Unilever partners with Dubai Chamber for ‘brighter future’

Dubai / Emirates Business

Unilever, in collaboration with the Dubai Chamber’s Sustainability Network, has hosted a multi-sectoral collaboration event to galvanise support for United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as the goals espoused by the UAE Vision 2021. The event was held on Sunday on the Dubai Chamber premises in Deira.
The multi-sectoral event, held under the “#CollectiveAction Towards a Brighter Future Initiative” umbrella, saw broad participation from private sector organisations, academia, NGOs and public sector bodies including the Dubai Chamber, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai SME and the Ministry of Health & Prevention (MoH).
It explored collaboration to achieve goals common to three overlapping strategic roadmaps – the UAE Vision 2021, the UN
SDGs, and the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan.
“Effective CSR and sustainability efforts can deliver immediate-term benefits while also becoming a highly effective management tool and strategic advantage for Dubai businesses. We value public-
private sector collaborations in voluntarily choosing best practices for sustainability that deliver results for businesses and enhance value for all of society,” said H.E. Majid Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman, Dubai Chamber.
In particular, the #CollectiveAction meeting identified three areas common to the UAE Vision 2021, UN SDGs and Unilever Sustainable Development Plan – addressing climate change by taming energy consumption and emphasising renewable energy use; zero waste to landfill strategies focusing on non-hazardous waste; the creation of entrepreneurship and employment opportunities; and addressing Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs), especially obesity.
“The #CollectiveAction initiative is an excellent way of mobilising multi-sectorial support that can turn challenges into opportunities. The UAE Vision 2021 calls for
action on climate change, economic growth and health, as do the UN SDGs. Unilever also has a global track record of addressing sustainable growth through its own Unilever Sustainable Living Plan.
“We want to create collaborative frameworks towards common goals by gathering key decision-makers under one roof,” says
Sanjiv Kakkar, Executive Vice President for Unilever MENA, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.
The UN SDGs are designed to eliminate extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030 if accepted and acted upon voluntarily by global citizens and governments.
Meanwhile, the UAE Vision
2021 identifies 6 key areas for concerted action – a sustainable environment and infrastructure, world-class healthcare a cohesive society and preserved identity; safe public and fair judiciary; competitive knowledge economy and first-rate education system.