During the past few months, I have been asking people around my circle of friends, tech communities and even relatives on “Do you know about Sustainability? Or Sustainable Mindset?”

Gladly, few did know. But the most majority answers that I got were: “Here comes another buzz word, I did see on my company website and even on goal setting”, “I have no idea about Sustainability, would like to know”, “I know about Sustainability, but what can I do? I do good waste segregation though!”

This article is for all who wants to know and understand “Why Sustainability Matters.”

In a simple way, Sustainability is all about making choices that help us live well today (meeting our needs) without taking away the ability for future generations to do the same. Imagine it like this: if we keep using up and manipulating all our resources—like clean water, fresh air, and healthy soil—without thinking about the future, eventually, there won’t be enough left for anyone. Sustainability is important because it ensures that our planet remains a healthy, livable place for us, children, and all the generations that come after us.

 

You’ve probably heard the term “sustainability” thrown around in conversations, on social media, or in the news. It might seem like just another buzzword, but understanding what it truly means and why it matters is crucial for our future. It’s a buzzword that should never stop buzzing!

Now let’s see why you and I should care about Sustainability? And Why a Sustainable Mindset is the need of the hour. Sustainability is not just about protecting the environment—it’s about creating a world where everyone can live healthy, fulfilling lives.

Protecting Natural Resources: Our planet’s resources, such as clean water, air, and fertile soil, are finite. Overconsumption and pollution are depleting these resources faster than they can be replenished. So, What you have now, May not be there in future. Valley with beautiful green grass and trees should remain in reality and not just a screensaver for future.

Combating Climate Change: Human activities, are driving climate change. Burning fossil fuels, constructions on sensitive belts, silly mistakes causing wildfires and many more.  This leads to extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and disruptions to ecosystems. A sustainable mindset encourages decisions that reduce carbon footprints, being cautious of our actions helps to mitigate these impacts. I’m sure in the past 1 year you would have definitely said “My God, it’s so hot this year!. “The landslide and flood news is really heartbreaking”.

Sustainability is not just about Environmental Awareness, it’s about Social Responsibility and Economic Consciousness as well.

Promoting Social Equity: Sustainability also means addressing social inequalities. Equal pay, avoiding child labour, having decent work etc. Do check out the 17 SDG’s(Sustainable Development Goals) listed in the Home Page.

Ensuring Economic Stability: A sustainable economy is one that can support long-term growth without depleting natural resources or harming society. This means investing in renewable energy, supporting ethical businesses, and reducing waste. Ask questions when you buy, invest. Ask questions to your authorities.

Now let’s hit the big question: How Can I Develop a Sustainable Mindset?

Developing a sustainable mindset doesn’t happen overnight, but small changes can lead to significant impacts over time. Here are some steps to get started:

Educate Yourself: Learn about sustainability and the challenges our planet faces. Knowledge is the first step toward change.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: These three principles are the foundation of sustainable living. Reduce consumption, reuse items whenever possible, and recycle materials to keep them out of landfills.

Do know how? Check out Journey from Want it to Got it!

Support Sustainable Brands: Choose products from companies that prioritize sustainability. This includes using eco-friendly materials, fair labor practices, and reducing carbon emissions. Don’t fall for GreenWashing as well. We live in a world where there is manipulation as well. So be smart, ask the right questions before you make your choice.

Be Energy Conscious: Reduce your energy consumption by using energy-efficient appliances, unplugging devices when not in use, and considering renewable energy sources like solar or wind power. Well, on this category, I always look at the village/country lifestyle to learn and to incorporate ways to use in my urban context. Do share if you had any experience that changed your mindset on energy consumption in comments.

Advocate for Change: Use your voice to support policies and practices that promote sustainability, whether it’s in your community, workplace, or government. Thus, learning, sustaining, and sharing are crucial. That’s the change we’re aiming to bring with this platform.

I hope this sparks your journey to start thinking differently about sustainability. One step at a time buddy. Let’s do it together!