How to keep up with eco friendly and sustainable practices?

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Our habits have a larger impact on others. No matter how hard we try to avoid taking responsibility, everything we do has an impact. This phenomenon is noticed even more so when we talk about the environment and nature. 


Design Credit: alifprihambodo


Being eco-friendly and sustainable is crucial in today's world. Due to blatant consumerism and rapid urbanisation, the flora and fauna are suffering. A long period of ignorance and selfishness has made it necessary to follow some practices on a day to day basis to reduce our carbon footprint and by extension, contribute towards nature's healing. 


3Rs

Reduce, reuse, recycle - this is a mantra we have been taught since school days. 


The first R is for Reduce. This involves reducing the amount of waste we generate. It is the most important part of living a sustainable lifestyle. The objective is to make fewer unnecessary purchases of things like clothing, kitchenware, and decorative items. We frequently ignore the Reduce aspect of sustainability because we believe that things can be recycled or reused. The amount of energy required to make just one unit of a product is what we should think about. A single production requires electricity, water, fuel, and a piece of land. Most of these resources take time to renew. The rate in which we are purchasing goods, resources will be used up quicker than they will be renewed. 


A good idea is to purchase things second hand. Nowadays, a lot of thrift shops sell items that celebrities and other people have thrown away after just one use, such as clothing, curtains, accessories, etc. Facebook Marketplace and OLX are additional sources for used items like appliances, refrigerators, mattresses, etc. These products are offered in good condition.


The second R is for Reuse. This practice involves using something to the point where it is unusable. For example, we can reuse paper bags, jars, and bottles for storing things or as a container for plants. We can also reuse old clothes by donating them to charity, making them into rags, or using them as cleaning cloths.


The third R is Recycle. This involves turning waste materials into new products. This includes plastic, tin, glass, paper like magazines, books, etc. Recycling helps to conserve natural resources, save energy, and reduce pollution.


Bangalore has centres to recycle the massive plastic waste that the population generates. It is important to separate the type of plastic before disposal. Saahas Zero Waste is an organisation which recycles many kinds of plastic. Ecokaari takes packaging plastic as a donation, recycles them into fabric and creates many products which can be reused.


The Parivarthana Unit at Christ University, an NGO called Center for Social Action run by the student body and underprivileged women, employs underprivileged women to recycle paper into

lovely products like folders, picture frames, jewellery boxes, etc. Additionally, they have the facilities to compost the food waste produced on campus. The student body of CSA takes over the responsibility to spread awareness about the initiative. They also conduct clean up drives in collaboration with BBMP around the city to reach out to people about the importance of keeping our environment clean. 


Starting our own initiative doesn't require much. Small-scale initiatives include recycling books, magazines, and paper through local collectors who visit the neighbourhood. In addition to helping them make some money, this also contributes to environmental preservation.


Solar Energy 

Making use of solar energy panels is another sustainable living strategy. Most parts of India receive a lot of sunlight. In the long run, solar panels are cost-effective. An entire household could be powered by the energy. This promotes more environmentally friendly behaviour and helps conserve non-renewable energy sources.


Even without solar panels, you can still reduce your energy usage by making some simple changes. This can be done, for instance, by using energy-efficient appliances and turning off lights and electronics when not in use.


Electric Vehicles

The era of electric vehicles has arrived. Because fossil fuels are depleting and take thousands of years to replenish, prices are rising and becoming more difficult to afford for the average person. Due to its increased availability, electricity is much less expensive today than it was in the 19th century. It’s also now cheaper than fossil fuels in most countries. That should be sufficient motivation for one to invest, or at the very least, give it some serious thought!


Every year, fossil fuel emissions pollute our skies and in some places, makes the air hard to breathe. The planet is struggling to support life under ideal conditions due to fossil fuel emissions and deforestation. Our planet would find it harder and harder to support life unless we reject outmoded methods and adopt a carbon-neutral lifestyle. Fossil fuel emissions account for about 65% of the excess mortality rate attributable to air pollution, while CO2 emissions make up about 76% of all greenhouse gases. If we don't start cooling down the planet, life as we know it won't be the same.



Some other eco friendly practices include - 

  • Using public transportation or carpooling

  • Choosing eco-friendly products like steel straws and bamboo toothbrushes

  • Usage of cloth bags instead of getting plastic ones

  • Carrying your own water bottle to avoid buying plastic water bottles

  • Taking your own containers or reusable plastic to buy groceries. Stores like Organic Mandhya and Reliance Fresh have options to take some materials in your containers. This greatly decreases plastic consumption.

  • Planting trees to create spaces for animals to live in


These are a few sustainable and eco-friendly practices. You will discover more sustainable ways of living as you begin the journey!


Authored by Praanjali Shukla, Volunteer at PfA Bangalore

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