Sharjah Sustainable City partners with Emirates Red Crescent for eco-friendly Ramadan campaign

 

Sustainable Ramadan campaign includes a number of community engagement activities focused on sharing knowledge and raising public awareness

 
March 24, 2023 UAE Real Estate
 

Sharjah Sustainable City partners with Emirates Red Crescent for eco-friendly Ramadan campaign
 

Sharjah Sustainable City – the first sustainable master-planned community developed by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) in partnership with Diamond Developers, has launched a new campaign to reduce food waste, encourage the spirit of generosity and sharing, as well as promote mindful consumption, especially during the holy month of Ramadan.

Dubbed Sustainable Ramadan, the campaign includes a number of community engagement activities focused on sharing knowledge and raising public awareness on some of the key steps required to help reduce food waste.

One of the significant activities of the campaign includes learning how to store, share and make the best use of untouched fresh food with an aim to boost behavioral change toward reducing food waste.

As part of the campaign, the city has partnered with Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) -- the charitable and humanitarian arm of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), enabling residents to join the ERC's project called Preservation of Grace and share their unconsumed food with those who need them.

Yousif Ahmed Al-Mutawa, Chief Executive Officer of Sharjah Sustainable City, said: "Food waste means wasting precious resources, including water and energy that has been used to produce it. As a city dedicated to sustainability, we want to create an eco-friendly community that not just lives in a sustainable city but also embraces and promotes environmentally friendly habits. Therefore, we are delighted to launch this dedicated campaign to share knowledge among our community, especially our young residents about the importance of reducing food waste and its immediate and long-term impact on our environment. I thank Emirates Red Crescent for joining our efforts toward zero waste and helping us raise awareness on this important issue and create a sense of sharing among our residents, especially during the holy month of Ramadan."

For his part, Sultan Al Shehi, Manager of the Preservation of Grace project of Emirates Red Crescent, said: "We are happy to see Sharjah Sustainable City joining our humanitarian initiative aimed at combatting wastefulness. The city has already made remarkable strides in sustainability and recognizes that reducing waste is a crucial aspect of sustainable living. By partnering together, we are harnessing the power of generosity and sustainability, especially during the holy month of Ramadan and as we observe the Year of Sustainability in the UAE. Our objective is to raise awareness about the transformative impact of sharing and reducing waste -- on people and the environment. Together, we aim to inspire individuals and communities to embrace sustainability and generosity as a way of life."

As part of the campaign, which also marks the first Ramadan celebrated by the new residents in the Sharjah Sustainable City, several information resources have been developed to inspire more residents to embrace sustainable food practices. It includes tips and practical advice on avoiding food waste, which is especially important given the traditional large meals shared during the holy month. It also provides guidance on recycling and sorting waste, helping residents to make informed decisions from purchasing to consumption to leftover food.

Food waste has become one of the major concerns worldwide and costs both individuals and our environment. Studies show that globally around 931 million tons of food is lost or wasted every day, and 17 percent of our food ends up being wasted in retail and by consumers, particularly in households, and the food that is lost and wasted could be enough to feed about 1.26 billion hungry people every year. Furthermore, reducing food loss and waste - which accounts for 8 -10 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions, could reduce emissions by 4.5 Gt CO2e per year.

These facts call for urgent actions that must be scaled up, and one of the most fundamental approaches includes generating public awareness, engaging all stakeholders, especially youth and women, and utilizing different channels like social media to make the maximum impact. Moreover, we also need to step-up consumer education on best-before and use-by labels to reduce food waste, especially in social gatherings.

Since its launch, the city has been at the forefront of promoting initiatives that contribute to the sustainable use of resources, including water and energy. With the launch of its Sustainable Ramadan campaign, the city aims to support further the broader objectives of food security and environmental sustainability and contribute to the circular economy and UAE's efforts to reduce food waste.

Extended over an area of 7.2 million square feet in the emirate of Sharjah, Sharjah Sustainable City is equipped with renewable energy and aspires to achieve net zero energy. It treats 100% of its wastewater for landscape irrigation, maximizes recycling to divert waste from landfills, produces chemical-free leafy greens and vegetables, and promotes walkability and clean mobility. It has 1,250 sustainable villas, divided into blocks of three-, four- and five-bedroom properties between 2,035 square feet and 3,818 square feet in a built-up area.

Sharjah Sustainable City  Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq)  Diamond Developers  Sustainable Ramadan  Emirates Red Crescent (ERC)  United Arab Emirates (UAE)  Food waste    

MORE FROM BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Leadership Shift at NEOM: New CEO to Spearhead Ambitious Saudi Megaproject
Leadership Shift at NEOM: New CEO to Spearhead Ambitious Saudi Megaproject

A leadership change at NEOM sees Aiman al-Mudaifer take over as CEO to steer Saudi Arabia’s flagship mega-project through critical development phases toward Vision 2030

November 13, 2024 Saudi Arabia Real Estate
Saudi Firm Unveils $1.6bn Smart City Project in Khobar
Saudi Firm Unveils $1.6bn Smart City Project in Khobar

Saudi firm Tilal Real Estates unveils a $1.6 billion smart city project, set to transform Khobar with modern living, business, and entertainment spaces

November 13, 2024 Saudi Arabia Real Estate
Saudi residential real estate market sees strong growth: S&P
Saudi residential real estate market sees strong growth: S&P

Kingdom sees rise in residential units, mortgages in alignment with Vision 2030 goals

November 13, 2024 Saudi Arabia Real Estate
COP29 Kicks Off in Baku with Climate Finance and Built Environment on the Agenda
COP29 Kicks Off in Baku with Climate Finance and Built Environment on the Agenda

As COP29 begins in Baku, global leaders zero in on climate finance and the built environment, aiming for transformative commitments to counter the climate crisis

November 12, 2024 UAE Sustainability
Emaar Achieves Record-Breaking Growth in 2024: Key Stats on Sales, Revenue, and New Projects
Emaar Achieves Record-Breaking Growth in 2024: Key Stats on Sales, Revenue, and New Projects

Emaar Development posts record-breaking growth in 2024, with a 66% sales surge, major revenue gains, and bold new luxury projects in Dubai

November 12, 2024 UAE Real Estate
Optimising Asset Performance and Accelerating Decarbonisation
Optimising Asset Performance and Accelerating Decarbonisation

Graham Easton, UAE General Manager, ENGIE Solutions, speaks to Built Environment ME on how the company helps clients increase operational efficiency and reduce their energy costs through innovative solutions

November 6, 2024
How traditional building materials help preserve KSA’s heritage
How traditional building materials help preserve KSA’s heritage

Marco Fahd, Group Chairman and CEO of Versatile International explains what makes natural stones a sustainable choice for construction.

November 6, 2024
Green buildings and smart facilities are cornerstones of sustainable future
Green buildings and smart facilities are cornerstones of sustainable future

Adnan Jabri, General Manager, Ontegra

November 6, 2024
Sustainable and Green Developments
Sustainable and Green Developments

Zarah Evans, Co-owner & Managing Partner of Exclusive Links Real Estate Brokers speaks about sustainable developments in Dubai transforming the skyline and offering lucrative opportunities for developers and investors.

November 6, 2024
Enhancing holistic wellbeing
Enhancing holistic wellbeing

Jennifer Andal, Director – Owners’ Affairs speaks about how Better Communities Owner Association Management is leading the way in enhancing the quality of life for residents

November 6, 2024
 
Subscribe to our newsletter