Are you a conscious consumer and like to buy eco-friendly products that are carbon-neutral and sustainable at the same time? If yes, you must probably be on the lookout for products and brands that have a sustainable, eco-conscious approach and actively believe in reducing the use of single-use plastics. EcoSouq is one such brand that fits the bill.

A Qatar-based social-impact company, EcoSouq was started by Laura Brennan nearly 3 years ago. As an eco-conscious shopper, Laura was always concerned by the amount of single-use plastics dished out at supermarkets and wished for a more alternative eco-friendly way to carry produce home. That led her to design her first produce bags and get 600 pouches manufactured of the same. She posted them online under the name EcoSouq and the orders poured in. Very soon, even supermarkets like Monoprix and Carrefour began placing their orders with her. Everyone wanted in on the sustainable way of life and the rest is history.

Over time, EcoSouq has introduced a variety of eco-products for its loyal customers and they are all carbon-neutral in their usage and approach: menstrual cups, bamboo straw sets, beeswax wraps, reusable makeup pads, newspaper pencils, beeswax wrap sets, bamboo cotton buds, toothpaste tabs, and much more.

Here’s a list of their most popular products that you can choose and buy from in order to slowly ease into a carbon-neutral lifestyle:

Reusable produce bags

Move aside single-use plastics and the annoyance of storing and disposing of them after your grocery runs. Switch to these reusable produce bags that make your life a whole lot easier (and greener) too. These bags are available in a regular size, large size, or even as a pair.

Each pouch that you buy has five mesh bags that are reusable and even come with a label at the front where you can fix your weighted price stickers at the supermarket. Made from recycled plastic bottles, these bags are durable for up to five years. Not only do they come with a carabiner clip (to clip on to other bags), but can also carry weights from 10g–3kgs (depending on the size of the bag). Get a set or two of these pouches and shop and store your produce guilt-free!

Price range: QAR 30–60

Available at: Monoprix, Carrefour, Torba Market, Qatar Museums, and EcoSouq.org

Scarves

EcoSouq ventured into creating four beautiful designs of scarves—Sands, Desert Rose, Saluki, and Flora—that can be worn by everyone and support the green approach to textiles. The scarves are all made from eco-satin which is 69% recycled plastic (polyester) and 31% polyester. Sourced from Portugal and designed by Natty Peach, a digital illustrator, the scarves are 100% recyclable and compostable. Each scarf comes with a story of its own.

Sands

The idea behind sands is to represent the rolling dunes of the Inland sea and is reminiscent of the happy camping trips around the orange sand dunes. The design is hand-painted by Natty in watercolors.

Desert Rose

A tribute to the National Museum of Qatar (NMOQ)’s rendition of the desert rose, this scarf design celebrates Qatar’s natural history. It appreciates the thoughtful and brilliant creative development of the country.

Flora

The Flora scarf is inspired by the resilient little desert plants and flowers that endure even in the harshest weather conditions. The native Qatar flower, Capparis spinosa, is represented in the design.

Salukis

This scarf is named Salukis, the much-prized Saluki breed that can be found across Doha streets and rescue organizations. All dog-lovers and pet enthusiasts would certainly love to get their hands on this as 5% of the profits are donated to PAWS animal rescue.

Note:

• Each scarf is 70x70 cm in dimension (square cut).
• The print is front and back.
• Machine wash is recommended at 30 degrees Celsius.
• All scarfs are priced at QAR 200.
• Each scarf order is packaged in 100% recyclable paper boxes that are made in Qatar by @papercutqatar
• Purchase is subject to availability and the order may sometimes have to wait for 4–6 weeks as these are created by an illustrator and then printed.

Beeswax wrap sets

If you find yourself struggling with plastic cling wraps that you need to cut out each time you have to cover food dishes, then beeswax wrap sets are the thing you need to try! EcoSouq’s beeswax wrap comes in a set of three (small, medium, and large) and is a great alternative to cling film or even aluminum foil to wrap and store dishes.

These are handmade and sourced from northern Thailand with a 100% organic GOTS-certified cotton make. They are made of beeswax, cotton, resin, and organic coconut oil, so you can rest assured they are food-grade, reusable, antibacterial, and washable in the long run. The beeswax wrap sets are available in a fun set of colors and prints, and priced at QAR 85 per set of three.

Available: EcoSouq.org

Cotton face masks—adults and kids

The pandemic seems never-ending and you might as well get a couple of reusable cotton masks instead of the surgical masks that can feel annoying in the long run. There are several options of breathable cotton face masks by EcoSouq for both kids and adults. These are made from high-quality, organic cotton that is 100% GOTS-certified from northern Thailand.

Each mask comes with a detachable strap that you can fasten around the back of your head or even keep the mask safely hanging around your neck without losing it. The masks are made from three layers of cotton and have a pocket for additional filters too. The kids’ masks come in four different quirky prints that your toddlers would love. The adult face masks are available in four different colored prints.

Price: QAR 30

Available: EcoSouq.org

Reusable makeup pads

All makeup enthusiasts definitely understand the massive amounts of cotton and remover that you need to get your makeup off at the end of the day. A more sustainable approach to this would be to switch over to reusable makeup rounds and EcoSouq’s bamboo cotton pads are ideal for that.

These are bamboo terry pads that come with five reusable pads, an organic cotton mesh bag, and a bamboo holder for storing the pads. These are gentle on your skin and can be machine-washed inside the cotton bag for reuse later.

Price: QAR 100

Available: EcoSouq.org

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Inline images credit: EcoSouq