Lets replace Plastic. Part 2

Our Plastic consumption habits need to be changed- slowly and persistently

It takes time to change an old habit. ( minimum 21  days according to studies )

But it does change if we put our mind to it, and once we understand how our change in habit can create a positive impact on the global environmental pollution problem.

Some very easy changes that we can make for starters, in our daily life are:

1. Disposable Coffee Cup/glasses with reusable ones.

Image Source: Flipkart

Reusable cups like this

also, check out this very convenient portable glass like this one..

2. Cling film  with kitchen towels

Image Source: Google.

3. Plastic bag with reusable cloth bags.

Image Source: Pinterest





Cotton Reusable shopping bags or fridge bags, like this, are also ideal substitutes for plastic bags.

4. Plastic Drinking Bottle with Reusable Drinking Bottle.

Glass bottle or flasks are perfect!

These handpainted flasks from

Trove can kick any plastic bottles ass any day.

Image Source: Facebook/Trove

Image Source: Facebook/Trove

Other alternatives to plastic bottles are this or this flasks or copper flasks like this one with all the benefits of copper.
Glass Bottles like this or this  from PepperFry.

5. Plastic straw with Reusable Straw.

Stop using those plastic straws! 
and get yourself some modern, reusable and so practical straws like this, or this or colorful glass one like this from Amazon.

Image Source: Google.

Or a very good option is a reusable stainless steel drinking straw with filter spoons, also available in Amazon India

Image Source: Amazon India

Another very eco-friendly alternative is Bamboo straws, check out the 2 options here & here by Bamboo India

Bamboo Straws from Bamboo India

and If you looking for something disposable and eco-friendly at the same time, take a look at this paper straws  by Atsu -Eco, available in Amazon India

6. Plastic Containers with Stainless Steel / Glass jar or container

Source: Google

I found some really cool alternatives to plastic storage container and jars
jars and beyond
they have some really nice collection, tin jars, copper jars, stainless steel jars and many more!

Image Source: Jars and Beyond

Stainless Steel doesn't have to be boring. The India Craft House offers some beautiful handcrafted canister and jar.

Image Source: The India Craft House

Image SourceL The India Craft House

Or get yourself these gorgeous one of a kind, beautiful handpainted steel container, from Trove . They will not only look pretty in your kitchens but are better alternatives to plastic containers.
You can check out there FB page for some really cool quirky kitchenware! 

Image Source: Facebook/Trove

Image Source: Facebook/Trove

7. Zip pouch with this amazing container bags by ENVIGREEN.

8. Melamine dinnerware with ceramic or steel dinnerware.

Image Souce: Cultural Concepts

Image Source: Cultural Concepts.

browse around the wonderful collection from CulturalConcepts for some handcrafted dinner plates and serving bowls

Lets replace plastic. Part 1

Since I can remember, Plastic is such a big part of our lives. Anything we buy comes in plastic covers- vegetable, clothes, groceries just about any random thing can be put in a plastic cover, and not just that, disposing of garbage- plastic cover to the rescue, want to leakproof tiffins- plastic cover to the rescue.

Plastic containers are cheap and light and after the coming of the microwave in the cooking scene, it has become more popular with a wide range of microwave-safe variety, plastic containers have to offer.

It seemed practical- it is light, waterproof, cheap, takes so lil space, doesn't break easily and can be easily thrown away.

Plastic has become an indispensable part of our daily routine.

Everywhere we go shopping we can find it.

and

everywhere else we can see it, just thrown away without any thought to what is going to be of it.

We have become so dependent on plastic, very often even I find myself asking for a plastic bag or plastic containers to store things.

BUT,
the negative effect plastic has on the environment also cannot be blind eyed. 
The very reason it is so convenient to use is the reason, it results in so much pollution.

Some facts about the excessive use of plastic, which we might not be aware of: 

1. 50% of the plastic are used just once and thrown away.

2. Plastic accounts for around 10%  of the total manmade waste.

3. It takes up to 500-1000 years to decompose plastic.

4. 90 % of the trash floating on the ocean surface is plastic.

Image Source: National Geographic/Google

5. Plastic is the cause of death of about one million seabird and marine animals.

Image Source: National Geographic/Google

  6. Plastic chemicals can be absorbed by the body.

7. PETE & HDPE are the most commonly recycled plastics, try to choose them.

8. 80 % of the pollution enters the ocean from the land.

Image Source: National Geographic/Google.

9. Enough plastic is thrown away each year to circle the earth 4 times!

10. We have produced more plastic in the 10 years than during the whole of the last century.

Image Source: National Geographic/Google

This powerful image in the cover of National Geographic intends all of us to take a hard look at the how we consume plastic and what it's doing to the environment.

Did you know

The Top 3 plastic pollutants are
Plastic bags
Plastic bottles 
&
Plastic Straws

Cheap Tricks Series 1: Bohemian Earring.

