Making Reusable Bags the New Normal in the Maldives
Yumna’s Journey of Change I have a daughter, and I saw her using a reusable bag when she goes to...
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Yumna’s Journey of Change
I have a daughter, and I saw her using a reusable bag when she goes to the beach, carrying snacks she makes herself. I thought it was a beautiful idea, and she got really motivated by it, which got me involved in all of this…
Yumna’s journey toward sustainability has begun with this simple but powerful moment. She was struck by how motivated her daughter was by this small act, which led her to reflect on her own desire to reduce plastic waste.
I’ve always wanted to do something about plastic,” Yumna shared. “But in the Maldives, plastic bags are so freely available that people choose them without thinking twice. Why would anyone pay for a bag when they can get one for free?
Yumna believes that if free plastic bags were completely removed, people would start to choose reusable options more often.
“When there’s no free option, people will return to buying reusable bags, just like they did before. People have the ability to make that shift if the free plastic bags were gone,” she says. She also recognizes the appeal of reusable bags. “They have an aesthetic quality, too. My daughter always points that out. Reusable bags are not just practical; they can be beautiful, too.”
Through the Maldives Regional Block Grantee, the Maldives Authentic Crafts Cooperative Society’s (MACCS) workshop, Yumna has participated in a project aimed at reducing plastic waste in the Maldives. As a beneficiary, she, along with other trained women, has learned how to create reusable bags from used clothes. The goal of MACCS’s project is to make these reusable bags widely accessible by distributing them to local shops, where they will be available to customers. The ultimate aim is for these bags to reach every household through the shops. By focusing on the production and distribution of these sustainable alternatives, the project seeks to replace single-use plastic bags and promote a more eco-friendly lifestyle in the Maldives. Yumna’s involvement has helped drive change, making reusable bags a practical and accessible option for everyone, while inspiring other women in the community to adopt sustainable practices.
