Loading ...Sadaqua: Free Water and Charity Through Advertising
By: Mehdi El Merini / Arab America Contributing Writer
Sadaqua is a new and innovative project in Saudi Arabia and the UAE that merges sustainability, advertising, and charity by providing free drinking water in eco-friendly aluminum bottles. Founded by young Moroccan entrepreneur Sami Al Uariachi and his partner Dr. Siraj in Montreal, Canada, their goal is to reduce plastic waste while offering a unique advertising platform for brands. Each bottle not only promotes environmental responsibility but also supports charitable causes, ensuring that every bottle distributed contributes to global well-being.
“At Sadaqua, we’re redefining bottled water with a visionary approach that incorporates sustainability, innovation, and philanthropy. Through our aluminum bottles that are offered as ad space to brands, we’re tackling the region’s single-use plastic bottle epidemic while simultaneously donating to charities that are fighting the global water crisis. A win-win-win.”, says Sami Al Uariachi, founder of Sadaqua.
Plastic waste is a significant environmental issue in the United States, where approximately 35.7 million tons of plastic waste are generated annually. Of this staggering amount, only about 8.7% is recycled, with the vast majority ending up in landfills or as litter, contributing to severe environmental pollution. Single-use plastic bottles, in particular, account for a large portion of this waste, with Americans purchasing around 50 billion plastic water bottles each year. This equates to an average of 13 bottles per month for every person in the country, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable alternatives like Sadaqua’s aluminum bottles.
Why Aluminum?
75% of all aluminum produced up to this point in time is still in use, as it can be perpetually recycled while avoiding any decrease in its quality. Manufacturing aluminum cans and bottles is also more energy efficient, as it requires 95% less energy to produce a new container through recycling. The energy saved through this process is equivalent to 12 billion kWh of electricity, or 20 billion barrels of oil per year. On average, an aluminum can is composed of 68% recycled materials. By shifting to eco-friendly solutions, Sadaqua aims to mitigate the environmental impact of plastic waste and promote a more sustainable future.
On top of addressing the issue of plastic waste, Sadaqua seeks to use remaining advertisement revenues to fund clean water initiatives both locally and globally. The Arab world faces significant clean water challenges due to factors such as arid climates, over-extraction of groundwater, and inadequate infrastructure. Water scarcity affects many countries in the region, with some, like Yemen and Jordan, experiencing extreme shortages. According to the World Bank, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region only holds 1% of the world’s freshwater resources but 6% of the world’s population.
In many Arab countries, per capita water availability is below 1,000 cubic meters per year, which is considered the threshold for water scarcity. For example, in Jordan, per capita water availability is as low as 100 cubic meters annually. Additionally, rapid population growth and urbanization exacerbate the demand for water, leading to further stress on already limited resources.
Access to clean drinking water is also a major concern. In countries like Yemen, prolonged conflict has destroyed water infrastructure, leaving millions without access to safe drinking water. According to UNICEF, nearly 18 million people in Yemen lack access to clean water and sanitation. The founders of Sadaqua aim to address this pressing issue through their new initiative.
Sadaqua invites everyone to be part of this transformative journey. Whether you’re an event organizer, a brand looking for unique advertising opportunities, or an individual passionate about sustainability, there is a place for you in the Sadaqua community.
More information can be found on their website, Instagram and Linkedin pages.
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