Why Indian mothers are the Sustainability Queens we need

And how to be them (Task Level: Impossible)

At the conclusion of each academic year, my mother would gather my notebooks and carefully tear out every empty page from them. She would then proceed to methodically staple all of these empty pages together, crafting separate notebooks that I could use for my work in the following year.

Many people would consider this frugal, but it has become evident to me that my mother was a visionary in embracing sustainability well before it gained popularity. She did it before it was cool.

In my view, my mother could easily lead seminars on waste reduction and management. Her proficiency does not necessitate a formal degree; it is a natural expertise.

In the twenty-one years that I have lived at home, my mother has been resolute in ensuring that nothing of value finds its way into the trash. Allow me to illustrate:

• Let’s start with a staple in every Indian household: We never discard the plastic bags we receive. Instead, we carefully tuck them away within an even larger plastic bag, reserving them for future purposes. For instance, they come in handy when packing pickle bottles for travel or doubling as shower caps when the need arises.

• My mother also ensures she carries these plastic bags whenever we step outside. We never pay extra for bags at stores, as she always has one stowed away in her purse. Whenever she goes grocery shopping, a cloth bag is her faithful companion. If she stumbles upon a pretty cloth tote bag, it becomes a permanent addition to her collection. Moreover, she always insists that we bring our own water bottles whenever we're on the go.

• Whenever we eat at a restaurant, we always ask to take our leftovers home. On my mother's watch, no food goes to waste, whether we're at home or outside. If we have more than we can eat, we share it with our helpers, or we feed it to cows, stray dogs, and birds.

• My mother ingeniously repurposes fruit peels for skincare: lemons, bananas, eggs, tomatoes—all natural ingredients. She doesn't even look like the mother of a twenty one year old.

• Upon its installation, our water filter used to waste a considerable amount of water, all of which would flow down the drain. My mother promptly established a water management system where that water was collected and is now used for various cooking and washing purposes. In the same vein, the soapy water from laundry finds a second life in cleaning toilets and being used for flushing.

• If you believe your kitchen is zero waste, a trip to my mother's would be eye-opening. Glass jars, plastic bottles, food packets, and ice-cream containers all enjoy multiple uses, serving as storage for condiments, spices, and perishables in the refrigerator before being discarded.

• During my school days, my mother would carry the multitude of pens I had exhausted to the market and have them refilled, enabling me to reuse them.

• Every single empty page with even a bit of space finds purpose within our household. Newspapers are never discarded; instead, they are preserved for disposal, cleaning, and kitchen-related tasks.

• All our worn clothes are repurposed—torn and transformed into bags, bedsheets, bed covers, pillowcases, washcloths, or rags. My mother has the most prized collection of textile sarees that I have my eyes on, which I will guard with my life. Many of them are years old and will be lovingly passed on to the next generation.

• I have learnt to practice mindful shopping (more on that later) to ensure I am not buying trivial things from her.

• I have acquired the practice of engaging cobblers and tailors, which has proven invaluable for repurposing and repairing. If not for their expertise, I would have no choice but to part with some of my cherished clothing and shoes. This is yet another valuable lesson instilled by my mother.

My mother cannot stop using plastic altogether because it is a part of the system she lives in, but she conscientiously maximizes its utility to minimize waste. Her plastic consumption is unwittingly strategic, aimed at reducing its overall impact in landfills and ultimately in nature. My mother buys from wherever she wants, but she buys good quality, timeless pieces that she will use for a long time.

These practices have been ingrained through generations and woven into the very fabric of countless Indian households. These traditions, borne out of practical wisdom and sometimes need, stand as an integral part of resource conservation.

In a world where sustainable living is increasingly vital, my mother's actions serve as a poignant reminder that sometimes the most impactful practices are the ones passed down through generations. These practices may have emerged long before sustainability became a buzzword, but they continue to resonate powerfully, contributing to a more conscientious and resourceful way of life. As young people, we bear the imperative to embrace these practices, and abandon the reckless behaviors that can be detrimental to our planet.