Sustainable changes

In last few years there has been a lot of awareness towards sustainable living. I had been reading a lot about what can I do to make certain changes in my daily life so that I can contribute towards sustainability. One such change that was easily was switching to steel bottles.

Before talking about the Steel bottles let me first tell you about how it was since the childhood. When I was a child and I started going to the school we had visited or shop for buying tiffin and water bottle. A child who did not know much about the harm caused by plastic, I went ahead and chose the most colourful looking tiffin and water bottle. At that time all the school supplies would be made out of plastic. It was not even known that whether the plastic has been approved to be used for food and beverage. Yet that was the only option with us. All throughout my childhood I had used plastic bottles and tiffins.

When I was in college Tupperware was spreading its wings in India. I had received a Tupperware tiffin box from one of my relatives. It was plastic but it was food grade approved. It appeared to be a high quality plastic. After that my home was filled with various Tupperware items. There were tiffins, water bottles, tumblrs, jars, mugs, food containers in my home which were made by Tupperware. It was not just my house but almost all middle class households would have plethora of items from Tupperware. These products would be advertised as eco friendly. They would say that these products are reusable and they can be recycled into making new plastic items. This products made all mothers happy because they looked to good and were easy to clean. They also made the younger generation happy because it was supposed to be eco friendly. Tupperware would last several years without losing its colour. However the students who have studied science would definitely know how plastic leaches. I was desperate to search for an alternative which would be sustainable and can replace the Tupperware plastic at my home.

Glass was never an alternative because of its potential to break (because we have Butterfingers). But then I stumbled upon the item that I loved the most. I found Steel bottles on the online portal from where I shop. The Steel bottles had a lot of advantage over the plastic bottles. First advantage was that the Steel is non reactive and it does not react with food. It definitely is much safer than plastic. Second advantage was durability. If the Steel hits the ground it would not change its shape or break. This is where it is superior than glass. And of course Steel does not cause pollution like plastic. I understood this and decided to switch to the Steel bottles.

One by one I replaced each plastic bottle which was there in my home with steel bottles. Now my home does not have a single plastic bottle. My second initiative was to gift Steel bottles to my relatives. On the occasion of Diwali I had gifted Steel bottles to my cousins as well as nephews and nieces. Everyone was delighted to receive artistically painted Steel bottles without realising that it was a sustainable initiative.

This was my initiative towards sustainability. I hope you begin small changes towards sustainability as well.

It was the year 2005 when the city of Mumbai realized how horrible the plastic bags can be. The plastic bags had clogged a lot of your tunnels which led to the flood in July 2005. As a corrective and preventative measure the government had decided to reduce the use of plastic bags. Though it was impossible to completely ban or stop the use of plastic bags. I was in a complete agreement with the government's measured. I decided to take a step further.

I had the stitching machine at my home. I decided to stitch the Cotton bags. This would completely cut down the inflow of plastic bags which we would get from fruit or vegetable vendors. One by one I started stitching cotton bags at home. To stitch tgese cotton bags I did not bring any fabric from outside. I would use the fabric at home.

Later I decided to take one step even further. I started using the scrap clothes to make the cotton bags. If the bed sheet was torn then I would take it to stitch my cloth bag. If the pillow cover was worn out I would take it to stitch another bag. If I had pieces of scrap fabric then I would stitch those together and turn that into a bag. I had also taken old t-shirts to stitch the Cotton bags.

Using the Cotton bags was not just limited to a sustainable habit. This would give me and opportunity to discover the creativity. It would be an amazing process to take the scrap fabric and stitching them together to form a long cloth so that I could make a bag out of it. This creative hobby would take away any boredom. After a creating such interesting and useful art projects I would feel relaxed and delighted. Also the bags would always stand out. At the supermarkets there would never be confusion in identifying the back because it would look different from anybody elses back.

This was one sustainable habit that I put my time and efforts into. That were a lot of blouse piece clothing at my home which we were not using. All those were converted into the cloth bags. I did not limit the use of cloth bag to myself and my family. Whenever any guest used to visit my home while they would leave I would give them of cloth bag as a gift. I would tell them that these are made from the leftover or scrap fabrics and they are handmade. Most guest would get delighted to receive cute handmade gift. They woyld appreciate the thoughtfulness of giving away such a wonderful and eco friendly gift. They would like it because it was useful. After all everybody likes to use different bags to get groceries.

