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Dubai: The UK's largest supplier of environmentally friendly jute bags is establishing a sales and distribution office in Dubai.
The announcement comes only a few weeks after Gulf News launched a campaign urging UAE residents to say 'No to plastic bags'. The response has been staggering with hundreds of people and local organisations pledging their support.
Jutexpo, which supplies alternative bags to all of the UK's main retailers including Marks and Spencer, Harrods, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Debenhams and the National Trust, believes Dubai is the ideal base to serve its multinational clients.
Barrie Turner, founder and CEO of Jutexpo, said: "I am delighted that this expansion, our first within the Middle East, will be in such a vibrant economy. It will create many new opportunities and enable us to bring the benefits of our eco-bags to a new region, in support of the growing campaign to eradicate plastic bags."
Jutexpo has supplied over 12 million bags since its foundation five years ago. The bags, which are all manufactured in India's West Bengal state, are distributed in a wide variety of styles, colours, sizes and designs, with many becoming iconic fashion items.
"We chose jute because it is a natural alternative and a renewable resource. We take our ethical responsibilities very seriously since they are a large part of the integrity of our products," Turner added.
Jute is obtained from two varieties of plant: Corchorus Capsularis and Corchorus Olitorus. Jute is a substantial industry and employs millions of people around the world, primarily on small family-owned plots around the Ganges River Delta in India.
Gemma Goodman, Campaign Coordinator at Jutexpo, said the company was committed to the development of products and services that further the creation of an ecologically sustainable future.
"Last week I ordered a sandwich to take away and they gave it to me in a foam box inside a plastic bag. It made me so angry to see such a small item inside so much packaging.
"It's the same when you go to the supermarket. You pick up a packet of washing-up tablets and you're given a huge plastic bag to take them home in.
"There is an increasing demand for biodegradable, environmentally compliant bags within the region and I want to let people in the UAE know that we are here and we want to give out our reusable bags for free.
"Our main aim is the environment; we are not here to make a profit. It is more about educating people that plastic bags are causing harm."
Readers' comments:
Eyesore for tourists
I think that plastic bags affect the surroundings and destroy it and is also an eyesore for tourists. I think that people use the plastic bags once and they throw them out.
The bags fly all around the place. One day, as I was driving a plastic bag landed on my windscreen and almost caused an accident, but thank God nothing happened.
Al Hamaddi
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Alternatives needed
If the supermarkets stop using plastic bags, they will save millions of barrels of oil. Furthermore, if they stop using paper bags, they will save millions of trees. So, they should try to use alternative bags to protect the life cycle.
Qareeba
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Charges ridiculous
This is ridiculous! Here the matter is using eco-friendly bags. What is the motive of charging the customers? They should introduce eco-friendly bags for the greater interest of the environment.
Nasim
Sharjah, UAE
Using safer material
I strongly agree with the idea of stopping usage of plastic bags. We need to make rules for using plastic bags and in my opinion if the company making plastic bags uses other material that is less dangerous than that which it is using now, people can use the plastic bags without effecting camels and the environment.
Anood
Dubai, UAE
Encouraging
Plastic bags are affecting the environment and the animals within the environment. It is encouraging that supermarkets are coming to understand the problem and are handing out fewer plastic bags.
Mohammad
Madinat Zayed, UAE
Paper bags
It is not proper for supermarkets to charge for the use of plastic bags. They have to have an alternative way wherein they do not need to charge the consumer, such as promoting brown paper bags like they do in the States.
After having bought their goods, do you think it is still proper for supermarkets to charge customers for the plastic they use for goods they have purchased?
Margaret
Dubai, UAE
Additional expenses
Supermarkets might be very happy charging for plastic bags, because this is less expense for them, but they have to realise that many of the items they are selling are packed in plastic bags. What will they do about it? It will again become an additional expense for shoppers.
Salma
Dubai, UAE
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