7 simple habits to make this planet a greener place

The environment is undoubtedly at the core of our living and its degradation may affect the health of the entire eco-systems. Climate change is a proven fact. The impact of extreme weather patterns, rising sea levels, deforestation, etc are among the most serious issues leading to the devastation of individuals, families, communities and societies across the world.

We are equally responsible to play our role in making this planet a better place and start contributing to the Climate Action with some simple change in habits. Here are some ‘green steps’ we must take seriously:   

1. Reduce emissions

Opt for public transport or pooling whenever possible or use sustainable transportation, such as bicycling more often.

In this smart world, make a smart call to choose a new car and bike with a fuel-efficient model that could save on gas and reduce your carbon footprint over the years. In fact this is an extremely common habit of people in some of the most developed and environment friendly cities globally.

---

2. No to plastic

Plastic never really goes away! This has been said for way too many times now.

Today, we can still find billions of pounds of plastics swirling convergences making up about 40 percent of the world’s ocean surfaces.

It is high time that we begin cutting down on plastic waste by using reusable bags when we shop. It’s about time we say ‘no’ to use and throw water bottles, bags, and straws and avoid products made from or wrapped in plastic.

---

3. Pay attention to labels

From coffee to fruit and vegetables, the number of options out there can give us varieties but doesn’t help us to maintain a good environment.

Choose Fair Trade certified goods when possible to support the industry dedicated to sustainable production and paying laborers a fair wage. Switch to organic food to keep harmful pesticides out of our land and water, protecting farm workers, wildlife, and your family. Healthy food and good nutrition are everyone’s concern.

---

4. Preserve water

Water scarcity in India is an ongoing crisis that affects nearly 600 million people each year.

On average one person wastes upto 45 liters water per day that is 30 percent of water requirement per person per day.

Reduce your water consumption by taking shorter showers, washes, and save on water.

---

5. Sustainable clothing/fashion

The clothes you wear matter! Despite the rapid change and sustainable adaptions, our fashion and textile industry still has a hugely negative impact on the planet. Most fabrics we wear are synthetics or some despite being natural may consume huge resources. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to check the garment tags and go for fabrics that are made using fibers with botanic origins like TENCEL and ECOVERO. These fibers not only contribute in enhancing the aesthetics of the fabric but also bring in a lot of comfort and performance. They provide a less favorable environment for bacterial growth while keeping our skin feeling pleasantly cool and dry.  And most importantly, these are 100 per cent biodegradable with significantly lesser carbon footprints.

---

6. Growing your herbs

If you have unused kitchen items or old utensils, such as; old mugs, takeaway food boxes, etc. do not throw them away.

You can give a makeover to your space by planting herbs like mint, coriander, parsley, even seasonal window flowers right on your windowsill.

---

7. Manage and compost kitchen waste

In an ideal world, all kitchens would opt for zero-waste cooking.

You can always use all the organic kitchen waste to create manure at home for your plants, such as eggshells, fruits, and vegetable peels, used tea leaves, and non-greasy waste.

Homemade manure can be prepared in no time to nourish your plants. 

It’s time to make such simple habits a key part of daily lives. While they are quite simple, the positive impact can be amazing. IANS