The Rotary Club of Manama (RCM) has unveiled a new community initiative, ‘Impact for Good’, aimed at fostering sustainable habits across Bahrain.
The first activation under the initiative focuses on recycling and raising awareness around the overuse of plastic bags.
The club has designed and produced 5,000 reusable cotton grocery bags, which will be distributed to members of the public at the entrances of Al Jazira and LuLu supermarkets over a three‑month period, beginning at the start of Ramadan next week.
The reusable bags are intended to make it easier for individuals and families to reduce reliance on single-use plastics and adopt more sustainable daily habits. Additionally, they are durable, washable and practical for everyday use.
The initiative, in partnership with Al Jazira and LuLu supermarkets, reflects the values of mindfulness, moderation and shared responsibility associated with the Holy Month, which is likely to begin on February 18 this year.
“Impact for Good is designed as a platform for sustained community action,” RCM president Robert Timmers said at a Press conference, staged at Gulf Hotel Convention and Spa in Manama, yesterday.
Mr Timmers giving a talk
The first activation under the initiative focuses on recycling and raising awareness around the overuse of plastic bags.
The club has designed and produced 5,000 reusable cotton grocery bags, which will be distributed to members of the public at the entrances of Al Jazira and LuLu supermarkets over a three‑month period, beginning at the start of Ramadan next week.
Dr Renard giving a talk
The reusable bags are intended to make it easier for individuals and families to reduce reliance on single-use plastics and adopt more sustainable daily habits. Additionally, they are durable, washable and practical for everyday use.
The initiative, in partnership with Al Jazira and LuLu supermarkets, reflects the values of mindfulness, moderation and shared responsibility associated with the Holy Month, which is likely to begin on February 18 this year.
“Impact for Good is designed as a platform for sustained community action,” RCM president Robert Timmers said at a Press conference, staged at Gulf Hotel Convention and Spa in Manama, yesterday.
“This first activation focuses on a simple but powerful idea – making sustainable choices easier in everyday life. By starting with practical steps such as reusable bags, we hope to inspire long-term behaviour change and encourage collective responsibility for our environment,” he added.
RCM community services director Dr Anne-Laure Renard noted that the club will raise awareness on recycling and related topics as part of the activation via their Instagram account (@impactforgood.bh).
“Many people do not know what to recycle and where the recycling points are. Through the Instagram account, we hope to educate the masses. We are already in touch with local recycling companies for information,” Dr Renard added.
She revealed that RCM is also working with the Northern Governorate for the beautification of local parks and, come Ramadan, will be conducting their annual Ramadan boxes charity drive and gergaoun celebrations for children in need.
Plastic is recognised globally as a major environmental pollutant and remains difficult to recycle at scale. A 2023 report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) revealed that as much as 13 million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans each year, severely harming marine biodiversity and ecosystems. Notably, single‑use plastics, such as cups, water bottles and food packaging, make up approximately 89 per cent of the plastic waste found on the ocean floor. In Bahrain, single-use plastic bags with a thickness of less than 35 microns are banned under a ministerial order that was implemented by Supreme Council for Environment in 2019.
Recently, the GDN reported that plastic beverage containers and bottles could soon be ruled out in the kingdom under a sweeping proposal that has gained unanimous backing across municipal bodies. The initiative, submitted by the Strategic Thinking Bloc, led by Parliament’s financial and economic affairs committee chairman Ahmed Al Salloom, has been fully endorsed by all three municipal councils as well as the Capital Trustees Board.
For more information and updates on future activations, follow @impactforgood.bh on Instagram.
melissa@gdnmedia.bh
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