Dubai’s public beaches are now open so you can go and (safely) top up your tan. Whilst you may just want to head to a public beach like La Mer or JBR and social distance with a book and a bottle of tanning oil, there are also some great beach club offers for you to spend your day sunning…
SUPPORT LOCAL
It’s important to support local businesses that make an effort to be sustainable and eco-conscious. Shopping for fresh organic fruits and vegetables means supporting local farmers and usually means cutting the use of excess plastic from supermarket deliveries. Markets are another great way to discover local, homegrown brands that support the sustainable movement as well as
CARRY REUSEABLE BAGS
Ditching the plastic bags doesn’t have to be solely for the supermarket. Investing in a ‘kinder to the planet’ reusable cotton or canvas bag will help to reduce the amount of plastic waste that is damaging our planet. Reusable shopping bags can be washed countless times ensuring they are clean and hygienic and when it comes time to replace them, they are fully recyclable. If that’s not enough to convince you, the manufacturing process is also far cleaner, and uses less water, energy and oil as part of the supply chain than their plastic counterparts.
SHOP SMARTER
We know that everything is now available to buy online from anywhere in the world in record timings, however excess online shopping can have a negative impact on the environment. Express shipping on goods can mean more packaging waste and inefficient delivery routes for the fastest journey without considering the carbon footprint. As consumers, we have the purchase power to shop sustainably and ethically with brands that operate in the same way.
GET THRIFTY
Buying and selling pre-loved items is another great way to shop sustainably – the apparel and footwear industries account for a combined estimate of 8% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, and fashion is the third highest-polluting industry in the world. Apps such as BidBoutiq allow consumers to part ways with their second hand high-street and designer pieces, providing them with a new home whilst making money and being kinder to the planet.
CHECK ECO CREDENTIALS
Take a closer look into the brands you shop with – do they use organic or recycled materials? Do they state that their products are ethically sourced? Do they make any efforts to reduce waste or the use of plastic? As consumers, we should seek sustainable options across all levels, support the brands that do follow these practices and demand change from those who don’t.