"Think Before You Waste" campaign
Type of practice Reduce
Name of practice "Think Before You Waste" campaign
Name of main actor Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi
Type of actor(s) Public authority
Location United Arab Emirates
Stage of implementation Consumption
Year of implementation 2009
What was/is being done? According to a report published in 2009 by the Centre for
Waste Management – Abu Dhabi, 33% of Abu Dhabi’s
waste is food and is disposed of each year, contributing to
landfills, carbon emissions and ultimately climate change.
Approximately 500 tonnes of food gets thrown away during
the month of Ramadan in Abu Dhabi. Following the
launch of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi‘s ‘Think Before
You Waste’ campaign during Ramadan, 49 405 hot
meals, 18 tons of rice and 100 cold meal parcels were distributed
to needy people across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The meals were donated to poor families, orphans, people
with low income, various humanitarian cases and factory
workers with the support of the General Authority of Islamic
Affairs and Endowment (Awqaf), the UAE Red Crescent
Authority and Hefth Al Ne’ma (Save the Grace).
Throughout this campaign, Awqaf communicated important
tips and information on food waste to all of the Emirate’s
imams (leaders of the mosques), for them to
disseminate to the praying community during the Friday
prayer, all through the Holy Month of Ramadan. Islamic
preachers called on residents to consider reducing personal
food waste as part of their religious responsibility, as outlined
in the Holy Qur'an. Hefth Al Ne’ma worked closely
with Abu Dhabi’s major hotels, palaces and organizations
who hosted large gatherings. They collected safe and edible
leftover food, ensuring it is distributed to those in need.
Untouched meals were then packed and immediately delivered
to the needy, in vehicles specially equipped to keep
meals at optimal temperature.
Outcomes and impacts According to the FWF model, 500 tonnes of food saved from wastage means saving
935 tonnes of CO2eq, 0.178 km3 of water and 1 730 ha
of land.