Rebecca Pritchard, The Good Karma Co. Owner
Describe yourself in 3-5 words?
33 year old yoga teacher with a passion for making the mundane meaningful, living a simple life and reducing negative impact on the world.
How has your sustainable journey started?
My low waste journey started towards the end of 2018, I began taking an interest in making my own skin care and moved away from store bought beauty and cleaning products. It grew from there and slowly I started to see there were many ways to reduce exposure to toxins and choose a greener way of living. I started to make small switches in the home such as vowing never to buy plastic dish sponges again and that is when i started The Good Karma Co. I would also say my journey really started as a child as my father has been a long time advocate of renewable green energy and we have been exposed to living more green from a young age.
What is your vision and how do you think you add value to the community?
My vision is to see every home and individual reduce waste and become more eco conscious. I hope to help this by providing eco alternatives that turn the everyday mundane acts into meaningful. I believe we add value to the community through education, inspiration and making eco alternatives available. We also support local projects and partnership wherever possible.
We are one of the first to bring a range of eco items to the region reducing overseas shipping and making these items accessible and affordable. On a global scale we plant a tree for every order and choose a different location around the world every month.
Can you share a couple of practical examples on your sustainable living that would be useful to the others?
A couple of my favourite changes have been:
1. Reusables in the bathroom – Safety Razor – which only requires you to change the blade every 6-10 shaves, this significantly reduced my plastic razor waste and brought a new level of enjoyment to shaving.
Reusable Face Pads- no more cotton wool waste, just throw in the washing machine!
2. Silicone Zip Bags – these are probably my favourite kitchen swap as it has not only eliminated my need for single use plastic sandwich bags but they extend the life of all kinds of food, reducing my food waste as well and makes food prep and freezing so easy!
3. Making my own skin care – it’s so easy to make a coffee and oat face scrub or combine a few oils to make your own face serum, I really enjoy it too! Switching from shower gels and shampoo bottles to soap bars is also an easy switch I made a long time ago and never looked back.
4. Always asking ‘how can i do this better? is there another way?’ getting used to asking this question has helped me see and find sustainable solutions to all sorts of everyday actions, from how I brew my coffee, to making my own chocolate, to what i do with potato skin scraps!
Since when do you live in the UAE?
I moved to the UAE in June 2013.
Why do you love this place?
Dubai has a wonderful mix of people! From all backgrounds and walks of life there is so much to learn from each other and the communities are strong and supportive.
If you would get a magic stick what would you improve and make better?
I would love for more people to know that there are so many eco alternatives out there, I think a big issue is that most people don’t know what to change or how to change, I would magically broadcast education on what easy changes could be made and explain why – I think it would help our cause if everyone had more information about the truth behind products/ packaging/ plastic etc. Also, I would implement harsher fines/ costs on companies that use unnecessary packaging e.g when a supermarket wraps a melon or coconut in plastic cling film – it’s just NOT necessary.
Where do you like doing your grocery and why?
My favourite places in Dubai are Rashed Organic Farm & Farmers Market at Business Bay (seasonal) – local organic farms with great produce and low to zero plastic packaging, Carrefour – also great for package free loose fruit and veg and you can also bulk buy all loose grains, nuts, tea and herbs, refill olive oil and more.
What is your favourite eco-brand?
Modibodi UAE – providing reusable period underwear! A total game changer to reducing waste and having a more comfortable and confident period.
What is your favourite eco-friendly restaurant or cafe?
Maison Mathis in Arabian Ranches use refillable glass bottles with filtered water, they grow their own herbs and their bakery has the best sourdough which you can bring your own bread bags for!
The best way to spend time with family and friends?
Sitting in the garden, making a fresh healthy meal, chatting and laughing.
How do you spend your free time?
I love to cook, make my own DIY recipes for skin and home. I also love up-cycing projects and craft projects such as macrame, making my own candles and chocolate. I also love quiet time to practice yoga, read and go to the gym.
The best recent discovery in the UAE?
Service – The Natural Laundry Co. – a laundry company that uses non toxic, biodegradable detergents and focus on energy efficiency as well as provide non plastic reusable laundry bags and quality, plastic free hangers that can be reused.
Do you recycle and how?
The best solution is to reduce waste as recycling is not a sustainable solution but the items we do send to recycling are glass bottles, tin cans and any thick plastic – we clean, collect and take to the Sustainable City recycling bins and / or the bins in Studio City once a week.
What is the best way to learn about sustainability and green living?
Research, read up about current topics yourself, we must take responsibility for our choices. Follow inspirational accounts on social media that provide real education, tips and help rather than ‘influencers’ who claim to promote eco living. Ask questions, ask business and friends, have discussions, question your habits and look at your daily life, I believe increasing our own awareness is essential. There are many resources, whether a website, instagram page or documentary.
Follow Rebecca on Instagram and visit her website to discover sustainable products and start your Zero Waste Journey
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