COP28: BEEAH, ISWA, Roland Berger to develop first certified global standard for recycling credits

Sharjah’s BEEAH Group, International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), and management consultancy Roland Berger will work together to develop a key global standard for waste recycling.

The three entities signed a landmark agreement to that effect during the United Nations Environment Program’s Second Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC-2) in Paris.

The initiative has been endorsed by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCaE).

The platform will create a global market-based incentive scheme and standard measure for recycling recognition and rewards. Developed using blockchain technology, the platform aims to facilitate collaboration between jurisdictions and enable transparency across the waste management value chain.

To be launched at COP28

The dedicated marketplace, to be revealed during the upcoming 28^th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), will connect waste producers and waste management providers to create a virtuous loop. Organisations which recycle waste with verified sustainable waste management providers will receive voluntary recycling credits (VRC). The use of the platform enables them to track the recycling activities in a transparent and standardised process and helps to realise their sustainability targets.

Khaled Al Huraimel, group CEO of BEEAH Group, says: “BEEAH Group has been working relentlessly towards a zero-waste to landfill future, which we see as closely linked to fulfilling the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative and broader sustainability agenda. We are proud to work with MoCCaE, ISWA and Roland Berger to develop the VRC platform, which will enable us to create new, sustainable efficiencies across businesses and industries when it comes to waste management.

“This new recycling standard will make positive impact for sustainability targets within the UAE and globally. While incentivising recycling and making large scale impact on creating a circular economy, we are also innovating to add new value to organisations that are managing their waste sustainably, enabling them to offset emissions and track their contributions to the national sustainability agenda.”

In March, the International Panel on Climate Change highlighted that contributions from the waste management sector could result in the mitigation of 1.8 Gt (gigatonnes) of CO₂ emissions every year. This is possible through innovations across the waste management value chain and limiting the usage of resources to manufacture virgin materials such as plastic.

“There is a need to integrate action and to provide consistent solutions. I am very happy to announce the launch of a new global initiative, promoted by the UAE and our partners, BEEAH and Roland Berger, linking the topics that are currently being discussed at INC-2 in Paris on plastics pollution with the climate change negotiations that will happen during COP28 in Dubai,” said Carlos RV Silva, president, ISWA.

Recycling standard complements UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative

Bolstered by MoCCaE’s strategies and vision for the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, the standard will bring together BEEAH Group’s expertise in waste management, sustainability and digitalisation, ISWA’s competencies and large-scale impact on the circular economy globally and Roland Berger’s leadership in developing circular economy solutions to mitigate climate change, enabling innovative technology and coalition.

Hani Tohme, managing partner at Roland Berger Dubai said: “For the first time in history, the waste management sector is offering a scalable solution to reduce carbon emissions, track material flows, and create a self-sustaining financing system to upgrade recycling infrastructure globally. This ambition is being promoted by an innovative coalition formed under the leadership of the UAE, bringing together all the necessary expertise to make a massive contribution to the Paris agreement. We look forward to putting waste management on the radar this year at COP28 and demonstrating the sector’s untapped potential to reduce emissions.”

The partnership is currently developing the standard’s framework and technology.

The platform will be revealed at COP28 in Dubai between November 30 and December 12.