ABU DHABI - The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has partnered with Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination (ZHO) for the production of 2,500 reusable bags branded with “Mission to Zero”.

Mission to Zero is a public awareness campaign that strives for zero plastic, waste, emissions and destruction of biodiversity through activations and outdoor advertising.

The bags will be handmade by ZHO members and distributed through EAD, however the majority will be shared through ZHO during their events and channels so that the general public and people of determination have access to them.

The bags, which are made out of cotton will also have the ZHO logo printed to highlight their collaboration in the Mission to Zero campaign.

Ahmed Baharoon, Executive Director of Environment Information, Science Outreach Management Sector at EAD, said, “We at EAD are profound believers that People of Determination should be empowered and that we all need to embrace a culture of inclusion where they play an active role in society. Therefore, we have partnered with ZHO for the development of reusable bags that will contribute to our Mission to Zero campaign.”

He added, “The bags will be of the highest quality and will be available for the general public as a tool to spread awareness of the harms of single-use bags and encourage consumers to use reusable materials to help save the environment.”
Nafeh Ali Al Hammadi, Executive Director of the Support Services Sector at ZHO, stated, “Environmental awareness occupies a prominent space in the agenda, conferences, activities, and events of ZHO. We are proud to bear the name of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan – who is remembered as one of the world’s most important pioneers of environmental protection.

“We at the ZHO are working to raise the level of environmental awareness among all our affiliates supporting people of determination and our functional cadres. We strive to build their ability to spread this awareness among members of society, encourage the participation of Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination and all its employees in environment-focused events, while enhancing cooperation and communication between institutions and associations that aim to preserve the environment.”

Referring to an initiative that recycles empty plastic containers – a project launched by ZHO in a tripartite cooperation with the Abu Dhabi General Services Company ‘Musanada’, and Abu Dhabi Waste Management Company ‘Tadweer’, Al Hammadi said, “This project perfectly underlines Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination’s commitment to protecting the environment and preserving our natural spaces, affirming the Foundation's pledge to the principle of environmental safety.

He added, “People of determination want to enjoy the safety and cleanliness of the natural world, and appreciate the value of this constructive goal, which reinforces the quality of environmental education and training provided by the Foundation. We conduct all training according to the best approved international methods and practices and aim to make attendees aware of their role in serving the community and ways in which they can positively contribute to the UAE’s ongoing sustainable development.”

This is not the first time that EAD has worked closely with People of Determination because in 2013 EAD launched the 13th Edition of its annual Enviro-Spellathon programme today in collaboration with (ZHO), that was available exclusively in Braille in Arabic for visually impaired students from Grades 1 to 6.

Furthermore, in conjunction with the national celebrations of the Golden Jubilee of the State of the Union. ZHO registered four perennial Ghaf trees in the database of EAD and estimated the age of each of these trees at over fifty years.
Similarly, EAD collaborated with ZHO in 2021 on a joint workshop with Green Youth Majlis members to promote usage of recycled material and raise awareness about them. Also, ZHO participated in several of EAD’s cleanup campaigns and also participated in the Enviro-Spellathon.

Through the Mission to Zero campaign, EAD launched the Pile It Up school campaign where schools compete for the collection of single-use plastic bottles for recycling. Also, EAD has placed installations known as Big Zero in prime spots of Abu Dhabi, also for the collection of single-use plastic bottles. There are also Mission to Zero branded outdoor advertisements on bridges and buses to raise awareness among Abu Dhabi residents. The Agency will also be launching an SMS campaign that encourages consumers to reduce single-use plastic.