Dubai: Green gadgets offer more than just novelty value for birthday gifts or special occasions.
Their uses have spread from the boardroom to the kitchen as manufacturing processes and quality standards have improved over the years making some items as coveted as a luxury watch or the latest smartphone.
The green message of saving energy wastage and reducing pollution matters more today than ever said Anu Agarwal, chief executive officer of The Green Eco Store, the first online store specialising in biodegradable, recyclable, reusable, sustainable or fair-trade products based in the UAE.
Launched in 2010 the virtual store provides alternatives for shoppers' daily needs such as a shower timer, reusable coffee cups that are dishwasher and microwave safe, mobile phone chargers that stop charging once the battery is full, solar chargers for electrical goods, and scores of crockery and bottles that are certified bisphenol-A (BPA) free.
BPA products
BPA is an industrial chemical that is used to make certain plastics and resins used in containers that store food and beverages, such as water bottles, baby bottles and cups.
"Demand is definitely growing," said Agarwal, a mother of two from India based in the UAE for more than 20 years.
Asides from the website, the store has a kiosk on JBR walk and another is planned to open in Mercato Mall next month. Agarwal is also in talks with a supermarket chain to supply them with ecological products that literally do not cost the earth.
It could be another year before a fully-fledged store opens but it is definitely on the cards, she said.
"We found a niche here and gradually the response has been positive. People don't need to be educated that much [on the purpose of items], there is no explanation required these days. The products have a good impact on their own," she said.
"Many gadgets will not change your lifestyle or your reputation. They just fit in. We use a lot of them at home. The shower timer is great and every time it buzzes you realise how much time you have actually spent in the shower," said Agarwal.
"It's little practical things one can do."
Government bodies and businesses have snapped up reusable cups or USB chargeable batteries for corporate gifts, instead of handing out wasteful caps, t-shirts or desk ornaments. As requests came in for single items, the kiosk was launched to meet individual needs
All the products are sourced mainly from the US, Australia and the UK and for the most part manufactured in China. "We are aware of our carbon footprint. We have our orders shipped in but at the end of the day, I think we are bringing items that can help in the long run," she said.
Lifestyle solutions with health benefits
The main drive in the change of habits is that now ‘green is possible, it's affordable, it's next door', said Tatiana Antonelli Abella, Co-Founder at GOUMBOOK, a middle east online directory of environmentally conscious businesses and stockists.
"Being environmentally conscious is becoming more in the forefront. Green is everywhere these days--in the news, politics, fashion, food, technology…the list goes on. Embracing a greener lifestyle has stopped just being about helping to preserve the planet, people now realize it can also mean improving your health and, ultimately, improving your overall quality of life," said Abella.
So far many retailers are only stocking the ‘usual suspects' when it comes to household or lifestyle items that help reduce energy or water consumption, but diversity is growing as more people ask ‘where can I buy this', she added.
"These recent years have seen an important number of environmental initiatives taking place in the UAE and in the region," said Abella. "People are careful now and want to find the products that will help sustain their new green lifestyle. Since Goumbook started the directory a little over a year ago, the number of companies and retailers listed with us has considerably grown , demonstrating that a large number of them have set up in this region in response to a demand by consumers for more eco-friendly products to be made available here and not just in the West," said Abella.
Goumbook will be launching it's own online store of eco-friendly products next month.
"Products that are easiest to adopt include organic food, re-usable tote bags, organic cotton clothing, eco-friendly cleaning products, non toxic toys. Generally products related to mothers and children are the most requested."
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