The Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) has spread awareness about the benefits of plastics and responsible resource consumption at a community outreach event supported by BASF in Dubai Festival City Mall last March 28 as part of the 7th edition of GPCA's Waste Free Environment (WFE) campaign. Families and visitors of different age visited GPCA's awareness kiosk and enjoyed a wide range of activities including working with local artisans to produce handicraft from used plastics. Visitors of the mall participated in a recycling competition held by the campaign's official recycling partner, Bee›ah, for the chance to win a special prize. With the aim to encourage plastic recycling, participants had to dispose of their unwanted plastic bottles at reverse vending machines to take part in the raffle. The campaign has already been underway in a number of GCC locations organized by GPCA member companies, with more activities planned throughout 2019. WFE started as a regional clean-up campaign led by GPCA and supported by its members and has now transformed into a year-round global environmental movement, with over 10,310 participants in 17 cities, 11 countries and three continents taking part in WFE in 2018 alone. Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA, said "with plastics coming under increased attack due to the rising waste management challenge, the Waste Free Environment campaign comes just at the right time to spread awareness about the importance of plastic recycling and foster responsible attitude towards waste management and litter disposal. The campaign aims to reinforce the message that plastic is not to blame; on the contrary, as the most versatile, sustainable and durable material, it plays a positive contribution and delivers long term benefits to society. To prevent plastic from leaking into the environment, we need to enact a real behavioral change that starts with the actions of each and every member of our society and continues with the young generations and the generations to come." Waste Free Environment Campaign supports the transition to a circular economy which aims to maximize the value and utility of materials over their lifecycle and minimize energy and resource consumption. WFE contributes to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals #12: Responsible consumption and production and #14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources. It is also in line with the GCC governments' national visions to address waste management, enhance sustainability and preserve natural resources. Earlier that week, GPCA organized a roadshow across several schools in Dubai to build awareness about the benefits of plastics and recycling among students aged between 7-12. Sponsors of this year's campaign include SABIC, LyondellBasell, Dow Chemicals and Cosmoplast. — SG
