The Economic Benefit of Eco-Friendly Lifestyle
Is there any economic benefit of an eco-friendly lifestyle for common man? When you search online, there is hardly any information about the benefits of an eco-friendly way of life for Consumers. On the other hand, there are discussions about how a sustainable model will help businesses, the environment, the country and so on.
We must understand that the consumers are the ultimate decision makers. The choices of the common man, about the kind of food they eat, the clothes they wear and the houses they live in, are crucial for a sustainable future. Until people willingly adopt an environment friendly lifestyle, there cannot be a massive change in global carbon emission.
How to Generate urgency for change in the minds of consumers?
The picture of the lonely polar bear drifting on ice evokes fleeting sentiments for a catastrophe that is happening in a land far, far away. People fail to grasp the urgency, the connection that the drifting ice will have on their lives. Before the pandemic hit us hard, we thought Climate Change was someone else’s problem.
The Covid Pandemic related lockdown was when people started thinking about climate change. When the fast-paced life came to a grinding halt, and we got locked in the house and the animal reclaimed the road we realized we have to change.
As a result, a recent report shows that there was a rise in demand for sustainable products and services in the UK owing to the pandemic. A survey by an energy provider shows that 36% of the respondents bought products from companies that strictly followed Environment policies.
What consumers think about organic products?
Commonly Green Living is considered an elite lifestyle. There is no doubt, organic products are costlier than conventional products. Consumers won’t buy until they understand the monetary benefits of using the products.
How to evaluate Economic Benefit of Eco-Friendly Lifestyle
Let us not focus on the fact that we save the environment by spending a little more to buy Green Products and Services. Let us evaluate how we can benefit financially by opting for sustainably produced consumer goods.
The conventional method of saving money is to ‘Save today for a better tomorrow’, but for a sustainable lifestyle you need to invest today for a better Green tomorrow. If you invest wisely in sustainable products today, that will pay you large dividends in future.
How to invest for a financially beneficial green lifestyle
Buying sustainable products in an investment. When you buy green products, you must buy less, be choosy, practical and technical so that you will be proud of your investment in future.
The Founder and Chairman of V-Guard, Kochouseph Thomas Chittilappilly’s, business model is an apt example of green living. V-Guard Corporate office in Kochi, Kerala, India, is an example of successfully implementing a sustainable model in our lifestyle. The building is covered with green plants. Chittilappily said in an interview that the plants give cooling to the building.
Also, the building is well ventilated with open space, which ensures hardly any need of Air Conditioning. Generating electricity from solar panels and rainwater harvesting saves a large amount in power and water bills.
Ten years ago, there was proper planning and rightful investment in sustainable products for the Corporate Office. By implementing the project with a view on lifelong cost-effective maintenance is paying the dividends after 10 years. Now Similar green apartments are being built in many parts of the city.
Invest wisely
We can implement the same principle when we buy any consumer goods. While building a house or planting a tree, think about what the project will give us after one or two decades. Think whether the project is adaptable to the local condition.
While investing in clothes and accessories, always opt for things that will give financial benefits and environment protection in future. Price should be the least priority. Sustainable manufacturing and sustainability of the product for the environment is what we should worry about.
To conclude, buy a smaller number of products. Instead of following a use and throw, consumerism follows an investing and sustainable consumer lifestyle.
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