Latest news with #Sparklomat
Time Out Abu Dhabi
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Time Out Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is leading the charge with its plastic free initiative (all thanks to you)
Abu Dhabi is absolutely smashing it in the battle against plastic waste, and the numbers back it up. Since the launch of its game-changing single-use plastic policy in 2022, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has made major moves in slashing plastic consumption and boosting recycling efforts. The Bottle Return Scheme alone has recovered more than 2,000 tonnes (or 80 truckloads) of bottles since 2023, thanks to the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD). And that's just the beginning. That's over 130 million plastic bottles which have been collected through 150 reverse vending machines (RVMs), smart bins, and door-to-door collections. Reverse Vending Machines Teaming up with cleantech powerhouse Sparklo, the EAD collected a whopping 23 million recyclables in 2024. That includes over 544,000kg of plastic and 18,000kg of aluminium – all neatly sorted and saved from landfill doom. It's a major win for the Abu Dhabi Single-Use Plastic Policy, which has been encouraging residents to rethink their recycling habits and chuck their empties in the right places. If you've spotted a slick-looking machine at ADNOC, Lulu, or Carrefour stores, chances are you've come face-to-face with a Sparklomat. These clever collection points have made bottle and can returns a breeze, with one superstar machine even handling more than 8,500 items in a single day. All this effort has had a real impact. The scheme has helped prevent over 3.5 million kg of CO₂ emissions, keeping the capital on track to meet its bold 22 percent carbon emissions reduction goal by 2027. Next up: the ban on single-use plastic bags. The results? A jaw-dropping 364 million fewer plastic bags floating around – that's 2,400 tonnes of plastic or the carbon footprint of 130,000 gas-guzzling cars annually. Talk about a win for the planet. Consumers have *really* stepped up to the challenge, too. Shoppers are now using just 0.4 plastic bags per trip (that's a huge drop from the three bags they used to grab) go, team! And reusable bags? They've seen a 2,000 percent jump, with a whopping 26,075 bags sold in 2023 compared to just 603 the year before. As if that wasn't enough, on 1 June 2024, Abu Dhabi banned certain styrofoam products, and retailers are all in, with 97 percent compliance. This move is part of the city's grand plan ahead of the federal ban in 2026 on plastic and styrofoam products. A recent survey shows that 84 percent of residents know about the policy, and 82 percent say it's made their lives better by contributing to cleaner beaches and waterways. How do the reverse vending machines work? You'll first need to have the Tadweer Rewards app downloaded on your phone. Head to one of the 25 RVMs around Abu Dhabi and insert your used plastic bottle or aluminium can. AI cameras will scan the items and then a QR code will be shown on the screen. When you scan that code, the credit points will then be added to your app, which you can redeem on vouchers or discounts. How handy is that? Your points can be used when you purchase from partners, including: Amazon Lufthansa Gourmet Lab Max, Brands for Less Filli Emax Dreamworks Spa Her Excellency Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of EAD, said: 'When we launched the Abu Dhabi Single-Use Plastic Policy in 2020, which was followed by the ban on single-use plastic bags in 2022, we were the first in the region to do so, setting very ambitious targets to meet our commitments to protect the environment and mitigate the effects of climate change. 'We knew that a consumer change in behaviour was the key to us being able to reduce the reliance on single-use plastics and nurture a culture of reuse and recycling. The Abu Dhabi community has proven to be more than collaborative and proactive, and as a result, we have recorded, during the past two years alone, a significant reduction of 364 million plastic bags. For context, this represents a 95 per cent reduction in the total number of plastic bags distributed at the emirate's cash counters. Prior to the policy's implementation, shoppers used three bags per shopping trip, but now only use 0.4 bags. This has also led to a 2,000 per cent increase in the number of reusable bags in just one year, increasing from 603 bags in 2022 to 26,075 bags in 2023 at one of the emirate's main outlets. We also recorded the recovery of 130 million plastic bottles, and an increase in the number of companies concerned with recycling plastics in the emirate. 'Despite the decrease in the number of companies manufacturing single-use plastic products in Abu Dhabi – from 110 in 2022 to 88 in 2023 – we witnessed the establishment of 57 new recycling companies working in the emirate's waste sector, which contributes to enhancing the quality of life and its sustainability, and enhances the circular economy system. 'We are delighted, as the residents of Abu Dhabi made an effort to embrace reusable bags and return their bottles to the Reverse Vending Machines for recycling, which has hugely contributed to our success. The results of a survey we conducted indicated that 84 per cent of the public are aware of the policy and its requirements, and 82 per cent said that the policy has a positive impact on quality of life, represented by clean beaches and waterways. 'We could not have achieved our ambitious goals without the cooperation of our strategic partners, including the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, and retailers, who have worked closely with us to provide alternatives to single-use plastic products, in addition to helping us implement the ban on Styrofoam products. 'We are well on the way to having a positive impact on our environment as we reduce the amount of microplastic entering our precious ecosystems and harming our species.' You might also like…. The concert line-up for Abu Dhabi in 2025 is looking absolutely insane 2025 is going to POP OFF The best places to eat in Yas Island Going to Etihad Arena? Here's where you should grab a bite before (or after) your gig or event Abu Dhabi ladies' nights 2024: 40 deals and offers you need to know about Enjoy a night out for less at these brilliant bars and restaurants Abu Dhabi's best restaurants 2024: Everywhere you should eat at least once Your dinner inspo is sorted
