"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
