Sustainable Living - Small Steps For Big Change

More than any other single thing, waste is changing the world. If humanity continues the way it has, then by the year 2050, there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish. Every year, we discard enough plastic to encircle the Earth 7 times over—5 trillion kilometres of it. As international citizens, we all have a solemn duty to do our little part for the planet we call home. Here are a few tips: 1. PLASTIC BAGS OUT; CLOTH BAGS INThe easiest change to implement—it costs just a few rupees, but it triggers a world of change. The average person uses tens, if not hundreds and thousands of plastic bags each year. A reusable bag drastically cuts down the waste. Most importantly, it lowers the demand for plastic bags, meaning that businesses have less reason to pump out plastic and more reason to produce sustainable alternatives.2. TOOTH BRUSHES!Over 3.6 billion plastic toothbrushes are disposed off annually, and electric toothbrushes are no better! The simplest alternative is a bamboo toothbrush that uses compostable wood and recyclable nylon, but the most effective one is a plastic toothbrush with a reusable head. For all the hygiene freaks out there, you only need to change the head of a toothbrush—not the body! So yes, in this case, the best alternative to plastic… is plastic!3. SECOND-HAND ISN’T PASSÉDrop the stigma around buying second-hand, because otherwise, we’re killing animals and fish in the millions. With hundreds of thrift stores and second-hand retailers opening around the country, options abound for anybody willing to give a second life to an otherwise useless product.4. FILL YOUR BOTTLES, NOT LANDFILLSAlmost a million plastic bottles are bought every single minute. That means, in a single day, 1.5 billion plastic bottles find their way into consumers’ hands, and ultimately, into a landfill (or worse, the oceans). Ditch the plastic bottle and take your personal bottle to one of thousands of refill stations nearby. From water to coffee or even orange juice, there’s always a supplier ready to refill - we just have to look hard enough.5. BULK IS BETTER; ALWAYS BETTERBuying goods in bulk, especially organic produce, reduces the requirement for transportation and packaging. Essentially, the more you buy, the fewer the number of bags you need, and the fewer the trips to the supermarket! By planning out your requirements in the long term, you save on money, time, and of course, the environment!

Sustainable Living - Small Steps For Big Change

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