Zawya
23-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Sparklo, Mai Dubai to boost recycling across UAE
Sparklo, a cleantech company building the Middle East's most accessible smart recycling ecosystem, said it has signed a strategic agreement with Mai Dubai, a leading bottled water company in the UAE, to promote recycling and support sustainable consumer behaviour. As per the deal, the duo will jointly install 30 AI-powered Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) – also known as Sparklomats – in high-traffic locations across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Al Ain and Ras Al Khaimah. The Sparklomats will be located in schools, retail areas and even residential communities - enabling people to return plastic bottles right where they live, said the company in a statement. For every container recycled, users will receive Sparklo points, which can be redeemed for rewards, including discounts on Mai Dubai delivery starting in May. This initiative makes recycling more rewarding while creating a closed-loop system for Mai Dubai products, it stated. The signing ceremony, held at Mai Dubai headquarters, was attended by Maxim Kaplevich, the Founder and CEO of Sparklo and Abraham Kah, the CEO of Mai Dubai along with other officials. During the event, Sparklo presented the first-ever Mai Dubai-branded Sparklomat, marking the symbolic start of the rollout and celebrating the commitment of Mai Dubai's leadership and employees to circular economy principles. "This partnership fully reflects Sparklo's mission: to bring every bottle back into the economy by making recycling easy, accessible, and rewarding," remarked Kaplevich. "It's our first collaboration with a bottled water brand that not only ensures bottles are recycled, but also rewards people for doing so — and we are proud it's happening in our home market, the UAE," he stated. "We're glad that Mai Dubai shares our vision of building the infrastructure that motivates people to return their bottles. Together, we're creating a true closed-loop system that ensures materials don't become waste, but a resource for the future," he added. On the key partnership, Kah said: "At Mai Dubai, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do - from operating the region's only 100% solar-powered water facility to actively championing circular solutions beyond our walls." "This partnership with Sparklo allows us to extend that commitment to consumers, empowering them to close the loop by returning their empty bottles. Together, we're not just hydrating the nation - we're shaping a sustainable future for the UAE," he added. -TradeArabia News Service Copyright 2024 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Trade Arabia
22-04-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
Sparklo, Mai Dubai to boost recycling across UAE
Sparklo, a cleantech company building the Middle East's most accessible smart recycling ecosystem, said it has signed a strategic agreement with Mai Dubai, a leading bottled water company in the UAE, to promote recycling and support sustainable consumer behaviour. As per the deal, the duo will jointly install 30 AI-powered Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) – also known as Sparklomats – in high-traffic locations across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Al Ain and Ras Al Khaimah. The Sparklomats will be located in schools, retail areas and even residential communities - enabling people to return plastic bottles right where they live, said the company in a statement. For every container recycled, users will receive Sparklo points, which can be redeemed for rewards, including discounts on Mai Dubai delivery starting in May. This initiative makes recycling more rewarding while creating a closed-loop system for Mai Dubai products, it stated. The signing ceremony, held at Mai Dubai headquarters, was attended by Maxim Kaplevich, the Founder and CEO of Sparklo and Abraham Kah, the CEO of Mai Dubai along with other officials. During the event, Sparklo presented the first-ever Mai Dubai-branded Sparklomat, marking the symbolic start of the rollout and celebrating the commitment of Mai Dubai's leadership and employees to circular economy principles. "This partnership fully reflects Sparklo's mission: to bring every bottle back into the economy by making recycling easy, accessible, and rewarding," remarked Kaplevich. "It's our first collaboration with a bottled water brand that not only ensures bottles are recycled, but also rewards people for doing so — and we are proud it's happening in our home market, the UAE," he stated. "We're glad that Mai Dubai shares our vision of building the infrastructure that motivates people to return their bottles. Together, we're creating a true closed-loop system that ensures materials don't become waste, but a resource for the future," he added. On the key partnership, Kah said: "At Mai Dubai, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do - from operating the region's only 100% solar-powered water facility to actively championing circular solutions beyond our walls."
