DUBAI 8 February 2022: The Executive Council of Dubai has approved the policy to limit single-use bags by imposing a tariff of 25 fils on single-use bags used for carrying goods, starting from 1st July, 2022.
The tariff will be implemented in all stores across Dubai including, but not limited to, retail stores, textile and electronic stores, restaurants, pharmacies, online and e-commerce deliveries.
As a subsequent step, the policy will be evaluated over several stages until single-use carrier bags are completely banned within a span of two years, following the assessment of behavioural changes in the community. With sustainability becoming a global priority, changing the behaviour of the community to reduce the environmental footprint of individuals is crucial to preserve natural resources and environmental habitats. The changes will ultimately contribute to a healthier environment, which is vital to maintaining a sustainable and high quality of life, said Wa,.
The introduction of the policy to limit and ultimately ban single-use bags is aimed at strengthening Dubai’s sustainability objectives in line with global best practices for reducing the consumption of single-use bags. The tariff on single-use bags is currently in effect in over 30 countries, and a partial or complete ban has been implemented in more than 90 countries globally, reflecting the magnitude of international efforts to reduce the consumption of single-use bags.
Studies have proven over the past decades that there is an evident connection between the quality of the environment and the quality of life. Key areas of association include: the impact of air, water, and soil quality on physical health; the importance of natural habitats and biodiversity on mental health; and the significant role that the environment plays in the local economy across vital sectors such as tourism, entertainment, and food production, amongst others.
In line with the environmental objectives set out in the National Agenda, dedicated government entities have implemented programmes to enhance environmental protection and resource conservation. These include an integrated waste management strategy for the emirate; reducing harmful fishing practices such as banning the use of nets; and the enforcement of fees for waste disposal beginning January 2022, which significantly helps reduce waste production and dumping of waste in landfills.
The Dubai Government has also invested in several projects aimed at turning waste into resources. Furthermore, the government actively encourages the Dubai community to improve practices in sustainable waste segregation and disposal. These efforts contribute to providing a healthy environment as well as the conditions to encourage investments in sustainable waste and resource management, in line with the principles of a circular economy. These waste management efforts will fundamentally promote economic, environmental, and social sustainability while building an ecosystem that preserves natural resources, and supports the adoption of a green, low carbon economy in alignment with the Dubai Waste Management Strategy 2041, and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals announced by the United Nations for 2030.
Carrefour welcomes policy
Carrefour, owned and operated by Majid Al Futtaim in the UAE, supports Dubai’s plastic-free future.
Bernardo Perloiro, Chief Operating Officer of GCC at Majid Al Futtaim Retail: “We applaud the decision of Dubai’s Executive Council to introduce a 25 fils charge for single-use plastic bags to discourage excessive plastic consumption and encourage a more sustainable shopping behaviour from July 1. Carrefour was the first UAE retailer to offer a recyclable carrier bag in 2007 and we have since pledged to reduce the circulation of single-use plastic by 500 million bags each year. Whilst in 2019, we announced our company-wide pledge to phase out single-use plastic by 2025.
“Reusable bags are a cost-effective solution for customers, and luckily we come prepared. Carrefour offers a variety of reusable bags starting from AED 2.50, all of which have a lifetime warranty. In terms of capacity, one reusable bag equates to 3-5 plastic bags and can carry many more items. Using sustainable alternatives not only saves the environment but saves our customers money as they can avoid the future tariff whilst earning extra SHARE points through our loyalty scheme.
“Majid Al Futtaim has committed to becoming Net Positive in carbon and water by 2040 and has joined the United Nations Environment Programme to collaborate on resource efficiency and sustainable developments. All these initiatives are part of our move towards the creation of a circular economy and efforts to minimise our footprint on the environment, in line with our sustainability strategy ‘Dare Today, Change Tomorrow’.
“We are incredibly excited about the shift towards a plastic-free future and the opportunity to create lasting impact on the environment as we work together with our customers and the support of the government.”
