Majid Al Futtaim, Nestlé UAE and UAE-based cleantech company Sparklo have partnered to encourage sustainable consumer habits by expanding AI-powered recycling machines across selected Carrefour stores in the UAE.
The initiative brings Nestlé UAE’s “Recycle to Break the Cycle” campaign to Sparklo’s Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs), allowing customers to return empty plastic bottles and aluminium cans while earning points through the Sparklo app. The programme is designed to make recycling more convenient and accessible as part of everyday shopping.
The partnership builds on Carrefour’s existing RVM programme with Sparklo, which began in July 2023. Since then, more than 22 million recyclable items have been collected and over 95,000 users have participated. The new phase is expected to recover more than 1.4 million additional containers and help avoid approximately 200 tonnes of CO₂ emissions.
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Ziad Chalhoub, Chief Financial Officer, Majid Al Futtaim, said: “At Majid Al Futtaim, we believe meaningful progress on sustainability comes from embedding it into the everyday choices of our customers and communities. Our scale gives us both an opportunity and a responsibility to make sustainable behaviours easier and more accessible. By working with partners such as Nestlé UAE and Sparklo, and leveraging Carrefour’s footprint, we can help accelerate the transition towards a more circular economy and turn shared ambitions into practical action. Partnerships like these are critical to driving lasting impact and supporting the UAE’s long-term sustainability ambitions.”
Rachid Maalouli, Managing Director, Nestlé Coastal Arabia Cluster, said: “At Nestlé, we believe that making sustainable choices should be simple and accessible for everyone. Through our ‘Recycle to Break the Cycle’ campaign and our collaboration with Majid Al Futtaim and Sparklo, we are integrating recycling into people’s everyday routines while supporting the UAE’s ambition to build a more circular economy. By bringing together innovation, consumer engagement and smart infrastructure, this initiative shows how collective action can create shared value and deliver measurable environmental impact. It also reflects our continued commitment to supporting the UAE’s sustainability agenda and empowering communities to play an active role in building a more sustainable future.”
Maxim Kaplevich, Founder and CEO, Sparklo, said: “Making recycling convenient and accessible for communities in the places they visit every week is at the heart of Sparklo’s mission. This collaboration with Nestlé UAE and Majid Al Futtaim demonstrates how innovative infrastructure and strong partnerships can make sustainability more visible, measurable and rewarding for consumers. Together, we are building the infrastructure to collect every bottle in the UAE.”
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Sparklo’s AI-powered Sparklomats track collected materials and reward users in real time. The initiative also supports the UAE Circular Economy Policy 2031 and broader national sustainability goals.
Nestlé-branded RVMs are currently available at selected Carrefour locations, including Bawabat Al Sharq Mall in Abu Dhabi, Discovery Gardens Main Entrance, Century Mall, City Centre Al Shindagha and City Centre Me’aisem in Dubai.
