Maximizing ROI in Circular Economy: Waste Management as a Strategic Investment Opportunity in the UAE

As sustainability transitions from aspiration to obligation, the circular economy has emerged as a compelling investment frontier – particularly in the waste management sector. Yet, delivering measurable Return on Investment (ROI) requires more than environmental intent: it demands robust business models, strategic partnerships, and favourable ecosystems. This presentation will explore how investors and operators can unlock strong ROI through circular waste management initiatives, with a specific focus on the UAE as a regional benchmark. Thanks to progressive policies, government incentives, and cutting-edge infrastructure, the UAE today offers one of the most secure and scalable environments for circular economy ventures – especially under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) frameworks.

Key discussion points will include:

• How to structure bankable business models around circular practices, from feedstock access to offtake agreements
• Risk calculation and mitigation strategies
• Selecting the optimal feedstock, project location, financing mix (debt, equity, or industrial partnership), and technology fit
• Case studies from successful UAE-based initiatives demonstrating tangible ROI.

This session is designed for investors, policymakers, and industry stakeholders seeking actionable insights.

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Caught in the Wrap - Plastic Solutions Unfolded

We all use plastic as it is valued for its light weight and durability, but its impact as waste and pollution is felt around the world. Learn from a global expert in how we go to where we are today, what some of the main issues are, and how your company, community, institution, or you as an individual, can help to make a difference, helping to drive circularity, which is an incredible challenge, particularly for plastic.

As the world works to conclude the UN Plastic Treaty, with over 180 countries supporting the reduction in plastic pollution, the main lever for pollution reduction is circularity of materials, and re-use in some way, shape or form. This will require legislation, use of recycled content, new materials, supply chains and transparency. Over 3 billion people today live without access to waste management systems, and that impacts our waters, health, ecosystems, tourism, fishing and agriculture, and does so on a daily basis more so than climate change in terms of scale across communities.

With over three decades working in Asia, Mr. Woodring's nuanced knowledge of communities, economics and policies will provide ideas for innovative solutions for brands, products, packaging, and how communities we live in can be part of the solutions as well.

The audience will come away with much deeper insight into the issue, its origins, its impacts, and ways in which we can all create immediate positive impact on this complex topic of bringing global circularity to the solution set for plastic pollution.

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Circular Hospitality in practice: Lessons for 20 CY hotels transitioning journey

Drawing on the transition journeys of 20 hotels in Cyprus, this talk distils what it takes to move from isolated “green” actions to circular business models that change how a hotel designs, sources, operates, and creates value. The principles and models applied include rethink/refuse, reduce, reuse/refill, repair/remanufacture, and regenerate—implemented through circular procurement, product-as-a-service, sharing & reuse systems, and material valorisation. The principles were applied following a diagnostic assessment and the development of a circular action plan to embed circularity in strategic planning, codify into SOPs and align KPIs, promote staff training, and guest engagement, build local partnerships for take-back/valorisation. Impacts & lessons: hotels cut single-use items and residual waste, lower water/energy intensity, extend asset life, and strengthen brand/guest sentiment. Challenges persist—supplier readiness, up-front investment, data gaps, and change management—so executive sponsorship, cross-department taskforces, and transparent KPIs are decisive.

UAE alignment: the outcomes map directly to the UAE Circular Economy Policy 2021–2031 priority sectors and complements the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031 focus on competitive, high-quality growth.

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Embedding Circular Economy in Business Operations

Presentation will provide strategy with examples of how Circular Economy practices, principles, ISO 59000 Standards can be integrated into routine work and help organisations transition from linear to Circular Economy and sustainability.

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