Author: Yasaswini Sampathkumar
Make space in your list of resolutions because we have a set that you can adopt towards a greener, simpler, and more beautiful plane t.
1.Carry your own bag:
This is absolutely the easiest beginning for anyone who is looking to reduce waste generation. Plan your trips to the store and carry enough bags along. If you keep finding yourself doing impromptu dashes to the neighbourhood shop, keep a few bags in your car and a small one folded up in your handbag or pocket.
2.Segregate and Compost: If composting is hard, then at least segregate your waste. Nearly everyone has 2 dustbins at home. Use one for compostable waste (and don’t bag it in a plastic wrapper) and another for all the rest.
If you are generating sanitary or medical waste (diapers, napkins, needles, glass ampoules), wrap them in newspaper and secure them. Invest in a red marker and put a big red cross on it.
3.Cook More:
This can be a delightful addition to any list of resolutions. Preparing and cooking food is an entire sensory and intellectual exercise that can put you in touch with your hunger cues and refine your tastes. If you are the I-can-burn-water type, perhaps you can simply start with cutting vegetables?
4.Buy Seasonal Buy Local:
Organic vegetables on a stand at a farmers market
Fresh seasonal produce from local suppliers beats everything else. It can be a delightful experience to buy succulent gourds and tender beans and see them blend together in a pot. If they came from your own terrace garden, then I promise that you will feel a like a superhero (and become snooty about vegetables from the market).
5.Consume Less: Spend less time consuming media, scrolling through twitter feeds, whatsapp forwards, Instagram and pinterest boards, or looking at advertisements on television. That will naturally lead to less consumption in terms of durables, disposables, food, and travel. There is really no sustainable practice better than reducing consumption.
6.Ditch That Detergent:
This is among the easiest resolutions to implement because there are so many vendors who supply organic cleaning agents (that even work with washing machines). You should really consider dropping the shampoo and soap (again, you can order these in bulk for a few months) for healthier skin and hair. Some lentil-based cleansers can even be made at home (grind green gram in a mixer for a powder that can be used in skin care)
7.Do an Energy Audit: Find out how much energy you use each day at home and see if you can bring it down. If you own a business, an energy audit and better energy usage could bring down your bills significantly .
8.Silence the Inner Cynic: Each of these resolutions takes a little time and effort. It can be tempting to feel hopeless and wonder whether any of this makes any difference. Every ocean is made of tiny drops, so go ahead and invest that time (even when your father thinks you are slightly crazy). But, sustainable habits bring about interesting changes in an individual and their community and it always turns out to be worthwhile in the long term.
Enjoy the new year and stay in harmony with the living world!
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