Recycling hotel soap to help communities in need - in pictures

  • Discarded soap is collected from UAE hotels and recycled to be redistributed to people in need. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Discarded soap is collected from UAE hotels and recycled to be redistributed to people in need. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The Unisoap UAE initiative - powered by sustainability platform Goumbook - cuts hospitality waste and increases hygiene access for vulnerable groups
    The Unisoap UAE initiative - powered by sustainability platform Goumbook - cuts hospitality waste and increases hygiene access for vulnerable groups
  • Housekeeping staff are trained to separate used soaps into branded Unisoap boxes
    Housekeeping staff are trained to separate used soaps into branded Unisoap boxes
  • Staff at the Westin Hotel, Dubai, are taught about the recycling scheme
    Staff at the Westin Hotel, Dubai, are taught about the recycling scheme
  • The soap is collected, weighed and stored in Al Qusais
    The soap is collected, weighed and stored in Al Qusais
  • More than three tonnes of soap has been recycled through the initiative
    More than three tonnes of soap has been recycled through the initiative
  • The initiative works with 15 hotels including major names such as Atlantis The Palm, Atlantis The Royal, Shangri-La Dubai, Rotana Saadiyat and Centara Mirage
    The initiative works with 15 hotels including major names such as Atlantis The Palm, Atlantis The Royal, Shangri-La Dubai, Rotana Saadiyat and Centara Mirage
  • Staff at Camel Soap in Dubai clean each bar of soap
    Staff at Camel Soap in Dubai clean each bar of soap
  • The outer layer of the soap is grated off by hand
    The outer layer of the soap is grated off by hand
  • The soap is crushed and then remanufactured
    The soap is crushed and then remanufactured
  • New bars of soap come out of the machine
    New bars of soap come out of the machine
  • Goumbook has distributed 10,000 recycled soaps
    Goumbook has distributed 10,000 recycled soaps
  • The soap is stamped, cured and packaged
    The soap is stamped, cured and packaged