‘Sustainable Goodness’ Initiative Launched to Strengthen Food Waste Reduction at Jebel Ali Port
The UAE Food Bank, in collaboration with the DP World Foundation, has introduced the ‘Sustainable Goodness’ initiative aimed at addressing food waste at Jebel Ali Port, the busiest port globally. This initiative, launched in partnership with Dubai Municipality and Dubai Customs, seeks to reclaim abandoned food shipments and distribute them to beneficiaries while adhering to food safety and health regulations.
Eng. Marwan Ahmed Bin Ghalita, the Director General of Dubai Municipality and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the UAE Food Bank, formalized the cooperation agreement for the initiative. He was joined by Abdulla Bin Damithan, Chairman of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, and Dr. Abdulla Busenad, Director General of Dubai Customs. Other notable attendees included Latifa Al Qamzi, Director General of the DP World Foundation, Ahmed Yousef Al Hassan, CEO and Managing Director of DP World GCC, and Shehab Mohammed Al Jasmi, Chief Commercial Officer of Ports and Terminals at DP World GCC.
Operational Framework of the Initiative
The ‘Sustainable Goodness’ initiative operates through a structured process. Participating entities will identify food shipments at Jebel Ali Port that have not been cleared by customs authorities. These shipments will undergo evaluation to determine their suitability for distribution through the UAE Food Bank’s humanitarian network. Each item must pass a health and safety inspection, a responsibility managed by Dubai Municipality.
Dr. Naseem Mohammed Rafee, Acting CEO of the Environment, Health and Safety Agency at Dubai Municipality, confirmed that the municipality will provide the necessary technical and regulatory support to ensure compliance with health and food safety standards before any food is transferred to the UAE Food Bank.
This initiative also addresses logistical challenges faced by companies. It aims to streamline release procedures, thereby reducing costs and processing times for businesses that choose to donate eligible food shipments instead of abandoning them. This structured approach facilitates a low-barrier pathway for companies to contribute to food security.
Collaborative Efforts for Food Security
The ‘Sustainable Goodness’ initiative exemplifies a collaborative model involving five key institutions: DP World, Dubai Customs, Dubai Municipality, and the UAE Food Bank. Each organization contributes unique capabilities to the operational pipeline. DP World provides port access and logistics infrastructure, while Dubai Customs oversees the legal transfer of unclaimed goods. Dubai Municipality ensures compliance with safety regulations, and the UAE Food Bank manages the redistribution of food.
Shehab Mohammed Al Jasmi emphasized the importance of the logistics sector in this initiative, stating that it showcases how government and private entities can collaborate to mitigate food waste, enhance supply chain processes, and align with the UAE’s food security and sustainable development goals.
A Systematic Approach to Food Waste
Latifa Al Qamzi described the initiative as a system-level approach that effectively reduces food waste and conserves resources, ensuring that food reaches communities in need. Manal Bin Yarouf, Head of the Executive Team at the UAE Food Bank Foundation, highlighted the initiative’s role in addressing a critical issue in the food supply chain by channeling eligible food away from waste and towards humanitarian efforts.
Mansour Al Malik, Executive Director of the Policy and Legislation Division at Dubai Customs, noted that the launch reflects Dubai Customs’ commitment to enhancing food security and supporting the charitable ecosystem in the UAE. The UAE Food Bank, part of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiative, has already diverted over 908,000 kg of food from landfills through various campaigns and partnerships. The ‘Sustainable Goodness’ initiative adds a permanent infrastructure at the port level, designed to intercept waste before it occurs.
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Published on 2026-06-08 11:50:00 • By the Editorial Desk
