A Personal Case for Sustainability

A few months ago, I had the pleasure of moderating a panel discussion on sustainability, the topic being "A Business Case for Sustainability". We debated about slow growth, regenerative growth and the need for corporates to recognise their impact on the planet. We shared experiences on how several companies have taken steps to reduce their consumption of plastic, have designed greener offices, reengineered business processes and are consciously tracking their carbon impact. However, the reality is that we need to reduce our pace of growth significantly, to be able to leave behind an inhabitable planet for the next generation.

Corporates are still looking for a technology breakthrough to reduce their impact on the planet - like new packaging, new processes that consume less water, and removing high impact ingredients like micro plastics from their formulations. But, slowing down growth is at complete odds with the capitalist world! In such a situation, the onus of sustainability has to shift from the corporate to the individual benefactor of this capitalist system. This individual benefactor, is the shareholder and the consumer. Basically, you and me.

'So what can we do in our personal capacity to make our planet more sustainable and more resilient?', someone in the audience asked. Well, here are some ideas and suggestions that we came up with, and I thought it was worth sharing with my network here.

1.Consume consciously: In our fast paced lives, we just go through the day subconsciously, using and throwing products without being aware. That disposable coffee cup, the packaged sandwich, the single use bottle of water, the carton of juice - we do not even remember or realise what we are consuming and the garbage we may be generating in the process. An audit of your garbage is a good way to understand what you may be consuming sub consciously, and what you can do away with. If this seems like a small impact to save the planet, just do the math over a month, a year, or a lifetime. For eg, one tetrapack of milk on a daily basis equals 365 packets over a year and 14,600 packets over 40 years.

2. Respect Resources: As we get more affluent in our lives, we like to believe we have the right to waste, just because we have paid for it with our hard earned money. We often get a sense of entitlement, a sense of 'we deserve these things because we work so hard'. As a result, waste becomes a sign of affluence and lifestyle. In fact, sometimes we are embarrassed about reusing things, or repairing stuff. It doesn't look cool, and is not in step with our lifestyle. However, if we start looking at all goods as 'resources' instead of products, we can change our perspective. Even a small paper pin takes metal to make, which may have been mined at a very high cost to people & planet. Using that paper pin with respect is important, and the same holds true for every other product. In the ongoing Covid lockdown, many of us are valuing the smallest item we use (like a paper pin) which is no longer easily available!

Nothing that gives five minutes of pleasure, should burden the planet for 500 years.

3. Question Choices: When we start consuming consciously, we can start questioning our choices. Imagine that you were living with finite carbon credits on a daily basis, and had to allocate them to goods & services that you consume. How would you do that? Would you take the disposable cup of coffee or walk to work. Would you carry your own water bottle or switch off the tap while soaping your hands? Would you buy only second hand cars or put up a solar panel? It's quite simple when you start thinking like this, and it really isn't a life of deprivation. Instead you may feel good about your choices and the life you lead, knowing you are doing your best for the planet.

4. Buy Quality Products: We all love discounts, sales and low priced products. But what I have learnt is this. If something is too cheap, it usually means someone else is paying the price for it. In the course of the manufacturing of the product, or in its end-of-life disposal, either the people involved or the planet will be bearing this burden. So if you get a bag of cement for Rs 300/-, or a pen that has been shipped all the way from China for Rs 5/- or a packaged beverage for Rs 10/-, chances are that the stones for the cement have been sourced illegally from a river bed, or the plastic for the pen will languish in a landfill for many centuries or the water in the beverage has been stolen from the local community. So, each time you get tempted with a 'great offer' do think about who may be paying the rest of the price of the product. Be okay with paying more if you think the product has been made ethically.

5. Offset your Impact: As we inhabit and live in this modern world, it is almost impossible to shun all consumption of high environmental impact products & services. However, what we can do, is offset our impact. This can be done by becoming a producer of certain resources like fresh air, clean water, renewable energy and compost. Yes, you could plant trees in your neighbourhood, front yard or community park. You can install a rainwater harvesting system in your home. And you can put up a solar power plant on your independent home, or in your housing society or office building. You can segregate your garbage and turn the green waste into precious compost, which can be sent back to urban farmers to convert the nutrients into food for you. Start thinking about where things come from, and where things go, and you can come up with many more ideas to offset your impact!

6. Leave Behind a Green Legacy: Finally, when we think of ending our journey on this planet and leaving an inheritance for our children, we always think of money & wealth. We invest in property, stocks, gold, jewellery - all with a view to secure the lives of our children. What we do not realise is that all this wealth is useless if the planet is un-inhabitable (the ongoing Covid pandemic is testimony to that). So, you can consider adding another investment instrument to your basket - and that is Nature. Invest some amount of your wealth in the planet. Build a natural haven for your children and your family, and in turn you will be doing the planet a whole lot of good. This will be your green legacy, and not only your inheritors, but many humans, animals and birds, will also thank you for it!

While the capitalist world continues to debate and discuss the business case for sustainability, we have no time to waste. There is a strong personal case for sustainability, and you know what, each one of us can heal the planet through our actions now!