How to make a sustainable lifestyle a reality for urban Indians: Realistically Sustainable Tips

1.5 degree lifestyle.

Climate change.

Eco -friendly.

We are all hearing these terms but despite that and the LiFE mission, how much have we focused on making sustainability realistic and accessible?

Yes, we have spoken about how convenient options are necessary for sustainable products to become a household name. We know marketing and lack of awareness, both of existing brands and also the problems with normal brands, can stop many from turning green. But my friend, there’s more than that.

I reached out to urban Indians to ask them what their major roadblocks were to turning susty. Debjani Halder, of Jharkhand, says that sustainable products are inconvenient as they aren’t easily available. Others have said that these products, especially sustainable fabrics, are too expensive for the middle class.

In such cases, what can we as consumers do realistically to change the supply side so that the demand side gives more susty items? After all, it’s not possible to boycott skincare or food!

Well, here are some options for us.

Separate sustainable living from just being sustainable consumption

Sustainable living isn’t just the items you buy. The popular adage goes we can’t buy our way out of the climate crisis. And yes, saying educate yourself or go to protests, or spend on experiences instead of items can seem privileged. After all, a fast fashion dress often costs less than a vacation. But community time, nature walks, and parks are public spaces for all of us and we just reclaim them. Our libraries are a treasure trove. In supermarkets, we can ask questions on the days we have some extra time. Sure, some will call us annoying but others will join us and create a space for growth.
And this isn’t all we can do.

Reduce consumption and waste as far as possible

This again comes from a place where I can afford to buy most of what I might suddenly need at a moment’s notice. For one, I do have services like BlinkIt and Big Basket available. And unfortunately there aren’t rental stores that rent items at a moments go, unless it’s festive clothing. Though, Furlanco sends furniture in three days so…but the idea I’m trying to share is that if we can swap or borrow or share or rent and reuse handmedown pieces and upcycle, such as the blouses found at GiftGreen India, and recycle, we might be able to limit buying to necessities and items that add immense mental value to our lives. It’s time we move away from the perception that owning stuff makes us happier or richer alone. Even Psychology of Money says that true richness is freedom and we can’t get that with a ton of our income spent on material possessions now can we?

And to reduce waste, while composting can seem time intensive, instead of turning to detrimental ideas like eating all we have on our plates, we can- when possible- start with small multiple servings, or ensure we are buying local and seasonal, and when possible organic. Our puja flowers and samagri can be composted or turned into bioenzyme or given a sustainable visarjan. We can move others to separate their wet and dry waste and ask our leaders, whether it be a housing complex president or the state governments, to make composting and recycling easier at a community level.

And we can be kind. To ourselves, by allowing us the grace to make mistakes on this journey. To the marine animals by refusing to use skincare with microbeads unless recommended by a doctor, and to the planet by forming resilient communities that can adapt to our changing climate.

But the point remains, sustainable swaps can still be expensive and difficult to find when we truly need them, for the times when buying new isn’t debatable. Yes, we should always strive to get fair wage products but how?

In such cases, planning ahead and making sustainable habits as well as knowing where to go and who in your community can help are all good options, that will be explored in another blog. Until then, let’s reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle without compromising on health or happiness. And remember, if the most healthy and useful item is an unsustainable option, then we choose health and use it till we physically cannot anymore! That’s realistic and healthy in our systems which aren’t made for living green. Oh and if you can support your local and traditional industries, you are already doing great.

Stay susty and healthy y’all.

Author’s Note: If this was useful, thank you! Support me with a share or a comment or subscribe to RealisticallySustainableDiaries and Anjali’s Medium for more susty content!