Mosques in the UK to abandon plastic utensils in preparation for Ramadan
In a significant move towards environmental sustainability, British mosques are partnering with Projects Against Plastic (PAP) to launch the #PlasticFreeRamadan campaign. This initiative, supported by mosques in the South West, South East, North West, and the Midlands, aims to reduce waste and single-use plastic during the holy month of Ramadan.
Sheila El Dieb, Environmental Task Group Chair of the Bristol Muslim Strategic Leadership Group (BMSLG), believes that this partnership gives mosques their natural leadership roles during Ramadan. Sheila emphasises that no step is considered too small in seeking ecological ways of making living sustainable.
Naseem Talukdar, founder of PAP and a director for social responsibility and sustainability at UK Curry Connect campaign group, shares Sheila's sentiment. Naseem hopes to get more cities on board with the initiative, which has already shown promising results. Events held by organisers have resulted in a 75% reduction in single-use plastic at mosques.
Mosques are working to install water refill stations, which would save a ton of plastic per mosque, the equivalent of nearly 70 elephants. Additionally, mosques are ditching plastic cutlery during Ramadan, as part of a pilot project launched by British mosques and PAP.
The religious aspect of caring for the environment in Islam is highlighted by the Qur'an, which declares that looking after the planet is one of our responsibilities as Muslims. The quote: "It is He who has appointed you stewards on the earth... " (Quran 6:165) underscores this responsibility.
This green Ramadan initiative is not the first among Muslims in the west. Earlier in 2019, mosques across Britain banned the use of plastics during the holy month. Similarly, in 2017, the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) launched a campaign urging Muslims, mosques, and Islamic centers to implement environmentally friendly practices and policies.
Lord Dick Newby OBE, leader of the Lib Dems in the House of Lords, hosted the nationwide launch of #PlasticFreeRamadan at Parliament. He stated that if we are to clean up the environment, we've got to drastically reduce the use of plastic, and that Plastic Free Ramadan is showing how this can be done.
In the United Kingdom, organisations such as the Muslim Council of Britain and local community groups have reduced single-use plastic in mosques during Ramadan by promoting reusable alternatives, organising awareness campaigns, and distributing eco-friendly utensils and containers.
Muslims in the Greater Toronto Area launched a similar project called #Waste Free Ramadan in 2017. The goal is to get all mosques involved in the campaign and to say no to single-use plastic. Ramadan is seen as a time for Muslims to reconsider their individual place in the world and their responsibility to the planet.
By participating in initiatives like #PlasticFreeRamadan, Muslims hope to make a significant contribution to the environment, setting an example for others to follow. The hope is that this year's Ramadan will mark a turning point in the fight against plastic waste, paving the way for a more sustainable future.
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