More than four million water bottles are produced every year in the UAE.
So where does it all go?
Our journey brings us to the heart of the Khalifa industrial zone, a short drive outside Abu Dhabi.
Where a local plant is reimagining the future of plastic.
Degrade takes plastic bottles from around Abu Dhabi and Dubai and turns them into sustainable clothing for brands such as DHL and Disney.
The factory has the capacity to recycle 1 billion bottles per year, the majority of which come from the UAE.
To being Degrade collects many of its bottles through local collection containers placed around the country and through partnerships with over 250 schools where the company helps to educate students about the importance of recycling.
Once the plastic has been collected it needs to first be sorted in order to remove the labeling.
The plastic will then go through multiple rounds of washing and drying in order to ensure that all contaminants have been removed.
Next, it will be shredded into plastic flakes, which is the final stage of production in this factory before it is shared with partners to be processed into Degrade signature Greenspan yarn.
The yarn will then be woven into sustainable clothing and accessories.
So next time you throw out a plastic bottle, just remember that one man’s trash is another’s treasure.