United Arab Emirates to ban single-use plastic bags in move toward multi-use alternatives

12 Jan 2023 --- The UAE has announced that it will impose a nationwide ban on single-use plastic bags starting next year. The law will prohibit the import, production and circulation of plastic bags of any material or composition, according to an announcement by the state-run WAM news agency.

In addition to the 2024 target, starting January 1, 2026, importing plastic cutlery, drinks cups, styrofoam and boxes in the UAE will be prohibited. The ban will include everything from food packaging, plastic bottles, cotton sticks, cigarette butts, wet wipes and balloons that contain plastic. The shift is part of the UAE’s larger goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

The government said authorities, retailers, suppliers and consumers should prepare with “suitable, sustainable and multi-use alternatives in all shopping stores, retail stores and sales outlets on a permanent basis.”

The ban works to reduce plastic pollution in the country’s environment based on studies of plastic waste’s destruction to nature and wildlife. “Plastic bags are one of the most problematic kinds of waste, polluting streets and waterways and harming birds and marine life. It takes decades to degrade, and microscopic particles have been found inside the bodies of fish, birds and other animals,” reports WAM.

Success with previous bans
Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, imposed a ban on single-use plastics in June and the futuristic city of Dubai began charging around six cents for such bags in July. According to the National News, this ban has already led to 87 million fewer single-use plastic bags being used, a cut of around 90%.

Dubai introduced other legislation last summer which imposed a 25 fils (US$0.07) charge on plastic bags. The city officials have claimed that nine in ten turtles and five in ten camels found dead had plastic in their stomachs.

UAE is a significant oil producer, generating 3,77,788 barrels a day and ranking eighth in the world, according to WorldOMeter. The region was also the host of last year’s UN climate summit and is set to host the UN climate summit COP28 in 2023.

Environmental developments in UAE
Last year, Bee’ah, a leading Middle Eastern environmental, recycling and waste management company, partnered with the UK waste recovery specialist Chinook Sciences to create the first waste-to-hydrogen project in the UAE using non-recyclable plastic waste.

Also, Nadeera, a UAE-based startup, won PepsiCo’s first Greenhouse Accelerator Program: Middle East North Africa (MENA) Sustainability Edition, receiving a US$100,000 grant. Nadeera was recognized for its “Yalla Return” system. The system is the first “trash-for-cash” system in the MENA region, giving customers cash rewards based on the number of recyclables turned in.

Meanwhile, the Dubai Future Foundation Forum recently spotlighted the potential of lab-grown meat in overcoming environmental sustainability and food security crises.

In human health, the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention recently announced its National Nutrition Strategy for 2022-2030, in which it sets deadlines to reduce average salt intake by 30% and “virtually eliminate” industrial trans fats from the food supply.

By Sabine Waldeck

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