This was one of my sustainable habits that had been I believe of great importance. Not only that I have reduced the use of plastic bags but I now have very usable attractive bags to take with me at shopping companions.

Another point that I would like to highlight is that in one of the corporate competitions on sustainability this initiative of mine won first prize. The reason was simple. This was an easy sustainable solution which did not require much investment and cost. It was budget friendly and easy.

If you have scrap fabrics or spare fabrics at your home I would urge you to use them into making cloth bags. Such small steps with help us in the long run.

I would considered myself to be an OG online shopper. I started purchasing from The e-commerce portals even before they became trending. However, there is something very specific that I know it about the e-commerce portals. Fashion articles are dominated by synthetic fabrics. You have to really dig deeper to find natural fibres however it is worth the try.

In the world that is dominated by synthetic and oil based fast fashion there is the requirement of the fashion revolution. We need to fight the fashion industry buy purchasing natural favrics. The best natural fabrics are cotton, silk, jute, and linen. Initially when I started purchasing from the e-commerce websites I would just go by the design and the print. But now I am more careful about the description of the clothing piece. If the label reads 100% cotton, silk, linen, or jute then it is something I would tend to buy. Hundred percent polyester is a complete no go for me. This is one sustainable change that I have adopted in the recent years.

Let me take you back of you a few years ago. Our fashion industry was dominated by cotton, silk, and their mix blends. There would hardly be any clothes that would be made of synthetic fabrics. But as fast fashion took over the entire industry became saturated with synthetic fabrics.

My question is why did we bend down to the fast fashion industry? In our country the cotton and silk fabrics are easily available. In our country these fabrics are not even expensive. But still because of the rise of fast fashion those fabrics started to become rare in the industry.

Meanwhile if you see the scene at the international fashion you would see that cotton, silk, and other natural fibres are considered to be luxurious. A list celebrities and Royal families often wear cotton and Silk outfits. If they considered these fabrics to be the luxurious outfits then why we are staying away from using our local fabrics?

This was a realization after which I decided that I would not buy any fabric that is synthetic. I completely stopped buying any outfit that was made of these fabrics. Here the moral and societal responsibility took over the temptation of fashion. Now when I am shopping either in store or online I ensure to check the label. If I see that the label is indicating use of synthetic polymers then I do not purchase such article even though I had liked it. I believe this is a responsibility that each one of us should carry so that our lives become sustainable.

Of course each and every fabric takes several litres of water while being prepared. Natural fabrics are no exceptions. Yet one aspect that needs to be remembered is that natural fabrics are not going to produce microplastics which are going to pollute the water and the soil. Additionally natural fabrics are biodegradable so we do not need to worry about how the degradation of these fabrics is going to happen. Another major advantage of natural fabrics is that they are comfortable on our skin. They are breathable. They will keep you warm in cold environment whereas they will keep you cool in the hot environment. An added advantage is that they will last longer.

Now I do not intend to write an academic article about the advantages of cotton outfits. I believe that the facts that I have stated are enough to make you think about your shopping habits.

Remember that one small step towards sustainability is also going to matter in a long run.

Minimalism is one of the approaches that is extremely helpful in today's times.

First let's understand what is minimalism. Minimalism is a type of lifestyle or philosophy that deals with living intentionally with only what adds value and purpose. In simple words we can say that minimalism means keeping what is absolutely necessary. With minimalism or minimalistic approach we can improve the way of our living by various ways.

The first step towards minimalism can be getting something that is absolutely necessary. This way we will be able to cut down unnecessary or impulse purchases. As we are not doing unnecessary purchases we will automatically cut down the wastage that occurs because of such purchases. We reduce the overconsumption because of the minimalistic lifestyle. This is one way towards contributing to sustainability.

Another advantage of minimalism is that we make thoughtful purchases. We think about making the purchase every time we do it. We ask questions such as is this worth my money? Is this something that is absolutely essential? Am I going to use it for a long term? Is this this perishable? Is this beneficial? Will it add value to my lifestyle? Can I live my life without it? When we ask such thought provoking questions to ourselves then our vision starts to become clear. We see very clearly towards what we are spending on and what we are consuming. Again this approach not only helps us saving money but it also helps us to save the environment. By thinking in this way we not only reduce the consumption but we focus on thoughtful and careful consumption.

