Plastic Free July 2019 - Fair Trade Ethical Living, Sabeena Ahmed, Dubai and the United Arab Emirates

Plastic Free July

 

What is Plastic Free July?

Plastic Free July was started by Rebecca Prince-Ruiz and a small team of local government in Western Australia, it is now one of the most influential environmental campaigns in the world.

Millions of people across the globe take part every year, with many committing to reducing plastic pollution far beyond the month of July.

Source: Plastic Free July

 

My Plastic Free July Pledge

This year I am determined to reduce my plastic consumption and try to educate others in the process.

 

My Plastic Free July video - Join Me!

Credit: Plastic Free July Official YouTube Channel

 

 

 Credit: Plastic Free July

 

 Credit: Earth Changers

 

Plastic Free July Gallery - Week 1

Day 1

 I began Plastic Free July with a Plastic Free Teabags.

 

 Clipper Plastic Free Tea Bags

 

 Clipper Plastic Free Tea Bags

 

 

Day 2

I was so happy to receive my reusable tea cup!

Traidcraft 40th Anniversary reusable cup 

 

Traidcraft 40th Anniversary reusable cup and sustainable packaging,

a thumbs up from me!

 

 

Day 3

This jute bag holds precious memories of my beloved Mum and our visit to Edinburgh during her struggle with metastatic breast cancer.

Mum has returned to her maker but her precious memories remain...

My Edinburgh jute bag

 

My Edinburgh jute bag with label 

 

 

Day 4

For the past 3 years I've replaced my hand wash with

organic hand made soap.

Organic hand made soap

 

 

 Day 5

As a fairtrade campaigner and educator with sensitive skin and eyes I'm pleased to advocate and promote Odylique.

Odylique - fairtrade, organic, vegan and cruelty black eye liner pencil in recycled packaging

 

Odylique - fairtrade, organic, vegan and cruelty

black eye liner pencil 

 

 

 Odylique - fairtrade, organic, vegan and cruelty black eye liner pencil used by a poorly flu ridden Sabeena 

 To read my blog about Odylique please click here

 

Day 6

I love herbal teas and purchased this gorgeous robot diffuser to reduce my teabag

and sugar intake.

Robot tea diffuser 

 

Robot tea diffuser - with loose Jasmine Pearl tea

 

Robot tea diffuser 

 

My lovely Montezuma mug, Robot tea diffuser and recycled coffee cup coaster

 

 

Day 7

I love fairtrade chocolate!

I had the privilege to learn form the best.

I spent a morning making bean to bar chocolate

with Bruce Crowther MBE.

Bruce Crowther and Sabeena Ahmed - Chocolate Master Class using

fairly traded cocoa beans 

 

 

Fairly traded chocolate hand made by Sabeena Ahmed

and Bruce Crowther MBE reducing plastic consumption

 

Bruce Crowther MBE's

guest comments

 To read more about my Chocolate Master Class click here.

 

Plastic Free July - Week 2

Day 8

I invited Isatou Ceesay and environmental activist and

author of 'One Plastic Bag to come and stay with me in Dubai.

Sabeena Ahmed with environmental activist and autor Isatou Ceesay

 

Environmental activist and autor Isatou Ceesay signing copies of

One Plastic Bag

 

A recycled plastic purse hand made by Isatou Ceesay and

the Recycling Women of Gambia.

A wonderful initiative to reduce plastic bag consumption in Gambia

 To read more about Isatou and watch here interviews click here. 

 

 

Day 9

For the past 8 years I have been participating in the Six Items Challenge with Labour Behind The Label - a fashion fast for garment workers to receive a living wage and decent working condtions.

Six Items Challenge 2019 with Sabeena Ahmed and

Labour Behind The Label 

 

 

Labour Behind The Label 

 

Clothes & Textiles are the No.1 source of micro plastics in the oceans

 

Sustainable Development Goal 12 -

Responsible Consumption and Production

To read more about the Six Items Challenge please click here.

 

 

Day 10

I watched the Bag It

documentary again

Credit: ReelThingFilms 

 

Bag It DVD

 

Bag It DVD - Plastic Free July 

 

Bag It DVD 

 

 

Day 11

I received my copy of Ethical Consumer Magazine and was particularly inspired by

the guide on Zero Waste Menstrual Products

Ethical Consumer Magazine July/August 19 

 

Ethical Consumer Magazine July/August 19 

 

Ethical Consumer Magazine July/August 19

 

Ethical Consumer Magazine July/August 19

 

Day 12

A Polite reminder!

Did you forget?

Its never too late to join the Plastic Free July Challenge?

Here's a practical calendar to help you get started. 

