New eco-friendly products in Dubai

A new flagship store for environmentally-friendly services and products will be opened in the second quarter of this year in Dubai and will be the first one of its kind in the world, says leading global environmental advocate Robert F Kennedy Jr, nephew of former US President John F  Kennedy. Launching the brand new concept in Dubai on Tuesday, Kennedy Jr said that the flagship store “The Change Initiative Dubai” will offer a ‘one-stop’ marketplace offering solutions tailored to businesses, government and everyday consumers. The new concept will change behaviours by bringing together solutions and information that can assist people make more responsible lifestyle choices. Visitors to the marketplace will be able to learn about, try and buy solutions while gaining a vast amount of free information dedicated to encouraging more environmentally-responsible behaviour, said Kennedy while explaining the concept to the media. Asked how much the entire investment will cost, Kennedy Junior declined to give the exact figure, adding that it ranges into millions of dirhams and is a massive investment of its kind. “Global research indicates that increasing numbers of consumers are starting to appreciate the importance of adopting more environmentally-sustainable behaviour. The Change Initiative is reaching out to the growing community of people willing to factor sustainability into their purchase decisions and daily lifestyle,” said company CEO and founder Gundeep Singh. The company’s 4,000 square-metre facility in Al Barsha will display a comprehensive range of solutions in five main categories. These span The Change Initiative’s ‘Whole of Life’ business model: Energy, Water, Waste, Food, and Lifestyle. Established in 2008, The Change Initiative has formed partnerships with global brands and multinational firms specialising in everything from sustainable cleaning products to solar panels, household appliances to building solutions. A variety of leading business people and public figures from the around the world are also backing the company, including Loek Malmberg of the Skagen Group and Abdullah Mohammed Al Mazrui of Aramex. “As a global commercial centre, Dubai is an ideal platform to launch The Change Initiative and further build our portfolio of business, knowledge and innovation partners, many of whom have based their Middle East operations in the emirate,” Singh added. The Change Initiative is targeting up to 25 showrooms in the Middle East and Asia, and hopes to expand its 40-strong team to 5,000 employees over the next five years. The Change Initiative is a one-stop marketplace specialising in solutions that reduce human impacts on the environment and promote sustainable development.