Let me a reminder some does not mean we should not buy something that we like. It is more about giving a thoughtful justification towards each purchase and this justification needs to be provided to ourselves.

Let me share an example of my shopping habits. When I go for shopping and I like something then I ask myself a lot of questions. I seek an answer from my inner self to understand if that purchase is an essential purchase or I am only influenced by the surroundings. By asking these questions I get straight answers. This approach definitely helps me to make thoughtful purchases, reduce over consumption, and save some money as well.

Of course minimalism is not a mandate, it is a type of lifestyle that is completely optional. It is a type of lifestyle that would be easier on the pockets and environment in the long run. I am aware that nobody becomes a minimalist overnight. I am trying to live a minimalistic lifestyle for several years and even today I would not consider myself to be a minimalist. I am a minimalist in process. The level of minimalism which I aspire to achieve is something that I haven't reached as yet. But during these years I have realised that as compared with my previous lifestyle the minimalistic lifestyle is something that I can easily carry on. I am able to save money which is good for myself and I have also observed that the minimalistic habits that have a positive impact on the environment. When we see the positive aspect of our actions we definitely intend to continue it further.

This is something from my experience of how reducing the consumption has improved not only the finances and environment but also it has improved my mood and my way of organising my life. I request everyone reading this to give at least a try towards minimalism and you will be impressed with the results. Give yourself one month towards adapting to the minimalistic lifestyle and probably you to wood become like me a "minimalist in process".

Your favorite e-commerce portal has announced their biggest sale of the season. All products are heavily discounted. One product that you have kept in your wishlist for a very long time is now available at a massive discount. You add it to your cart and proceed with the payment. The order is confirmed. The product gets delivered in the next week. After trying it on it looks amazing. It becomes your new favourite fashion article. You wear it frequently and everywhere you go. But then you notice that every other person is wearing the same fashion article. It has lost its uniqueness. It has become too mainstream. Somehow you have started disliking that fashion piece. But it is still in a good shape. You do not want to discard it but you are no longer using it. It sits in your wardrobe.

Does this situation sound similar?

This happens with most of us. For various reasons and sometimes unexplainable reasons our favourite fashion article is no longer our favourite. But it is not damaged. It still is in good form. What to do in this case? I suggest to donate such pieces.

Donating clothes and other fashion articles is a very old and sustainable practice. The clothes or other fashion accessories that are sitting in the closet and collecting the dust should no longer be kept in the same position. They should be handed over to the needy. When the clothing or a fashion accessories are good form and we are no longer using them, then the best way for a sustainable living is to donate them. When we donate clothes or other fashion accessories to the underprivileged ones then this practice ensure that those are appropriately utilised. The one in need would understand their importance and they will use them to the fullest.

Donation has several advantages.
First advantage is that you are able to clear the unnecessary clutter from your wardrobe. You will be able to make space for new items or in general make space in your wardrobe.
Second advantage of donation is that the articles get a second chance and therefore a second life. The ones who need them would be able to use good fashion pieces. We are not only helping ourselves but we are also helping the ones who are in need. This is a win win situation completely.
The third advantage is that by donating our clothes and other fashion accessories we are reducing the landfills. Our clothes do not end up in a landfill and it ends up in the hands of those who need them.
The fourth advantage of donation is the feeling of goodwill. When you do something good you will definitely feel it from the inside. This is a kind of joy that donation provides us.

Donation indeed is a really good practice. For donating your clothes you do not have to scout for any NGOs. You may ask your househelps, maids, cooks, or any underprivilage people that you know in your locality. These are the people who will appreciate your gesture and would happily accept your donations.

Make an attempt to donate your used clothes and fashion accessories if possible. This is a very simple step but it would change lives. You would not only make someone else happy but also would be able to save the environment with a nice and kind gesture.

This story is inspired by a real life experience.

I came home to see that we had guests. The guest were my wealthy aunt and uncle. They had lived in the Gulf countries for several years. No wonder they were wealthy but they also had extravagant lifestyle. They had no value towards local products and would use everything imported.

