A report backed by the UN and done by HSBC and EY says that each person in the UAE tosses out around 197 kg of food each year, which is about 16 kg every month. Yet just kilometres away from Dubai’s gleaming towers, some communities are facing food shortages while the environment pays the price for all that waste.
But what if the answer is as simple—and as powerful—as gathering around a meal and sharing stories?
In Dubai, where innovation meets tradition, sustainability activities are taking shape. The kitchen has turned into a surprising spot for learning, where corporate teams don’t just get the talk on being responsible. They experience it—through cooking, tasting, and serving food.
The Recipe for Real Change
At Companies for Good, we’ve found that sustainable cooking really makes a difference. When business professionals come together in a community kitchen, use ingredients that would normally go to waste, and whip up meals for those who need them, sustainability turns into something real and meaningful.
Food waste contributes to about 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, while the UAE has committed to reducing food waste by 50% by 2030. But it’s not just about the numbers—when people come together to cook for a purpose, they create bonds that go beyond just making food.
Corporate Teams Making a Difference Through Sustainable Cooking
At Companies for Good, we believe that making a real difference often starts with simple, thoughtful action, and sometimes those steps happen right in the kitchen. Our sustainable cooking programs are designed to reduce food waste, building teamwork, and bring corporate values together with what the community needs.
- The L’Oréal Group Citizen team joined our Companies for Good cooking activity with great energy. By transforming surplus ingredients into tasty dishes, they showed that every meal can contribute to sustainability. It also gave the team a chance to bond and learn more about sustainability.
- Our food expert partners also took part in the program, bringing their farming knowledge to the kitchen and creatively using available produce to prepare nutritious dishes that reflected both care for the community and commitment to sustainability. While cooking, they shared ideas about food security and saving resources—making the experience both meaningful and connected to their mission.
Building Lasting Awareness
What makes sustainable cooking particularly powerful as one of Dubai’s leading sustainability activities is its multi-layered impact:
- Learning About the Environment: People get to see how food waste reduction directly impacts carbon footprints and resource conservation.
- Social Connection: Cooking together helps coworkers bond and break down barriers.
- Helping the Community: Every meal made goes to real people, showing the direct impact of volunteering.
- Skill Building: Teams learn practical sustainability practices in their everyday lives.
- Understanding Culture: Using different ingredients and cooking methods broadens perspectives on food traditions and resource utilisation.
The UAE’s Sustainable Future, One Meal at a Time
Dubai’s position as a global hub for innovation extends to sustainability leadership. Through initiatives that combine environmental responsibility with social impact, the emirate is demonstrating that sustainability activities in Dubai can be both meaningful and enjoyable.
At Companies for Good, we’re all about turning this vision into reality. Our sustainable cooking programs have a big impact—people leave with fresh ideas about food waste, make changes in their office cafeterias, and keep talking about sustainability even after the cooking is done.
Your Turn to Cook Up Change
Sustainable cooking is all about how easy it is to get involved. Unlike complex environmental initiatives that require specialised knowledge or significant investment, cooking together requires only willingness to learn and serve.
Every corporate team that takes part in our sustainable cooking programs finds the same truth: when you combine purpose with action, add a dash of teamwork, and serve it with care, you make something more than just a meal—you create real change.
Ready to transform your team’s approach to sustainability? The kitchen’s ready, the ingredients are saved, and the community is excited to see what you can whip up together.
Connect with Companies for Good to bring these cooking experiences to your workplace. Together, we’re not just reducing waste—we’re raising awareness and creating a more sustainable future for Dubai.