You may often have wondered what going green means to you. Based on one's interest and dedication, the green living mantra can vary for individuals. For me, the journey started a few years back, but I know there is more to do before I can say that I live in complete alignment with Nature!
In this article, I have listed the steps that one can take at the individual level to reduce/minimize their carbon footprint. Let us not depend on community or official initiatives to do what we can and should!
- Stop subscription to newspaper. Switch to e-news. Or if required, encourage family members to visit the community library.
- Switch to e-bills. Say no to paper bills.
- Always carry cloth/jute bags in your hand bag or vehicle. Do not use plastic bags.
- When shopping in malls or other places, insist on carrying the purchased material in your own bags. This may involve a bit of coaxing or cajoling, but it is worth the effort to not accept the polythene that they want to pack you off with.
- SEGREGATE and RECYCLE WASTE AT HOME. You can use earthen pots and soil to compost kitchen waste. Pack off the dry waste for recycling by the municipal authorities. Save e-waste for collection drives in your housing society or work place.
- Always carry a water bottle with you. Do not buy mineral water bottles. Or at least, minimize!
- Buy vegetables from the vendors, not the supermarket. This way, you avoid plastic used for pre-packaging vegetables. And then you need to follow step 4 too here!
- Reuse water, wherever possible. For example, if you collect the water that you use to clean rice, pulses, or vegetables, you can use this to water your plants.
- Use cotton for clothes and accessories. Avoid synthetic material. Or at least, minimize!
- Use solar/wind energy to dry clothes/linen. Use the dryer in the washing machine only when urgent.
- Avoid packaging gifts. This helps preempt the use of paper, adhesive, and a lot of other glitzy non-biodegradable material. You would have realized this from your online shopping deliveries!
- For home decor, switch to natural artefacts. Ceramic pots, jute wall hangings, et al not only look aesthetic but are easier to recycle/decompose after use.
- Switch to cane for home furniture. A plush Italian leather sofa may reek of prosperity but spells doom for the environment.
- Switch to wooden and natural toys. The plastic ones are harmful for the child too!
- Avoid use-and-throw plastic/Styrofoam cutlery. When you do not want to carry steel cutlery, say on a picnic, a good alternative is to use plates made of banana leaves. The latest is EDIBLE CUTLERY. Try it out!
- Avoid lining cupboards with paper. You can replace this with cloth or other alternatives.
- Use good old steel stuff in the kitchen. Be it storage containers, lunch boxes, or water bottles - it is doable!
- Switch to (natural) perfumes, throw the deodorant away!
This is not an exhaustive list! Will keep adding more.