Sustainability is crucial to stop further degradation of the environment. It is also a pocket-friendly exercise, as it aims to make use of existing resources instead of investing in new ones that will put a strain on your monthly budget. While the capitalist-heavy society will never make it easy for us, we can certainly inculcate this quality as a habit in our children at a very young age. Thus, they will grow up championing this cause, playing a minuscule but significant role in making the environment a better one to live in.
Since time immemorial, Indian culture has prioritised sustainability across various aspects of everyday life be it using stainless steel vessels compared to delicate porcelain ones or using old clothes as cleaning clothes. Let us examine some examples of sustainable living in our homes that we need to teach our children about and how to execute them:
1. Compost kitchen waste
This is the simplest step towards a sustainable life. All you need is to collect vegetable peels, tree branches, tree branches, wood shavings and coffee grounds and create a pile with a depth of at least 3 feet with them. Ensure that you have both wet and dry items. Water the pile regularly and stir well from time to time. When it finally stops emitting heat, take about 4 to 6 inches and add to the flower beds. It will act as a good fertilizer and help plants grow well. Additionally, it reduces greenhouse gas emissions, making it beneficial for the environment.
2. Ditch tissues, and use cloth
Some of our traditions and customs point to how ingrained sustainability is in our culture. One such example is using old clothes for cleaning, and handkerchiefs wherever necessary over tissue paper, which can be used only once. These clothes can be cleaned and used over and over again, thereby not ending up as additional waste every day. Another point to note is that tissue papers are made from cutting down trees, so not using them can be an eco-friendly option.
3. Save water daily
Water is an underrated component in sustainability and climate change, as well. There are some basic tips to practise at home and avoid water wastage: we can use a bucket and mug for bathing over showers as they reduce the amount of water that goes to waste. We can also limit the usage of water in household chores. Rainwater harvesting is another way to collect and not waste rainwater.
4. Recycle packaging smartly
Our homes are big on recycling, right from reusing the bottles that we purchase to recycling newspapers. We recycle various packaging materials creatively - newspapers become origami, paper bags and shelf liners, plastic bottles become planters for small planters, glass jars are repurposed as decorative pieces, and cardboard boxes are transformed into organizer trays and craft pieces. Broken crockery or tiles can be extensively used in wall art.
5. Cut down on food waste
This is crucial for sustainability since less food waste implies less waste ending up in landfills. This aids in two things - reducing the emission of greenhouse gas, and ethane from the landfills and minimizing the wastage of various resources that were put together to make rice. Since carbon dioxide emissions are a part of the food supply chain, this indirectly reduces the carbon footprint.
A vital point to remember is that several people in the world do not eat 3 square meals a day. Hence, conserving food instead of wasting it can help us donate some of it to people who are in dire need of it. All we need to do is to ensure that we add the right quantities of dishes on our plates so that even if there is a surplus, we can donate the food to the needy.
6. Shop local, stay green
This not only lets us support our farmers but also helps the environment by cutting down on the carbon footprint using avoiding more transportation. One way to do this is by purchasing groceries from the local market, another is by encouraging and consuming seasonal fruits and vegetables that are native to the place. This also facilitates building a sense of community and bonding and helps in highlighting our culture and heritage.
7. Clean naturally with bio-enzymes
Natural cleaning products are an excellent replacement for modern-day floor cleaners, which are high in chemicals. Bio-enzyme cleaners are natural cleaners made from peels of citrus fruits, jaggery and water. They are fermented over time to produce a multifunctional cleaning liquid that may be used to clean floors, kitchens, bathrooms, and glass, and as a natural deodorizer. These alternatives are safer, less hazardous, cost-effective, and reduce waste by utilizing existing resources.
These are some ways in which sustainable living has been practised in Indian homes. They may seem like small, insignificant steps but they can make a big difference in reducing the degradation of the environment. Remember to take that tiny step, wherever you get the opportunity to make a change.
