Mission to Zero: Abu Dhabi highlights campaign to reduce single-use plastic at Adihex

The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) is using the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (Adihex) to spread the message about environmental protection, and to encourage residents to employ more sustainable alternatives such as reusable items. The agency is aiming eventually for zero consumption of single-use plastics.

Adihex, the region’s largest event focused on the preservation of cultural heritage, kicked off at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec) on Monday, September 26, and will run until October 2.

The theme of EAD’s participation this year is centred around the ‘Mission to Zero’ campaign, with a dedicated focus on the Single-Use Plastic Policy launched in 2020. It is through this that the emirate-wide ban of single-use plastic bags was implemented at the beginning of June 2022.

As part of EAD’s future vision for Abu Dhabi, the agency has set an ambitious long-term goal to achieve zero consumption of single-use plastics, supported by zero waste and zero carbon emissions, with zero impact on all Abu Dhabi species.

The campaign will include various offline and online activations targeting all community members, government departments and businesses, and, most importantly, young people.

The main objective is to encourage Abu Dhabi's residents to adopting more sustainable environmental practices – such as the use of reusable items to reduce the reliance on single-use items, while generating less waste.

Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of EAD, said: “With so many facets to Adihex and [with] the theme ‘Sustainability and Heritage…A Reborn Aspiration,’ we are very excited to share with our audience our recently launched ‘Mission to Zero’ campaign. The general public is a very important stakeholder group for us, and we believe they will play a significant role in spreading the campaign’s messages.”

She added: “We look forward to the public adopting environmentally sustainable practices, in a bid to help us reach to our aspirational zero-use target for plastic, carbon emissions and waste.

• Abu Dhabi’s hunting exhibition to attract over 680 exhibitors from 44 countries