Eco-Friendly Practices for a Healthier Home

In today’s day and age, it is our moral and social obligation towards our society as well as our future generation to live a responsible life. We need to be more environmentally aware, and do our bit to ensure our only home, the earth is healed and remains a healthy and safe place for the future to come. 

For this sustainable living has become crucial. Sustainability isn’t just a fad, that will become obsolete with time. It is a conscious way of living. 

Also, sustainability is often synonymous with the conservation of energy, but it is far more than that! Sustainable living includes taking all the small and big steps possible, in order to live a healthy and wholesome body and mind. 

And this habit starts right from home! It is time we all become more aware of the hazards of plastic and the use of harmful chemicals and take conscious efforts to be eco-friendlier. 

Hazards of single-use plastic

We very commonly see (or even use) single-use plastic which is hazardous not just to the environment, but also to the health of your loved ones and you! 

Type of single-use plastic that must be avoided: Thin polythene bags of fruit and vegetable vendors, disposable plastic plates, water cups, spoons, plastic-wrapped produce (cling foil), Styrofoam cups and cutlery, takeout containers etc. 

The dangers of using non-degradable materials like single-use plastic are, 

• It remains on earth and adds to the pollution.
• Plastic releases harmful fumes that destroy the atmospheric balance.
• Plastic manufacturing releases harmful and toxic gases.
• Harmful to animal life
• Causes harm to human life as well: toxic chemicals are ingested when food stored in disposable plastic is consumed. BPA or Bisphenol-A in plastic increases the risk of cancer in humans along with foetal lung malformation and children’s lung complications among other health hazards. 
• Microplastic ingestion in humans causes serious health conditions. 
• Plastic chemicals may also cause infertility in women. 

Alternative solution: You can simply carry a cloth bag from home to buy groceries and vegetables and use disposable cutlery from natural origins like paper cups, wooden spoons, etc. 

Other options are to opt for biodegradable containers for takeout or carry your own tiffins to carry food. 

Choose natural and organic products

When we talk about organic produce in general, they are the ones that do not involve the use of any chemical fertilizers or any harmful components that may make the product more cost-effective but in turn, takes a toll. 

Organic products may cost marginally higher than regular products, but they provide safety from hidden toxic chemicals that unknowingly cause harm to us as well as the environment. 

When it comes to purchasing drinks and beverages for your home, instead of unhealthy fizzy drinks or drinks loaded with sugar and harmful chemicals, choose simpler and more natural products. 

You can use organic products like organic juices, organic honey and other organic products in your daily use, the absence of any harmful chemicals in the products will help your body remain healthy. 

Embrace eco-friendly cleaning 

Regular cleaning products can also be loaded with harmful chemicals and leave your home far from being eco-friendly and even potentially toxic. The easiest way out is to use simple herbal or eco-friendly products to ensure your home is safe for you and the environment. 

Products like surface cleaner or toilet cleaner can help keep your home clean, fresh and safe. 

The key is to make your home as close to nature as possible. Cleaning products with natural components like lemon, bhutika oil, Devavdaru oils, eucalyptus, etc. are all natural and are highly effective in repelling germs and insects and are safe to use at home with kids and pets too.  They help to keep your home free from unseen toxins and chemicals and leaves your home feeling natural and eco-friendly. 

Creating an indoor oasis

What do we understand by sustainability?

Sustainability is a mindful change by giving up easily, but harmful things to adapt to an eco-friendly and responsible lifestyle. 

It may take some time and practice to give up on harmful or non-biodegradable things in our day-to-day life. But each time you plan a purchase, a second worth of thought regarding its sustainability can go a long way. 

How to make a sustainable purchase?

Whatever we purchase, whether for our home décor, in our kitchen or our wardrobe or any other accessory purchases, they all have an impact on health, the environment as well as society. 

It starts with firstly avoiding all unnecessary purchases. Next is to be mindful of every purchase you make. Choose products that are ethically sound and responsibly sourced in terms of their raw material, manufacturing process and final product. 

If you look carefully, markets have plenty of sustainable fabrics, faux materials in place of the real deal and eco-friendly products that help your health as well as life around us. 

Steps towards sustainability

Here are a few simple steps that can be taken to bring about a positive change in your home. 

• Ditch the plastic water bottles and opt for metal or glass bottles. Plastic straws can easily be replaced with metal, paper or no straws. 
• Disposable plastic ware can be changed with a glass container from home or a biodegradable serve ware option. Constant use of plastic ware, mainly to store hot food can result in health issues. 
• Something as simple as a garbage bag that is commonly available is also a single-use plastic that may free your home from the garbage but will still add toxicity to the environment. Using a biodegradable garbage bag is a simple and effective way to do your bit. 
• If you have the space, create a compost pit behind your house, and dispose of all organic and green waste like vegetable peels, leftover food, egg shells etc. in that pit. With time, you will not only have disposed of, your waste effectively, but also will get natural manure for your plants. 

Choose natural and non-toxic home furnishing materials

Making a home is a once-in-a-lifetime situation, always put in thought before making impulsive decisions based simply on finances. 

Always choose natural or eco-friendly options whenever available. Choose natural flooring options like bamboo flooring that are not just eco-friendly, but also safe for your family. The use of natural components for your flooring will keep your floor natural and safe, especially if you have young children or pets at home. 

When choosing the paint for your walls, opt for VOC-free paints. It keeps your family safe from the toxic fumes that emanate from harmful cheap or regular paints.

When you choose fabrics for your home curtains and furniture, etc., think about using natural and organic fabrics like cotton, khadi etc. Not only are such fabrics better in terms of utility, they are also better for the environment. 

Making sensible and sustainable choices, not just help to keep your home natural and safe, but it also helps to improve the family’s overall health. This is also a wise way to support eco-conscious industries that are also doing their bit to help keep the environment safe for us and our future.