Growing up in an isolated community in Myanmar in the 1990s, we had limited access to global trade and didn’t have the goods the global manufacturing industry had to offer. As a result, products were sacred; we recycled and reused whatever we could. Aluminum cans turned into toys; old blankets into pajamas.
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McKinsey_Website_Accessibility@mckinsey.comAyeyarwady river taken on a family trip in February 2017
However, that has taken a turn. Now, Myanmar unfortunately produces tons of waste. Our main river, Ayeyarwaddy, is one of the most polluted rivers in the world.
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McKinsey_Website_Accessibility@mckinsey.comFreshly harvested basil, about to be deployed into a fish-curry dish for dinner
Doing my part
I believe every individual action matters and helps (or hurts), so I try to reduce waste wherever possible. I carry a thermal flask wherever I go. Before COVID-19, this helped me reduce my need for single-use plastics on planes and at client sites and helped ensure I got warm water to hydrate myself on chilly flights.
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McKinsey_Website_Accessibility@mckinsey.comThe tiny lime-plants, saved recently from a caterpillar attack
Now that I’m more home-bound, I have taken up gardening, which is perfect for a social distancing lifestyle where visits to the markets are far and few. I have nurtured a lime plant, lemongrass and basil - all of which can be used in salads. Further, they have health benefits. For example, kaffir lime leaves are full of alkaloids, antioxidants and antibacterial substances to boost the immune system. I enjoy checking on my plants every now and then as a break from Zoom-calls.
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McKinsey_Website_Accessibility@mckinsey.comCaterpillar chewing away at the lime leaves
Helping clients
On the broader macro-level, I am working on an e-commerce engagement and have partnered with my clients to set up dedicated sustainability initiatives, including using recycled cardboard boxes for delivery, enabling customers to return the cardboard boxes for reuse and encouraging recycling and elimination of single-use cutlery at our client’s office.
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