Sustainability
Find out how Tadweer Group is driving sustainable impact for a greener future.
At Tadweer Group, we are committed to making our operations more sustainable. We understand that what we do can affect the environment, our employees, and the communities we serve. That’s why we constantly review and improve how we work to align with global sustainability goals like the UN Sustainable Development Goals and climate agreements. Locally, we follow Abu Dhabi’s vision for 2030 and the UAE’s green agenda. By following these guidelines, we aim to do our part in creating a better, more sustainable future.
Our Sustainability Focus
Our focus on sustainability means we care about protecting the environment, conserving resources, and ensuring the well-being of our employees and communities. We have created a clear sustainability policy that addresses important environmental, social, and governance issues for Tadweer. This policy revolves around 4 key pillars and guides our actions as we work towards a more sustainable future for everyone.
THE 4 KEY PILLARS ARE:
Environmental Impact & Climate Change Mitigation
Contaminated land and prevention of pollution:
We follow UAE Federal law no. 24 of 1999 to prevent and manage pollution, protecting the land. These actions are integrated into our project planning for future initiatives that support the goal of diverting 80% of Abu Dhabi’s waste from landfill by 2030 and treating 99% of hazardous waste by 2031. Our environmental policy focuses on creating a centralised waste management system in Abu Dhabi, complying with laws, implementing an Environmental Management System, setting clear environmental goals, reducing waste, and ensuring waste management operations continue seamlessly while raising awareness among stakeholders. Tadweer Group is committed to having all its facilities and offices ISO 14001 accredited for environmental management.
Greenhouse gas emissions: We acknowledge the importance of addressing greenhouse gas emissions and are aware of the efforts to measure, monitor, and reduce emissions in our business activities. We are also committed to aligning with the national UAE target to reducing methane emissions in UAE landfills by 30% by 2031.
Waste management: Responsible waste management practices are at the core of our approach. This entails waste reduction, reuse, recycling, recovery, treatment, and proper disposal, allowing us to minimise environmental impact and unlock the value of resources. In addition to the existing recycling and waste treatment facilities and the effective waste data tools implemented (Bolisaty), Tadweer Group is actively planning to execute strategic initiatives that will reduce waste to landfill with the goal of diverting 80% of Abu Dhabi’s waste by 2030. Selected initiatives which support this goal include our Waste to Zero initiative, the upcoming Waste to Energy (WTE) plant, and many others.
Energy management: We prioritise energy conservation by converting waste to energy and replacing conventional sources with sustainable alternatives. Through energy-efficient practices, we optimise consumption and promote resource utilisation.
Water Management: We continuously monitor the consumption of water inflows and usage in our offices and controlled landfills.
Hazardous substances: Ensuring the safe management of hazardous waste is our top priority. We follow Federal Law No. 12 of 2018 of The Integrated Waste Management and the Waste Classification policy published by Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD). We ensure safe waste management, appropriate treatment, and effective measures to minimise potential risks associated with hazardous substances.
Socio-Ecological Resilience
Health and safety: We prioritise the health and safety of our community, employees, contractors, and users through robust safety protocols and training. Tadweer Group complies with the International Standard: ISO 45001-2018, National Standard: NCEMA 6000-2016, and Regulatory Standard: OSHAD System Framework.
Customer satisfaction: We are dedicated to delivering outstanding waste management services that surpass our customers’ expectations. Through initiatives such as “(Aamer … We Falak Tayyeb),” we have various communication channels to facilitate customer feedback, inquiries or complaints. We are committing to clear communication, transparency and confidentiality, focusing on customer needs, and with the aim to always enhance our services. Recognising the vital role customers play in Tadweer Group’s successes, we have introduced a dedicated Customer Care Unit within our organisational structure to oversee and address all customer-related matters.
Access to Training & Development: We provide access to training and development programmes for all employees. Our aim is to nurture talent, enhance skills, and support professional growth, ensuring that opportunities for advancement are accessible to everyone.
Ethics & Governance Excellence
Bribery and corruption: We have zero tolerance for bribery and corruption, implementing strict anti-corruption measures to ensure ethical conduct. Tadweer Group is committed to the highest ethical standards as evidenced by its Code of Business Conduct Policy.