Mid East Info
22-04-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
Sparklo and Mai Dubai launch partnership to boost recycling across the UAE - Middle East Business News and Information
Sparklo, a cleantech company building the Middle East's most accessible smart recycling ecosystem, and Mai Dubai, the leading bottled water company in the UAE, have signed a strategic agreement to promote recycling and support sustainable consumer behaviour. The agreement outlines a joint initiative to install 30 AI-powered Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) – also known as Sparklomats – in high-traffic locations across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Al Ain, and Ras Al Khaimah. The Sparklomats will be located in schools, retail areas, and even residential communities — enabling people to return plastic bottles right where they live. For every container recycled, users will receive Sparklo points, which can be redeemed for rewards, including discounts on Mai Dubai delivery starting in May. This initiative makes recycling more rewarding while creating a closed-loop system for Mai Dubai products. The signing ceremony, held at Mai Dubai headquarters on April 21, was attended by Maxim Kaplevich, CEO of Sparklo, and Abraham Kah, CEO of Mai Dubai LLC. During the event, Sparklo presented the first-ever Mai Dubai-branded Sparklomat, marking the symbolic start of the rollout and celebrating the commitment of Mai Dubai's leadership and employees to circular economy principles. 'This partnership fully reflects Sparklo's mission: to bring every bottle back into the economy by making recycling easy, accessible, and rewarding,' said Maxim Kaplevich, Founder and CEO of Sparklo. 'It's our first collaboration with a bottled water brand that not only ensures bottles are recycled, but also rewards people for doing so — and we are proud it's happening in our home market, the UAE. We're glad that Mai Dubai shares our vision of building the infrastructure that motivates people to return their bottles. Together, we're creating a true closed-loop system that ensures materials don't become waste, but a resource for the future.' 'At Mai Dubai, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do — from operating the region's only 100% solar-powered water facility to actively championing circular solutions beyond our walls. This partnership with Sparklo allows us to extend that commitment to consumers, empowering them to close the loop by returning their empty bottles. Together, we're not just hydrating the nation — we're shaping a sustainable future for the UAE,' said Abraham Kah, CEO of Mai Dubai. This initiative supports the UAE's Net Zero 2050 and Circular Economy Policy strategies, combining innovation, business collaboration, and real-world impact. To date, Sparklo has collected over 90 million plastic and aluminium containers across the MENA region — more than 81 million in the UAE alone. About Sparklo: Sparklo is a global UAE-based cleantech company that revolutionises the recycling industry and encourages sustainable practices worldwide. Through its innovative reverse vending machines (RVMs) known as Sparklomats, the company motivates users to recycle plastic bottles and aluminium cans by offering engaging rewards. Sparklo's cutting-edge software and hardware solutions utilise AI and machine learning to optimise recycling processes, making it fun and easy for individuals to contribute to a sustainable lifestyle. About Mai Dubai: Founded in 2012, Mai Dubai is a leading bottled water brand in the UAE, known for its commitment to sustainability, innovation, and quality. Operating from the only 100% solar-powered water factory in the UAE and the second-largest solar-powered factory worldwide, Mai Dubai prioritizes eco-friendly practices that adds to its sustainability agenda. Mai Dubai is redefining hydration, delivering high-quality water solutions across the UAE. Driven by its core values of innovation, accessibility, and sustainability, Mai Dubai continues to enhance the water consumption experience with a diverse product line that includes PET bottles, bulk water solutions, glass options, and wet wipes and tissues.
