Consistency and Environmental Support Are the Key to a Waste-Free Lifestyle
JAKARTA - A green lifestyle is now increasingly relevant amid the increasing awareness of the impact of consumption on the earth.
Many people are starting to switch to more sustainable habits, such as reducing the use of disposable plastic, choosing local products, to limiting household waste. These changes do not have to be drastic, but can start with simple steps that are consistently carried out in daily life.
Environmental activists assess that the implementation of a waste-minimizing lifestyle needs to be carried out sustainably and supported by the social environment and daily consumption patterns. Support from the people around is considered to play an important role in maintaining the consistency of these changes.
According to Muharram Atha Rasyadi from Greenpeace Indonesia, consistency in implementing a green lifestyle can be built gradually, especially with the existence of a community that is in line.
He suggested that people start with small steps, then find a circle of friends or a community that has similar concerns about the environment. That way, individuals can strengthen each other while sharing experiences and knowledge.
Meanwhile, Tiza Mafira emphasized the importance of starting with simple, realistic habits so that they can be done in the long term.
He gave an example of small changes such as carrying a tumbler and shopping bags yourself. However, he reminded that these habits should really be used, not just collected until they eventually become new waste. According to him, this habit needs to be made a common thing in everyday life, not something that feels special or burdensome.
Furthermore, he explained that changes can also be applied through consumption patterns, including in shopping activities. Reducing online shopping and shopping more often around the residence can help reduce excessive packaging use while supporting local businesses.
He also encouraged the public to be more active in determining packaging preferences when shopping online, for example by asking for the use of simple materials such as cardboard or old paper without excessive plastic. In addition to being more environmentally friendly, this step can also help businesses save costs.
Apart from the consumer side, he assessed that business actors also have an important role in supporting a waste-free lifestyle. The systems and facilities provided, such as the use of reusable tableware in restaurants, can encourage consumers to behave more environmentally friendly.
With the synergy between individual habits and the support of the system from business actors, the implementation of a waste-minimizing lifestyle can become part of the daily lives of the wider community.