Conscious consumerism is the future we need

Another splendid way to shop responsibly is to buy in person and wholesale, wherever possible.

Reducing waste generated at home, in terms of food waste, single-use plastics, processed food packaging, plastic cutlery, harmful plastic bags, bottles etc, can be an excellent way to be a conscious consumer. Reducing consumption by buying and selling pre-loved clothes and fashion items, reusing and putting products to their best possible use, and upcycling by finding a better use for the product can be some of the ways we can reduce consumption, thereby reducing demand for fast-produced products and preventing a part of the pollution.

When waste is converted to a useful product, it is called circularity. For example, plastic is made from beeswax and paper is made from cow dung etc. Researching such products and buying them is a big service to the environment, as a consumer, since the product can be returned to nature after use or repurposed in a different form.

Indians are commonly known for shopping for value. It is because generally, we used to buy products only when absolutely necessary or during occasions. But, since the advent of fast fashion, social media and e-commerce platforms, buying has become an all-year-round activity. It is important to bring back the principle of buying a product of good value and using it for a long time, rather than shopping and hoarding numerous things without actually using them.

Revisiting our priorities before buying and making well-informed decisions can actually make a difference. Encouraging more people to consume consciously will bring about a great positive change.