Dubai Airports to remove all single-use plastics by early 2020

Following the original pledge by Dubai Airports in June 2019, the self-imposed deadline for Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) to ban all single-use plastics is drawing near. 

In a bid to manage the two airports’ environmental impact, Dubai Airports has been working in close partnership with over 250 of its concession and hospitality partners in order to completely rid the airports of single-use plastics by early 2020.

Executive Vice President of Commercial at Dubai Airports, Eugene Barry, said: “This pledge is another step on a long journey to becoming a more environmentally responsible airport. Along with our partners, including global brands such as McDonalds, Costa Coffee and Starbucks, we are committed to not only removing single-use plastics but, in their place, providing appropriate and importantly sustainable alternatives.”

Each year, 90 million passengers pass through DXB and DWC and use tens of thousands of single-use plastic items, such as straws, water bottles and coffee lids daily. As a result of this huge number, the new initiative has presented serious challenges to those trying to put it in place.

Barry continued: “Among the challenges faced, the biggest is sourcing alternatives for plastic bottles, one of the most frequently used and discarded pieces of single-use plastics. As we work to reduce and ultimately eliminate plastics from our airports, we are increasing our recycling facilities in the customer spaces and a new partnership that will allow us to properly dispose of thousands of tonnes of single-use plastic, each year.”

The project, which will be implemented in phases, will see plastic cutlery, drinking straws, take-away food packaging and polythene bags removed from cafés, restaurants and shops within the airports by 1 January 2020. The following 12 months will see additional products replaced in both customer spaces and non-public spaces within the airports.