14 daily changes you can make for a sustainable lifestyle

1. Skip single use items

I’m trying to reduce using items like paper towels and tissues in the kitchen and instead replace them with re-usable and washable kitchen napkins or better yet, use a cloth that can be washed. Other single use items to avoid include plastic cutlery, plastic covers, disposable bottles and basically anything plastic!

2. Compost all your wet waste

Composting at home has become so easy these days since you get everything needed to begin your composting journey at the click of a button. There are numerous videos showing you how to start off at home and what are the basic things you will need to begin. A lot of wet waste is generated in your kitchen every single day, and instead of all that going into the trash, you can turn into nutrient rich soil.

3. Use natural cleaners or make them at home

During the lockdown, my mom decided not to use any chemical floor cleaners and instead used plain water and a mop to clean the entire house, replacing the dirty water with a fresh bucket of water for each and every room. The floor remained dust free and relatively cleaner than usual with plain water than with a floor cleaner.

It’s especially important to not use chemicals cleaners when you have pets or kids at home. Some brands like The Better Home and Nimyle offer products that are all natural.

You can also make your own natural cleaners at home using these tips.

4. Use energy saving bulbs

Every single day, I find myself switching off lights and fans in various rooms in the house which my husband leaves on (are all husbands like this?). While shopping for lights for your home, check out all the options available in the market, specifically energy saving options. Switching to energy saving bulbs is a great way to save on your overall power consumption

5. Fresh fruit juices instead of boxed ones

Boxed juices are not only high in sugar content and preservatives, they also come in packaged boxes, most of which are not 100% recyclable since there is some form of plastic lid or rim. Recycling is a conscious process that requires you to really put in effort. And try as you might, there will be days when you are tired and might just think of tossing it in the trash can. The best alternative is to avoid tetra packs as often as possible. Buy fresh fruits, and invest in a really good juicer – healthy for you body as well as the environment!

6. Shop local as much as you can

Be it your daily groceries or clothes or makeup products, shop from home-grown local brands. You are not only supporting small businesses, but there is also more transparency and communication between the brand and consumer. While I’m the first advocate for online shopping because of the convenience, I’m trying to make changes in the way I shop locally as much as I can!

7. Be aware of who you are buying from

Being a conscious consumer is important if you want your choices to have a positive impact on you and your surroundings. With so many choices around, it’s easy to ignore the ‘research and study’ process and give in to buying just any brand or product. But if you can put that laziness aside, and put in a little bit of effort, you can actually help in supporting the right kind of business – one that is authentic.

The kind of aspects you can research: tags and labels for ethical sourcing, ingredients for food items, reviews from other consumers, company background and manufacturing processes.