Plastic Free Markets Take Root in North Sharqiyah, Oman

In a significant stride toward environmental protection, the Environment Authority in North Sharqiyah launched the “Plastic-Free Market” initiative as part of its broader efforts to reduce plastic consumption and foster sustainable practices. The campaign operated under the slogan: “Towards a Clean and Sustainable Environment in North Sharqiyah Markets.”

The initiative targeted commercial markets and shopping centers, encouraging both businesses and consumers to shift to eco-friendly alternatives. As part of the campaign, authorities distributed 250 reusable bags, 45 awareness brochures, and 200 leaflets in Arabic, English, and Urdu, ensuring maximum community outreach across linguistic backgrounds.

Led by Mohammed bin Amer al Hajri, Director of the Environment Authority, the campaign supported the implementation of the ministerial decision to ban single-use plastic bags. It also contributed directly to the advancement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in promoting responsible consumption and production.

The campaign is set to continue through the end of the year, aiming to deepen awareness and inspire long-term behavioral change across the region. With growing community participation, North Sharqiyah has taken a proactive step towards shaping a greener and more resilient future.

Local implementation of national plastic bans through targeted programmes like North Sharqiyah's Plastic-Free Market bridges the gap between regulatory intent and consumer behaviour change. Distributing 250 reusable bags and multilingual awareness materials addresses both practical (alternatives availability) and cognitive (understanding the ban's rationale) dimensions of successful implementation.

The multi-language outreach (Arabic, English, Urdu) is strategically important in Gulf markets with significant expatriate populations. Sustainability behaviour change requires reaching all consumer segments, not just national citizens - expatriate workers' consumption patterns disproportionately affect commercial-sector waste generation in many Gulf markets.

For retailers, consumer-goods brands, packaging suppliers and their CSR partners active across the Gulf, Cognitud's circular economy, CSR and impact assessment teams help clients design market-level plastic-substitution programmes, structure consumer-engagement and multi-lingual awareness campaigns, and prepare disclosures aligned with SDG 12, EPR frameworks and jurisdictional plastic-management requirements that increasingly influence competitive positioning across Gulf consumer markets.