One thought for the environment

We are into 2011 now and I truly hope that the plastic bag usage gets reduced. I do find some increased awareness among people but not to the degree I was hoping.

There are degradable bags available in the market now. People need to know about it. As I had mentioned in my last post even garbage bags which are bio-degradable are available.

But sadly I still see those flimsy colourful plastic bags everywhere around- in supermarkets, grocery stores…

These thin bags which do not degrade in the environment for years and years and are the cause of death of so many camels…

And when these bags are disposed on the beaches and you can see these bags floating in the sea, you can imagine how much harm it will cause to the marine life.

I have seen beautiful cloth bags which can be neatly folded and carried in your purse available at Carrefour. But I hardly see any customer picking it up.

Why is it so difficult for people to opt for reusable bags??? When we cluck cluck cluck and cluck away when we read of Global warming and its effects, are we even once thinking of doing one single thing to save the environment??

It is not only about plastic bags. There are so many changes we all need to make to save and protect our environment.

If we destroy the environment -

slowly the environment will have very little left to give back to us.

It is for us to be more practical and behave lovingly towards ‘mother nature’ who gives us unconditionally…and which we have taken for granted…

But for how long? We all need to sit back and think…

One thought!

Is it so difficult?

Scented & Degradable garbage bags!

For a while now I had been feeling that however much we try to avoid taking plastic bags at the supermarket, we do not have an option for garbage disposal. Every day we use a plastic cover for lining the garbage bin. As I do not take plastic covers from the supermarket, I buy garbage covers and use them to line the bins.

This time when I was shopping at the Carrefour Supermarket, Sharjah I remembered that I had to buy garbage covers. I went to the section and picked up those ubiquitous pack of black coloured garbage bags. As I was checking the size of the bag on the packet, I happened to notice some packets with lavender and lemon coloured bags. Were they garbage bags??

I immediately kept the black garbage covers aside and picked up the coloured ones. And I was surprised to read that these colourful garbage bags were degradable and scented too!

Now my hubby dear was wondering what was taking me so much time. I had to just pick up a pack of garbage covers. When he came along to ask  me what it was that I was analysing, I showed him the scented, colourful garbage covers.

“Now why do we need scented covers for lining the garbage bins?”

I knew he would say that. But I ignored his question and showed him the words “Degradable bags” printed on the pack.

“Oh! That is good.”

Well, I just picked up a pack of lavender scented degradable garbage covers. Now if we avoid plastic covers at the supermarket and use these degradable covers for lining the waste bin, wouldn’t the environment be benefitted tremendously?

So I truly hope that many many people read this blog post and look for the degradable garbage covers easily available at a reasonable price at Carrefour Supermarkets and probably other major supermarkets too.

Well, I am sure glad to line the waste bin in my house with colourful and scented degradable plastic bags…

A big difference…

 

I have noticed that people eventually accept your decision. Now most supermarkets I visit give away purchases in plastic bags. But the salesmen at the counter or the cashier in these supermarkets now know that I will not accept a plastic bag. They have all accepted my decision “say no to plastic” It is truly just a matter of time. I just wish many more people follow this trend and reduce the use of plastic bags.

Children in school are aware of the hazards of plastic to the environment and generally refuse to carry plastic bags. I have seen school children carrying their extra books, folder, project work etc in either jute or paper bags. I am happy that at least the coming generation is more informed and aware. That still would not mean that the previous generation could actually go out and spoil the environment for the next generation.

Just like we keep our house clean we need to keep the environment which is our true and real house cleaner. We keep our house clean because we like it that way.

What about our dear mother earth? Is it not our responsibility to keep her clean and tidy? Littering is wrong and especially so if it is some items like plastic bags which never degrade in the environment and cause unimaginable harm.

Just carry a bag the next time you visit a supermarket. Think twice before taking a plastic bag from the counter. Dispose the bag in the right manner.

Small thoughts, small steps and small actions could make a big difference!

Degradable bags!

