UAE | Environment
Plastic bags get a natural competitor
Plastic bags have finally got a competitor in the form of jute - a natural fibre. Around 150,000 tons of plastic are consumed in the UAE annually according to Dubai Municipality but now an alternative is available.
- By Emmanuelle Landais, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 February 24, 2007
Dubai: Plastic bags have finally got a competitor in the form of jute - a natural fibre. Around 150,000 tons of plastic are consumed in the UAE annually according to Dubai Municipality but now an alternative is available.
Shoppers in Dubai will now have the tools to make a conscious effort and reduce their use of plastic to try and minimise their impact on the planet by using environmentally friendly recyclable bags.
Around 500 jute bags have been distributed to five Choithrams supermarkets in Dubai. This is an initiative between Dubai Municipality, the International Association for Human Values (IAHV), and Dubai Modern High School.
The jute bags cost just Dh10 and can be re-used.
Your comments
In South Africa we have to pay for our shopping bags. I think the same should be done here in order to save the environment.
From SHAMIEG HARRIS
Adu Dhabi
uae
Supermarkets must be the first to implement initiatives to recycle plastic bags to protect the environment.
From Syed Arab Shah
Abu Dhabi
UAE
I would like to see supermarkets and groceries use paper bags instead of plastic bags since paper can be recycled.
From Mike
KL
Malaysia
We hope that this initiative will also be taken up in Abu Dhabi, where plastic bags are everywhere: on the streets, or trapped on branches of trees. It is not a very good sight to behold. The UAE should be conscious of ecological problems and I guess waste management will be one of its future nightmares.
From Romeo B. Marbella Jr
Abu Dhabi
Philippines
Finally, the authorities have stepped up to curb the excessive use of plastic bags in the UAE. But this move alone is not enough. The use of plastic bags (like in many other countries) should be banned completely here because it is not friendly to the environment.
From Jai
Al Ain
UAE
I think the price of jute bags are too high. Many more will use them if the price is Dh5. I have been using my own bag for shopping for a long time.
From Maryam
Sharjah
U.A.E
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