On average, we make approximately 35,000 decisions/day, ranging from trivial choices like selecting breakfast to more consequential ones such as investments. However, the typical buying decisions we make daily are influenced by numerous factors – budget, aesthetic appeal, quantity, quality, trends, etc.
One such influence is Eavesdropping Marketing, which tracks our activity to present us with targeted ads, leading us towards certain purchases and clouding our judgment.
And what kind of purchases are these? Perhaps those influenced by Greenwashing? Manufacturers make false claims about their products’ (low) impact on the planet to boost sales. Customers enthusiastically purchase such products under the impression of sustainable shopping. If only they knew!
In this post, we will discover the hacks to living a genuinely low-impact lifestyle and learn to strategise, and simplify, our buying decisions. The goal here is to put our purchasing patterns on auto-pilot to consistently ensure the least possible impact on the planet.
Conscious Consumerism: A Guide to Sustainable Living
Conscious consumerism in simpler words just entails prioritising sustainability and ethical practices, and making informed decisions while buying anything and everything.
Conscious consumerism in simpler words just entails prioritising sustainability and ethical practices, and making informed decisions while buying anything and everything. Now how to do this easily, you ask?
Here are some practical tips:
Dip your toes in first
First things first- research! Research conscious consumerism and educate yourself on sustainable practices. You can do this through a quick Google search, reading literature, or watching documentaries such as ‘The True Cost’, ‘Minimalism’, or ‘Food Inc’.
Next, find resources that’ll help you act. TGL Tribe is one such source that offers a members-only program designed to make a sustainable lifestyle easily accessible and rewarding, while also growing the community of discerning conscious consumers. (PS: More on this later!)
As you begin your journey towards conscious consumerism, it’s important to set achievable goals and start small. Don’t try to change everything at once, as this can lead to feelings of overwhelm and frustration. Instead, choose one or two areas where you can make a difference and focus on building from there.
The beauty of rhythm and routine
Yes, sometimes routine is beautiful as it builds a rhythm. It creates a habit and that habit further down the road brings in a much-needed change.
Similarly, conscious consumerism requires consistency to make a real impact. With every purchase you make, consider going through a checklist that prioritises the health of the planet. If most items on the list are ticked, then it’s likely a conscious choice and you can feel good about making the purchase.
Another important aspect of conscious consumerism is finding alternatives to plastic. Plastic is one of the biggest environmental threats we face, and reducing our reliance on it can have a significant impact. To learn more about how to achieve this, read our blog- Your Guide To A Plastic-Free Home.
The Kaizen way of life
The Japanese philosophy of ‘Kaizen’ encourages continuous self-improvement and improvement of our surroundings. This concept can be applied to conscious consumerism by focusing on upcycling – repairing or repurposing items instead of throwing them away.
Additionally, it’s important to invest in durable, long-lasting products that can withstand wear and tear, rather than buying cheap items that need to be frequently replaced.
Interestingly, Kaizen has many parallels in Indian culture, where sustainability has been ingrained in our communities and families for generations. Our previous generations are habituated to upcycling things at home. One of the most relatable examples is the big round cookie tin that is used to store everything but cookies! For some creative upcycling ideas, visit our blog- Don’t throw it. Upcycle it!
Don’t shy away from the second-hand culture
(But for the sake of everyone’s sanity, do not store sewing material in cookie boxes!)
Did you know, purchasing a used item reduces its carbon footprint by 82%? Second-hand culture has gained popularity in recent years and for good reason. Thrifting, swapping, and buying second-hand items are not only a great way to reduce waste but also save money.
Choose brands that are responsible
Sustainable processes – Look for brands that use sustainable raw materials and production processes. For example, an eco-friendly product imported from a faraway land cannot be called eco-friendly because it has a high carbon footprint. Here’s how to tell if a brand is sustainable or not.
Fairtrade – Brands that prioritise the well-being of their employees often have better quality products as they invest in their workers’ training and development. Supporting such brands ensures a healthy work environment and promotes a more sustainable and fair fashion industry.
Give back policies: Another important consideration is to look for brands that give back to their communities. It can include companies that donate a part of their profits to social or environmental charities or the ones who engage in philanthropic initiatives to support local communities. Brands like Brown Living, Bare Necessities, Sublime Life, Dwij Products, Daily Dump and such are doing fine work in this field by making eco-friendly products accessible to one and all.
Minimum is the New Maximum
If you are actively trying to live a low-waste life, you’ve got to befriend minimalism!
What exactly does minimalism entail?
“Minimalism is the thing that gets us past the things so we can make room for life’s important things—which aren’t things at all.” – Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus in the documentary on Netflix called The Minimalist: Less is More.
Consider reading this thoughtful quote more than once fully appreciate it!
To embrace minimalism, take notes from Gayatri Gandhi, a professional organiser, India’s first KonMari Master Consultant, and founder of Joy Factory. She says, “The key is to declutter first and then organise things that truly bring us joy.”
And here’s how you can put this piece of wisdom into practice. There’s a subtle yet huge difference between ‘what you need’ and ‘what you want’. The trick is to prioritise essentials over material possessions; discard the ‘wants’. This will leave you with sufficient, minimal assets. And when shopping for what you need, shop for good quality stuff so that it lasts long. This again reduces waste.
Important point: Along with purchasing good quality products, you ought to maintain the good quality of the products! For example, buying a pair of premium running shoes and carefully handwashing them every once in a while, to ensure their longevity as opposed to repeatedly buying new shoes. Here, we reduce waste and save money and space. There is also the satisfaction of boasting of ‘vintage shoes’ in perfectly good condition!
Making Sustainable Living Easy and Rewarding!
(TGL Tribe Members can skip this part!)
To aid you in your quest towards sustainable living and to smoothen your transition by incentivising and rewarding it, we have launched a one of its kind programe called TGL Tribe.
TGL Tribe is an exclusive membership program that promotes a sustainable lifestyle and encourages conscious consumption. We research and identify niche brands and small businesses that prioritise ethical and sustainable values in various categories such as fashion, food, travel, wellness, and more and collaborate with them as our partner brands. We assure you that none of them are sponsored partnerships
An annual TGL Tribe subscription of Rs 2,000 recommends brands that put the planet first and offers its members a range of exclusive benefits and offers that can be claimed all through the year.
Furthermore, as a bonus, for every subscription purchased, we collaborate with Climes.io to donate a portion of the subscription amount to carbon removal projects in India that aid in mitigating emissions and reducing our carbon footprint.
In a nutshell, conscious consumption isn’t rocket science. Neither does it have to happen overnight. Take small baby steps, and eventually, your actions will start to make a difference. And you have us to help you every step of the way!
