Dubai airports announced earlier this year that Dubai International and Dubai World Central (DXB and DWC) will soon be free of single-use plastic products.
Since the announcement of the initiative in June 2019, Dubai airports have worked closely with more than 250 of their partners in the shopping and hospitality sectors to fulfill their pledges by the beginning of the new year.
And this initiative to get rid of plastic has faced some serious challenges, given that more than 90 million passengers pass through Dubai International and Dubai World Central airports (DXB and DWC) – annually, and they consume daily tens of thousands of plastic materials such as water bottles and coffee cup covers.
“This commitment is another step in a long drive towards an environmentally responsible airport,” said Eugene Barry, executive vice president of commercial affairs at Dubai Airports. We and our partners, including global brands such as McDonald’s, Costa Coffee and Starbucks, are not only committed to removing single-use plastics but also are working to provide suitable and sustainable alternatives. ”
As of January 1, 2020, the gradual approach will include the removal of plastic material tools such as drinking straws (plastic pipettes), ready-to-eat food packing boxes and polythene bags from cafes, restaurants and stores at the busiest airports in the world. During the next twelve months, additional products will be replaced in public places designated for customers and operating places designated for the workers of these facilities.
Barry added that “one of the most important challenges we face, is to find alternatives to plastic bottles, which is one of the most used plastic products that are thrown after one use. As we work to reduce the presence of plastic materials at our airports and remove them permanently over time, we are working to increase our recycling facilities in public places designated for customers and are working to find a new partnership that allows us to dispose of thousands of tons of single-use plastic products annually annually properly. ”
Poll results:
Additional recycling points will contribute to the treatment of tens of thousands of bottles and waste brought to the airport daily. Dubai airports expect these numbers to decrease as people become more aware of the danger of using plastic products. The results of the survey, which was commissioned with a special commission on recycling habits for travelers, showed an increased awareness of personal use of plastic products and recycling at home and during travel.
• In the United Arab Emirates, more than half of the participants (52%) reported that they use a multi-use water bottle while traveling.
• 49% choose to have dinner in an airport restaurant to avoid using plastic boxes to fill the ready-made dishes provided by fast food restaurants.
• Almost one – third of respondents (32%) refuse to buy goods at the airport containing material is recyclable.
• More importantly, 92% of the respondents considered that the airports should be more clear about the steps they take to recycle the waste.
The giant café chain uses more than 2.6 million cups annually at Dubai airports
Going forward towards 2020, and through the partners of the shopping and hospitality sectors, more plastic products for single use will be replaced at both airports.
Among the most prominent partners in this environmental initiative are the fast food restaurant, McDonald’s which will be replaced at Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central (DXB and DWC) using 5,608,740 pieces of plastic with materials manufactured with recyclable materials, and Costa Coffee, which has also committed to replace its cups lined with plastic cups. Smart ”is renewed and made with 100% plants. The chain of giant cafes uses more than 2.6 million cups annually at Dubai airports alone , so its commitment to replace them with renewable cups will have a major environmental impact. Soon a coffee cup lid made entirely of wood and paper fibers will be used in place of the single-use plastic.
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