Residents and families of all nationalities and ages in the Emirate of Dubai learned about the advantages of plastic recycling and the role that individuals can play in contributing to a more sustainable future at a free community outreach event in Dubai Festival City Mall as part of the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Associations (GPCA) 8th Waste Free Environment (WFE) Campaign.

Aimed at raising awareness about responsible resource consumption and the advantages of practicing the 3Rs Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, the event attracted visitors of all ages at an awareness kiosk in the mall who enjoyed a broad range of activities, which includes working with local artisans to produce handicraft from used plastics, received branded giveaways and the chance to win a special prize in a competition by disposing of their unwanted plastic at a reverse vending machine, organized by Bee'ah, the campaigns sustainability partner.

During the week-long activities, GPCA hosted a series of school visits filled with education, entertainment, competitions and giveaways to Gems Wellington Primary School, Cambridge International School, Kent College and Our Own High School Al Warqaa in Dubai from 9-12 February, with over 1,000 students taking part in the campaign.

Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA, commented, Now in its eighth edition, Waste Free Environment targets to give a boost to the message and the collaborative action taken by government, industry, NGOs and world-leading brand owners that plastic as a material is too valuable to end up in landfill. By offering a platform for learning and education based on scientific evidence, WFE empowers communities, specially our youth, to take the future into their own hands and act responsibly, with care towards the environment and future generations.

He added: On behalf of GPCA, I would like to thank our neighborhood event sponsor, BASF, the campaigns associate sponsors, LyondellBasell, Dow and Cosmoplast, as well as our sustainability partner, Bee'ah, for their valuable support in assisting to facilitate this essential awareness campaign.

Waste Free Environment (WFE) is an annual environmental and educational initiative that falls beneath GPCAs broader advocacy pillar. Starting as a beach clean-up initiative, the campaign has evolved into a global sustainability movement, attracting over 23,000 participants in 29 cities, 18 countries and three continents in 2019 alone.

To learn more about the initiative and how to get involved, visit: www.wastefreeenvironment.com