Simple, yet effective tips - World Earth Day

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In 1970, the first Earth Day was celebrated in the US, where groups concerned about environmental problems came together to participate at various locations, with a diverse crowd. But as technology progresses, we are increasingly consumed by screens, processed foods, and thirty-seconds videos.

Nowadays, it's uncertain how many people will attend Earth Day rallies, and even if they do, they may not be environmentally friendly due to modern transportation and personal agendas. We are exploiting the Earth and nature and not giving back enough, which is a societal issue. The responsibility lies with the lower fraction of the Earth’s population in developed urban areas who can afford to make the right choices. Today, as People for Earth, we bring you five simple tips which can help you make the sustainable choice. Follow along!


1) Cones vs Cups
The first tip is easy and sounds tasty. We entered ice-cream shops and choose to buy ice-cream in paper cups with a wooden spoon, sounds like a sustainable choice, right?. However, the cup in question is not entirely made of paper; it is a blend of paper and plastic to prevent spillage. Beside these cups you have a better option and that’s ice-cream cones!. It is a much better and palatable choice than paper or paper-plastic cups.

2) Bottles vs Bars
Synthetic products are no good to you or the Earth. They contain chemicals which are harmful when the products are used over a prolonged period of time. Reetha or Soap Nut, which was commonly used for washing hair until the advertising industry took over, can also be used as a natural detergent for your laundry as a liquid or a powder. This also calls for being mindful of the ingredient list written behind our products. 

Plastics are heavily empowered by the bathing industry. Sustainable hair care companies are replacing their shampoo and conditioner bottles with bars. Opting for such solutions can help reduce your plastic footprint.

3) Garden your way up!
Having a mini terrace garden for your herbs, tomatoes & okra: They are the easiest and the most used plants & vegetables in the Great Indian Kitchen(fruits too, tomato is a fruit!). Why is gardening saving the Earth you may ask? A terrace garden for example helps in keeping your home cool. All the plants growing at your home will develop a micro-environment and naturally lower the temperature of your home, allowing you to save up big on your AC bills, reducing your carbon footprint and you can enjoy your wholesome foods.

4) (Un)Welcome the plastics
Upcycle - Plastic is going nowhere right now, you can not reverse the effects of plastic or be completely sustainable in a single night and plastic is a weakness for the Earth if not recycled efficiently. You can recycle as well as upcycle. Use those plastic bottles as pots and get a little creative by decorating them as you see fit. You can pack all your mini plastic bags in one large plastic bottle to avoid littering, prevent choking of drainage, avoid stray animals consuming them and save space too.

In Bangalore, we find so many tender coconut water vendors and beside them many plastic straws lying around. Think about the magnitude of such batches of plastic straws being used around the city everyday and in the whole country. Bring the coconut home and drink in a glass or you can opt for stainless steel straws which come with a carry-in pouch to enjoy your coconut right there and then. Next step is avoiding the plastic cutlery, please and we got links for your alternative choice!

5) Focusing on your ‘Wants' vs ‘Needs’
Many times we focus on frequently buying unnecessary items thinking we need them but think twice! Most of the items we buy are made out of plastic and they harm the Earth. Do you really need to order groceries from a food delivery app or do you really need a cab to travel three to six kilometres away?

Technology is meant to make life easier but we also need to be mindful of the impact that these companies make. They redeem themselves by branding them as eco-friendly and making the right choice falls on the shoulders of the consumers. Focusing on what you actually need vs what you want will help you minimise your personal costs as well as relieve our planet.


That’s the end of our tips! They do require effort and it might not be easy but it is surely satisfying. Hope these were thought-provoking for you and you will take that one small step to do better for our beloved planet.

Authored by Palak Arora, Volunteer at PfA Bangalore

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