Collaboration aims to help reduce packaging waste and improve waste recovery in Saudi Arabia

 The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF) and the Global Environment and Technology Foundation (GETF) have partnered with Lesser App, a pioneering technology solution developed by the Saudi women-led company Naqaa Solutions For Environmental Services, to help reduce packaging waste and improve waste recovery in the Kingdom. The partnership reflects TCCF’s ongoing commitment to supporting impactful local initiatives that contribute to a more sustainable future.

This collaboration is part of a newly launched initiative, Partnership for A Circular Tomorrow (PACT) – with an initial US $1 million grant by TCCF that invests in solutions and service delivery models to uplift waste workers and scale growth-stage waste enterprises. The effort aims to use innovation to reduce waste and help transform lives across five countries, including Saudi Arabia.

As part of the initiative, Lesser App is leading the implementation of targeted PET plastic collection interventions across Riyadh and Jeddah. Key components include a door-to-door collection program, the establishment of four community drop-off centers, and the installation of PET plastic collection bins at six high-footfall mosques. Lesser App will also manage logistics, real-time impact tracking via its proprietary Sustainability Dashboard, and stakeholder coordination throughout the rollout.

“Our support for Lesser App reflects our commitment to the Kingdom and the importance of empowering local organizations to drive more innovation and improve waste recovery. We seek to create robust value chains, support informal waste workers, and support solutions in waste management, ultimately paving the way for a more sustainable future,” said Carlos Pagoaga, President, The Coca-Cola Foundation.

Through this partnership, TCCF, GETF, and Lesser App will focus on raising environmental awareness, promoting responsible waste disposal, and driving large-scale PET plastic collection efforts throughout the Kingdom. The initiative directly supports Saudi Arabia’s broader sustainability agenda and aligns with the ambitions of Vision 2030.

“As a women-led tech startup company, we are proud to play a central role in driving environmental change and empowering female leadership in the sustainability space. This collaboration allows us to bring innovative, community-centric recycling models to life, from tech-enabled pickups to plastic collection, and demonstrate the value of inclusive approaches to solving environmental issues,” said Mona Othman, CEO and co-founder, Lesser App.

Saudi Arabia is one of the five countries included in the first phase of the PACT program, alongside Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.

 Jamjoom Pharma, a leading Saudi pharmaceutical organization committed to enhancing the quality of life through the development, manufacturing, and distribution of high-quality medicines and consumer healthcare products across MEA, and Althera Laboratories, a company dedicated to developing and commercializing innovative therapies for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, today announced a strategic licensing and supply agreement. This agreement is poised to address the growing need for effective dyslipidemia management in the region, contributing to better patient outcomes and cardiovascular health.

Under this agreement, Jamjoom Pharma gets exclusive rights to commercialize in Saudi Arabia and non-exclusive rights for phased expansion across other MEA markets for Althera’s fixed-dose combination of dual-action cholesterol-lowering therapy. The product launch in Saudi Arabia is targeted for 2027, with plans for phased expansion across MEA markets, subject to local regulatory approvals.

This collaboration marks a major milestone for both companies: Jamjoom strengthens its cardiovascular portfolio with a globally recognized and clinically effective therapy, while Althera expands its international footprint in a high-growth region.

The partnership aims to address the region’s growing burden of cardiovascular diseases by increasing access to modern, affordable lipid-lowering treatment, to support patients across MEA.

Dr. Tarek Hosni, CEO of Jamjoom Pharma, highlighted that: “Cardiovascular diseases remain to be a leading health concern in Saudi Arabia and the wider MEA region, and this partnership enables us to provide patients across the MEA region with an innovative, evidence-based solution. Expanding access to effective cholesterol management aligns perfectly with our promise to deliver high-quality, affordable medications that improve lives.”

Sanjeev Agarwal, CEO of Althera added  “This partnership with Jamjoom Pharma is a pivotal step for Althera, allowing us to extend our reach into the rapidly growing MENA region. We are confident that Jamjoom’s deep market understanding and robust capabilities make them the perfect partner to deliver our Rproduct to healthcare providers and patients in Saudi Arabia and across MENA. This collaboration is a testament to our dedication to making innovative and affordable cardiovascular treatments more accessible globally.”

 Leejam Sports Company, Saudi Arabia’s leading network of sports and fitness centers and a publicly listed company, and SURJ Sports Investment, the Kingdom’s leading sports investment company, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate growth and innovation across the Kingdom’s dynamic sports ecosystem, particularly in fitness and community engagement.

Signed by Abdulelah Al-Nemr, CEO of Leejam Sports Company, and Danny Townsend, CEO of SURJ Sports Investment, the agreement reflects a shared ambition to elevate sports participation, scale innovation, and expand access to world-class fitness experiences, and activate new models of community engagement and wellness innovation in line with Saudi Vision 2030 goals to build a more active, inclusive, and healthier society.

The agreement outlines a broad framework for collaboration across six key areas: stadia and fitness facility operations, co-investment in sports properties, sponsorship and brand engagement, community activation and mass participation, data and technology integration, and co-creation of content and media production.

Abdulelah Al-Nemr, Board Member and CEO of Leejam Sports Company, said: “This MoU marks a pivotal step in Leejam’s journey to further solidify our role as a catalyst for Saudi’s wellness transformation. Partnering with SURJ aligns with our strategic vision to foster active lifestyles, deliver value for shareholders, and contribute meaningfully to the Kingdom’s socioeconomic goals. We look forward to harnessing our national footprint and digital platforms to scale this collaboration across communities and sports disciplines.”

Danny Townsend, CEO of SURJ Sports Investment, said: “Leejam’s scale and expertise in fitness and wellness make them a natural partner as we continue to grow Saudi Arabia’s sports ecosystem. This MoU reflects our shared commitment to participation, performance, and innovation, and to unlocking opportunities that go beyond traditional investment models. From stadiums to digital assets, and from community challenges to elite content, we’re excited to explore how we can bring the power of sport closer to more people across the country.”

As Saudi Arabia’s largest and most trusted network of fitness centers, operating under the “Fitness Time” brand, Leejam brings unparalleled market reach and operational capabilities. Through this partnership, Leejam will assess opportunities to operate or support fitness and wellness zones within SURJ-backed facilities, and to activate programming aligned with SURJ’s investments in major sports events and leagues. The MoU also covers exploratory co-investment models in sports IP, as well as leveraging Leejam’s national footprint to scale SURJ-led activations and co-host fitness activations that promote grassroots participation in SURJ priority sports.

Additional areas of focus in the MoU include sponsorship engagement opportunities, ranging from access to Leejam facilities and athlete visibility within gym environments to joint sports promotion campaigns and sponsorship for SURJ-owned IP.

A core pillar of the partnership includes data and technology collaboration, enabling both entities to share insights on performance metrics, gym technologies, and digital engagement tools, as well as co-development of short-form and live fitness content across platforms.

This announcement comes at a time of rapid progress for Saudi Arabia’s sports sector. Nearly 50% of Saudis are now engaged in weekly physical activity, up from just 13% in 2015, while the number of multi-sport clubs has surged from 9 to 126, and sports federations have tripled to reach 98.

Women’s participation in sport in Saudi Arabia has seen extraordinary growth, with a 149% increase since 2015 and more than 330,000 registered female athletes today.