When aunt saw me, she handed me a pack of almonds. Boasting about her wealth she further informed me that she knows a vendor who imports almonds directly from California. She would regularly place order at this vendor to get best quality almonds. She also told me that she knows best vendors for food, cosmetics, skin care, and fashion accessories. She informed me that she is the member of these Elite clubs where these vendors take personalised orders for their customers. Looking at my face she assumed that I am really impressed with her wealth and connections. In reality I was thinking how much unsustainable her lifestyle is.

A lot of people carry this pride that they do not use the local products or the products that are made in their own country. They order products from different countries and they use only imported products. This attitude turns every effort towards sustainability into an oblivion.

Now I only plan to focus on the sustainability and I want to leave aside the financial aspect. First let's understand what happens when we use local products. Local products are transported from different cities away but within the country. They are transported in bulk units. The cost of transportation and fuel per unit becomes low because of all these parameters. Considering these factors we can say that local products are more sustainable than important products.

Now let's talk about important products. The products that are manufactured or packaged outside our country and need to be imported via air or marine transportation. Because of the long distance the fuel cost and the transportation cost would be higher. Consumption of fuel would also be higher. Hence in my opinion importing the products is not sustainable and harmful towards environment. If they are imported in bulk still they would be little more sustainable however if Elite clubs are asking for their unique personalized orders to be imported they will be never close to sustainable.

Another aspect of the imported products is with respect to their relevance. The imported products may not be suitable for our weather and climatic conditions. The skin care products because of the different climatic condition may not suit our skin. The second possibility which is worse is they would not maintain their consistency because of different climatic conditions. There have been many instances that the products from European market tend to get spoilt in the Indian weather because of the excessive heat. Would you like this to happen to your products?

Where as if we talk about local products then they take into the consideration of the climatic conditions. This products would be able to hold their consistency even with the excessive heat if stored correctly. The products are formulated taken into account the tropical weather of our country. Hence you will notice that local products go a long way.

Hence while you are purchasing anything ask yourself if it will be a sustainable choice. I am sure that being intelligent customers you would make the right choice for yourself.

"Wow that is such a nice dress. From where did you purchase this? Share the link with me please," said my colleague while admiring the dress that I was wearing.
"Thank you, I got it stitched. It was my mother is old saree and I had an idea to convert it into a dress. My tailor was able to translate this idea into the reality," I responded to my colleague's compliments with the justification. She was shocked to know that the saree was repurposed.

This is a real story. Another sustainable practice that I had been implementing.

When we have understood the concepts of sustainability and we decide to make it reality, we start making certain changes. I believe we are able to see multiple waves towards it. One of such ways is repurposing various things.

Here my mother had a saree which she had used for several years. It was still good, so I decided that I should repurpose it by making it into a dress. This gave the old saree a new life and more years in the wardrobe. Similarly if we look around, find the ways to repurpose, I am sure we will be able to do so.

Let me share few more examples. A t-shirt that we had been using for a very long time and we see that it has been faded. We can converted into a pillow cover or a simple tote bag for a carrying groceries. This can be done just by adding simple stitches. One does not need to be an expert seamstress to make thees articles.

Another way to repurpose is to use torn clothes as rags. We can place them at the entrance of our door to wipe our feet after entering the home. They can be used for a whiping of the kitchen surfaces. They can be used for mopping.

Likewise there are various ways to repurpose everything that is present in our house. We should reuse and repurpose everything till we can use it till the last bit. I believe if we start practicing this way we would be able to save a lot of money as well as we would be able to use everything to its fullest. Also we will be able to reduce the landfills.

As I had mentioned earlier as well when we are adapting to sustainable practice we are not only saving the environment but also we will be able to save a lot of money. By making these small changes you will be able to cut down your expenses on mops doormats, pillow covers, dust covers, etc.

There is one more additional advantage to this. When we decide to repurpose everything, we bring out the creative side of ours. We come up with creative ways to repurpose anything. Repurposing boosts our creativity and when we successfully repurpose something it definitely gives us an immense happiness. This way of living is sustainable, enjoyable, and also creative.

Let me end this article by suggesting that next time when you intend to throw something, look at it and think if you can repurpose it. Make up your mind to repurpose everything and you will see how creatively you will make new things.

With this let me wish you: Happy repurposing!