Recently while I was shopping at the Choithram Supermarket I was happy to see 100% degradable plastic bags at the counter. The plastic bags are white and green in colour and have a label 100% degradable. Well this is a commendable step on their part to give away fully degradable plastic bags to their customers.

Every time I used to forget to carry my jute bag or when I over shopped and had to take a couple of plastic bags from the supermarket I used to feel guilty. Now at least at Choithram I can easily afford to take the degradable bags to take away my purchases.

I was just hoping that all the supermarkets would follow suit. When bags degrade, it would mean plastic waste would not prevail in the environment for years and years.

Yet I feel that we all need to reduce the use of plastic bags whether they are degradable or not. Also appropriate disposal of the same is a must. ‘Coz even now if disposed wrongly, the plastic bag might end up in some poor animal’s gut and would turn out to be life threatening.

So, preferably a change in attitude – like carrying our own bags while stepping out to shop would really make a huge difference.

Look for options…

 

As soon as I stepped into the Dubai Duty free area, I immediately went to the counter where I had seen those cute reusable cloth bags which so easily fit into a small pouch. I purchased many bags and gave them away to many of my friends and relatives in Mumbai. They all had seen me using the bag while I was there and they had taken a liking for it.  Each one of them had requested me to buy a bag for them next time.

So well I was glad that unknowingly or knowingly   I had set a trend. Avoid plastic bags and carry your own cloth bags!

It is a relief to see many of the people I know understanding the fact that plastic waste can cause harm and unless the plastic they are using is oxo-biodegradable plastic, it would be harming the environment.

People need to be more responsible and only then it is possible to do something for the environment. It is we who need to stay and survive in this environment and unless we take care of it, we will be the sufferers.

So I hope many of you would look for trendy innovative options to replace that plastic bag!

Trendy shopping bags…

Cute shopping bags

easy to store!

fold and keep it in the pouch...

cool, isn't it?

big enough to hold fruits&veggies/groceries

“Reduce the usage of plastic carry bags. Carry jute or cloth bags to the market.”

Easier said than done, isn’t it? Now those large bulky jute bags might not be so interesting or comfortable to carry. I have heard many people moan and groan about these not so good looking large jute bags. They say, “Oh it looks so old-fashioned!”

Well, I have always found jute bags to be very sturdy and the best thing to bring the groceries and vegetables in. But there is one problem I do face at times with jute bags.

Many a times when I am out for some other chore, I remember that I need some essentials and step into a supermarket. And obviously I would not have my jute bag with me. So I end up bringing everything in a plastic bag which I dislike so much.

But, now I have a fine solution for this problem. While I was shopping for chocolates and dry fruits at the Dubai Duty Free, I chanced to see something which turned out to be a great replacement for large bulky shopping bags.

I saw a small pouch like thing with a zipper around it. I wondered what it was. It had a nice design on it. I opened it to find a nicely folded trendy looking cloth bag. I picked up a few of them.

Now I always carry at least one pouch with me in my purse. It is so small that it hardly takes any space in my handbag. Besides it is very light. And believe me it doesn’t look unfashionable at all! In fact it looks cool…

So, I hope all of you out there who hate to carry big bags for shopping, could always look out for something like this to bring your purchases in…

Change the trend…

 

I think it is time for environmentalists to step in more strongly and demand for a stoppage in the manufacture of flimsy thin plastic covers. These bags are not reusable and are seen lying in car parks, on beaches and floating in water.

Very few people are actually bothered about the environment. Many might not even know about the serious problems our environment is facing. I personally feel that people follow trends and so trendsetters could start contributing towards the environment by “saying no to plastic bags”-

But after being used to carrying purchases be it veggies or stationary or just about anything, it would be really tough for us to replace the ubiquitous plastic. It is time to implement a change though. The life of too many animals, birds and sea creatures is at stake. Our environment is being destroyed thanks to the non-biodegradable plastic which takes years and years to degrade…

Why wait for the government to implement a ban on non-biodegradable plastic covers? Couldn’t we ourselves stop its usage? Is it really that difficult to make do without a plastic bag? We just need to change our attitude. It is not an impossible task. Surely we can manage without those plastic covers…

Can’t we???