Page 33 - SAMENA Trends - March 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

awareness and implementing digital of the circular economy and the significant with just 22% of used electronics being
technologies to minimize our negative opportunities for growth that can and recycled. Moreover, with the introduction
impact on the environment and increase do materialize from the modification of of 5G, numerous devices that are not
the sustainability of our activities.” Al- production and consumption processes compatible with the technology will be
Kharafi continued, “We hope that through under the model. Transformation must discarded. Recent studies reveal that 48
our forward-looking thought leadership occur, not just from an economic model million tons of e-waste are produced every
reports, the public will be inspired to act perspective but from a mindset standpoint year. According to The World Economic
in a manner that benefits our planet and as well. Finite resources should not be Forum, e-waste is currently considered the
all those who inhabit it. We believe that by exhausted and the only way to ensure that fastest-growing source of waste today.
embracing the circular economy model, is to adopt new and progressive economic On Zain’s part, as part of the company’s
our region stands to benefit immensely as models that promote waste reduction waste management program, Zain Kuwait
new jobs can be generated across sectors, and sustainable production.” Given the installed filtered processed water coolers
while implementing sustainable solutions current extreme weather conditions and on all floors of its headquarter buildings,
to help solve current issues. We encourage the urgency for policymakers; businesses thus reducing the use of single-use plastic
all our stakeholders to play a positive and governments to address climate employees. Furthermore, the company
and transformational role with us in change, Zain was compelled to focus this provided each employee with reusable
recalibrating the way in which we conduct year’s report on the circular economy. The water tumblers. Plastic waste in general
our businesses, so that together we can flexibility and adaptability of the model is a large issue in Kuwait as it has been
achieve a progressive and sustainable also helps address multiple Sustainable estimated that 18% of solid waste in
future.” Uncollected waste and waste Development Goals (6,8,11,12,13,14,15) Kuwait is plastic which around 200,000
directed to open landfills is extremely as articulated by the United Nations. The tons is. Moreover, in Bahrain, the operator
common across the region, though circular economy can easily be embedded recognized the negative impact of selling
the current state of digitization offers into the Information, Communication and products that turn into e-waste and in a
compelling solutions to help address the Technology (ICT) sector. For businesses, bid to mitigate this, partnered with the
negative impact of excess waste, with the it encourages greater innovation with Supreme Council for the Environment
emergence of nascent technologies such respect to business models as it pushes and Crown Industries to introduce
as Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, such companies to develop innovations sustainable, long-term solutions in this
Internet of Things (IoT). Jennifer Suleiman, in the area of waste management. area. Furthermore, Zain Bahrain launched
Zain Group’s Chief Sustainability Officer Technology-driven organizations can school campaigns, competitions and
said, “The implementation of the circular educate consumers and provide them conducting awareness sessions in schools
economy is well suited for the MENA with options on how to reuse and recycle also collecting e-waste from schools over
region, and it is therefore particularly digital products. This step can open a period of six months and conducted
relevant to be raising the model’s benefits doors by educating customers on how social media campaigns on the impact of
at this point in time when the twin forces to save money, as well as shedding e-waste. Additionally, it conducted a call to
of climate change and the growing light on the presence and activities of action for the public to collect e-waste and
populations across the region are in full waste management companies. With place it in bins located on Zain’s premises
effect.” Suleiman continued, “Our latest technological products, devices and and encouraged other corporations to
report focuses on the various possibilities services being used by so many people, participate in collecting e-waste.
brought about by the widespread adoption most gadgets end up in landfills after use

Accenture and Microsoft Collaborate to help

Entrepreneurs Amplify Social Impact

Microsoft Corp. and Accenture are teaming the world. Microsoft and Accenture’s the impact of their solutions; and provide
to help deepen the reach of entrepreneurs collaboration is part of their shared support in exploring and using Microsoft
and start-ups that are focused on social vision to amplify the societal impact of technologies.“Startups in the social impact
impact and sustainability. The joint emerging technology with the long-term and sustainability space are among the
initiative will provide hands-on support goal of reaching a million lives globally. world’s most inspiring organizations,” said
and technologies to social enterprises, Through the program, Microsoft Research Jean-Philippe Courtois, executive vice
helping them to build scalable solutions India and Accenture Labs will help social president and president, Microsoft Global
and business models that can lead enterprise startups test and validate Sales, Marketing and Operations. “It’s
to more tangible and lasting benefits proof-of-concepts; conduct design important that their passion for meaningful
for a greater number of people around thinking sessions to help them re-envision innovation and creating positive change

33 MARCH 2020