- Over 160 schools from across UAE participated in the competition

- Event records impressive collection of over 2000 kilograms of used batteries

Sharjah, UAE (July 6, 2022): As part of efforts to encourage sustainable habits in future generations, BEEAH Education, the region’s leading environmental education expert, held the third edition of The Great Battery Challenge. The inter-school competition, which has now been expanded to include schools from across the UAE, recorded the highest-ever participation with entries from over 160 schools, and registered an impressive collection of over 2000 kilograms of used batteries. The winning schools were honoured in a special ceremony held on Wednesday, the 6th of July. Held in partnership with Duracell, the world’s leading manufacturer of batteries, The Great Battery Challenge was launched in 2018 to encourage battery recycling habits among students. As the BEEAH-Duracell partnership enters its fourth consecutive year, the initiative has played a pivotal role in diverting discarded batteries away from landfills and preventing environmental pollution due to improper disposal.

Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Fahad Shehail, Group Chief Operating Officer at BEEAH, said, “We firmly believe that sustainability requires collective action, and though BEEAH Education, we take pride in involving the community in driving the transition to a sustainable, zero-waste future. The Great Battery Challenge has nurtured recycling habits among students, while addressing the growing issue of battery waste in the UAE. We are proud to work closely with like-minded organizations, like Duracell, to encourage the next generation of environmental leaders and enable a better future for all.”

Following the announcement of the competition earlier this year, participating schools were supplied with special bins to collect batteries. Students were encouraged to collect used batteries and deposit them in the bins. Winners were decided based on the total tonnage of batteries collected. Hind Al Huwaidi, Managing Director of BEEAH Education, said, “At BEEAH Education, we have been working towards creating a greener generation for more than a decade. As advocates for sustainability, we have realized the importance of incentivizing sustainable activities among our youth and how crucial it is towards our vision for a sustainable future. Since its launch in 2018, The Great Battery Challenge has created awareness in the student community about the harmful impact of improper battery disposal and inspired life-long recycling habits. We are proud of the growth of the competition over the years, and would like to thank the schools, students, teachers, and parents who have made this initiative successful with their contributions.”

Sharing his thoughts on the initiative and partnership, Amer Afifi, Vice President, Duracell Middle East & India, said, “We, at Duracell, are proud to support ‘The Great Battery Challenge’. It has been remarkable to see the enthusiasm from all the participating schools over the previous editions, proving the commitment the future generation has to sustainability and the environment. Duracell, in alignment with BEEAH Group’s mandate for promoting a circular economy, champions for battery recycling, responsible disposal and efforts to divert used batteries away from landfills. We are looking forward to future editions of this exceptional educational initiative.”

Through a network of more than 252,000 students, 6500 teachers and 700 schools, BEEAH Education has been a force for positive environmental change since its launch in 2010.

Winners’ list of the 3rd edition of The Great Battery Challenge 2022