About a year back, I wrote this blog post titled “Plastic-free lifestyle- what’s practically doable?”. There was one aspect that I felt I could have elaborated on or improved.
I inadvertently gave off the impression that switching to eco-friendly or plastic-free products is difficult and expensive.
That nagging feeling one has till a mistake is corrected, I have had that since then.
While it is true that in most instances, eco-friendly products do cost more, there are great reasons to still buy them.
So, this blog post is all about exploring what are eco-friendly products, and why we need to incorporate them into our daily life.
We’ll also look at what options are available for cost-conscious consumers.
The importance of knowing what are eco-friendly products
Why do we need eco-friendly products? Life is all about the choices we make and choosing sustainable options makes all the difference.
Everyone’s aware of or has experienced the effects of climate change. Heat waves, severe flooding, and melting glaciers – we should be worried about them if we are not.
At least until a viable planet B is identified and an affordable way to take us there comes along.
I’ve been reading a lot of Sci-fi books lately and I for one, wish people would stop sending out deep space signals and postpone first contact as far as possible 😊.
Ok, without digressing, where do eco-friendly products fit in and how do they help protect our environment?
For easy recall, we can think of them this way
- The product will be free of toxic substances or harsh chemicals. Examples of such eco-friendly products could be floor cleaning or dish wash liquids and bars that are mostly made from herbal or organic ingredients
- These products are made from natural or recycled materials and are earth-friendly alternatives to what we would normally buy. E.g., cane furniture or even recycled or reclaimed wooden furniture
- The manufacturing process causes less environmental damage or the company employs sustainable practices. OECD has good examples of this.
In short, these products
- Either do not add to our environmental woes or do so to a lesser degree than traditional products
- Can be recycled, reused, or are made of recycled materials
- Are ethically manufactured and eliminate unnecessary waste.
Yes, we incur a higher cost when we buy such products because the production process is extra laborious, these products are packed using biodegradable materials which add to the cost, etc.
Another reason they cost more is lower demand compared to other types of products. Once demand goes up and we club that with innovations and technological advancements, things should get better with time.
How do you recognize eco-friendly products?
The easiest option would be to identify and shop from stores or marketplaces that specifically sell environmentally friendly products.
Check the product description for a list of ingredients or raw materials. Transparency and clarity are signs that they are not greenwashing.
Eco-friendly products have certificates that make it easier to spot them. There are environmental certifications that come with logos or eco-labels.
These could be in the form of an ISO 14001-mark, energy star certifications issued by the US Environmental Protection Agency, or in India, the ECO mark that’s granted by the Bureau of Indian Standards.
Look out for these signs on your next shopping spree.
Be curious. If there are other labels on a product that you want to buy, check what it signifies.
How do you replace plastic with eco-friendly products?
When I was growing up, we had so many steel and brass utensils. Somehow, over time, all I see is plastic everywhere.
I have replaced melamine with steel and wooden plates. Steel is still boring and plain but there are some attractive small wooden plates available on Amazon.
We have copper and steel cups for daily use. Ceramic ware for when we have guests.
Steel or copper water bottles are good. I know that steel manufacturing is energy-intensive and causes pollution. However, steel lasts longer and is recyclable.
My mom used to buy Styrofoam plates and cups to distribute snacks or prasad on festive occasions. We’ve now gone back to Areca/Palm leaf disposables.
We bought ceramic plant pots to replace old plastic ones. They are slightly heavier, but prettier too.
We’ve already covered opting for natural cleaning products earlier.
These are a few examples of affordable options.
Plastic has its uses, there’s no doubt about it and it is single-use plastic that mostly creates problems when it ends up in our landfills, drainage, or water bodies. We cannot all become eco-warriors overnight. We can start to make conscious choices as much as possible.
Take a look at everyday objects and see which plastic items can be substituted with a more sustainable product. Make a list and remember to use that list at the next opportunity.
How popular are eco-friendly products?
I was under the impression that there wasn’t that big an interest. I was wrong and happy to stand corrected.
Stats from Statista, although they date back to 2018, show that sustainability is an influencing factor in product purchase decisions.
Another report from the same source shows that between 48 to 56% of people across different generations said that they are willing to pay more for eco-friendly products.
That number might change based on economic and other conditions, it nonetheless shows an awareness and interest that is encouraging.
What about the market for eco-friendly products in India? A 2022 Times of India article states that around 60% of Indians are happy to purchase these products at a higher cost.
There are a lot of options to choose from these days. I have tried 4-5 Indian brands so far.
I like the liquid laundry detergent from Strategi, smells good. I am waiting for my refill handwash and dish wash powder packets from Bare necessities which will come in compostable packs. They have a range for your home and beauty-related needs.
Buying from local brands is also one way to avoid transportation and shipping-related environmental impacts.
These are just examples. For the brand conscious, a lot of big names take their responsibility toward being planet friendly seriously. Choose brands that do.
What conclusions can we draw?
There are multiple ways in which we can start or continue our journey of living sustainably. The pandemic was a wake-up call in a lot of ways. We all recognize the importance of responsible purchases and consumption.
It does not mean we need to alter our lives drastically. It does mean we need to alter our purchasing patterns.
Along with choosing sustainable products, reducing waste and proper waste management is also important. Read more about it here.