KUWAIT: In a joint effort that reflects synergy among public and private institutions to advance the national sustainability agenda, ECO Business Incubator launched the ‘Together for E-Waste-Free Schools’ initiative in cooperation with Ahmadi Governorate, Zain Kuwait, Boubyan Bank, the Ministry of Education, the Environment Public Authority, Kuwait Airways, Kuwait University, the Arab Open University, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, and Kuwait Oil Company. This community initiative aims to reinforce environmental sustainability goals and embed a culture of circular economy across society.

The launch was announced at Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Center (JACC), in the presence of the Governor of Ahmadi Sheikh Humoud Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Chairman of Kuwait Airways Capt Abdulmohsen Al-Fagaan, Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Affairs at the Ministry of Education Hamad Al-Hamad, Acting Director General of the Environment Public Authority Nouf Bahbahani, Chairman of the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources Dr Mohammad Dawood Al-Ahmad, Chief Executive Officer – Consumer, Private, and Digital Banking at Boubyan Bank Abdullah Al-Tuwaijri, Chief Purpose and HR Officer at Zain Kuwait Nawal Bourisli, Chief Corporate Affairs and Relations Officer at Zain Kuwait Waleed Al-Khashti, Director General of the Arab Open University Dr. Salah Al-Hammadi, the Deputy Managing Director for Support Services at Kuwait Petroleum Corporation Dhari Al-Gharabally, and the founder of ECO Business Incubator and the initiative’s Director Jassem Al-Abouh.

The initiative primarily aims to instill responsible environmental behaviors in schools and households and to build a practical model for e-waste management through an institutional collaboration framework that includes schools, government entities, the private sector, and certified recycling partners. It also seeks to increase collection rates of end-of-life devices, recover valuable materials, and reduce the impact of hazardous substances associated with e-waste.

During his opening remarks, Ahmadi Governor Sheikh Humoud Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah affirmed that current environmental challenges require shared awareness and responsibility from institutions and individuals. He noted that e-waste is a major source of pollution due to its health and environmental risks if not properly treated and recycled.

Ahmadi Governor Sheikh Humoud Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

Abdulmohsen Al-Faqaan, Chairman of Kuwait Airways

Waleed Al-Khashti, Chief Corporate Affairs and Relations Officer at Zain Kuwait

Waleed Al-Saqaabi, Executive Director of Corporate Communications and Relations at Boubyan Bank

Jassem Al-Abouh, founder of ECO Business Incubator and initiative director

He added that this national initiative reflects a commitment to sustainable development and environmental protection by reinforcing a culture of responsibility through public-private cooperation and community engagement, emphasizing that the integration of official, community, and volunteer efforts, particularly within school environments, will strengthen sustainable practices for handling e-waste and achieve the initiative’s goals.

Kuwait Airways Chairman Capt Abdulmohsen Al-Fagaan expressed the company’s pride in joining this national initiative. He explained that the participation aligns with the airline’s social responsibility programs and focus on sustainability, noting that the national carrier adopts eco-friendly technologies and practices across its fleet and operations to safeguard the future of upcoming generations, while pledging continued support for national environmental efforts in line with the nation’s vision and leadership.

Waleed Al-Khashti, Chief Corporate Affairs and Relations Officer at Zain Kuwait, stressed that the partnership with ECO builds on a strategic relationship that began in 2022 and that its results are realized when visions unite around sustainability. He explained that starting with schools and focusing on e-waste is directly tied to Zain’s business as a technology leader.

As a sustainable institution, Zain’s responsibility extends beyond providing digital services to managing that service’s entire environmental footprint. He added that uniting the efforts of ministries, government bodies, and leading national companies aims to educate the next generation and involve them early in shouldering responsibility, and that working inside schools is an investment in daily habits that shape a sustainable social behavior, giving Kuwait a competitive edge in the green transition and bringing it closer to its sustainable development vision.

Waleed Al-Saqaabi, Executive Director of Corporate Communications and Relations at Boubyan Bank, stated that schools are the starting point for instilling environmental awareness among young generations and that this initiative is a practical step to build a more responsible youth. He emphasized that e-waste is among the fastest-growing and most hazardous pollutants globally, which necessitates management according to best standards to protect soil, water, and public health.

He noted that Boubyan Bank previously implemented an initiative with ‘Tadweeri’ through which more than 3.4 tons of e-waste were collected and nearly 5 tons of CO2 emissions were avoided. He concluded that the initiative is a model of national collaboration that brings together government entities and private sector partners, confirming that sustainability is central to the bank’s strategy through concrete steps that support schools as the nucleus of change and deploy innovative digital solutions to reduce environmental impact toward a green and sustainable future.

Jassem Al-Abouh, founder of ECO Business Incubator and Director of the ‘Toward E-Waste-Free Schools’ initiative, affirmed that launching this national effort aims to build integrated environmental awareness across Kuwait’s schools by promoting responsible consumption and encouraging the recycling of e-waste to protect the environment and students’ health. He explained that the initiative targets students, teachers, school administrations, and parents through awareness sessions and hands-on workshops over four months, converting schools into primary collection points for devices prior to safe and sustainable reuse and recycling.

Partnerships include the Ministry of Education, the Environment Public Authority, and other supporting entities, with recognition for the main partners Zain, Boubyan Bank, and Kuwait Oil Company. Al-Abouh added that the initiative’s message is clear: transforming e-waste from a burden into an opportunity that recovers valuable resources and anchors sustainability values in schools and communities. He noted that the initiative will continue until January 2026 and will conclude with a comprehensive environmental and technical report and recognition of the most outstanding participating schools and entities.

Roadmap

The first-year roadmap comprises sequential phases that ensure continuity and wide community impact. The awareness and education phase runs from September to December 2025 and includes talks, hands-on workshops, and educational materials for students, teachers, and parents. This is followed by a practical application phase from October to December 2025 with school collection points activated and creative upcycling activities for non-functional devices. The initiative concludes in January 2026 with evaluation, publication of an environmental and technical report, and recognition of distinguished schools and stakeholders.

Implementation mechanism

The initiative follows an integrated participatory approach based on institutional collaboration that engages ministries and government authorities along with leading national private sector companies. Field implementation includes monthly workshops and talks across Kuwait’s six governorates. The campaign focuses on waste management by placing dedicated containers as central collection points inside schools and transporting devices using approved waste management processes to certified recycling partners. Rigorous documentation and follow-up include measuring collected volumes and issuing interim and final reports. The initiative aims to involve students in volunteer work, encourage parents to drop off old devices at collection points, and build partnerships with cooperative societies and civil society organizations to maximize impact.