UAE to set up first food-grade plastic recycling facility

Plans have been announced to set up a new plastic recycling facility in the UAE.

The 12,000 tonnes per annum polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling plant has been earmarked for Abu Dhabi. In line with the UAE’s efforts to reduce plastic pollution and boost trade through the export of recycled materials, the plant will recycle PET, a plastic material that is used in food packaging, such as plastic water bottles.

The 40,000 square meter facility in Abu Dhabi could create 100 jobs and avoid the emission of 18,000 metric tonnes of CO2 annually at full operating capacity, state news agency WAM reported.

MoU signed for the project involving Repeet, BEEAH Group, and Agthia

The MoU to study the feasibility of the project, which involves Repeet, BEEAH Group, and Agthia, was signed in the presence of members of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW).

Under the patronage of the UAE @MoIATUAE, the BEEAH Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with @Veolia, and F&B conglomerate @AgthiaGroup, to lay the groundwork for a new PET recycling facilities in the UAE. pic.twitter.com/uMgSdPQ9CR

— BEEAH Group (@beeahgroup) January 19, 2023

This partnership comes in line with MoIAT’s recent ministerial decree regulating the trade of recycled plastic water bottles.

It aims to facilitate the manufacturing of water bottles using recycled plastic in line with top public health and food safety standards. With time, more local water bottling companies are expected to embrace this circular economy journey and introduce more and more recycled plastic to produce their packaging. This is projected to reduce avoid 50,000 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions, enhance the national in-country value by Dhs150m annually, and create more than 1,000 jobs, reported WAM.

Omar Al Suwaidi, Under-Secretary of MoIAT, said, “As we approach COP28, the ministry will continue to amplify the important initiatives that fall under the national industrial strategy. For instance, we will utilise Make it in the Emirates to attract international investors and companies to engage with the UAE’s industrial sector to help us unlock the opportunities associated with industrial transformation and circular economy. These opportunities will ultimately help to build a more sustainable, efficient and competitive industrial sector, supporting not only the national economy, but also the global climate agenda,” Al Suwaidi added.

What the project involves

In the frame of the project under study, Repeet would operate the recycling plant, while BEEAH Group would supply a seven-year feedstock of plastics. Meanwhile, Agthia would provide a seven-year offtake for products. The feedstock will be post-consumed PET bottle bales while the offtakes will be food-grade recycled PET resin.

Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO of BEEAH Group, said, “Aligning closely with the national vision and contributing to the UAE’s sustainability targets have been the driving force for our organisation as we develop and implement circular economy solutions through our waste management business. Through this agreement, we can now further support the UAE’s sustainability agenda and accelerate the circular economy. We are honoured to partner with MoIAT, Repeet and Veolia to tackle the important issue of plastic pollution and make a positive impact together on a larger scale.”

In other news, in 2022, a global B2B digital trading platform for recycled plastics was launched in the UAE.

Rebound, a subsidiary of UAE’s International Holding Company, launched Rebound Plastic Exchange (RPX). World leaders from government, business, and civil society convened at the launch to discuss opportunities around trading plastics that can enable global circularity and fill demand gaps.

RPX will run specification sheets, endorsed by industry membership association RECOUP, tailored to each listing found on the marketplace to ensure transparency and facilitate cross-border trades.

Read: Global digital trading platform for recycled plastics launches in UAE