The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) launched last week the Green Roads Initiative in Thuwal, aimed at protecting the environment and improve sustainable development that contributes to fulfilling a key goal of the Saudi Vision 2030.
The Initiative is led by a Social Responsibility team, which is part of KAUST’s Strategic National Advancement (SNA).
It involves the removal of waste from the side of the roads and the use of an innovative process technology that allows collected plastic waste to be made into sustainable bitumen.
The initiative contributes to environmental sustainability and it positions Saudi Arabia as one of the most innovative, progressive and environmentally sustainable countries in the world.
Professor Tony Chan, president of KAUST, said: “We continue to lead by example, helping foster sustainability across the Kingdom in an effort to build a better future for the Kingdom and the next generation.”
Dr. Najah Ashry, senior associate to the president and vice president Strategic National Advancement at KAUST, explained that in light of the Kingdom’s unprecedented infrastructure growth and expansion, the Green Roads Initiative illustrates the enormous potential for an innovative sustainable solution that can reduce the environmental impact of road construction as well as the costs associated with maintaining road infrastructure.
“KAUST is champion in launching an initiative that helps realize the sustainability goals of both the Kingdom and the world, while engaging and empowering local communities to play their part in the transition from a linear economy to a circular one, tackling global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution,” Ashry said.
