Another year, another list of empty promises stuck on the fridge door. Finally ditching the ciggies? Not likely. Dropping five kilos by February? Get real. Luckily, though, when it comes to making commitments that benefit the world around us, changing your ways is far simpler and every bit as rewarding. Here’s five to get on board with.
Stop using plastic bags: It’s estimated that the world gets through close to one trillion plastic shopping bags every single year, each of which takes around 1,000 years to decompose. The result? Landfills bursting at the seams with the polythene blighters and plenty of needlessly suffocated marine creatures, not to mention the colossal environmental impact of huge-scale industrial production. You can do your bit to curb the problem by reusing old bags each time you head to the supermarket. Meanwhile, those who wouldn’t be seen dead with a piece of tatty plastic on their arm can pick up a more stylish number made from 100 per cent natural fibres from
www.greenbagsuae.com.
Recycle: While the capital’s recycling facilities are still fairly primitive, there are ways to avoid adding to the landfill. There are recycling plants for plastics and paper in the car park of the ADCO building on Khaleej Al Arabi Street (next to the Hilton), the American International School on the corner of Airport Road and 29th Street, and in Al Hosn University on Delma Street. You can also recycle old mobile phones, computer monitors and similar electronic offcasts with Envirofone, which collects from most branches of Spinneys and Carrefour, and can be contacted on 04 885 2434 to discuss workplace collection programmes.
Get on your bike: We’re not suggesting anyone go pedalling about town during the middle of summer, but up until March at least, swapping four wheels for two is a great way to help out the environment while also burning off a few festive pounds. You can pick up a two-wheeled steed for as little as Dhs500, while a fluorescent jacket and a helmet (which street cyclists are required to wear in accordance with a recently introduced UAE law) shouldn’t set you back more than another Dhs200. Even with safety gear, the city’s streets can be daunting, so check out the FAQs section of www.abudhabicycling.com for some useful safety tips.
Avoid imports: As well as the hefty price tag, the imported goods sitting on your supermarket shelf also come with a colossal carbon footprint. And, as delicious as Marmite and Tim Tams may be (the latter, dunked in tea, can’t be far from paradise itself), there’s really no excuse for constantly picking up goods that have been flown halfway around the world. The solution? Either think ahead and stock up on your home comforts during your next visit to the motherland, or bite the bullet and try out the local alternatives – there’s usually barely any difference to your favourite brand and they’ll typically cost a fraction of the price.
Holiday locally
While we can all get a little excited by the prospect of some time away from the grindstone, there’s no need to spend your downtime gallivanting around the globe and spewing CO2 into the atmosphere like a massive chimney with Ray-Bans. Those planning to flee the capital’s mid-summer heat can enjoy pleasant temperatures as locally as Turkey, while Mediterranean breezes make northern parts of Egypt a similarly bearable option. Even skiers needn’t go long haul, with mountains to be carved up in nearby Iran, India and Lebanon. Plus, with all the time and money you’ll save, you can afford to treat yourself to a long drink once you arrive at your destination, while thinking about what a fantastic person you’ve become.
