Spinneys, PepsiCo partner to promote recycling in the UAE

Locally-owned supermarket chain Spinneys has tied up with PepsiCo to introduce a reverse vending machine (RVM) at its sustainable concept store Layan. The in-store recycling machine forms part of Spinneys’ ‘Let’s Close the Loop’ campaign and provides an easy solution for customers to dispose their plastic waste responsibly and in turn, enables materials to be reused or repurposed.

Spinneys has also teamed up with PepsiCo to support its ‘Join The Ripple Effect’ initiative. It aims to ensure plastic never becomes waste in the future through the responsible collection of plastic waste.

Plastic bottles collected by the RVM are recycled by local manufacturer DGrade who’ll give new value to materials that may otherwise have been littered or added to landfill. For single-use plastic collected from the Layan store, DGrade will create sustainable clothing from its Greenspun yarn, including polo shirts for Spinneys’ staff to wear in stores.

Sunil Kumar, CEO at Spinneys, said: “Spinneys’ ‘Close the Loop’ campaign underscores our commitment to strive for a circular waste management system and support the growth of the recycled plastics sector. One of our key goals is to deliver the best sustainable practices, so the more we can do in our stores, the easier we make it for our local customers to help drive action for change too. This partnership with PepsiCo is a perfect example of how we can do better, together to help save our planet.”

Aamer Sheikh, CEO PepsiCo Middle East, said, “We are delighted to partner with Spinneys on this important initiative. Through our global PepsiCo positive (pep+) framework, we are committed to building a circular and inclusive value chain – driven by our efforts to reuse, recycle, and reinvent. No one company or industry can alone drive the change needed to achieve a circular economy but working collectively to increase recycling rates is key to paving the way for a more sustainable future for us all.”

PepsiCo recently reiterated Aquafina’s recycling commitment to support the UAE’s goal to divert 75 per cent of total waste from landfill in 2022.

Read: PepsiCo expands recycling and collection initiatives in the Middle East

In a bid to make a successful transition to a circular economy, the UAE’s integrated waste management strategic targets include treating 75 per cent of municipal solid waste by 2025 and 85 percent by 2035. The UAE also aims to reduce municipal solid waste generation to 1.4 kg per person per day by 2025 and 1.2 kg per person per day by 2035.

To get there, Spinneys says all stakeholders in the food production industry need to be re-think their food and waste systems as well as packaging optimisation. In addition to its in-store plastic collection scheme, further immediate sustainability goals for Spinneys include a reduction of own-label packaging by 30per cent and an increase in the number of renewable materials used in packaging by 40 per cent.

Customers who visit the Layan store and recycle a minimum of five plastic bottles will be offered shopping vouchers or a luxury food experience in the UAE. The first dining prize to be offered is a meal for four at award-winning BOCA, known for its sustainable approach to sourcing and waste management, based in DIFC.

In other news, Spinneys Dubai and Abdulmohsen Al Hokair Holding Group signed an agreementto establish the Spinneys brand in Saudi Arabia. The first store is expected to launch in Riyadh in the first quarter of 2023.

Read: Saudi Arabia to get its first Spinneys store