Dubai Summer Surprises has released reusable tote bags made of sustainable materials, such as cotton, at Majid Al Futtaim’s Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Mirdif and City Centre Deira.
The tote bags, available in limited numbers, can be found at dedicated booths and displays across the malls.
Shoppers can collect the Dubai Summer Surprises tote bags when spending AED300 at Mall of the Emirates and City Centre Mirdif and AED150 at City Centre Deira.
The launch of tote bags aligns with Dubai’s goal to reduce single-use plastic and protect the environment.
On July 1, the emirate’s government imposed a green tariff of 25 fils on single-use bags made of plastic, paper, biodegradable plastic and plant-based biodegradable materials thinner than 57 micrometres.
Discouraging consumers’ and retailers’ usage of single-use bags mark Dubai’s and the UAE’s efforts to reduce wastage and carbon footprints and limit the use of natural resources.
Dubai Summer Surprises’ sustainability efforts also run alongside Dubai 2030, the emirate’s initiative to reduce carbon emissions by 30 per cent by 2030 and increasingly use clean and renewable energy.
By 2050, the UAE hopes to decarbonise its economy by eliminating the production of greenhouse gases.
In keeping with its eco-friendly measures, Dubai Summer Surprises has also tested the use of holographic signage instead of printed signs at select Apparel Group stores across Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Mirdif and Dubai Hills Mall.
The event’s initiatives complement consumers’ desires for sustainable shopping experiences.
Sixty per cent of consumers in the UAE consider sustainability when shopping, according to the results of PwC’s Global Consumer Insights Pulse Survey released in March.
Fifty-three per cent of shoppers also reported frequent purchases of eco-friendly products, a statistic greater than the global average of 42 per cent.
Dubai Summer Surprises, which is celebrating its silver jubilee, runs until September 4.
Five thousand retail outlets of over 1,000 brands across the city are participating in the event.
