Talking Greene is a series of discussions centered on the idea of sustainability in Kuwait, the group leading this movement, and locating tools to assist the general public in making wiser decisions. As a business owner in the same industry, I believe it is my responsibility to promote local organizations and individuals working to change the way we shop for goods and to increase environmental consciousness both domestically and abroad.

In this month’s interview, we got to know more about Noura AlFadhli, a local environmental enthusiast with a Master’s Degree in Environmental Impact Assessment and Management from the UK. Her love of the environment has help pave the way in getting her Masters, in order to apply what she has learnt to influence people around her and especially in Kuwait. She is also the co-founder of Precious Plastic Kuwait, a global community which is initially established in The Netherlands.

How has your use of your social media platforms helped you raise and talk about environmental awareness?
Social media has been very helpful tool for me to spread awareness and talk about what I feel is important with regards to the environment. I try to post in both English and Arabic, with a focus in Arabic more because I feel like we lack Arabic eco-content. By doing so, I will be able to reach out to many of those whose mother tongue is Arabic.

When and how did your passion for the environment began?
It all began when I was 16 years old on a trip with my family. I went on my first road trip around Europe during a summer vacation and this is when I saw for the very first time wind turbines. At first it was something very odd to see and it looked very futuristic to me. After that awed moment, I did some research on them I was really astonished on the data I found on renewably energy sources and their contribution to a better environment. It is something that was benefiting in providing electricity through the element of wind to huge cities including the countryside.

After your experiences abroad, did that help you realize the lack of such technological advances when it comes to providing sufficient energy here in Kuwait?
Is that also due to lack of awareness of the people?There is somewhat of a lack when it comes to such technologies, although it is from an educational level. Being a huge fan of such advances in clean technology, I tend to use my social media accounts to spread such knowledge and news and hopefully influence my community into learning more about topics that are not tapped into through education.
However, I don’t think people are lacking awareness when it comes to some environmental issues nowadays in Kuwait. There are so many different organizations and individuals who are trying their best to spread awareness and most of the information is kind of recycled (except for very few). What I’ve noticed is that there is a huge gap between what data people are receiving and how they choose to apply it in their own lives. Most people are like: “I won’t make any effort because why should I?“ “I don’t see the pollution, the sky is blue-ish.” With the beaches being highly polluted and trashed, some say: “ It is the municipality’s job to clean it.“
There is a lack of sense of responsibility towards being part of this world. So I feel like this is something that has to be taught at a very young age, because you can’t change someone who’s already 30+ years old, and they’re convinced that they’ve done their best and they’re doing fine by not hurting others etc.

Tell our readers more about precious plastic in Kuwait.
Precious plastic is basically a global movement in which people share knowledge on plastic waste recycling using open source materials. The goal is to change people’s perspectives into thinking of plastic as a valuable material and not just discarded waste. We do workshops from time to time in which we teach participants how to use bottle caps how to make useful items like coasters and cups. We’ve done workshops where we created accessories such as necklaces and earrings from discarded plastic as well. Precious plastic is globally that are creating bigger pieces of products, such as building blocks, stools, and side tables.

Other than Precious Plastic, what other local brands that you personally like that are sustainable?
I’m obsessed with dunes & ripples – their items are handmade, locally stitched, and made using natural dyes. Even the buttons are made from natural elements: mud
DEAR NIN is one of my favorites as well, their linen sets are a must for surviving Kuwait’s heat during summer!
And lets not forget Basta, our one and only local physical thrift store!
That’s the best thing about Precious Plastic. If we need any help regarding making these products, there’s a huge community of people who are experienced in Precious Plastic and they’re more than happy to share a step by step procedure on how to do it. There are videos and equipment as well that they offer to create different products. When we brought Precious Plastic to Kuwait in 2019, the whole idea came about knowing about the organization and also finding a smart, creative way to make sure of some of the plastic waste in Kuwait.

Do you see some support from the local government when it comes to local sustainable business such as Precious Plastic and others?
There is some support. I know of a grant that is offered by the EPA in Kuwait however, the terms in order to apply for the grant are discouraging. Such research include feasibility studies and environmental assessments which require a lot of time and effort to do which is not possible for people like my team whom all have 9-5 jobs. With regards to Precious Plastic, the whole idea of it stems from societies volunteering to help make the products and create a well-knitted community devoted to decreasing the plastic waste issue. Around the world, Precious Plastic is mostly hosted in community centers, for example, to allow as many people to join in the process and is supported by co-ops and universities free of charge.

What future goals to you see yourself wanting to achieve in the field you’re working in?
I’m currently working on creating an online program that would be accessible for Arabic speakers globally. It will help guide everyone easily into a more conscious and sustainable lifestyle and serve as a base for future programs.
Another thing I’m planning is writing a environmental book. However, I want it to be ecofriendly and have a minor carbon footprint so once I figure those technicalities out, I will announce the content.

Contact Details. For more information about Noura and Precious plastic, check out @nouralfadhli and @preciousplastickuwait on Instagram.