The EU–UAE Business Breakfast on Circular Economy, organised at Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SPARK), brought together policymakers, industry leaders, innovators, and sustainability experts to discuss the practical implementation of policies reducing single-use plastics and transforming packaging systems toward circular models.  

This dialogue connected EU regulatory experience with the UAE’s emerging implementation pathway, creating a space for constructive exchange between policymakers and industry actors working to accelerate circular solutions.  

The event was organised under the EU–GCC Cooperation on Green Transition Project, in collaboration with the European Union Delegation to the United Arab Emirates and national partners in the UAE.  

The programme featured opening remarks by H.E. Lucie Berger, Ambassador of the European Union to the UAE, and H.E. Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO of SPARK, followed by high-level perspectives on regulatory pathways and implementation priorities. Discussions throughout the morning underlined the importance of translating ambition into action through stronger policy coordination, market-ready circular solutions, and closer EU–UAE collaboration. 

Delivering the keynote, Eng. Aisha Al Abdooli, Director of Green Development and Environment Affairs Department, Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, UAE, emphasized the United Arab Emirates’ commitment to advancing a circular economy.  
 
She highlighted how the UAE is embedding sustainability across industries, reducing waste, and driving innovation through its Circular Economy Policy 2021–2031.  
 
One of the major focuses of the UAE’s strategy is tackling plastic pollution. Eng. Alabdooli outlined phased regulations targeting single-use plastics, including plastic bags and other disposable products. She emphasized that addressing plastic pollution requires not only regulation but also improved waste management systems, public awareness, and international cooperation. At the same time, she acknowledged the importance of plastics in various industries and the need to consider national priorities when implementing policies.  
 
Underscoring the importance of partnerships between governments, private sector entities, and institutions, she reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to working closely with international partners, including the European Union, to build a more sustainable and resilient future. 

During a panel discussion titled Enabling Circular Transition – Policy, Governance and Recycling Systems, Monir Salem Bou Ghanem, Advisor – Environment Policy and Regulations at Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, asserted that the real change to the environment is not plastic itself but single-use application, packaging and mindset. “Therefore, the focus should move beyond regulating single-use items and shift toward regulating packaging as a system.”  

Moderated by Fatima AlBanna, Senior Manager Projects at BEEAH Recycling & Treatment, the panel brought together Mark Siddorn, Strategic Planning and Business Performance Director at Tadweer Group, and Saleh Al-Obayyed, Recycling & Business Development Manager – KSA at ALPLA Group, besides Ghanem.  

Ghanem highlighted how packaging as a whole has come under the purview of the policymakers as part of a broader circular economy strategy. Drawing from Abu Dhabi’s experience since the introduction of its single-use plastics policy in 2019, he explained how “the Emirate has managed to avoid nearly half a billion single-use bags and collect hundreds of millions of bottles through coordinated action and government-led initiatives.” 

The EAD recently released the results achieved since the policy's launch, including: preventing the consumption of over 470 million single-use plastic bags, and reducing the number of bags at major retail outlets by up to 95%. Approximately 267 million plastic bottles were collected either directly from homes or through more than 170 smart recycling machines located throughout the Emirate, the report said.  

“The Abu Dhabi government has committed to eliminating single-use products across government entities, by using reusable water system in their offices, meeting spaces, and official events.” According to Bou Ghanem, these initiatives help authorities understand consumer behavior, operational challenges, and market readiness for broader circular economy implementation.  

System thinking and system integration were highlighted as key factors for the success of circular initiatives. Saleh Al-Obayyed stressed that policymakers, recyclers, waste managers, collectors, manufacturers, investors, and brand owners must all work together within one connected ecosystem. He attributed alignment between infrastructure, incentives, market demand, and financing mechanisms to the success of Europe’s circular system.  

Al-Obayyed also discussed the growing role of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems and Deposit Return Schemes (DRS), noting that they must support the entire value chain, ensuring stable financing, sufficient recycling infrastructure, and strong demand for recycled materials. “Without demand from manufacturers and brand owners, he warned, recycling investments cannot achieve long-term viability,” he noted.  

Representing Tadweer Group, which manages millions of tonnes of waste annually across Abu Dhabi, Siddorn emphasized the importance of understanding waste streams through detailed data analysis and characterization. According to him, effective recycling systems begin with understanding what materials are being generated and identifying how those materials can be recovered, repurposed, or reintegrated into the economy. 

Siddorn explained that Tadweer’s strategy is resource recovery, focusing on transforming waste into economic value through advanced recycling systems, material recovery facilities, waste-to-energy projects, and emerging technologies such as chemical recycling. He also highlighted the importance of public awareness and behavioral change, particularly in relation to household waste segregation and collection systems. 

Another major theme throughout the discussion was the future of reuse systems. While reducing single-use products has delivered measurable progress, panelists agreed that the next phase of circularity requires scaling reusable packaging and foodware systems across commercial and public environments.  

Pilot projects demonstrated how reusable cups and foodware systems can operate successfully in controlled environments, they noted adding that the challenge now lies in expanding these models into shopping malls, food courts, and household delivery systems.  

The speakers also warned that businesses must prepare for upcoming regulations surrounding packaging, recycled content, and material traceability. “International markets are increasingly demanding sustainable products and circular supply chains. Companies that fail to adapt risk losing competitiveness, while those that embrace transformation early will be better positioned for future growth,” they underscored.  

The following session: Fireside chat on “Advancing Circular Solutions – Innovation, Materials and Scalable Business Solutions,” was moderated by Leila Naguib, Gulf Corporate Affairs Manager, Mars and the speakers were Daker El Rabaya, CEO of Recycling, BEEAH, and Jes Jensen, Vice President, Food & Beverage Biosolutions – Head of Middle East, India & Africa, Novonesis.  

El Rabaya and Jensen explored how circularity can move from concept to commercial reality. The discussion focused on scaling innovation in materials, recycling technologies, and bio-based solutions to reduce reliance on single-use plastics. Speakers emphasized that waste must be viewed as a resource and that circularity depends on designing products for reuse and recyclability from the start. The session highlighted the need for cross-value-chain collaboration to turn sustainability ambition into scalable, market-ready solutions.