BEIRUT, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on Monday launched pilot projects in Lebanon to foster a green and circular business model.
UNEP Representative and Regional Director for West Asia Sami Dimassi and Ghaida Nawam, president of Lebanese-based non-governmental organization Nusaned signed an agreement to launch the projects, the UN mission said in a statement.
The projects would help design an integrated circular economy for the catering business of the Mar Mikhael - Gemmayze neighborhood in Beirut, such as reusing plastics and composting food waste.
They would also "engage local communities to raise awareness and spark behavioral change," it said.
The agreement falls within SwitchMed, an EU-funded green initiative fostering sustainable consumption and production patterns in eight South Mediterranean countries including Lebanon, said the UN mission.
Noting that Nusaned became a UNEP-accredited organization this month, Nawam said her organization will partner with the local community and the restaurants in fulfilling a green change. ■
