Looking Back, Moving Forward — India & Sustainability
INTRODUCTION
With the rising importance of environmental issues all around the world, the concept of sustainability has been parallelly gaining rapid significance. The goal behind this sustainable mode of living is two-pronged. While the larger aim is to decrease one’s carbon footprint by consuming less, the more personal target that is achieved is that of greater self-reliance. As it is with all trends, products and services promoting sustainability have been quick to affirm their footholds in what is a rapidly expanding market. From bath products to food and packaging, western companies have displayed great innovation in helping society conform to practices that can alleviate the environmental damage that has been done to the planet. The problem therein lies in the cost of said products and services, which is problematic if the masses are to buy into this concept. Furthermore, it is also essential that the average Indian’s viewpoint of sustainability changes from being overwhelmed by a seemingly fancy concept to a more simplistic one of learning from a past abundant with examples of implementing this lifestyle. The solution thus lies in the Indian dogma of sustainable living, which has been practiced in the country for hundreds of years. In India, sustainable products and lifestyles have largely involved supporting small businesses, cottage industries, and most importantly, oneself and one’s community when it comes to sourcing products and going the extra mile when required. This study aims to elaborate on the aforementioned statement and show how exactly the current generation of Indians can utilize and benefit from this model of sustainability.
THE SURVEY
We conducted an online survey to understand where people in India across different age groups and locations stood on the concept of sustainability. The main idea behind the survey was to collect stories of various sustainable practices that people, their parents, and grandparents followed in older times and perhaps even continue to now. The reasoning for the same arose from the belief that India has always been a pioneer in sustainable ways with great practices that allowed for mindful consumption. The survey questions touched upon stories of sustainable practices and waste management from olden times, practices that hold true today, thoughts and reactions to the word “sustainability” and also provided room for further comments and ideas.
Of the seventy odd people who took part in the survey, nearly half of them belonged to the age group of 18–22. Following closely, nearly forty percent of the survey takers belong to the age group of 35–55. Over 90% of the people who filled out the forms resided in India at the time of the survey.
WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THE SURVEY
The main idea behind the questionnaire was to gather a list of sustainable practices that we as Indians have typically practiced while understanding the relevance of those practices in today’s context. In the following table, we have captured both commonly mentioned and some rather unique practices, many of which might make you nostalgic of stories you may have heard from your parents and/or grandparents.
Beyond these specific practices, the most effective enabler for living sustainably during the yesteryears was the deep-rooted understanding and respect for consuming responsibly, wasting less, and caring for the environment we depended on. Today, looking closely at our lifestyle, some of these practices are still a part of our everyday lives and are second nature to us. However, a lot of these actions have been lost in translation across generations.
BARRIERS TO LIVING BY THESE SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES TODAY
In today’s world, given the way products are sold and the way in which we consume, practicing a sustainable way of life can possibly be challenging. Some of the commonly identified barriers or hurdles, especially in the Indian context can be broadly grouped into three categories : I) lack of options, II) cost, and III) inaccessibility. While the lack of sustainable alternatives and the high cost of such options are easier to grasp, inaccessibility spans across the inability to obtain sustainable options as well as being unaware of the need for looking out for such options.
Here are some instances where sustainable measures can still be inaccessible despite efforts made by the individual:
- Universities, offices, mall cafeterias and more that serve food only in plastic or other use & throw materials.
- Segregated waste at home gets mixed when collected by the garbage collector; all waste, separated or not, ends up in the same final landfill location.
Here are some instances where sustainable measures are inaccessible due to the lack of awareness/effort from the individual:
- Paying for plastic bags at the supermarket instead of just carrying your own bag
- Taking a plastic straw when the drink can be had without one/person does not require a straw to consume the drink
Looking back at old Indian practices before moving forward to a more sustainable lifestyle unlocks a treasure trove of potential to do much more. It is clear, not only from the survey but also from general conversations that Indians across generations have the ability to identify sustainable practices or measures. This is tied to our deep roots and cultural understanding of reusing, caring about our consumption and most importantly, wasting less. However, over the last few decades, the disconnect between being able to identify these age-old practices as sustainable and choosing to ignore that understanding to continue with our everyday life has broadened. In the meantime, countries all over the world have capitalized on the sustainability movement and in fact drawn inspiration from Indian practices such as using leaves for plates and stainless steel utensils to develop profitable businesses.
If anything, the examples in the figures above and many like them indicate the need for us Indians to spend time to reflect and reassess our relationship with sustainability and take pride in the fact that we have historically been champions of the movement. This goes to show that many of the practices that we can adopt in our everyday life to make the switch to a more conscious lifestyle are rather simple; they just require a bit of planning and some commitment. This change not only shows one’s responsibility towards the environment but also aids in improving our own well-being.
WHAT WE WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH
You can do it! Yes, you can!
India’s tryst with sustainability dates back to centuries ago. Practices and the lifestyle that allowed for the same such as supporting local businesses, taking the effort to reduce expenditure and consumption, and becoming self-reliant in various areas are not out of our reach today. In fact, turning back to these practices can be an effective way to reduce our carbon footprint. Parallel to sustainable living, ancient Indian history shows us that we had a strong relationship with nature and understood how environmental health is tied to our own well-being. Tapping into that knowledge and taking pride (along with taking effort & action) can be a great way for Indians to go back to championing this extremely important movement that shall be instrumental along with larger policy changes in the energy sector and beyond to help mitigate environmental and climate change.
The first step is to realize that while sustainability may seem like a buzzword, often dropped by brands, companies, and influencers alike, it is much more than it seems. Once we get across that bridge, living more consciously and caring about our consumption is only limited by the external barriers. These external barriers that come in the form of lack of access and cost can be overcome if we look closely. Sustainable alternatives to products we purchase every day can come from the most unassuming and humble background. A great way to obtain affordable products while reducing your environmental damage from the same can be through buying locally. India has a thriving small/ cottage industry. Over the years, the industry has faced major challenges due to globalization. Sourcing everyday products like cleaners, traditional clothes, milk, fruits & vegetables from small businesses, local farms, indigenous artisans and more is a wonderful way to help protect cultural heritage, support people and live sustainably.
