Meliorist

"Coming from a democratic country with a glorious history, I know democracy works only if people participate, and that is exactly how sustainbility can work! "

We see the word, ' sustainable ' being  used on personal profiles, marketing campaigns for various products, on blogs, etc. But what is sustainability ? Are we really 'living sustainably'?
This is a far-fetched goal, I would say!
Sustainability , according to me, is being able to live harmoniously with nature. To be able to grow, with nature, while consistently balancing all elements. To be able to preserve and maintain the quality of our lifestyle while maintaining that of the environment. Sometimes, this also means conserving what we already have or repairing what we have damaged, in our environment. Now, are we doing all of this in our daily lives?

'Sustainable living' is a far cry from just eating vegetarian food, buying ethical and slow fashion or using eco-friendly products! The only people I can actually think of when we say 'living sustainably' are the indigenous tribes, who lives are unruffled by the commercialized world. And apart from them maybe a few others, who live off the globalization radar and grow their own produce, amongst other things. So, when we say we are 'living sustainably', what are we actually doing? We are merely making an attempt. We are enthusiasts of sustainability, that's who we are!


I am a sustainability enthusiast. I have no resources to live a completely sustainable lifestyle. Hence, I try to make conscious choices based upon how these choices will impact my surroundings and better my lifestyle for a longer period of time. I think sustainability is a collective effort! In an individualistic culture, with idiosyncratic interests, it is only fair to strive towards living sustainably together, to make it truly effective. Coming from a democratic country with a glorious history, I know democracy works only if people participate, and that is exactly how sustainability can work!

Collectively, if we follow the below steps, it can definitely make a bigger impact on our environment, than doing it solo!

These are tips and questions for yourself as a consumer as well as a business owner. This is could help in planning your business model to be a more environmentally friendly one.

•  This is no. 1 for me when I talk about sustainability! Realize and repair the damage already caused to the environment. Climate change being the biggest example, including but not limited to, depleting air quality, diminishing species, dying reefs, just to name a few. We may not be able to completely reverse the damage but we can definitely help-out to repair and understand what not to do, to recur the damage.

• Support Climate Change policies. - The 'single-use plastic ban' being one of the widely known and effectively applied policies in the past years, this is a request to support other climate change policies equally to make them effective. There are many ngos, who strive to make people notice these policies. There are leaders all around the world who are working to build communities to support these policies. The least we could do is our bit to support them, by making small changes to our lifestyle.

• Try to understand how sustainable brands work.

• Learn how the products are being manufactured.
            - Are the raw materials organically and ethically sourced.
            - If after production, there is chemical residue that pollute our natural environment,                                including but not limited to air, soil, rivers, etc.
            - Is the production process harming the biodiversity of the surrounding region.

• Understand how is a brand is sourcing energy to power their production plants.

• Make sure the business is helping develop the landscape around the production plant. Ask if it fosters the growth of local ingredients or increases dependability on outsourced materials. Is it providing jobs to the locals?

• Are animals being harmed in testing the products? Most of of the brands are now going cruelty-free while some of the industry A-listers are still testing on animals. Try to opt for brands which are Peta - approved cruelty-free. Look for the pink bunny logo on your product.

• Try to switch to a plant-based diet. While this may seem difficult to do, it is approachable. You need not become a vegan immediately! Transition gradually to eating more vegetables and plant-based products. The market is full of delectable options to try. Choose healthier alternatives to meat and dairy products.

• Last but definitely not the least, join an environmental protection group or follow your favorite eco-bloggers. They give you numerous ideas and hacks to live a conscious lifestyle without having to compromise, heavily, on your varied interests and help protect the environment.


So, this may require you to invest time and efforts in understanding the concept of sustainability but is doable. What do you think?

Tell me what you think about 'sustainable living' in the comments section.

Thank you for reading!

XOXO

Kimaya

This one is a quick read indeed. An on-the-go guide to 'Go Green' .....digitally! Yea! You heard it right! This time, the convenience is at your fingertips, that easy!

So, I am going to quickly introduce you to two online platforms that help you contribute your bit, for environment preservation and helping mankind, without you having to do any physical work for it. Sounds interesting?