Conflict of interest: We actively manage conflicts of interest to maintain transparency and integrity in our operations.
Cybersecurity and data protection: We prioritise cybersecurity measures and safeguard data to protect against breaches and ensure privacy.
Fraud: We have stringent measures in place to prevent fraud and promote an environment of honesty and accountability.
Whistleblower protection: We encourage reporting of any wrongdoing and provide protection to whistleblowers to maintain a culture of transparency and trust.
Circular Economy & Economic Growth
Commitment to Circular Economy and Innovation: We actively pursue the circular economy through innovative research and development, minimising waste and maximising resource efficiency.
Waste as Material and Economic Value: We view waste as a valuable resource and actively promote its reuse and recycling to unlock economic potential. This commitment is reflected in our current practices, which involve transforming waste into valuable products like recycled aggregate (RCA) from construction and demolition waste, compost from agricultural waste, and rubber products from discarded tires. Through the implementation of best practices in the circular economy, we strive to convert waste into valuable products, ensuring a sustainable and economically sound approach.
Promote In-Country Value (ICV): We support and promote ICV initiatives that contribute to the local economy by encouraging local procurement, investing in local talent development, and fostering partnerships with local businesses.
The Worldwide Effort for Waste Decarbonisation. As waste generation is expected to surge by 50% by 2050, tackling the environmental impact of waste management is crucial. Emissions from this sector are projected to account for at least 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, leading to ecosystem degradation, resource scarcity, and public health risks. Introduced during the Year of Sustainability, Waste to Zero seeks to standardise waste management practices, involve stakeholders globally in decarbonising the industry, seize economic prospects, and support international climate change mitigation endeavors.
Waste to Energy
Tadweer Group and the Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) have collaborated with a Japan-based consortium to develop the world’s most advanced Waste-to-Energy (WtE) Independent Power Project (IPP) in Abu Dhabi. This greenfield project is set to process 900,000 tonnes of waste annually, leading to an expected reduction of 1.1 million tonnes of carbon emissions per year. The initiative aims to set new benchmarks for WtE energy projects in terms of scale, efficiency, and environmental benefits, while also supporting Tadweer Group’s goal of diverting 80% of Abu Dhabi’s waste from landfill by 2030. This project not only helps in minimising reliance on traditional fossil fuels but also contributes to reducing waste going into landfills, thereby creating clean sources of energy from unavoidable or non-recyclable waste.
Waste to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (Abu Dhabi)
Completion of Feasibility Stage: We have successfully completed the initial feasibility stage for the project, laying a strong foundation for the upcoming phases. This milestone marks a significant achievement in our project lifecycle.
Strategic Partnerships: We have achieved strategic alignment with our consortium partners being Masdar, BP, Etihad Airways, and ADNOC. This collaboration is crucial for the smooth progress and success of our project, ensuring that all parties are working cohesively towards common goals.
Technological Advancement: The project uses gasification and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis technologies to convert waste streams into Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). This approach is crucial for achieving the goal of reducing waste in landfills and transforming it into valuable resources.
Economic Viability and Strategic Alignment: The financial analysis indicates that the project is economically viable with promising returns. This aspect ensures that the environmental benefits are complemented by sustainable economic growth, aligning with strategic objectives at both the corporate and national levels.
Waste to Graphene
We are collaborating with UK climate leader Levidian to tackle emissions from one of Abu Dhabi’s largest landfill sites.
We are working closely on a first-of-its-kind pilot to install Levidian’s LOOP technology, which will strip the carbon from gas produced by organic waste and lock it away in high-quality graphene. The device will also produce a hydrogen-rich blend gas that will be used to generate clean electricity on site.
It is estimated that the LOOP device will deliver a reduction in emissions of around 40% while supporting further upstream carbon savings through the addition of graphene to increase the performance of materials such as concrete, batteries and polymers. If successful, the pilot could be scaled up to strip the carbon from an estimated 1.2 billion cubic metres of landfill gas over the next 10 years.
