More than 20 local designers gathered at M7, Msheireb Downtown Doha, Sunday to launch a unique environmental initiative, ‘Unwasted’.
“Unwasted is a local response to the growing environmental crisis happening around the region with climate change, with the increase in temperature, the effect on biodiversity because of waste,” content editor and operations lead Sara al-Mesnad told reporters at the opening.
“What we want to do is bring awareness and educate people, and start a conversation. This is not the end, this is not a solution. We are at a start of the journey to mitigate the problem itself,” said Sara, who was joined by event curator, art director and host Aldana al-Mesnad, event manager and host Jawaher al-Ahmed, waste-led design and environmental advisory Reem al-Sehlawi, all part of the Unwasted event team.
Sara said the local designers have been working hard to transform their processes from traditional manufacturing production and design to a sustainable way, targeting to eliminate waste completely.
She said that the designers did not only eliminate waste but also used it from previous collections to recreate all, which are now showcased at the event.
Unwasted also aims to inspire a collective community action by offering easily adoptable solutions for visitors and consumers to carry into their daily lives, according to the organisers.
The event was designed to foster strategic partnerships with influential local institutions and initiatives such as Msheireb Properties, Doha Film Institute, M7 and Qatar Reads, to magnify the sense of urgency in addressing an issue of national and global importance.
Unwasted also wants to support and raise awareness on local environmental initiatives and institutions such as the Dugong Research Project, Wahab and The Arab Youth Climate Movement.
Sara said the event is divided into four sections, first is the Unwasted Land – an exhibition and an artistic interpretation of the problem of waste.
“As a country that is so small geographically, we can’t afford landfills grow and take over more space,” she pointed out. “It is supposed to create a reaction because for us Sealine and the sand dunes are one of the most beautiful natural landscapes that we have.”
“What we are trying to do is to make you reimagine these dunes as landfills because of all the thrash we see around the country. That’s the beginning,” Sara said.
The ‘Unwasted Garb’, she noted, is a retail offering where designers have completely transformed their process and method of working with not only sustainable fabrics and eco-friendly production, making sure they don’t create more waste.
Meanwhile, ‘Unwasted Consciousness’ provides educational resources, creative workshops and short-film screenings aimed at educating the public.
Under the ‘Unwasted Commissary’, Sara said they also worked with food and beverage sector such as local cafes, asking them to rethink their packaging and ensure it is biodegradable, in addition to start considering composting and making sure that any water waste is not gone away.
“We have also received the eco event level 2 award from Qatar Green Building Council, in a first in the country,” she added.
“There are three levels. By the end of the three weeks we are trying to reach the level 3 and the whole point of this award is to recognise initiatives that support environmentally considerable, conscious thinking,” Sara added.
“What we want to do is bring awareness and educate people, and start a conversation. This is not the end, this is not a solution. We are at a start of the journey to mitigate the problem itself,” said Sara, who was joined by event curator, art director and host Aldana al-Mesnad, event manager and host Jawaher al-Ahmed, waste-led design and environmental advisory Reem al-Sehlawi, all part of the Unwasted event team.
Sara said the local designers have been working hard to transform their processes from traditional manufacturing production and design to a sustainable way, targeting to eliminate waste completely.
She said that the designers did not only eliminate waste but also used it from previous collections to recreate all, which are now showcased at the event.
Unwasted also aims to inspire a collective community action by offering easily adoptable solutions for visitors and consumers to carry into their daily lives, according to the organisers.
The event was designed to foster strategic partnerships with influential local institutions and initiatives such as Msheireb Properties, Doha Film Institute, M7 and Qatar Reads, to magnify the sense of urgency in addressing an issue of national and global importance.
Unwasted also wants to support and raise awareness on local environmental initiatives and institutions such as the Dugong Research Project, Wahab and The Arab Youth Climate Movement.
Sara said the event is divided into four sections, first is the Unwasted Land – an exhibition and an artistic interpretation of the problem of waste.
“As a country that is so small geographically, we can’t afford landfills grow and take over more space,” she pointed out. “It is supposed to create a reaction because for us Sealine and the sand dunes are one of the most beautiful natural landscapes that we have.”
“What we are trying to do is to make you reimagine these dunes as landfills because of all the thrash we see around the country. That’s the beginning,” Sara said.
The ‘Unwasted Garb’, she noted, is a retail offering where designers have completely transformed their process and method of working with not only sustainable fabrics and eco-friendly production, making sure they don’t create more waste.
Meanwhile, ‘Unwasted Consciousness’ provides educational resources, creative workshops and short-film screenings aimed at educating the public.
Under the ‘Unwasted Commissary’, Sara said they also worked with food and beverage sector such as local cafes, asking them to rethink their packaging and ensure it is biodegradable, in addition to start considering composting and making sure that any water waste is not gone away.
“We have also received the eco event level 2 award from Qatar Green Building Council, in a first in the country,” she added.
“There are three levels. By the end of the three weeks we are trying to reach the level 3 and the whole point of this award is to recognise initiatives that support environmentally considerable, conscious thinking,” Sara added.