How the Dubai Can Initiative Reduced the Use of Single-Use Plastic Bottles in 2 Years
A resident in the UAE typically uses an average of 450 plastic bottles in a year, resulting in a total of 4 billion plastic bottles being used annually throughout the country.
The above numbers provided by the Government of Dubai’s Media Office are shocking but true, considering the amount of plastic bottles that get misused and discarded into landfills.
The UAE has taken active measures to ensure single-use plastic water bottles are being safely disposed.
One of the nation’s most successful projects is the Dubai Can initiative. It has made significant contributions to preserving the environment and bringing about awareness among UAE residents.
In this article, we will delve into the Dubai Can project and its momentous impact on the UAE’s sustainability efforts to achieve Net Zero by 2050.
About the Dubai Can initiative
The Dubai Can initiative was launched in February 2022 by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, to minimize the impact of single-use plastic water bottles in the country.
The project also aims to motivate residents and visitors in the UAE to participate in sustainable habits by utilizing multi-use plastic water bottles and ensuring that the single-use plastic ones are sent back into the right channels for recycling.
Water stations were installed at over 50 locations in Dubai, mainly popular tourist attractions, parks, and metro stations, considering the large amounts of foot traffic in these areas. Almost 9 million liters of water have been dispensed to these locations.
Moreover, these fountains provide safe and clean water, tested in compliance with the World Health Organization, DEWA, and GCC standards. This free drinking water is cooled at 10 degrees Celsius to offer ample refreshment.
Since its launch two years ago, the Dubai Can sustainability initiative has succeeded by reducing the usage of almost 18 million 500 ml single-use plastic water bottles in the UAE.
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates, had earlier announced the extension of the UAE’s Year of Sustainability to 2024. Therefore, the Dubai Can initiative has pledged to install water fountains at 30 more locations by the end of this year. These additional fountains aim to continue to encourage residents and visitors to adopt sustainable practices and contribute to the country’s Net Zero 2050 strategy.
Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism has witnessed widespread engagement with Dubai Can. It urges residents and visitors to continue utilizing the Dubai Can water stations to influence a sustainable shift in mindset among the people. These activities align with the Dubai Economic Agenda’s goals to position the city as one of the world’s top three for leisure and business over the next decade.
How businesses in the UAE support & contribute to Dubai Can
The Dubai Can sustainability initiative was able to refill over 50 water stations in partnership with businesses supporting the project, having the shared aim of improving sustainable development in the UAE.
Emirates NBD, one of the earliest supporters of Dubai Can, has contributed to the project by installing public water stations at The Greens and Views, Dubai Sports City, and South Ridge in Downtown Dubai.
Another company that has shown support for the initiative is Talabat UAE. It has announced that it will invest in adding two more Talabat Dubai Can water stations to the city.
Other organizations such as Radisson Hotel Group, Shamal Holding, Dell Technologies, and the Emirates Literature Foundation have shown immense support to Dubai Can’s endeavor to enhance the commitment to sustainability practices in the UAE.
Moreover, private companies have taken inspiration from Dubai Can to install water fountains in their offices to promote the usage of refillable plastic water bottles in the workplace.
What we can do as a community
The Dubai Can sustainability initiative has started a movement to foster behavioral changes within the nation’s community to embrace a sustainable lifestyle.
What we, the people of Dubai can do to further this project’s success is partake in these lifestyle changes for the betterment of the environment. This involves exercising the use of multi-use water bottles made of plastic, metal, glass, or stainless steel – suitable for long-term usage.
Instead of purchasing single-use plastic water bottles, multiple brands offer refillable plastic bottles you can carry and fill up at one of many Dubai Can locations. Due to the wide array of areas, such as beaches, metro stations, parks, and malls, there’s always a water station available near you to quench your thirst.
However, if you buy a single-use plastic bottle, you can return it at a reverse vending machine (RVM) to ensure it’s reused. You can even earn some points which can be redeemed for discounts and donations.
Implementing this refillable culture in the country with the proper recycling of plastic can massively reduce single-use plastic consumption and pollution, hence reducing carbon footprints and gradually achieving Net Zero.
The UAE’s sustainable journey is well underway to bring about a positive impact on the environment.
It is important to note that these restrictions also aim to motivate residents and visitors in the country to return plastic to the right channels, such as smart bins and reverse vending machines, to fuel a sustainable circular economy.
Our efforts must continue to be persistent to preserve the environment at all costs.
