14 Easy swaps for a more sustainable lifestyle in the UAE

It's Earth Day on Thursday 22 April 2021, which this year is focused on the theme 'Restore Our Earth' - looking at the natural processes, emerging green technologies, and innovative thinking that can restore the world’s ecosystems. More than 1 billion people in 192 countries now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world. While the problem of climate change can seem too enormous to fathom, there are plenty of small ways we can all take better care of the environment. Whether it’s to protect your own health or to preserve the health of the planet, reducing our use of chemicals and choosing more sustainable options are all part of shaping a brighter future for all of us. But, for busy parents, it also has to be realistic. Here are some of the small changes you can start today that could make a big difference in the long run. After all, the minute you've started a family you have a vested interest in keeping the world as nice as possible for future generations...

FILTER YOUR WATER: Swap plastic water bottles for a filter on your tap. "The most economical and environmentally sound choice you and your family can make is to buy and install a water filter for your home," says Tatiana Antonelli Abella, founder and managing director of the UAE's longest-running environmental initiative Goumbook. "You can save resources and money by drinking from your own tap or home filtration system with a reusable water bottle. Ironically, many bottled water companies in the UAE use filtered tap water anyway and their labels will read ‘pure drinking water’. Also, many billions of plastic water bottles are sold annually worldwide, with less than 20 per cent being recycled (and even recycling them wastes unnecessary energy).” As well as being good for the environment, it's also better for your health (and your children's) to avoid using plastic bottles, as endocrine-disrupting chemicals from the plastic can leach into the water, particularly if they are left out in the sun for periods of time while being transported. Check out WATERCLUB.AE, which will fit your taps with a water filter from only Dh49 per month.

COMPOST YOUR FOOD WASTE: Did you realise that the contribution of food wastage emissions to global warming is almost equivalent (87%) to global road transport emissions? Composting is a wonderful way to put your waste to good use, and avoid the greenhouse emissions that will otherwise be added to landfill sites. But a lot of people are put off by the mess – UAE start-up Big Farm Brothers has introduced ComBin, which will provide you will a large bin for all your food waste, and will send an expert to tend to it bimonthly, to ensure you get the best, most nutrient-rich soil from your compost. Dh150 per month for a subscription, bigfarmbrothers.com/product-category/combin.

SAY NO TO PLASTIC STRAWS: Choose paper straws over plastic. “Did you know that over 500,000,000 plastic straws are used each day in the United States alone? These short-lived tools are usually dropped into a garbage can with no further thought, instantly becoming a source of plastic pollution." Plastic straws don't biodegrade, rather they gradually degrade into smaller and smaller pieces, which get ingested by marine and land animals, and wind up back in our food chain. According to the campaign The Final Plastic Straw, every piece of plastic ever made is still in our environment: "Even if incinerated, we are breathing the toxic dioxins released into the air, and eating them as they settle into our crops and get bioaccumulated into animals and humans. It is found in mother’s breast milk and stored in fat." Tatiana urges all of us to make a personal commitment to say “no” to plastic straws. "Whenever ordering a drink, politely request 'no straw, please.' Encourage your children to do it too!” Use your own paper or metal straw instead.

DITCH PLASTIC BAGS: It might seem ridiculously simple, but just carrying a reusable canvas, straw or other fabric bag instead of using the plastic bags offered at stores can make a huge difference. Per capita, the UAE has some of the highest rates of waste generation in the world, according to the American University of Sharjah. A typical UAE resident uses 450 plastic water bottles on an average in a single year. With around 77 percent of all waste ending up in a landfill, there is an enormous amount of plastic entering landfill sites, impacting the environment for thousands of years to come. Just remember to take your reusable tote to the shops with you!

CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF – AND OTHERS: Hundreds of camels across the UAE have died because of plastic consumption over the past decade, a study has shown. Of 30,000 camels analysed since 2008, in the field or in a laboratory by staff from Dubai’s Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, about 300 died because of polybezoars – lumps of indigestible material made of plastic. That translates to about one in 100 camel deaths in the UAE due to the consumption of plastic waste left behind by humans either camping or generally littering. The solution? Clean up after yourself. But you probably do that already – in which case, why not bring along a pair of rubber gloves and a waste bag on your next hike, picnic, beach visit or camping trip. Even removing a few bits of litter will leave the world a more beautiful place than you found it, and wouldn’t that feel good?

CONSIDER CLOTH DIAPERS: With the average child going through 5,000 disposable nappies until they're potty trained, switching to eco-friendly reusable diapers is a crucial step towards preserving the planet for our little ones' future - and it's far easier (and less gross) than you might think, as well as cheaper in the long-run. Check out Eggsnsoldiers.com or Bop and Bee Cloth Nappies for a selection of gorgeous printed cloth diapers that you’re sure to love.

WEAR A REUSUABLE FACE MASK: While wearing a face mask is crucial for curbing the spread of COVID-19, most disposable masks are made from a fabric based on the plastic polypropylene, which can persist in the environment for decades. The UN estimates that around 75 per cent of these used masks, as well as other pandemic-related waste, will end up in landfills, or floating in the seas. You can do your bit to avoid this by simply wearing a reusable face covering – just be sure that the one you choose has the recommended three layers and that you wash it regularly.

