Y2K and 90s fashion is back in style. Woohoo! It's time to unleash the power of butterfly clips and dump the skinny jeans. But other than the iconic fashion of the era, maybe we can incorporate a few lessons on sustainable living too?
Sustainability, eco-consciousness, earth-friendly living, are some terms that have become popular in recent times. But if you look at an average Indian's life a few decades ago, they were walking the talk. Do you remember how your parents saved plastic bags and milk packets for recycling, old newspapers were saved and stacked and finally sold to scrap dealers, fixing things was prioritized over buying new ones? Remember how your elder sibling’s clothes were passed down to you? It’s is time to bring back these quintessential childhood experiences into your daily life.
Here are some cues we can take from the past:
1. Using soap nuts and shikakai:
The no-poo movement gained massive popularity a few years ago when people chose to ditch sulfates and went au naturale with their hair care. It soon fizzled out as most didn't like how it left their hair feeling. Unfortunately, they didn't know the wonders of soapnut. Soapnut or reetha is a time-tested desi nuska that our grandmoms and their grandmoms have used and loved. Combine it with shikakai to create the perfect alternative to store-bought shampoos. Not only will your hair love the all-natural TLC, you’ll also be creating less waste.
2. Mending / darning torn clothes:
Fast fashion has truly spoiled us! Clothes have now become a disposable item. If you go back a few decades, it wasn't the case. People took care of the clothes and kept them in the wear cycle for longer. If the wear and tear of daily life started showing on the fabric, they mended it. It was definitely more cost-effective and earth-friendly.
3. Doodhwaala > Tetra packs:
Tetra packs have definitely made life more convenient but we are paying a hefty price for it. These sturdy packs that prevent milk from going bad take at least 600 years to decompose. Before tetra packs became popular, most homes depended on doodhwaalas for their daily supply of milk. There was no waste involved since the milk was stored in vessels instead of plastic.
4. Coconut fibre as dishwash scrubs:
Before store-bought dish scrubbers became a thing, coconut coir scrub was a common sight in Indian kitchens. The rough and sturdy fibers were used to scrub dishes. It's an easy DIY that can be brought back into our daily lives.
If DIYs are not your thing or you don't have access to a coconut tree (like most of us), The Better Home's coconut fiber dishwashing scrubber is an easy and convenient eco-friendly cleaning product. Use it with our natural and organic dishwashing liquid for the ultimate eco-friendly cleaning experience. It's kinder on your skin and easy on the earth.
