With plastic crisis gaining momentum worldwide. Discover how you can develop some sustainable eco-friendly habits in everyday living that can contribute to the environment.
We all know how plastic is slowly creeping onto our green planet and sucking the life out of it. So whether it is India, facing the problem of untimely heavy rainfalls, floods, earthquakes and dead whales washing-up ashore or the rest of the world haggling with various other environmental issues, we all are sailing in the same boat. And that is a piece of bad news!
One of the biggest problems associated with single-use plastic consumption is the fact that it takes forever to get decomposed. For instance, those cute-little plastic bottles that you use every day at your desk to drink water, ends up in landfill (think about Ghazipur landfill). Why? Because only 1% of this plastic waste is recycled, while the rest of the plastic waste pollutes our oceans, rivers, sea and various other river bodies. Eventually, they contaminate the quality of water and kill the aquatic life as innocent animals consume them (sad, but true!).
Its time to take practical steps to go green. Here are some sustainable habits that you can implement in everyday living to become eco-friendly.
1. Make your kitchen eco-friendly
It is said that a kitchen is the heart of the home! While it may appear a humble corner in our abode where we satiate our hunger pangs and midnight cravings. On digging a little deeper, you will discover that it also generates plastic waste in bulk!
Take a pause and look around, from that big plastic container you purchased last week; it is neither eco-friendly nor biodegradable. From polybags to plastic cutlery, you will notice how much plastic surrounds you. They are taking over our kitchens entirely and having an impact on our health as well as our planet.
But thankfully, with a little thought and smart choices, it is possible to reduce and eliminate the use of single-use plastic. For instance, you can replace polybags with jute or cloth bags and use eco-friendly disposable tableware instead of plastic cutlery at your next party! So use these fuss-free ways to make your kitchen more eco-friendly and energy-efficient.
2. Replace toxic plastic plates and food boxes with eco-friendly tableware made of sugarcane pulp
The foremost reason to replace toxic plastic containers with eco-friendly disposable tableware is that they contaminate the food. How? Plastic contains Bisphenol A (BPA)- an extremely harmful chemical that mimics estrogen in our bodies, once ingested.
According to research performed by Scientific American, studies have shown that these chemicals can promote human breast cancer cell growth in women and lower sperm counts in men. Had they been made from natural resources like sugarcane pulp, they would have been completely safe. But as they are chemically treated, they pose a threat to everybody, especially infants, children, old-aged, and pregnant women.
The plastic containers in our kitchen are often used for storing and reheating purposes. The more it’s heated and cooled, the more chemicals in that container begin to break down. And when they start disintegrating, the chemicals leach into our food, causing grave dangers to our health.
And as the world has finally awakened from its long slumber of negligence, it is finally coming to terms with the adverse effects of plastic consumption. Hence, switching to eco-friendly tableware has become consequential than ever.
3. Go green with these 5 eco-friendly essentials for your home
With global warming and other environmental changes on a rise, going green helps to have a sustainable abode. Discover 5 green essentials that you must have in your home.
It is great news that people all across the world are becoming more conscious of their surroundings. But is it enough? Absolutely not! Taking strong initiatives to tackle the issue is the need of the hour and everyone must contribute. Collective efforts can have a vast ripple-like effect that goes a long way when it comes to helping out.
Being eco-friendly will not only help you to attain a sustainable environment, but it can also help you save money. And there is no perfect place than your own house to start with. Here are five green essentials that you must have in your home:
- Compost bin
- Eco-friendly cleaning products
- Biodegradable disposable tableware
- Power saving electrical appliances
- Indoor plants
4. Say NO to plastic packaging
Whether it is the clogged banks of holy river Ganga in Varanasi or the beautiful Himalayan treks, we have been proud of; all are littered with plastic waste. From empty food wrappers to bottles, straws, spoons, and straws, plastic can be found even in the most isolated places of India. This fact depicts the gruesome situation of how far plastic pollution has penetrated India and the rest of the world.
But thanks to environmentally-focused entrepreneurs in the country like, not all is lost! There are more than hundreds of ways to tackle the problem of plastic packaging like biodegradable food packaging. And many alternatives to plastic projects are either developed and ready-to-use now or in the pipeline. Switch to these interesting innovations to make the future of India plastic-free.
5. Take steps to reduce plastic pollution at your workplace
If you are already on your way to green-up your acts at home, it is time to turn your work-place eco-friendly too. Curb your work`s reliance on single-use plastic. Small changes at the workplace and homes can bring gigantic changes in our environment. Of course, it will not happen overnight, but it is something you should keep working towards it, persistently.
For some eco-friendly disposable tableware for your workplace, visit www.ecoware.in . They have a huge range of biodegradable disposable tableware that is made from natural resources. You can buy in bulk too!
6. Say NO to plastic bottles
We know how important it is to stay hydrated. But did you ever think how an innocent act of carrying a plastic bottle has wreaked havoc on our planet?
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report, India alone generates around 26,000 tonnes of plastic a day. A little over 10,000 tonnes of plastic waste remains uncollected. Uncollected plastic waste ends up in our oceans, seas or piling up on our lands.
So should you stop carrying a water bottle with you? No! But make it a habit to take it in a glass or metal bottle. As important as it is to stay hydrated, it is equally essential to consider nature while doing so. Carrying an eco-friendly or reusable bottle will solve both the purposes.
7. Say NO to straws or use biodegradable straws if necessary
Fancy a bubble tea or a coffee during your lunch break? Plastic straws may seem small and unharmful, but they have caused massive damage to aquatic life. Can we ever forget the viral video of the tortoise with a straw stuck in its nostrils? To enjoy a guilt-free drink, switch to wooden or paper straws that are eco-friendly, disposable and biodegradable. From wood to paper straws, you can pick anything you like. Say no to the plastic straw, next time you are dining out!
Switching to these sustainable habits may may appear a little tricky at first, but in the long run, it can fetch favorable results for the environment. Initially, carrying these items in your bag would feel heavy, but they do not weigh too much. Before you know it, you will be leading an eco-friendly lifestyle.
Want to buy biodegradable disposable tableware? Visit www.ecoware.in – your one-stop-shop for eco-friendly cutlery.