Upcycled Bohemian Earrings by Rubieeh.

Am starting a Cheap Trick Series.!!!

What is this all about you ask!!?? 

Well, this is something I really enjoy and though share with you guys all these tricks, its all about changing something discarded or broken or useless, into something interesting and

something usefully. 

It's about giving a new life to something which is almost at the end of its use.

Reinventing

Renovating 

Recycling

In this post, I present to you this old & damaged discarded old Iron Box cord.

This was all ready to end up in the garbage, but it looked way too attractive to end up there!

It's a right thickness and manageable.

Discarded Electrical Cord.

Discarded Electrical Cord.

Just Check this out!

And this is what I converted it into!

Upcycled Bohemian Earring.

Upcycled Bohemian Earring

What do you guys think?

Is it a hit or a miss?

Leme know in the comments section below.

and if you would like to know the transformation process?

Sustainable Fashion and everything about it.

( That I know, lol ) 

'Sustainable' and 'Ethical' recently, have become popular words in the fashion industry. Every fashion brand,  producer, consumer, right about anyone involved in the process of creating fashion is urged to practice sustainability or put ethical practices into use.

 But what exactly is sustainable fashion?

According to the UN Report to World Commission on Environment and Development Sustainability is, 'meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generation to meet their own needs.'

i.e we conduct our business- production, marketing, transportation etc in such a manner, that, the resources we are using benefits us, without the risk of exhausting it for the future generation. 






Sustainability in any industry depends on the three very significant pillars - Economic, Environmental and Social.
Also called the triple bottom line.

An industry can be regarded as sustainable only when it not only takes care of its economic progress and growth but also the social and environmental effect and wellbeing. 
So when we refer to ethical fashion we also are taking into account the same values as sustainable fashion.

From the cultivation of the cotton crop, for example, if is it free from pesticide and insecticide? is water management practiced? 
and when the cotton goes in for the dying process and other treatments, are the dyes organic? how is the wastewater treated? etc, is it chemical free? 
and then the actual process of garment making, where is it made? is it a safe and clean place for the workers? are they paid fair wages? are they exploited? is child labor involved? what is done with the production waste? are the garments made to last? 
And at each level fair wages have to be paid.
So in the entire process, not only is the economic aspect to be looked at but also the socio and environmental aspect have to be also taken care off in order for the business to be ethical.

These practices have become a very important cause of the pollution it causes which is greatly affecting the environment. Did you know the fashion industry alone contributes to 10% of global water pollution, which affects the marine lives as well as humans equally.

It was a wake-up call for the entire world, when the world 4th largest lake, Aral sea reduced to 10% of its original size cause of the cotton cultivation that started along the bank. 

In order to practice responsible business in the entire fashion industry, as a whole, 

   the Ethical Fashion Forum has put forward 10 criteria which define as ethical fashion and addresses the 3 pillars of sustainability. 

1. Countering fast, cheap fashion. 
2. Fair Trade. 
3. Supporting sustainable livelihoods.
4. Addressing toxic pesticide and chemical use.
5. Using and/or developing eco- friendly fabrics and components. 
6. Minimising water use. 
7. Recycling and addressing energy efficiency and waste. 
8. Developing or promoting sustainability standards for fashion. 
9. Resources, training and/ or awareness raising initiatives
10. Animal rights

A very interesting thing to note is the concept of sustainability and ethical Fashion is open to interpretation. It isn't rigid, in the sense, that only if the above-mentioned criteria are fulfilled by the company or factory or producer doesn't become an Ethical Brand. Fashion Organisations can adopt different ways to be Ethical, be it with respect to minimizing waste or minimizing environmental pollution by doing small and local business, etc.

A brand, if it decided to go ethical can also consider incorporating the following steps into its practice. 

1. Employing women or certain ethnic groups
2. Donating part of the profits to a charity
3. Handmade
4. Contributing to preserve traditions of an ethnic minority.
5. Revealing manufacturing locations and workforce policies
6. Natural Dyes
7. Use of discarded fabrics.
8. Upcycling of used materials.
9. Made with recycled fabrics
10. Garments made to last for a long time.

 An organization can choose to take these small steps in its functioning, if not all, cause we understand that everything can get a bit overwhelming and considering that our economy isn't sustainable yet, very expensive as well. Nevertheless, any step towards sustainability or ethical fashion should be always welcomed and appreciated.






All the given points cover the three pillar of sustainability, economic, environmental and social.
What they choose to follow, be it just one or all, is up to them, the producers.
We, as consumers, on our part have the responsibility to #ask the producer to be transparent about their practice.
Tell their consumers about how are the garments produced? how are the materials sourced? and what are the materials sourced? about worker well fair.




Ethical Fashion has to be a 2-way street,
 the producers need to take responsible steps and
 the consumers practice responsibly.