Abu Dhabi’s Plastic Bag Use Falls by 364 Million Since 2022

Abu Dhabi has made significant strides in reducing plastic waste, with the Environment Agency—Abu Dhabi (EAD) announcing on Monday that the consumption of plastic bags in the emirate has decreased by 364 million since the ban on single-use plastics was enforced more than two years ago. This milestone highlights the success of the ban and the growing awareness of environmental responsibility in the emirate.

The reduction in plastic bags has had a major environmental impact. The EAD reported that over 130 million plastic bottles have been recovered, which translates to 2,400 tonnes of plastic or 547,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases (GHGs). To put this into perspective, that's the equivalent of 130,000 gasoline-powered cars being driven for an entire year.

A Shift in Consumer Behavior

Before the policy was implemented, shoppers in Abu Dhabi were using an average of three plastic bags per shopping trip. Today, that number has dropped dramatically to just 0.4 bags per trip. The shift reflects a growing commitment to sustainability.

In addition, the use of reusable bags has skyrocketed. The number of reusable bags at one of the emirate's major outlets has increased by an impressive 2,000%, from 603 bags in 2022 to 26,075 bags in 2023. Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of EAD, commented, “The results of a survey we conducted indicated that 84% of the public are aware of the policy and its requirements, and 82% said that the policy has a positive impact on quality of life, particularly in the cleanliness of beaches and waterways.”

Anticipated Further Reductions

The EAD's efforts don’t stop here. The agency projects that by the end of this year, more than 400 million single-use plastic bags will be saved, with 121.5 million fewer bags consumed in just the last nine months alone. Additionally, they expect to collect 90 million single-use plastic bottles by the end of 2024.

Expanding the Ban

On June 1, EAD introduced a ban on certain Styrofoam products, which has seen a 97% compliance rate among retailers. The agency predicts even more improvements in compliance by the year’s end. These measures are laying the groundwork for a federal ban on Styrofoam and plastic products that will take effect in 2026.

Abu Dhabi’s proactive approach to reducing plastic waste has had a significant positive impact on the environment, and it looks set to continue making progress toward a cleaner, more sustainable future.