We’re not going to make a huge intro to this article, because if you clicked on it, you want to make a difference to preserve the beauty of this planet we live in and fight climate change in as little or as huge changes you make in your lifestyle. For that, we thank you and the world, literally, thank you. So here are the 3 Rs to remember, practice and share.
Refuse what you don’t need
Try refusing what you don’t need. We understand that it’s quite difficult to find your day to day products without plastic packaging. From candy to medicines, everything around us is wrapped in plastic. While it may be difficult to completely cut all these items from your life, we can always try and take baby steps towards sustainability. Start small
Reduce your purchases
How many times have you worn your prom dress?
Understand your needs and buy things that are of value to you. Before buying something, ask yourself for how long are you likely to use this product? Is it going to last you a long time? For example, when picking out clothes, ask yourself if you would like to wear them for at least the next year. If the answer is no, leave it on the shelf! There are so many companies that let you rent clothes instead of buying them for particular occasions. Here’s a quick tip: If you are worried about repeating your outfit, try picking out clothes that can be accessorized well or can be worn in combination with other clothes. Look for gold, silver or any other metal jewelry or accessories that are environment-friendly and chic.
Reuse what you can
Here’s a high five if you can incorporate ‘Refuse’ and ‘Reduce’ in your next shopping trip. But just like charity, sustainability also begins at home. What about the things you already own? We have all stacked plastic bags, bottles, and cosmetics in our cabinets at some point! Now that we know of better alternatives, we should also look for better re-usability for the items that are still sitting in our homes. Why not use the non degradable quality of plastic to our benefit?
If you already have piles of plastic bags lying around, instead of throwing them out, use them to store your shoes or bags. You can line your wardrobe with plastic sheets to keep the dirt away. Old cans, plastic or glass bottles can be used to plant succulents. You can paint them up in bright colors and put them around your house. Painting old containers is such a unique and personal way to decorate your house. Even celebrities do it! You can put some lights or grab some pebbles or sand from the beach and tie a rope around the bottle.
Here are a few fun ideas from the internet that you might enjoy spending a bit of time on with your kids? Activity time!
Another important R that doesn’t make it to the list, but still remains essential is to Remember! The goal is to remember to use these Rs in combination. It’s perfectly alright to carry old plastics bags to the grocer instead of buying new cloth bags as long as it ultimately leads to reducing your purchases, refusing a bag at the store, and reusing the plastic that you already own. Whether, you are shopping for clothes, food items, cosmetics, stationary, or shoes, as long as you remember these Rs, the planet and the world has a reason to rejoice and thank you for your contribution.
Try and find joy giving up the age of ‘convenience’ and join us in the age of ‘consciousness’.
