How to adapt to single use plastic ban in the UAE?
June 03, 2022 By: Amruta Kshemkalyani

Tribe, Abu Dhabi’s single-use plastic ban came into an effect this week on 1st June 2022. According to previous announcements, even Dubai is going to start charging 25 fills for single-use carry bags and later start the ban. What a welcoming move from local governments! In this article, I’m going to share some tips on how to adapt to the single-use plastic ban and get ready for more such bans in the future for the environment and our own wellbeing.

But first let’s look at UAE’s statistics, according to The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, the UAE is currently getting through 11 billion plastic bags each year, that’s more than a thousand for every inhabitant, and roughly three times the global average. So as I mentioned in my radio interview today on The Agenda show of Dubai Eye; this ban was inherent! Looking at the mindless overconsumption of plastic, we needed such a drastic step.

Abu Dhabi’s Plastic Ban Explained

Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development Abu Dhabi (DED), and Abu Dhabi Agriculture & Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) are cooperating to advocate the use of alternatives to single-use bags and are intensifying their efforts in the field of monitoring and implementation to ensure the transition is handled in a sustainable manner. The inspectors will monitor the implementation of the single-use bag ban, starting from June 1, 2022, as they are replaced with multi-use bags made as per technical standards approved by ADQCC.

The ban decision excludes bags designated for medicines in pharmacies, and bag rolls for vegetables, meat, fish, chicken, grains, and bread (knot bags). This is in addition to exempting large shopping bags designed for fashion or electronic gadgets, toys, waste bags of different sizes and types, and bags designated for keeping messages, postal parcels, or magazines and newspapers. Also excluded are bags designated for transporting plants, flowers, and laundry bags.

Some major retailers like Spinneys, and Union Co-op have recently signed a voluntary declaration to support the implementation of the Single-Use Plastic Policy in Abu Dhabi and to secure alternatives, resources, and financing to support environmental protection. This will be achieved by reducing the number of single-use plastics in outlets across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, in addition to encouraging and accelerating the shift in consumer behavior towards reducing the consumption of single-use plastics. These retailers and outlets have committed to implementing the Abu Dhabi Government’s announcement to ban single-use plastic bags from Wednesday, June 1, 2022, and to charge customers a fee for each of the alternative multi-use plastic shopping bags.

Tips to adapt to the plastic ban

So now UAE residents will have difficulty getting free shopping bags with their purchases and will have to pay for them. Shoppers can buy multi-use plastic bags from the stores. Or I have a better recommendation; make a habit of carrying your own reusable bags for shopping! That way you can save money, help environmental conservation, support great government initiatives, and can even make a fashion statement by carrying a fashionable reusable tote as per your taste.

Some of the new readers might have a lot of questions like what if they forget the bags at home? or how to avoid all kinds of plastic bags and packaging altogether? Then worry not, we have you covered.

Before you invest in any kind of reusable bag or go for ‘reusable bags shopping’ first look for alternatives at your home, that might include plastic bags that came with previous purchases. First, use them till the end of the life of those bags. Because remember, no eco-friendly behavior change promotes more consumption and more shopping.
Start practicing carrying your own bags when going shopping. Ideally keep some bags folded in your handbags, and car so that you have access to your own bags on the go.
You need to practice this daily till it becomes your habit.
Down the line invest your money or efforts in reusable bags. If you have time in hand, if you like to DIY, create your own shopping bags from old clothes. Or buy durable reusable bags.
For reusable bags go for natural and sturdy material so that you can keep using them longer. Also at the time of purchasing think about how can you reuse these bags once they are damaged, torn, etc.

Recommended types of reusable bags:

Lightweight sleek foldable reusable bags which you can keep in your handbags, laptop bags, or car. You can find such bags in many grocery or department stores like Daiso, Hema, Muji, etc.
large reusable bags like tarp or canvas or jute bags which can take heavyweight, ideal for grocery shopping. Ikea, blue bags, and Carrefour bags can be great examples.
Drawstring bags for your fruits and vegetables which you could tie. You can get those in online eco stores too.

Read our article, how to beat plastic pollution where you will learn how plastic is harmful to us and our biodiversity, myths about eco-friendly plastic, and ways to reduce plastic pollution.

Watch here how you can shop package-free without using any single-use plastics,

Ready for more? Plastic Free or Zero Waste Lifestyle?

I’m hoping that this move will accelerate positive change in consumer behavior in the UAE. Once people get used to bringing their own reusable bags for shopping, as a next step; they can easily learn package-free or plastic-free shopping. If you are one of our zero-waste warriors; and learning a zero-waste lifestyle from us then you know this is the way the journey starts.

If you also want to get benefitted from a no-cost reward-based educational program; join Sustainability Tribe Ambassdorship here. You could choose plastic-free, zero-waste, or any other category as per your liking and complete the program by following our Learn-Act-Share format to become our Ambassador!

For those who want to learn in-depth about how to live more sustainably, you should enroll yourself in our affordable Sustainable Home Masterclass where you will learn everything from recycling, composting, and avoiding plastic.

If you want to know what are plastic-free solutions available in the region or internationally, you can browse our Zero Waste Directory. Businesses can list themselves in our directory on a complimentary basis as we intend to create a one-stop directory for everything plastic-free, and waste-free to support the market’s transition to a circular economy.

Here is one article, you will particularly appreciate; a guide to zero waste, package-free shopping in the UAE. And if you or your organization wants to be part of our #ZeroWasteUAE Social Initiative, click here to find more information.

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