Biodegradable prayer flags available for your next trip to Everest’s summit

In Nepal, the ubiquitous prayer flags associated with the region’s Buddhist traditions are now available in natural, biodegradable materials as the country looks to reduce plastic waste. 

Colorful prayer flags, dubbed Lung ta, are often affixed to Himalayan summits, pilgrimage sites, temples, and mediation spaces. It is believed that wind spreads blessings and goodwill from the flags, benefiting all. 

Ang Dolma Sherpa, founder of Utpala Crafts in Kathmandu, has been making biodegradable prayer flags for several years. “It all started with 15 Buddhist leaders from around the world, including the Dalai Lama, signing the Buddhist Climate Change Statement to World Leaders at COP21 in 2015,” she tells the Nepali Times. “I was convinced small-scale initiatives like these can also help address pollution and climate change.”

She currently makes the flags using either 100% natural fibers or Tencel cotton, which sell for Rs290 ($3.82) and Rs160 ($2.11), respectively.