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Why life in plastic is not fantastic

Perhaps Barbie Girl was just riding a good rhyme when she sang those lyrics 20 years ago. But as Plastic-Free July draws to a close, we look at why this global movement, that's determined to save the planet from itself, needs to be taken more seriously - even if it's one straw at a time

Last year, I came across a video of someone attempting what was (for me) an unwatchably painful extraction of a straw from a turtle's bleeding nose. I have to assume you've seen it too, considering the original video alone has over 36 million views. It's the story of how an olive ridley sea turtle instantly became the face of the 'Say no to plastic' crusade environmentalists have been pushing for years.
The Plastic Free July campaign began in Australia in 2011, mushrooming rapidly into a global movement that spotlights the issue in July - but really advocates for going plastic-free all year through.
Interestingly, one of the first things all its adherents have been making clear upfront is: it's not possible to go 100 per cent plastic-free. What seems suspiciously like a bailout, however, makes perfect sense once explained. "Plastic is everywhere... in everything from your mobile phones to your cars," says Mariska Nell, managing director at consultancy firm Waste Me Not, who has been using her art in wonderfully creative ways since 2015 to educate audiences about environmental issues. Until the world stops producing plastic altogether, we can never be completely plastic-free. So, Plastic Free July is actually about targeting single-use plastics.

'It's either ignorance or inconvenience'
UAE-based Mariska has become a familiar name with the war on single-use plastics and unnecessary waste, thanks to her podcasts and advocacy on social media. She has featured as a panelist on the subject at talks around town - and may perhaps be better remembered for the 30-day challenge she took up for Earth Day last year, when she 'wore' her trash everywhere around town with the help of a specially designed suit (see above right).
A single conversation is enough to reveal how passionate the 32-year-old is about the subject. "There are things that I'm still learning every day, but discovering the impact of single-use plastic on the environment has been the most shocking of all," she says. "They say that, by 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean. When you think about how every second breath we take is only possible because we have a healthy ocean - that kind of statistic becomes so scary!"
If there's a reluctance for society to get on board, she pegs it down to two things: ignorance and inconvenience. "For the most part, people don't actually know where their trash goes. They're so used to just disposing of it and never having to see it again. So, it's a combination of people not believing their decisions make a difference and people who prioritise their own convenience."
She follows the 5 R's - refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle and rot - in her drive for zero-waste living, and says the key is preparation. The environmentalist reveals she always has a few items in her handbag that enable her to avoid single-use plastics. The list includes beeswax wrap ("you can wrap anything in it, except uncooked meat and hot foods"), glass and steel straws, an old peanut butter glass jar that she uses to pick up coffee ("or even ice cream!"), a reusable water bottle, and a spork and napkin. "I also have a grocery kit that's in my car or by the door, that has containers in it, so I just use them when I want to buy bread or olives or cheese from the deli, and don't want to accept their plastics," she adds.
Mariska would not encourage attempting a lifestyle overhaul overnight though. "That's not sustainable and you'd find it so hard, you'd probably give up everything in a week or two." She advises picking one easy item to reduce, for starters, and taking on another only once you feel you've got a handle on the first. "Before you know it, you'll have given up 10 single-use items - and you won't even feel like your life has been affected that much."

SHOWING THE WAY: (from left to right) Mariska Nell, Marianne Sabumei, Rania Kana'an
'Going plastic-free was an awakening'
Even for these eco-warriors, it's not easy to get everyone on the same page. Sometimes, that includes their families. Dubai-based Marianne Bell Sabumei tells of how she first started by challenging the family to go completely single-use plastic-free for a month. "It was an awakening. All of us lost weight as takeaways were out of the question. Also, the supermarkets we frequented had only prepackaged food, including fruits and vegetables. Since then, our shopping preferences have changed and we have significantly reduced our waste. My teenage children continue to be resistant," she adds, candidly, "but they do avoid plastic bags and are more aware of the problems surrounding the growing waste issue." Marianne's husband, meanwhile, is the shopping hero in her book, as he does all of it using reusable bags and containers.
The 44-year-old's Instagram page (@zwaste_upcycler) is a treasure trove for anyone looking for creative alternatives, as she offers ideas for reusables. "I guess this is where the real value lies... That we move away from the linear economy, where everything only has a single use and then can no longer give value," she comments. And a lifestyle is what it truly is for Marianne, as she does not take a 'break' even when she's travelling, recently posting about how she got a café to pack her takeaway breakfast almost completely plastic-free. And staffers don't give her odd looks when she hands them her own cups or containers either. "Most servers are confused, a few are impressed by my efforts and many just want to find a way to accommodate me."
Does it discourage her when she does all she can to avoid single-use plastics, but ends up with some form of it anyway - because others don't share the same environmental goals? "My most frustrating item is the plastic straw," says Marianne. "I tell the waiter 'no straw', but it still turns up. Once it's used, it gets thrown out. I can return a plastic bag, but a straw gets thrown out. Apart from that, I do accept that we live in an economic system that relies heavily on single-use plastic. Change is slow, but awareness is growing."

'We need government regulation'
Rania Kana'an credits her upbringing in Montreal, Canada, with shaping her 'green' attitude to life. "It was in the culture and schooling there to separate your garbage properly at home, not litter and be kind to the environment." When the Palestinian expat moved to Dubai with her sister 11 years ago, they wanted to teach people to upcycle and be more mindful of their consumption. So, they started an upcycling cafe about four months ago called Kave, in which they try their best to go as plastic-free as they can. Their cutlery is steel, takeaways are offered in biodegradable packing, and staffers are equipped with canvas or paper bags when shopping for produce. For the movement to really catch on, however, the 30-year-old says we need government regulation.
"There are countries that fine you if you don't separate your plastics correctly," she explains. "It's not easy going plastic-free, so I understand if businesses are reluctant to do so. It will take regulatory bodies and MNCs to instil this in company culture - and provide alternatives too. If my cost of packaging is going to go up by 50 fils or a dirham because of it, so be it. I would be ready to pay that amount than use plastic, because the world we live in is so much more important right now."
That's not to say plenty of businesses across the UAE haven't already vowed to cut out single-use plastics. What does she think of the cynics who say it's all a marketing gimmick? "I think I have more of a problem with those who pretend to be plastic-free when they're not, saying things like they're not using 'bad' plastic. There's no such thing. So, you can ban plastics for marketing purposes, but if you're taking care of the environment, good on you!"
With more and more adopting the cause (except perhaps Donald Trump, who just rolled out a pack of embossed plastic straws for the sole purpose of trolling the liberal left... yep), there's every reason to see that switching up your lifestyle to save the planet need not be the last straw.
karen@khaleejtimes.com