, of Emirates Bio Farm, gave a presentation on the company’s sustainable farming practices. Attendees at the event also had the chance to participate in a Composting Master Class and take part in activities to test their knowledge on recycling and increase engagement on environmental issues.
Commenting on the event, Sebastien Chauvin, Chief Executive Officer at Veolia Middle East said: “Our mission at Veolia is to demonstrate that an ecologically sustainable way of life is not just a pipe dream, but entirely achievable via the solutions that we are delivering to millions around the world every day. Events like this give people actionable insight into creating a sustainable economy, instilling the confidence that change is truly possible. With some expertise and innovation and being more eco-conscious with regards to our consumption patterns, we can ensure a long-term future for our planet and the generations to come.”
In addition to these knowledge sessions, Veolia Middle East hosted a range of initiatives to commemorate World Environment Day 2021 and increase awareness of how individuals can support ecological sustainability, including a beach cleaning effort in Abu Dhabi in which 30 recyclers collected 176.2 kg of waste, facilitated by Veolia’s RECAPP mobile application, the first mobile app in Abu Dhabi that provides door-to-door collection of recyclables. To promote solutions for ecological transformation, Veolia also held a #ShareYourSolutions challenge on social media in which members of the community are encouraged to share innovations, projects, and initiatives for ecological transformation.