Hyper-Consumption to Circular Economy in the United Arab Emirates: Discarding the Disposable and Cherishing the Valuable

Abstract

Overconsumption of resources and consumer items is an important driver for environmental degradation and climate change. Malls, shopping, and conspicuous consumption are deeply ingrained in the local values and the global image of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE has a diverse and international population with over 85% expats and numerous opportunities to reduce environmental impact. Increased participation in a circular economy that aims to reduce resource use by recycling materials, reusing products, extending their lifespan, and maintaining their economic value would be an effective strategy to reduce negative environmental impacts. However, little is known about how much and why UAE citizens and residents participate in the circular economy. Therefore, it is important to examine the factors that predict participation in the circular economy in the UAE. To investigate this question, we surveyed n=163 undergraduate students at an American-curriculum university in the UAE and explored literature-based explanations as predictors for participation in the circular economy, namely gender, nationality, exposure to circular economy initiatives, efforts to reduce ecological footprints, and sustainable consumer behaviors using index-based negative binomial regression models. We also compare differences in ways and levels of participation in the circular economy between UAE citizens and residents with t-tests. Our results suggest that participation in the circular economy does not emerge from concerted efforts to reduce environmental degradation such as lowering ecological footprint and reducing waste, but rather investments in sustainable and durable items. Emirati citizens are more likely to participate in the circular economy, in particular repairing items, than expat residents. These differences are most likely to be explained by the more stable lifestyles of Emirati citizens as opposed to the more itinerant lifestyles of expat residents. Keywords: sustainability, circular economy, consumption, Middle East, ecological footprint, recycling.

The Emerging Role and Trends of UAE Education Sector in Circular Economy - A Change Management Prospective

“…This research foresees that the UAE Education sector circular economy contribution has been underestimated and it should take the lead in the future endeavors of the UAE [4]; [5].…”

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“…Although this policy applies to the UAE economy, the principles can also be applied to individual projects to create sustainable communities which minimize their environmental impact, reduce their carbon footprint, and contribute towards the UAE's circular economy objectives". This research foresees that the UAE Education sector circular economy contribution has been underestimated and it should take the lead in the future endeavors of the UAE [4].…”

World society and the convergence of consumer values: Buying patterns of eco‐certification in the UAE

“…This is especially important in the global marketplace where value chains operate in multiple countries, and national governments and consumers have limited oversight over the social and environmental aspects of the production of the goods they buy (Adolf et al, 2016;Gereffi et al, 2005;Mook & Overdevest, 2017). Therefore, eco-certifications offer an opportunity to close this global governance gap by allowing consumers to vote for more fair and sustainable production with their dollars or rather, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) dirhams (Lusk & Mook, 2020;Mook & Overdevest, 2019). However, it remains unclear to what extent globalization can diffuse eco-certifications such as Fairtrade, Organic, Non-GMO Project, FSC, and MSC that seek to promote fair prices and sustainable production in non-Western societies.…”