The UAE Circular Packaging Association (CPA) has elected a new board during its annual general assembly held at Dubai Chambers. This new leadership aims to enhance public-private collaboration and strengthen the association’s role in promoting circular packaging solutions, which are crucial for advancing the UAE’s circular economy agenda.

As sustainability becomes a focal point of the UAE’s economic vision, the CPA is committed to linking industry needs with government policy. The association’s initiatives will support national sustainability objectives, including the UAE Circular Economy Policy 2031 and the Net Zero by 2050 commitments.

The newly elected board includes Mohamed Eldabaa from Procter & Gamble as Chairman, Marcelo Piva from Tetra Pak as Vice Chairman, and Emeel Bishay from Mondelez as Treasurer. Other board members are Laetitia Magentie from Majid Al Futtaim, Priya Sarma from Unilever, Theofilos Alevizos from Agthia Group, Shahira Elkady from PepsiCo, with Sara Jackson from Green Ethics appointed as Secretary General.

Mohamed Ali El Dabaa, the CPA Chairman, stated that the CPA is more than just an industry association, emphasizing its role as a platform for action. He expressed confidence that the new leadership would enhance strategic partnerships, advocate for progressive policies, and drive collaboration across the industry to promote a truly circular packaging ecosystem.

The CPA recognizes that achieving meaningful change requires collective effort and is dedicated to uniting businesses, regulators, and environmental stakeholders. The association will provide industry insights, policy recommendations, and knowledge-sharing initiatives to support the development of regulatory frameworks that foster sustainable packaging innovation.

With a renewed focus, the new CPA board plans to engage in policy discussions that will aid the UAE’s transition to a circular economy. They aim to expand partnerships within the industry to promote sustainable packaging solutions and advocate for regulations that support circular business models, while equipping businesses with the necessary knowledge and tools to adopt best practices.

Established in 2023, the CPA seeks to reshape the packaging value chain by integrating circular economy principles. It originated from the CIRCLE Coalition, which began its initiatives in 2019 with backing from the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. The CPA intends to enhance consumer awareness and provide insights into legislation related to sustainable packaging, all while promoting a multi-stakeholder approach to a circular economy.