Courtesy of Cleanaway.com.au

 

 

Day 13

I decided to purchase some Chia Seeds and was happy to see that the packaging was brown paper.

Organic Chia Seeds in Brown Paper Packaging

 

 

Organic Chia Seeds in Brown Paper Packaging 

 

Day 14

I visited my local supermarket and was saddened to learn that the Loose/Zero Concept section was being removed.

 

Loose Zero Waste Concept closing due to the lack of customer footfall

at my local supermarket, Dubai 

 

 

Plastic Free July - Week 3

Day 15

I try to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

My pretty bottle top tray is used to store my paper and letters.

Up-cycled bottle top tray, hand made, Kenya 

 

Up-cycled bottle top tray, hand made Kenya 

 

Up-cycled bottle top tray, hand made Kenya 

 

Day 16

Here are my reusable glass bottles,

I usually carry them in my bag but have broken a few in my forgetfulness. 

Glass bottles reducing my plastic bottle consumption 

 

Say No to Plastic Bottles 

 

Say No to Plastic Bottles use glass or steel refillable alternatives 

 

Day 17

Disappointed that I couldn't recycle the cardboard and plastic packaging for my

favourite Jaffa cakes.

I won't be purchasing them again.

Marks and Spencers Jaffa Cakes -

Only 50% of the carton is recyclable the inner film is not recyclable at all!

 

Marks and Spencers Jaffa Cakes -

Only 50% of the carton is recyclable the inner film is not recyclable at all! 

 

 

Marks and Spencers Jaffa Cakes - Only 50% of the carton is recyclable the inner film is not recyclable at all - Plastic Free July 

 

Day 18

My beautiful hand painted fairly traded tiffin set.

I hope to use the containers and ask restaurants to fill them with excess food when

I'm out and about.

 

My beautiful hand painted fairly traded tiffin set

 

My beautiful hand painted fairly traded tiffin set 

 

My beautiful hand painted fairly traded tiffin set 

 

Day 19

I started to read a wonderful book by plastic and

zero waste activist Beth Terry.

Plastic Free How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too -

Beth Terry

 

Plastic Free How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too -

Beth Terry

 

Plastic Free How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too -

Beth Terry

 

Plastic Free How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too -

Beth Terry

 

Day 20

My partner returned from a business trip from Ghana and presented me with Niche Chocolate.

Bean to bar chocolate, Ghana, paper and foil packaging

 

Bean to bar chocolate, Ghana, paper and foil packaging

 

Bean to bar chocolate, Ghana, paper and foil packaging

 

Day 21

I watched Beth Terry's TEDx Talk

Living Plastic Free

Credit: Tedx Talks YouTube

 

 

Plastic Free July - Week 4 

Day 22

Today I rediscovered these innovative fairtrade

recycled circuit board earrings.

A creative approach to reduce electronic waste

Up-cycled fairtrade circuit board earrings, decreasing electronic waste 

 

Up-cycled fairtrade circuit board earrings, decreasing electronic waste 

 

Up-cycled fairtrade circuit board earrings, decreasing electronic waste 

 

Day 23

I couldn't resist and had to take photographs of these beautiful

fairtrade recycled bicycle chain photo frame and silver key bowl.

Another innovative solution to reduce recreational and household waste

 

Up-cycled fairtrade bicycle chain photo frame and

fairtrade handmade recycled silver key bowl 

 

Up-cycled fairtrade bicycle chain photo frame and

fairtrade handmade recycled silver key bowl

 

Up-cycled fairtrade bicycle chain photo frame and

fairtrade handmade recycled silver key bowl 

 

Up-cycled fairtrade bicycle chain photo frame and

fairtrade handmade recycled silver key bowl 

 

Day 24

Since 2016, I have replaced my toothpaste with herbal tooth powder,

hand wash with organic handmade soap and

my toothbrush with miswak 

(a teeth cleaning twig made from the Salvadora persica tree).

Replacing toothpaste with herbal tooth powder 

 

Replacing hand wash with organic handmade soap

 

Replacing my toothbrush with miswak 

(a teeth cleaning twig made from the Salvadora persica tree).

 

 

Day 25

I pledge to reduce my plastic use by refusing, 

plastic bags, cups and bottles.

My jute bag, refillable glass bottle and reusable cup

 

I pledge to refuse my plastic use by refusing these illustration -

Artist Great Grand

 

Easy Ways To Cut Out Plastic - Artist unkown

 

Day 26

Many thanks to my other half who has driven to the recycling centre every Friday for the past 3 years in 40+ degrees.

Recycling Centre Al Barsha Dubai

 

Recycling Centre Al Barsha Dubai

 

video tba here

 

Day 27

So much plastic!

