UAE | Environment

A hessian route to eco awareness

An hour after receiving her Gulf News jute bags, Martina Beck, an Austrian expatriate, was at her local supermarket, cheerfully packing away groceries into her eco-friendly bags. She had three words for the experience: "I loved it!"

  • By Sanya Nayeem, Community Journalist
  • Published: 00:13 October 3, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Dr Viquar Azeem, in Abu Dhabi, receiving the jute bags … he is completely against using plastic.
  • Image Credit: Gulf News
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Duba:i An hour after receiving her Gulf News jute bags, Martina Beck, an Austrian expatriate, was at her local supermarket, cheerfully packing away groceries into her eco-friendly bags. She had three words for the experience: "I loved it!"

As a resident of Abu Dhabi, she said the biggest obstacle standing in the way of using bags made from natural substances is the simple fact that they are forgettable. She said: "Usually, organic bags look very boring and plain. Additionally, there are plastic bags everywhere, and people do not really have any incentive to go for alternatives."

But Gulf News changed the situation when attractive jute bags were distributed to 100,000 subscribers as part of its Go Green environmental initiative and 30th year anniversary.

Beck said: "Whenever I go out to get groceries, I forget to take recyclable bags from home. But Gulf News's jute bag has a lovely design and it's eye-catching. It's hard to miss!"

At the Seddiq home, in Arabian Ranches, Dubai, morning deliveries have never been so colourful.

Pervez Seddiq, a Pakistani expatriate, said the jute bags came as a "pleasant surprise".

His 10-year-old son Osama said he would use the bag as well, and appreciated the striking colours.

Seddiq said: "We always use recycled bags and try our best to avoid plastic. My wife is thrilled with the jute bags, since she usually does all the shopping."

He added that his family made it a point to drop off recyclable items at the nearby drop-off point every week.
Seddiq said: "We try to avoid using plastic bags, and going all-natural in terms of jute bags is a great idea."

According to Hans Jorgensen, a Danish expatriate residing in Dubai, the introduction of jute bags was a logical development in Gulf News's green efforts. He said: "I read about the bags in the newspaper and was looking forward to receiving them. Recycling is a part of our culture back home, and I am glad it is catching on in the UAE as well."

Vegetables and fruits fit snugly into the smaller of the two jute bags, Jorgensen added. He said: "Even though my family uses bags made from natural materials, I will make it a habit to use our Gulf News jute bags."

For Viquar Azeem, an Indian expatriate residing in Abu Dhabi, it was very easy to make the transition from plastic to jute.

He said: "I am completely against using plastic, as they can last for years without biodegrading. In fact, the minute I received my jute bags, I placed one in my car so that I will not forget it the next time I go shopping for groceries."

Azeem said new research related to biodegradable plastic meant consumers will soon have greener choices and alternatives, the next time they are at a check-out counter.

But for now, he said he was satisfied with the jute bags: "They are beautiful and just the right size. I think eco-friendly bags is the right way to beat the nuisance of plastic bags."

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