The first one is a search engine! Yea! As quirky as it may sound Ecosia.org is a one of it's kind search engine, which plants for every search. More than 80 + Million trees have been planted in the regions, where they are needed, so far. Switch to Ecosia now and start searching!!!

The second platform is quite a blessing in disguise. We all are aware of the emissions from flight travel and how it affects our environment. Most of us, use flights to travel for business or leisure. While giving-up on flight travel may not seem like a feasible option to the masses, there is something you could do to offset this flight carbon impact. Climate Care is one such distinctive projects which helps you offset your carbon footprint by calculating your miles to convert them to donations, towards various environment conservation or human development projects.

Since we are talking digital, let's not forget social media! Make the most of the social media platforms to share the knowledge about going green. There are several tips and tricks to do the same. Make sustainability go viral!

Do you know any such online platforms? Comment to share!

Thank you for reading! :)

XOXO

Kimaya 

Do you remember that story of the two mice?  One of who is a villager and the other a city dweller? And how this village mouse -  terrified of how difficult it was to get good food, in the hustle and bustle of the city life, with his cousin - returns to his peaceful village, where he got nutritious rich food, and lived a stress-free life!

Living in a fast paced city has it own charm and drawbacks. The so called 'good life' with all the luxuries - comes with an underlying current of stress, financial situations, health issues and a polluted atmosphere. People slogging to fulfill their needs while some to follow their passion. Bodies working like machines to achieve their goals. And while we may fuel the body with food, are we using the right kind of fuel? Giving the body what it needs? Or force feeding the tummy, while being biased to our taste buds and cravings?

In the long run, one seldom neglects the needs of their body, and submits to the wants. A lot of nutritionists, and everyone you meet talking about "eating right".....easier said than done.

Honestly, I am a trying to be a consicous eater although I am finding it extremely difficult to build a good eating habit. Especially when I am on the move, for work. I must confess that I get completely engrossed in my work, most of the time and often forget to drink 3 litres of water in a day or eat my meals on time. That is exactly when I receive these offer codes from Domino's, Zomato, etc. to get me salivating to some drool-worthy images of my favourite pizza or French fries with extra cheese, in my head. Do you not experience this?

Your busyness is never going away. Skipping meals just to get your work done on time is not the best option. Your body needs more nutrition on busier days, than any other, to function properly. Not eating on time or not eating what the body needs, will result in depletion of the valuable fluids in your body and will exhaust your energy. It will further affect your well-being and impact your ability to perform better or enjoy life experiences, in general.

What does it take? To follow a good eating habit, especially for a city mouse.....I mean person? Just a few steps to form a good food routine, to eat healthy and clean meals over craving or submitting to the convenience of the fast food, and a good way to respect your machine.

Here are a few things I do to make sure I am eating right. Of course, you can do better than this but these are good baby steps to start a good eating habit.

1) The age-old advice of drinking atleast 2litres of water. Easy to do. Carry your own reusable bottle and stay hydrated wherever you go. ( Do not buy plastic bottles ) .

2) Add coconut water, lemon water and other    infused waters to your daily diet. Not only does it hydrate your body, it works as a good detox and improves the texture of your skin.

3)Carry a mixture of all essential dry fruits like almonds, raisins, walnuts, amongst others. You can carry baked sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds too, they are tasty and healthy. Pack a small tiffin with these nutri-bits and put them in your handbag or bagpack, just to make sure you have something to eat, incase your meal is delayed.

4) Carry a fruit, without cutting it. Eating the whole fruit retains it's fibres. It is a good evening snack or something to eat on the go.

5) Opt for a healthy snack, if purchasing from a store. Choose curds, protein bars, puffed lotus seeds or even popcorn as a snack instead of products which contain high levels of sodium and sugar.

6) Eat all colours of a rainbow. Try to consicously eat all the colours to help benefit your body in various ways. It could be a salad or juices. Incorporating these, will help you get the required vitamins and antioxidants.


These are just a basic few steps to maintain a healthy eating habit. It is possible..... with a bit of effort and efficient time management! This could vary based on your body requirements though.  Feel free to add to this list and update me too, incase you think I missed something. I am learning just  like you are, to live sustainably. :)
What do you do to eat healthy? What are your struggles? Your healthy snacks? Comment on the post to tell me your story.

