Tell us about yourself
My name is Sana, I have been based in Dubai ever since I was born. I work in Mortgages in a reputable bank in the UAE. I am a part of the ESG Council in my organization, ensuring our teams adopt sustainable practices at work. I am also a Sustainability advocate and a Content Creator. I use my social media channel to share about Sustainable developments in Dubai and also encourage my community of followers to be more conscious in their choices
What inspired you to embrace eco-friendly practices and make a shift towards sustainability?
My biggest inspiration came from adapting self care practices. I am a firm believer that once you start caring for yourself, you’d care about the people and the environment around you. Ultimately, helps you grow conscious about consuming things that can be harmful both for the self, the community and the planet in the long run.
What are the primary steps you take to integrate eco-friendly practices into your lifestyle?
I make sure the personal and basic items I consume on a regular basis come with the most natural formulation and are totally free of toxins and allergens. As a Fashion enthusiast, I invest carefully in pieces that can be worn many times. When they are still in a wearable condition, I give it away in donations or to someone in need.
Before I discard anything, I first check if it can be recycled or repurposed. Sometimes my family and I collect items that can be recycled and arrange a pick up by recycling companies to make sure it is used towards something purposeful instead of just landing in the trash.
Share some of the most effortless yet impactful eco-friendly changes you’ve made in your daily routine.
Minimizing single use plastic has been the most effortless. Once I came out of the habit of using bottled water and plastic bags I never felt the need of ever looking back.
What difficulties have you encountered while striving to live in an environmentally conscious manner?
Living in a society that often promotes consumerism can make it challenging to resist the urge to constantly buy new products. Striking a balance between needs and wants while minimizing environmental impact can be difficult.
Describe a rewarding moment on your sustainability journey
I got recognized by my organization as a passionate change maker. Particularly due to my efforts in the Sustainability work stream of the ESG Council.
What are some misconceptions about being eco-friendly that you’d like to debunk?
‘Individual action cannot save the planet’. Every little change counts. If every individual pledges to make one positive change each year, collectively it will have a huge impact.
How do you plan on continuing your sustainability journey? What other aspects do you plan to change?
I would aim to spread awareness and encourage more and more people around me to have a sense of consciousness. Unfortunately, I have come across people in social circles where Sustainability is not taken as an important aspect. It is important to have every individual realize the importance of preservation to attain a safer future.
Lastly, how do you think we can ensure that eco-friendly options and choices are available and attainable for a diverse range of individuals?
I believe that supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs and producing locally play a major role in this solution. It is a win-win situation as local companies will employ the resources that are unique to that area, preserving the environment instead of polluting it or overproducing and depleting the resources in that area.