Sustaining Sustainbility

Have you noticed how our mothers often reuse empty body wash containers to store some other soap? How the egg shells from this morning’s omelette go straight into the potted plant? How a strap is repaired and replaced, but the watch remains on the wrist for decades? The older generations are overlooked champions of sustainability. What we might consider making do with is what they consider making the most of.

Sustainability at its core means meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. 

What’s more, there is a direct positive correlation between taking care of the environment and improving your mental health. So when you choose more sustainable practices, you are helping yourself as much as future generations.

Alisha says, “Seeing people don beautiful outfits every other day [on the Internet] that I can easily afford and wear and I know will look good on me is a continuous tease. It's a difficult and a very conscious decision to not follow the herd and to stick to my values of reusing, rewearing, giving each of my outfits the respect they deserve before I move on and buy something else. Even fast-fashion slows down in my closet.”

Incorporating sustainable habits in your life:

• As much as we love the next thrift drop, work with the clothes and outfits you already have. This is where a capsule wardrobe comes into play. In its essence, it is a small collection of useful clothing that you love that can be worn in permutations and combinations, all year round.  Here is a complete guide on what a capsule wardrobe is, why you need to start one and how to do it!
   

• With borders opening up, wanderlust is in the air, but conscious travellers take a more deliberate approach to holidaying - that begins way before the proverbial suitcase is packed. It’s about thinking differently about the way that we travel: changing our values and perception of the world and seeing a destination beyond the scope of your holiday.
   

• Do you know, that the first water bottle you’ve ever used and thrown still has not decomposed? It takes 450 years for a PET bottle to. Carry your own water bottle as much as you can, but if it so happens that you have a plastic water bottle with you, here are some ways you can reuse it.
   

• Clearing out your inbox will take you only 5 mins but will make a difference that lasts for 5 years. It’s that easy! To read more about how or why this works, click here.
   

• Shop for local vegetables from your neighbourhood vendors, the benefits are multifold as illustrated by this article, the main takeaways being - not only are you supporting a local business but your carbon footprint is much smaller.

Till the next post, we'd like to leave you with a few important reminders:

🌿  The most sustainable product is the one that you already own. 
🌿  More importantly, make sustainability sustainable. 
🌿  Gradual and incremental improvements that you can practice make a bigger difference than trying to get it perfect in the first try.