In 2018…
Sowed chive seeds at an urban farm in Vancouver. Although I love to farm, I’m not particularly good at it but that never seems to stop me.
Wrote a few blogs for Green Fashion Week to promote sustainability in the fashion industry.
Asked my Tiffin service provider to fill meals in reusable containers. She obliged. She laughed with kindness in her eyes when I couldn’t do it 100% of the times.
Recently kept reusable containers in the trunk of my car so I could carry leftovers from the restaurant we went to in it. Less disposable boxes.
Purchased a steel straw. The problem with reusable stuff is that I don’t have it when I need it. Nevertheless, my husband and I have used it a few times.
Reused glass pasta sauce jars.
Bought a compostable plastic liner for disposing of organic waste. Maggots formed as I didn’t empty the bin often. Gave up and started using regular plastic bags again. A disappointed friend suggested emptying the waste in the organic streams and throw away the plastic bag in the garbage. Why didn’t I think of that?
Bought packaging-less bathing bars. Love ’em. But, how do I know what’s in that soap? I assumed it must be something good considering that I got it from an organic shop, but there’s more to learn.
My husband and I worked with artisans and eco-friendly makers to bring their products to the market with fair price. Work is in progress.
Tried reusable menstrual cups. Didn’t work out for me.
Did some thrift-shopping for second-hand goods. Purchased some and gave away some.
As much as I could, I bought products that are plant-based, biodegradable, non-toxic, organic, fair trade and made by progressive companies.
That’s it.
Hope you had a great year. Mine was far from perfect, but I take pride in what I tried. Thanks to my family and friends for their support and encouragement.
Things to keep in mind as I head into 2019:
- Reuse and reduce.
- Perfection is an illusion.
- What I’ve done this year is an addition to what I’ve done before. It is not independent of the previous lists.
- What I set out to do is relative, so I’m not doing it just because others are doing it.
- Accept that you can’t change everything, but you can change something.
- More needs to be done.
And…
A lot of people on twitter will tell you how to live, how to work, how to code, how to prioritize, how to be a leader blah blah when they themselves have yet to figure it out. Don’t confuse confident writing with success. – Rebecca Slatkin on Twitter
Is there anything you’d like to share with me? I could use some company and inspiration along the way.
Happy New Year!!
anujasawant.com 
Second thing you can do is reduce water use. Take a 2 minute shower instead of sitting in the bathtub for 1 hour. Keep the tap off when you are brushing your teeth. Use LED lights in the house. Keep thermostat low. Use clothes dryer, not electric dryer for drying clothes.
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Thanks Janis. Good tips. Someone might ask, why should I save water in a place that has abundance of water?
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Here in the UK we have used compostable plastic liners for disposing of organic waste for several years now. Works well, except that the plastic bins provided are not big enough for a family of four, so some waste has to be dumped. Hopefully this problem will be fixed in due course. Happy New Year!
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Hi Steve! Happy new year to you too! How frequently do you empty your bin? Do you keep the bin inside or outside the house?
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You empty it once a week. The key is to keep it as dry as possible. If you have a tea bag for example – squeeze as much liquid out of it in your cup before throwing it in the green bin. Put a lining of newspapers or flyers in the bin, that also absorbs the moisture.
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Thanks Janis for the tips! I tend to sometimes throw away curries, so perhaps that’s one cause.
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We have a small bin in our kitchen. When this is full we put the bag into the outside bin, which is emptied weekly. It’s the outside bin which is too small for us.
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I see. Easier said than done but a composting bin could be an addition.
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Great to meet you. You are an inspiring sustainable professional. I wish you a very best in your every endeavors. Happy 2019!!
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It is nice knowing you as well, Ram! Wish you a happy new year! Thank you!
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