The 2021 edition of The Gulf Sustainability Awards, an annual event that celebrates organisations implementing best practices in the Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) space, in the Middle East, was held on September 20th, in Dubai. The Gold award in the "Innovation in Sustainable Technologies" category was won by Dake Rechsand – a Dubai-based company offering sustainable solutions in water conservation and desert farming, in the form of air-permeable but water retaining ‘Breathable Sand’ products made from low-value desert sand, using its proprietary technology.
Sustainability has emerged as an extremely critical area of focus for the Middle East; with programs such as The Middle East Green Initiative, The Saudi Vision 2030, and The UAE Vision 2021, the UAE Centennial 2071, and the UAE Energy Strategy 2050; all featuring a strong sustainability component. These programs, and many major CSR initiatives in the region, are proactively seeking out innovative technologies and strategies, to make a sustainable Middle East a reality; through scalable solutions that can be implemented as part of daily life – by individuals, institutions, and governments – to generate a transformative and far-reaching cumulative impact.
"We are extremely proud to have won the Gold Award, in the "Innovation in Sustainable Technologies" category, at the Gulf Sustainability Awards 2021″, says Chandra Dake, CEO and Founder of Dake Rechsand. "We want to thank Awards International, for their efforts to celebrate and inspire organisations that are focusing on empowering long-term sustainability in the region. Our focus has been on solutions that promote scalable rainwater harvesting, and water-wise farming and landscaping, in the Middle East; and we believe our proprietary technology can play a significant role in creating a greener, more water and food secure, and more sustainable Middle East of the future".
Dake Rechsand’s ‘Breathable Sand’ can be used to provide plants with an optimal growing medium for arid climates, reducing water needed for irrigation by up to 80%. The company also makes pavers, tiles, and kerbstones from the ‘Breathable Sand’ which can be used to create scalable and decentralised rainwater harvesting infrastructure that turns any open surface into a catchment area, and store the collected water underground for extended periods without the need for chemical or electrical intervention, to keep it fresh.
"Creating a green and sustainable Middle East will take all our collective efforts, and The Gulf Sustainability Awards is an important platform which will help this ecosystem to expand and thrive", Chandra added.
Hosted by Awards International, the Gulf Sustainability Awards 2021 recognised the contributions of award recipients across 14 categories including environmental sustainability programme, sustainability awareness, community development and water or waste management.