Zawya
22-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Sparklo and Mai Dubai launch partnership to boost recycling across the UAE
UAE: Sparklo, a cleantech company building the Middle East's most accessible smart recycling ecosystem, and Mai Dubai, the leading bottled water company in the UAE, have signed a strategic agreement to promote recycling and support sustainable consumer behaviour. The agreement outlines a joint initiative to install 30 AI-powered Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) – also known as Sparklomats – in high-traffic locations across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Al Ain, and Ras Al Khaimah. The Sparklomats will be located in schools, retail areas, and even residential communities — enabling people to return plastic bottles right where they live. For every container recycled, users will receive Sparklo points, which can be redeemed for rewards, including discounts on Mai Dubai delivery starting in May. This initiative makes recycling more rewarding while creating a closed-loop system for Mai Dubai products. The signing ceremony, held at Mai Dubai headquarters on April 21, was attended by Maxim Kaplevich, CEO of Sparklo, and Abraham Kah, CEO of Mai Dubai LLC. During the event, Sparklo presented the first-ever Mai Dubai-branded Sparklomat, marking the symbolic start of the rollout and celebrating the commitment of Mai Dubai's leadership and employees to circular economy principles. "This partnership fully reflects Sparklo's mission: to bring every bottle back into the economy by making recycling easy, accessible, and rewarding," said Maxim Kaplevich, Founder and CEO of Sparklo. "It's our first collaboration with a bottled water brand that not only ensures bottles are recycled, but also rewards people for doing so — and we are proud it's happening in our home market, the UAE. We're glad that Mai Dubai shares our vision of building the infrastructure that motivates people to return their bottles. Together, we're creating a true closed-loop system that ensures materials don't become waste, but a resource for the future." 'At Mai Dubai, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do — from operating the region's only 100% solar-powered water facility to actively championing circular solutions beyond our walls. This partnership with Sparklo allows us to extend that commitment to consumers, empowering them to close the loop by returning their empty bottles. Together, we're not just hydrating the nation — we're shaping a sustainable future for the UAE,' said Abraham Kah, CEO of Mai Dubai. This initiative supports the UAE's Net Zero 2050 and Circular Economy Policy strategies, combining innovation, business collaboration, and real-world impact. To date, Sparklo has collected over 90 million plastic and aluminium containers across the MENA region — more than 81 million in the UAE alone. About Sparklo Sparklo is a global UAE-based cleantech company that revolutionises the recycling industry and encourages sustainable practices worldwide. Through its innovative reverse vending machines (RVMs) known as Sparklomats, the company motivates users to recycle plastic bottles and aluminium cans by offering engaging rewards. Sparklo's cutting-edge software and hardware solutions utilise AI and machine learning to optimise recycling processes, making it fun and easy for individuals to contribute to a sustainable lifestyle. About Mai Dubai Founded in 2012, Mai Dubai is a leading bottled water brand in the UAE, known for its commitment to sustainability, innovation, and quality. Operating from the only 100% solar-powered water factory in the UAE and the second-largest solar-powered factory worldwide, Mai Dubai prioritizes eco-friendly practices that adds to its sustainability agenda. Mai Dubai is redefining hydration, delivering high-quality water solutions across the UAE. Driven by its core values of innovation, accessibility, and sustainability, Mai Dubai continues to enhance the water consumption experience with a diverse product line that includes PET bottles, bulk water solutions, glass options, and wet wipes and tissues. For more information, visit The pictures from the signing ceremony can be found via this link. For further information, please contact: CommuniGate Middle East 500270, Dubai, UAE E-mail: info@ Website:
