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Sustainable living, zero waste lifestyle, and eco-conscious living are the hottest buzzwords nowadays. All of these aim to adopt environmentally friendly habits to put the least pressure on natural resources which are under the massive burden of overpopulation. As recent population growth figures suggest, this burden isn't going to lessen any time soon.

As consumers ,we have the power to make conscious choices that reduce the strain on natural resources. Though these actions may seem like a drop in the ocean, doing our best as individuals immensely contributes to sustainability. Here are 8 easy hacks to reduce your carbon footprint and live a more sustainable life:

Invest in a better quality wardrobe that is NOT fast fashion

Fast fashion encompasses the variety of low quality fashion products sold at a cheap rate. They are all the rage today with stores selling them in huge volumes especially with social media platforms encouraging wearing latest styles only. All of us are guilty of succumbing to buying such non-durable clothes at some point. Modern overconsumption along with planned obsolescence , ie. only wearing clothes that are currently in trend and discarding them quickly afterwards is the major issue. These low quality goods are mass produced and have shorter lifespans and thus are disposed of faster. We should try to invest in better quality fashion products which have longer lifespans. Doing so is a bit heavier on the pocket in the present because good quality clothes, bags,upholstery and more are pricier but in the long run help our pockets and the planet . Investing in a quality wardrobe also helps in developing a timeless sense of fashion, not relying on ever changing fashion trends.

Buy local

Buying goods and agro-produce ie. fruits, vegetables and grains which are produced locally in our state/country and not those imported from other nations. Consuming food grown locally in our state or country reduces our food miles- the hundreds of miles the produce travels from where it is grown to our plate , through heavily polluting aircrafts, ships and trucks. Imported food is often treated with high levels of pesticides to endure the long periods of travel to reach our plates,which not only harms our health but also the local environment ,polluting it with foreign pesticides.

Buy organic produce

Most agricultural produce in markets today are grown in intensive farming methods using chemical pesticides and fertilisers. Not only do these accumulate in our body causing hormonal imbalances, cancers and more, these chemicals also run off in the farms and mix in local water sources ,leach into the soil, contaminating precious groundwater. Though organic products are priced higher than inorganic ones, switching to these benefits us and nature.

Buy Fair Trade produce

Buy products that are Fair Trade certified as these are grown by farmers, fishers and workers who have been paid fairly, have good working conditions and adopt environment friendly farming practices. As farmers are being paid higher prices for their produce, they are empowered to invest in sustainable farming practices simply because they can afford to do so now. An example is the disastrous smog that annually washes over New Delhi and northern India each winter due to crop burning which could be prevented by hiring eco-friendly Happy Seed machines, which farmers could afford if paid fairly

Stop using single use plastic

Next time you go grocery shopping, take reusable cloth bags with you. Single use plastics have been banned by the Central Government in July 2022 but implementation isn’t strict yet. Plastic bags are still visibly used in markets and these are a major threat filling our oceans, harming ocean wildlife, and polluting the soil. Taking 2-3 cloth or jute reusable bags each time when going to buy groceries or goods from local kirana stores will help reduce plastic pollution

Carrying reusable utensils

Many of us need the morning shot of caffeine which we pick up from local cafes. One cup a day equals 365 cups per year considering one beverage a day. Plastic is most commonly used to make the cups,lids and straws which contributes to overflowing landfills due to the non-biodegradable nature of plastic. An easy solution is to carry your own steel or glass tumbler and a metal straw which can be easily washed after use. Many places serve beverages in paper cups which, though definitely an improvement from plastic, still do contribute to waste which could be avoided by using reusable utensils.

Ask for go-to bags for leftover food at restaurants

While this may be slightly embarrassing to practice if you’ve never done it, carrying your leftovers back home is an easy hack to live sustainably. These can be taken home and reheated for your next meal or, if you don't want that , can be given to hungry people on the streets. While we as consumers cannot decide portion sizes of restaurants, we can ensure no food , and by extension resources, are dumped in the bins. Roughly one-third of global food production is wasted. This means that the resources to produce the food are wasted too- water, crop, manpower. Another crucial matter is what material the go-to boxes are made of- avoid taking plastic or styrofoam boxes. Instead opt for bags and containers made of paper , cardboard or biodegradable containers made from starchy fibres of bamboo,sugarcane,wheat and rice. Though these alternatives are environmentally friendly, they still require energy and resources to make ,and so to reduce your carbon footprint further, you can carry an empty steel tiffin and fill that with leftovers

Switch to a plant-based lifestyle

This entails a vegan way of living which advocates the consumption of plant based products,and completely avoids animal based products. Animal products include meat , animal milk and its derived products like cheese and butter, eggs, honey and more. A vegan lifestyle is justified from ethical, medical and sustainable standpoints . Global demand for animal products is skyrocketing due to explosive population growth, thus farm factories are commonplace where animals such as cows and pigs are reared in suffocating sheds in inhuman unethical conditions. Additionally, animal products have been found to cause a host of diseases in humans including autoimmune and inflammatory, from chronic constipation to cancers. Switching to a plant based lifestyle is easier in the current times when a host of alternatives are readily available in the market. In India , our myriad cultures and regions naturally offer a variety of vegan food options to choose from . Replacing animal milk with soya, coconut or oat milk in daily beverages like tea and coffee, forgoing cheese, butter and using their readily available vegan alternatives,using vegan cosmetics and fashion products are some easy ways to transition into vegan life.

The western world has seen the emergence of Refill stores or Zero waste shops where you can bring your containers and refill in bulk - whole foods, household cleaning and beauty products such as shampoo, soaps, which would otherwise be bought in supermarkets in plastic containers , thus eliminating packaging waste. While these are not yet widespread in our country, we hope more eco conscious initiatives are undertaken because sustainable living is most successful when the community comes together to adopt it.