Environment Society of Oman urges everyone to make an effort

While convenient in the short-term for holding shopping, plastic bags are often used only once before being thrown away, after which they can take up to a thousand years to break down.

Lamees Daar, Executive Director of the ESO, said:

"We must fundamentally change our behaviour. Our recently launched campaign, No To Plastic Bags For Oman, aims at promoting the use of reusable bags and ending our dependence on plastic bags. When enough people make a small change to their shopping routines, it can bring about a huge difference. All you need to do is say 'No thank you, I don't need a bag'. Lead by example and help make this campaign a success!."

The Environment Society of Oman will be distributing reusable jute bags in the next few months to give an alternative to plastic, while some grocers and retailers have already begun voluntary programs and are providing reusable bags. Using less plastic bags, using a reusable bag, or re-using the plastic bags that you already have, is the main message of the campaign.

Oman LNG LLC is the main supporter of the campaign and the CEO, Dr. Brian Buckley, said, "We are giving full support to the ESO's Anti Plastic Bag campaign; people in Oman don't have to reduce their quality of life to tackle pollution, but we do need to change our wasteful habits. Using fewer plastic bags and remembering to carry a reusable bag is a great way to brush-up our green credentials".

Plastic bags usually end up in landfill sites. Not only do they spoil our landscape and oceans, but they can also take up to 1000 years to break down. Plastic bags do not biodegrade, they photo degrade (break down into smaller and smaller bits) contaminating soil and oceans and entering the food chain when ingested by animals.

"We have great hopes for this campaign but we need the support of the general public, the government and retail outlets. We hope everyone will join our cause and do their part to protect our environment" concluded Lamees Daar.