MAKE YOUR DIRTY DOZEN ORGANIC: Organic food is a healthy choice for all of us, but especially for kids. “Infants and children are particularly vulnerable to chemicals because their immune systems are still developing,” says Tatiana. “Choosing organic meat and dairy for your kids is also the best way to ensure that they’re not exposed to endocrine-disrupting chemicals like the synthetic hormones given to non-organic livestock to speed growth and alter reproductive cycles. And choosing organic meat and dairy means your children are not fed meat that was raised on daily doses of antibiotics to speed growth, leading to dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria.” If you can’t afford to go fully organic, just aim to buy organic for the ‘Dirty Dozen’ – the foods that the EWG list as being the most pesticide contaminated foods.

CHECK YOU CHILD’S TOYS: “You’re probably careful about avoiding choking hazards and other common safety issues with toys, but did you know there are a wide variety of synthetic chemicals and heavy metals that could be in them?” says Tatiana. “From lead and cadmium in paint, plastics, and jewellery, to xylene, toluene, and phthalates in play cosmetics. Phthalates are endocrine disruptors that are linked to reproductive malformations in baby boys, reduced fertility, developmental disorders, asthma, and increased allergic reactions.” Toys made from natural materials are not only better for the environment and for your child’s health, but there’s evidence they can be ore stimulating for children too. Stores like Eco Souk, Eli Junior, and Eggs and Soldiers sell a wide variety of environmentally friendly toys that children will love.

INVESTIGATE VEGAN MONDAYS: Researchers at the University of Oxford found that cutting meat and dairy products from your diet could reduce an individual's carbon footprint from food by up to 73 per cent. While switching to a vegan diet may be a step too far for many – and a wholly vegan diet for children must be done carefully to ensure they receive all the nutrients they need - why not try one day a week? Every little helps…

AVOID EVEN BPA-FREE PLASTICS FOR BABY: While many people are aware of the dangers of plastics that contain BPA, they may not be aware of the potentially harmful chemicals that are found even in BPA-free plastics. Research is emerging that BPA’s replacements (BPS, BPE, BPF and numerous others) are also toxic. Some studies suggest that almost all plastics have estrogenic activity and therefore could leech endocrine-disrupting chemicals." Endocrine-disruptors upset the hormone balance in our bodies and have been linked to cancerous tumours, as well as to developmental problems in children. If you have a young baby then Tatiana advises breastfeeding if possible, otherwise, "Look for baby bottles with nipples made from hospital-grade silicone. Swap plastic feeding bottles for glass and stainless steel containers and bottles where possible. Never microwave plastic, as heat causes chemicals to leach.”

THINK TWICE ABOUT MAKE-UP IF YOU’RE PREGNANT: “As a pregnant mum, you already possess a beauty no products can match. Make-up just isn’t necessary,” says Tatiana. “If you can, dare to go entirely bare! If you want to at least powder your nose, try using fewer products than you have been using. And swap what you want to continue to use for a new, more natural product free of ingredients that may hurt you and your growing baby. Where possible, choose natural versions of the essentials—from toothpaste to deodorant to belly creams. If switching to all new natural products isn’t in your budget, try organic food grade oil like coconut. Keep in mind, though, that the word “natural” is largely unregulated, so look for products with third-party certification and a solid roster of organic ingredients.”

CHOOSE BABY-SAFE SUNSCREEN: “Though lotions and sticks protect little ones’ skin from cancer-causing UVA and UVB rays, doctors advise mothers to use physical barriers — SPF clothing, umbrellas, and shades — rather than lotions on babies younger than six months old,” says Tatiana. “Once tots reach the six-month mark, though, we need to keep them protected from the sun without harming them in other ways. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) recommends staying away from SPF products over 50 as the lower SPF 30-50 products are perfectly fine and products with higher SPFs often contain more harmful ingredients. Also look at inactive ingredients on the label. If possible, avoid products that use retinyl palmitate (vitamin A) – some studies suggest it could potentially be carcinogenic – and avoid products that use oxybenzone, another potential endocrine disruptor.” Tatianan also says to avoid spray products — “they’re convenient but given the concern about the ingredients in these products, we really don’t want to coat the inside of our babies’ lungs with sunscreen… Check the EWG’s site and app for a list of the safest and least safe options for your family.”

USE PLANTS FOR BETTER AIR QUALITY: Because we spend 80-90% of our time indoors, indoor air pollution has been ranked as one of the world’s greatest public health risks. Common indoor plants may provide a valuable weapon in the fight against it: the NASA clean air study has found them them to be surprisingly useful in absorbing potentially harmful gases and cleaning the air inside homes. The indoor pollutants that affect health are formaldehyde, Volatile Organic Compounds (benzene and trichloroethylene or TCE), airborne biological pollutants, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, pesticides and disinfectants (phenols), and radon. These contribute to ‘sick building syndrome’, which causes symptoms ranging from allergies, headaches and fatigue through to nervous system disorders and cancer. The top 10 air-cleaning planets are: Areca Palm; Lady Palm; Bamboo palm; Rubber Plant; Dracaena “Janet Craig”; Philodendron; Dwarf Date Palm; Ficus Alii; Boston Fern and the Peace Lily.