The UAE Sustainable Initiatives!
The United Arab Emirates is a nation that is constantly evolving, and striving for a better
tomorrow. Our people have started the groundwork towards building a thoughtful,
sustainable, and futuristic country under the direction of our visionary leaders. Over the
years, many sustainable initiatives have come to flourish in the country, including the
much-discussed Green Economy for Sustainable Development and the UAE Energy Strategy
2050.
But, have you heard of an initiative that bursts the myths about plastic and hails it as a
sustainable solution? For long, most of us believed that plastic is not a sustainable material
and is one of the key contributors to the growing environmental crisis. But what if we say
that there is indeed “more to plastic”? What does this sustainability initiative stand for and
how does it stand its ground in front of the naysayers?
Here’s what you need to know!
Simplifying “sustainability”
We hear the word sustainability quite often these days. But what does it stand for? The true
essence of this word now stands for anything that is concerned with protecting the earth
and its life forms, stopping climate change, and encouraging economic and social
development without compromising or endangering the very planet we live on. By
choosing a more sustainable path forward in our private, professional, and social lives, we
promise to protect and maintain the available resources for the generations to come.
In short, sustainability is a way for us as a society to do things differently to save our blue
planet.
By simplifying the idea behind sustainability, we have more power and freedom to explore
various alternatives to some of our current environmental concerns; and one of them is
rethinking plastic!
How is plastic sustainable?
We know it’s a controversial subject. But since plastic has become an irreplaceable part of
our lives, it is time we take a look at how we can utilize this material to be more
sustainable.
Plastic waste and its unscientific disposal is a major issue plaguing our world. Today, the
majority of plastic waste ends up either in the ocean or in landfills. However, it’s interesting
to note that, unlike popular belief, PET bottles are not the only kind of plastic waste we
generate. According to a 2017 study by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of
Nature), 35% of the microplastic waste that ends up in oceans is from synthetic textiles,
while 28% is from tyers.
These numbers clearly show that rather than the material itself, it’s the unethical usage and
disposal of plastic products that have led to the ever-rising pollution.
Almost all of us are guilty of throwing away recyclable plastic in the bin, littering our
surroundings, or flushing them down the drain, making them end up in landfills and the
ocean. So, before we blame plastic, how about we focus on developing proper handling and
recycling habits?
This is where the There’s More to Plastic initiative comes in.
Plastic today and beyond As one of the up-and-coming sustainability initiatives in the UAE, There’s More to Plastics isall set to improve everyone’s relationship with plastics.
Aiming toward a greener and more sustainable future, the initiative focuses on teaching the people of UAE to understand their sociological recycling behaviors and gradually relearn everything about plastics, their safe handling, and recycling.
At the end of the day, There’s More to Plastic is an advocate of sustainable living- but
without the need for completely abandoning plastic. We believe in plastic and our people
who have pledged to rethink its use, guiding them from the start to finish.
For more information, check out the There’s More to Plastic website today