Thank you for reading!

XOXO

Kimaya

Furthering the talk from the previous topic of distinguishing clean from Green from organic and ethical beauty tags, I would like to discuss something equally or more overwhelming! 
I  go to stores, their shelves overflowing with pretty looking bottles and containers of serums, oils, cleansers, etc. , and I stand there haven't clue of where to begin or what is best suited for me.
As if their tags were not confusing enough, how do we distinguish the good ones from the fakes, the dupes or the hyped?
I have jotted down a couple questions I consider the answers to, before I invest in a good sustainable skin care brand.

1) What skin-type are you?

     Know your SKIN - I think, knowing your skin type is imperative before you invest in any skin care at all. It is must to be able to buy products that suit your skin. You can spend a fortune on products which are best suited for some other skin type. Do not blindly follow recommendations by your friends or influencers, your skin could be different than that of the person recommending the product.
    Visit a good dermatologist, get to know your exact skin type. This is no.1!

2) Why are you buying that specific brand? Is it the public image of the brand? The brand values? The quality of ingredients ?

    Know your BRAND - I believe in the principles the brand stands on. I do a thorough research and follow their activity on social media before buying.
    I prefer to buy from brands which make products with a good intent and a better vision for the brand growth and are equally considerate about impacting people's lives and the environment, in a positive way. Brands that support and act in favour of sustainability are the ones to root for. Make sure the ingredients are organic, the formulation is safe and approved by recognized departments of healthcare.
    Of course, expertise and knowledge about the production is important too. That brings me to the next question.

3) How is the founder/formulator? How is their skin? What is their background in skincare? For how long have they been in business/profession?

    Know your FORMULATOR - I think, your research is incomplete without truly getting to know the formulator / founder of the brand! Even more, when there is a swarm of green skincare brands, each with their own principles and unique formulations. There are plenty of good formulators out there with great experience but it is important to know about their education about green beauty. Consider how long they have been in business. The tenure of a market presence, the performance history and the client base says a lot about a formulator .Even if it is a founder, they should possess necessary knowledge of green beauty products. And while they may not be available readily, there is always a way to contact them on email or phone! Go out there, ask them what you feel!
  With a similar intention, I spoke to the founder of Daughter Earth - a conscious skincare brand from India. Prasanthy Gurugubelli was more than happy to answer all my questions, patiently and with a smile. She even shared her own story and how she went on to build this amazing brand.
She gave me the knowledge of how long it takes to develop a product too! I was overwhelmed to know how long it takes and the study, effort, expertize, patience and knowledge of the process required to develop the product before it goes out to the masses.


Last but not the least, ask yourself.....

4) Do you really need the product? Is it exactly what you are looking for?

I do not know why but I feel many are using too many products on their skin now-a-days. Because there are options, they tend to use and confuse many products in a regime. Do not do too much to your skin. Have a few products in your daily skincare regime and let your skin do the rest.
Read the ingredients list. Understand what ingredients your skin needs, to be at it's best. Compare products.
Do not forget to give your skin a break from the products. It also needs a detox.

So basically, do the dirty work, research like a geek. I repeat, do not blindly follow influencers, marketing campaigns or trends. Find out what your skin is and what it needs for nourishment.
It is all about finding a brand whose principles of skincare align with yours!

These questions definitely help me in finding my skincare brands to invest in. I hope it helps you too.

Thank you for reading. :)

XOXO

Kimaya

Organic 

Green

Ayurvedic

Vegan & Cruelty Free

Non-toxic or Clean

Conscious

HAATHI CHAAP

Here, check them out https://elephantpoopaper.com/index.html and be amazed!

Instagram :@haathi.chaap

PLANTCIL™

Visit their website now!

Instagram: @plantcil_official

Organic Linen

Organic Cotton

Hemp

Being a conscious consumer, I look at the labels before buying any outfit. I propose you to do the same. Make sure your outfit was ethically produced without causing any direct harm to animals, humans or the planet. Do some research on the brand before you buy, don’t just blindly believe the tags. Yes, it is a bit time consuming but hey, sustainability is all about slow fashion.