Hitachi Fan cardboard box and all the excessive plastic and styrofoam packaging

 

Excessive plastic and

styrofoam packaging

 

Excessive plastic packaging

 

 SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

 

Day 28

SCRAP-TASTIC!
DON't tHROW it AWAY,
MAKE SOMEtHING! 

A gorgeous practical book full of crafty ideas encouraging children to recycle household and everyday rubbish.

Produced by my good friends at @fair_funky
Helen and Sophie. 

Scraptastic produced by fair and funky

 

Scraptastic produced by fair and funky

 

Scraptastic produced by fair and funky

 

Day 29

Today was Earth Overshoot Day.

Rethink!

Be mindful of your consumption, your relationship with 'things'

and your relationship with the Earth.

I purchased this red Preserve coleander 3 years ago.

It's been powered by leftovers and 100% recycled materials including plastic containers.

 

Red Preserve Colander - Powered by leftovers and 100% recycled materials including plastic containers 

 

Red Preserve Colander - Powered by leftovers and 100% recycled materials including plastic containers - 

 

Recycling Chart

 

 Rethink diagram - illustrator and website unknown

 

Day 30

Recycling is this easy, when you're healthy!

video tba here

 

Day 31

On my last day of the Plastic Free July 2019 Challenge I posted a vlog of my Fairphone2.

The Fairphone is the worlds first ethical, durable and sustainable phone.

A phone that you can repair yourself, hence reducing electronic waste.

 

 

Conclusion and a continuation of Plastic Free July

Due to my illness (two shoulder surgeries) I have found the challenge very difficult at and challenging at times.

The UAE ethical movement is still in its infancy and substitutes for simple things like feminine hygiene, deodorants and food wraps is limited.

I hope to reduce my consumption of menstrual hygiene and cleaning products and learn how to make my own soap, body wash, bread, conditioner and compost my waste..

It will be a long work in progress.

I hope to continue with Plastic Free July as long as I physically can.

Thank you for reading my blog and supporting a world with less plastic and zero waste.

Love, peace and blessings...

Sabeena X

 

August 2019 - continuation

This month I invested in a bamboo toothbrush, an organic loofah, 

organic laundry softener and soap nuts

 

Bamboo Toothbrush

 

 

Organic Loofah

 

Organic Laundry Softener

 

Soap Nuts 

 

 

Soap Nuts

 

Soap nuts are Organic Laundry Detergent

They are 100% Natural and Biodegradable

Instructions: Use 5-7 soap berries for a full load of washing.

Place the bag and berries directly in the washing machine with all your laundry.

Soap berries can be re-used 5-6 times and then disposed preferably in a  composter.

Soap berres do not produce much foam.

Use warm water for washing clothes or soak the bag with berries before placing in the washing machine.

 

September 2019 - continuation

This month I was very poorly and couldn't implement any plastic free ideas or concepts.

 

 

October 2019 - continuation

This month I continued with Plastic Free July and received my reusable Fairtrade cup from the Fairtrade Foundation shop and my Traidcraft 40th Anniversary tote bag.

I would also like to thank my sister Irem for purchasing my favourite Odylique Gentle Herb Shampoo, Aloe Vera Shower Gel and Superfruit Concentrate Oil.

 

My Thirsty for Change fairtrade reusable cup 

 

My Thirsty for Change fairtrade reusable cup

 

 

Traidcraft 40th Anniversary Tote Bag 

 

Traidcraft 40th Anniversary Tote Bag 

 

Odylique Gentle Herb Shampoo, Aloe Vera Bath Wash and

Superfruit Concentrate Serum 

 

About Odylique

Odylique products are free from synthetic chemicals and are all certified to strict Soil Association organic standards. It is one of the first companies to create certified organic cosmetics and follow the precautionary principle to formulate the purest cosmetics possible.

Its 30-year focus on sensitive skin means that it also has a unique position on potential allergens. Odylique avoids all synthetic chemical irritants and possible allergens like artificial fragrance. In addition, it excludes lanolin, wheat, dairy and soya derivatives, salicylic acid, peanut oil, common allergen tree nut oils, and more.

Source: Odylique

 

 

November 2019 - continuation

This month I finally invested in Bloom & Nora reusable sanitary ware.

Bloom and Nora reusable sanitary towels

 

Bloom and Nora reusable 3 pack sanitary towels 

 

Bloom and Nora reusable sanitary towels

 

Further Reading and Links

Plastic Free July

Plastic Free Products 

Odylique - Product Review, Videos and Photo shoot

Fairly traded Chocolate Master Class with Bruce Crowther MBE

Interview with Isatou Ceesay

Six Items Challenge with Labour Behind The Label