Amid the global urgency to address climate change, COP28 emerged as a key catalyst for meaningful action towards sustainability, pushing the boundaries of eco-consciousness. While multiple discussions on sustainability occurred at the event, one technology player contributed to making the event itself sustainable – Nadeera Technologies.
One of the key concerns of any event is the amount of waste produced and to make sure the visitors don’t litter. This was tackled at COP28 with a recycling programme called, “Yalla Return.” In collaboration with Nadeera Technologies, the initiative employs blockchain technology to trace, verify, and report recyclable waste at the event.
The programme, which has shown a 95 percent user engagement rate, is not only diverting significant amounts of recyclables but also yielding impressive environmental results. Rabih El Chaar, CEO and Founder at Nadeera Technologies, gives an overview on how the initiative took shape and why it matters.
The concept
Nadeera Technologies developed Yalla Return as an end-to-end platform to revolutionise waste management through technology-enabled solutions. Comprising a mobile application, unique infrastructure, and an innovative business model, the programme encourages users to deposit recyclables by earning rewards, in specially designed, digitally-traceable waste collection bags.
With this smart waste management solution, users download the Yalla Return application, deposit recyclables in one of the smart bins, trace quantities dropped off, earn credits and know their impact on the environment. These bags, equipped with QR codes, are placed in 177 public waste bins across the COP28 venue.
Blockchain and AI in action
The heart of the Yalla Return programme lies in its blockchain-based tracing, verification, and reporting system. Users dispose of recyclables in dedicated bins featuring Yalla Return bags, which are then scanned and inspected by waste collectors using the Yalla Return collector app. The transactions are recorded on the blockchain, ensuring the authenticity of the collection and sorting quality. Real-time analytics generated from this data provide valuable insights into recycling patterns and environmental impact.
“Through QR code traceability, the system records sorting mistakes in each bag to monitor visitor behaviour. Real-time analytics can be generated from the blockchain data, providing insights into recycling patterns and environmental impact,” said El Chaar.
Artificial intelligence is then applied to analyse the collected data, providing valuable insights into recycling behaviours and patterns. Over the first four days of COP28, the programme diverted 2,000 kg of recyclables, resulting in avoided greenhouse gas emissions of 7 tonnes, saved landfill space of 50 cubic metres, and energy savings of 18 MWH.
Strategies user engagement
The success of Yalla Return isn’t just in its technological prowess; it extends to the strategies employed for user engagement. This initiative boasts high user engagement rate attributed, to its user-friendly design and effective communication strategies.
Clear and concise communication, including informational materials, social media campaigns, and direct outreach, informed users about the benefits of recycling and how to use the platform. The incorporation of real-time feedback and immediate rewards for recycling efforts, along with a gamification aspect, played a key role in engagement.
“Moreover, creating a sense of community and shared responsibility can foster engagement. Yalla Return implemented features that allow users to see the collective impact of their recycling efforts, promoting a sense of belonging to a larger environmental initiative,” said El Chaar.
Beyond COP28, Nadeera envisions the scalability of the Yalla Return programme. Having successfully onboarded 26,000 households across 80 communities in the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia, the plan for 2024 includes expanding further in the GCC with additional projects in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The programme is deemed fit for scaling to different communities and geographies, indicating a potential global impact.
