DUBAI — In a unique fusion of environmental advocacy and creative design, Dubai-based entrepreneur Charles Jabbour is transforming the way the city thinks about waste—one chopstick at a time.
The 57-year-old Lebanese businessman is leading a remarkable initiative to build a six-metre replica of the Burj Khalifa using two million recycled bamboo chopsticks, a project aimed at promoting sustainability and up-cycling in the UAE.
Dubbed the Burj Bambusa Project, the initiative is being carried out in collaboration with The Arbor School in Al Furjan, known for its strong emphasis on ecological literacy.
With the help of students, parents, and teachers, Jabbour’s team is constructing what could become the world’s tallest structure made entirely from recycled chopsticks.
“We are using close to two million chopsticks, which I believe is about the equivalent number used at restaurants in a week in Dubai,” Jabbour told Khaleej Times. “It’s a powerful symbol of circular economy principles and a testament to what can be achieved through community engagement.”
Jabbour has been collecting chopsticks from restaurants around the city for the past 18 months. Partnering with food chains like The Noodle House, Wagamama, and Radisson Blu Hotel in Dubai Deira Creek, his team collects used chopsticks that would otherwise be discarded after a single use.
Once cleaned and treated, these chopsticks are repurposed into sleek, carbon-neutral furniture and homeware products such as tables, coasters, and chopping boards.
The Burj replica aims to do more than break records—it’s intended to spark conversation about waste and sustainability. Students at The Arbor School have taken part in all phases of the project, from constructing chopstick bundles and conducting environmental audits to designing the structure and measuring its carbon footprint.
“The students are gaining first-hand insight into how waste can be reimagined,” said Jabbour. “By involving the younger generation, we’re also cultivating future advocates for the planet.”
Through his company Art & Culture LLC, Jabbour established Dubai’s first micro-factory under the banner of ChopValue, a global circular economy brand headquartered in Vancouver. His goal is to divert 250 tonnes of chopsticks annually from landfill sites and transform them into durable, eco-friendly items.
The project is slated for completion within the next three weeks, after which Jabbour hopes to display the chopstick Burj at a new temporary location. Ultimately, the structure itself will be dismantled and the chopsticks upcycled into long-lasting products.
“There’s a certain irony in knowing that these disposable chopsticks will now outlive their intended use,” Jabbour reflected. “It’s better for our forests, our ecosystem, and our future.”
By turning waste into opportunity, the Burj Bambusa Project is not just building a model skyscraper—it’s building awareness, hope, and a blueprint for a more sustainable tomorrow.