SustainableQatar, an independent action-based think and do tank that addresses environmental sustainability in Qatar, was founded in 2008 to raise awareness, share actionable knowledge, and encourage connections and collaboration between individuals and groups. It also actively engages members of the public, private, and government sectors to take environmental sustainability action

SustainableQATAR’s 52 weekly challenges – that is one challenge per week for a whole year themed by month – are Qatar-specific and Qatar-relevant opportunities for all residents to take actions in personal life, work and within our communities.

Here's how to participate in the weekly challenge!

To participate, please read the short statement about the impact of our personal actions and why it matters to start doing things differently. Learn why it matters and how you can make a difference by following the suggested alternative.

Then simply follow the suggested alternative for better-informed decision- making and thereby reducing and/or eliminating carbon emissions in our personal lives for cumulative effect.

Challenge #10: May 6 ~ CLOSE THE LOOP: Say No To Packaging

Say no to packaging and don’t bring packaging to your house …in other words…avoid the creation of garbage. Plastic consumption in the Gulf is growing rapidly, reaching 94 kilograms per person in 2016. Qatar was found to have the highest plastic consumption, with almost 109 kilograms per person. With plastic representing about 18 percent of total solid waste generated in the region and only about 10 percent of plastic waste recycled, with lots of it ending up in the ocean. Serious action is needed!

Calculate your annual plastic use with this downloadable worksheet and choose the ways you will refuse and reduce your packaging waste. Use this exercise as a family activity at home and/or connect it to your children’s science project at school. Document your current baseline and see how far you can make it toward zero waste in your household. Make a difference one family at a time!

Ways to refuse and reduce

• Where possible, purchase items not-packaged or packaged in paper or glass.
• Bring your own reusable bags for groceries or purchase reusable shopping bags at the store.
• Fruits and vegetables don’t need plastic bags to be weighed and purchased. (You may need to ask the shop assistant several times to insist “no need for a plastic bag, please!”) Put produce directly in your shopping bag…reusable, of course, attaching the price labels to the bag. Or ask for the sticker to be put directly on the larger items like banana bunches or melons.
• Buy in bulk and bring your own container to avoid individually wrapped items:
  • Nuts and dried fruits
  • Spices and dried herbs
  • Pulses like lentils, chickpeas, and beans

Take a photo of your weekly action and post it on social media using hashtags #SustainableQATAR #52Challenges.

Also read: SustainableQATAR’s Weekly Challenge 9: Use electric & hybrid cars to reduce CO2 emissions in Qatar

About SustainableQATAR

Website: http://www.sustainableqatar.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SustainableQatar/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SustainQatar
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sustainableqatar/

We know it takes more than a few small personal initiatives to make our planet eco-friendly. But if you can make one lifestyle change each day this coming week, it’s a start! So are you going to participate in this week's challenge? Let us know what you think about SustainableQATAR’s 52 weekly challenges! And also don’t forget to give us a like and a share – you know it keeps us going!

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