Drop It – Rethink Plastic

Did you know the average person in the UAE consumes 94kg of plastic every year?

Read more shocking facts here:

• 50% of the camels that die every year in the UAE die from ingesting plastic
• 11 billion plastic bags are used annually in the UAE
• The average person in the UAE uses 450 single-use plastic bottles per year

Uniting with the local community to reduce plastic pollution:

In 2016, we launched Drop It to reduce plastic waste by switching to filtered tap water that guarantees:

In 2019, Goumbook partnered with City to Sea to launch Refill UAE, offering an app that maps refill stations across the UAE, helping consumers save money, stay hydrated, and reduce plastic pollution. Read more here.

In 2020, Goumbook conceptualised and project managed Dubai Can in partnership with Dubai Government, to reduce single-use plastic bottle waste by promoting refillable bottles, installing water stations across the city, and raising awareness on plastic alternatives and sustainability.

The UAE Government is in the process of phasing out single-use plastics by banning plastic bags on June 1, 2024. By January 1, 2025, the ban will include items like plastic stirrers, table covers, and styrofoam containers. By January 1, 2026, it will extend to plastic plates, food containers, and beverage cups with lids. More information here.

Drop It Youth empowers young people, ages 11 to 22, to mobilize their communities and reduce dependence on single-use plastics. Through the campaign, youth ambassadors raise awareness of plastic’s environmental risks and help promote behavior change towards more sustainable daily habits.

Impact since launching in 2017

• 15,000+ students reached
• 50+ youth ambassadors
• 4 countries (UAE, Switzerland, India, Indonesia)
• 4,700+ pledges

As a Drop It Youth Ambassador:

1. You will represent the Drop It Youth Campaign as a role model in reducing plastic pollution
2. You will engage your community to cut plastic and CO2 emissions
3. You will collaborate with schools, families, and businesses to reduce plastic use (bottles, cups, straws, bags)
4. You will raise awareness, encourage online pledges, and promote switching to filtered tap water
5. You will support pledge takers with plastic-free alternatives and report your progress to the DIY team.

Goumbook has partnered with REFILL UAE to help you save money, stay hydrated, and prevent plastic pollution at its source by reducing the use of single-use plastic bottles.

Join the #RefillRevolutionUAE!

Every minute, one million plastic bottles are purchased, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Over 8 million tonnes of plastic bottles end up in the ocean each year, and in the UAE alone, 4.5 million water bottles are used annually (source: Emirates Nature-WWF, Plastic Expert).

Impact so far in Dubai:

Do you offer refills of water, coffee, groceries, or lunch? Get listed on the refill app to help your customers reduce plastic packaging.

The good news is research has shown that 73% of us are concerned about plastic pollution, and 64% of people surveyed said they would stop buying bottled water if they could access tap water refills. That’s where we come in: offering a free and easy solution to prevent plastic pollution from single-use bottles at its source.