Circular Packaging Association Named Official Knowledge Partner of Recycling Expo Middle East 2026

Dubai, UAE. 20 May 2026 — The Circular Packaging Association (CPA) has been appointed Official Knowledge Partner of Recycling Expo Middle East 2026, taking place in Dubai on 22–23 September 2026. The partnership will advance regulatory and policy discussions around scalable circular packaging and recycling systems across a region where packaging waste accounts for an estimated 14–20% of municipal waste, a stream largely reusable and, by CPA research, worth up to AED 1 billion annually to the UAE economy if converted from waste to resource.

Through this collaboration, CPA will play a central role in shaping the event's programming, contributing expertise, thought leadership, and expert speakers to discussions focused on strengthening circular supply chains and recycling systems across the Middle East.

Priority themes include strengthening reverse logistics and collection systems; improving traceability and verification of recycled content; building economically viable end-markets for recycled materials; advancing effective extended producer responsibility (EPR) models; and accelerating design-for-recyclability to improve real-world recycling outcomes.

Additional sessions will explore how circular supply chains can build resilience for the packaging sector, including the role of locally sourced recycled materials such as recycled PET (rPET) in supporting in-country value creation and bottle-to-bottle packaging systems.

Mohamed Ali Eldabaa, Chairman of Circular Packaging Association said: "Advancing circular packaging in this region means moving beyond dialogue into delivery. Our research shows that even small-scale recovery, just 60 tonnes of materials, can cut emissions by 45%, and that converting packaging waste to resource could generate up to AED 1 billion annually for the UAE economy alone. The opportunity is real, but capturing it requires the policy frameworks, infrastructure, and market systems to work together. From EPR design to viable end-markets for recycled materials, the challenges are interconnected, and our partnership with Recycling Expo Middle East represents a platform to bring stakeholders closer to the outcomes the region needs."

Jake Cody, Event Director at Recycling Expo Middle East also mentioned: “Partnering with the Circular Packaging Association is an important step in strengthening collaboration across the UAE and wider GCC circular economy ecosystem. The work CPA is leading around sustainable packaging, policy, and industry engagement reflects many of the critical conversations shaping the region’s future.”

He added: “At Recycling Expo Middle East, our goal is to unite stakeholders from across the value chain to share knowledge, address regional challenges, and support practical progress toward a more circular economy. We are proud to welcome CPA as a Knowledge Partner and look forward to working together to help drive the industry forward.”

The collaboration is aligned with the UAE's Circular Economy Policy 2021–2031, the first such policy issued in the GCC, and the region's broader ambitions around resource efficiency and sustainable growth. It reflects increasing momentum toward translating circular economy commitments into practical, investable systems at scale.