How to spread the love this Earth Day: 6 ways to start living sustainably and consciously

Let’s be real, conscious living is just an elegant term for being aware. And it shouldn’t be intimidating, like getting an elaborate vegan recipe delivered to your inbox that calls for foreign ingredients like xanthan gum, seitan, agar and something else you can’t pronounce that you’re pretty sure can only be sourced from the moon. Conscious living should be as easy as deciding between high heels and high-tops, and with a little bit of practise, it becomes inherent, intrinsic and self-gratifying – kind of like your morning coffee.

As economies that grow, communities urbanise and individuals create and consume more than ever, the life we live has become fascinating, vibrant and dynamic, but the burden of our lavish lifestyles is being shouldered by the planet we live on. But we always want more and continue to lap up luxuries like delivery on demand, affordable air travel and air conditioning, while at the same time we endeavour to wage war on single-use plastic and do our best to combat climate change. Calming these calamities is no longer just up to small groups, NGOs or the government – it’s up to us.

Enter a growing number of organisations, like Green Is The New Black (GITNB), Green Monday, Green Queen (HK) and The Fashion Pulpit (SG), that are preaching for good and green, all executed with a touch of glamour. The GITNB collective in particular is on a mission to make sustainability sexy through what they call #LittleGreenSteps – a campaign that uses the codes of pop culture to convert the masses and then encourages them to embrace a series of small steps that yield big change. These not-too-difficult and easy-on-the-wallet strategies are easily adopted by individuals and organisations looking to live more consciously, one #LittleGreenStep at a time.

The vegan way isn’t the only way – but it’s a start

A yoga teacher once told me that the definition of yoga is balance. That starts on the mat as a physical manifestation but it’s meant to carry over into the way you live your everyday life, too. Have a little wine with your dinner, but do it occasionally and not every day: balance. Treat yourself to that pizza, but try opting for a vegetarian variation: balance. And no one is telling you to give up meat either, but try swapping it a few times a week: balance. This is the mantra that has been adopted by global companies like Impossible Foods, the creators of the revolutionary plant-based burger that looks, tastes, smells, and “bleeds” like the real thing. Even some of the world’s biggest celebrity chefs – such as Gordon Ramsey – are changing their stance on veganism and incorporating meat-free dishes into their menus.

Why? Because in some parts of the world, upwards of 80 per cent of agricultural land is used to feed the livestock that we eat. Forget about the carbon emissions that this approach produces for a minute, and think about the impact it has on the world’s food and water supply. Imagine if we could scale that back, just a little. Well we can. Whether for ethical reasons, concerns about the environment, or for health reasons, if we were to collectively make just a few more conscious choices when it comes to our diet, the benefits would be tremendous.

Say no to single-use plastic – sometimes

The more you start to say no to single-use plastic, the more you’ll find it sneaks its way into everything you do. It’s all over the grocery store, it’s at the coffee shop, it’s at the service station, and it’s there when you get an ice cream and find yourself reaching for a plastic spoon. It happens more often than we’re comfortable with – but we want to be better than that, don’t we?

Start by carrying around a reusable water bottle – and pick up a nice looking one so you’ll be more inclined to whip it out. Or a lunchbox in case you get take aways. Items like these even come collapsible so they don’t take up space. You can try skipping the coffee shop altogether and making a cold brew at home the night before. Your wallet will thank you, too. And bring a few tote bags with you the next time you go to the grocery store – but don’t beat yourself up if you forget to; a plastic bag or two can come in handy around the house. Collectively, a few #LittleGreenSteps make #OneBigGreenStep, and if you ever feel that they’re too small to make a difference, they’re not.

Fill ’em up

Don’t let anyone tell you that paper cups are all recyclable. Many disposable paper cups are lined with plastic, making composting and recycling them virtually impossible. As a result, a lot end up in landfills. If you regularly drink coffee to go, a reusable tumbler like an Ecoffee cup is essential. Refillable bottles from S’well are ideal for keeping liquids cold for 24 hours and hot for 12, and help save your city from a never-ending stream of single-use plastic water bottles from 7-Eleven. If you ask nicely, many restaurants will fill them up as you go, or you could try the Refillmybottle app to find a refill station.

Zero-waste, low-waste

Even for the seasoned sustainable warrior, living zero-waste is impossible. So we prefer almost zero-waste or low-waste. Conscious living is less about following a black and white plan to live your life, but more about making conscious choices where you can. Instead of waiting for your pantry to run dry so you have to run to the shops every day, have you tried shopping at a bulk food store? The level of satisfaction you get from entering one of those places isn’t far from a candy shop – but for adults. Not only are these stores reducing waste, they are much cheaper and you can pick up anything from dried goods to eco-friendly laundry detergent and condiments. Change is afoot people, and shops like these – and even the efforts of supermarkets and restaurants to reduce food waste – is testament to that.

More shopping, less shipping

You probably know at least one friend or family that runs their own business and in the same way you would support them, try to support your local community when you are shopping for produce. Hit the mum and pop shop next time you are in need of a fruit fix, or find that local kombucha source instead of shelling out at an import market.

Also, a growing number of planet-loving fashion brands are making it easier to cultivate a wardrobe full of conscious clothing, especially in Asia where local designers are drawing inspiration from the ways of their ancestors. By eliminating shipping costs, shopping local is often cheaper while reducing carbon emissions. We have endless choices when it comes to consumption. It’s up to you to determine what is the right choice, and that is what defines conscious living. If you need help finding brands, you can search by your values or by category at this directory.

#LittleGreenSteps

 Breaking habits is hard, so is saying goodbye to things that make your life easier. But like with most things, you learn and adapt until it’s part of you and thinking more consciously becomes habit. Remembering to reduce your meat consumption and saying no to single-use plastic in unnecessary social occasions are the most painless gateways to conscious living. Changing the world doesn’t happen overnight, but choosing to live more consciously does and that starts with #LittleGreenSteps.

Looking to learn more about conscious living and how to implement #LittleGreenSteps into your own life? Go to The Conscious Festival by Green Is The New Black on April 13 and 14 at the Kerry Hotel in Hung Hom, Hong Kong, where you will find talks, speakers, shopping, food, fun and wellness.

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