Eco your Diwali

 

The festive season’s here and with it comes joy, celebration and inherent cheer in the atmosphere. We like our festivals as it is on those days we spend time and meet up with close friends and family. A break from the routine, a chance to indulge into tasties and there’s lights, grandiose and colour. Add to that the gifts exchanged and the joy of giving and getting.

This year how about we make the planet an essential member of our celebrations? The Euphoria of festivity tends to make us consume excessively. We mall hop & make a plastic mount!  This festive season let us make ‘sustainability’ the buzz word and source of  joy & creativity.

We can make our time, happiness and the feeling of being together sustain by taking a few thoughtful steps:

1) Strengthen nostalgia; it’s always bound people together and broken ice. Make your gifts instead of buying them and explore the artist in you. Scrap-books, hand painted photo frames, bio-degradable lamps, cards are a few thought starters

2) Cleanliness is next to Godliness. Festivals call for the annual house clean up session which might bring out all those old books, clothes, stationery and what not. Do give some of those to someone who really needs it

3) Get creative with your gift wrapping. There’s always so much stuff lying around in the house like old newspaper and magazines. Who knows you could even learn some new Origami

4)  There’s always the option of the perfect gift being sharing your joy and spreading your light by just being together and perhaps playing a board game, carom or some fun outdoor games

5) Be rational with your lights, sound speakers and air conditioners.  Turn it down when not needed. Cameras will be clicking moments to be remembered. Do use rechargeable batteries for all battery operated devices

6) Plan your shopping and carry a reusable bag on you. You could set a trend and example to fellow shoppers #sustainability

‘No one can do everything, but everyone can do a LOT!’ With sustainable consumption we could make our festivals more fun and joy evergreen! Go on have a very happy Diwali.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by admin | October 5th, 2011 9:05 am

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Independence Day

A salute to all those who participated in the movement to make India Independent. And to all those unsung heroes across the country who have since then contributed in myriad forms to making this a more equitable , fair , liveable , joyous , progressive nation than it would have otherwise been.

What is the significance of Independence Day in present day urban India ? For the generations that have been born and raised in an independent India ? Newspapers filled with pictures of celebrities wearing clothes that have shades of the tri-color , saying what it means to be Indian . Buying little flags at the traffic signals and putting them in one’s car or desk for a few days. Participating in flag hoisting ceremony in one’s residential building or company. A few moments of solemn silence as the anthem is played. What is the connection that the rituals build with the idea of a nation ? of the idea of being Indian ? The risk is when the sentiment is limited to a few external gestures.

We can create new , meaningful rituals for Independence Day – as individuals and as groups :
- Recognize that our actions – personal and professional – shape India . If there is allegiance to the idea of a nation to which we pledge our devotion – let it reflect in consistent action.
- Make life choices – small and big – that are authentic and deeply meaningful rather than driven by external appearances / compulsions aka Inner Independence
- Give time , attention , money to those less fortunate
- Help educate a child
- Consciously choose not to litter any public space – e v e r.
- Plant trees
- Become an a c t i v e citizen
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- the list can be meaningfully expanded
Eventually we need to rise above the idea of nations and see the human species as one . Until that can happen we can attempt an expansive and inclusive definition of what it means to be Indian . And be cognizant of our responsibilities and rights the other 364 days of the year.
Happy Independence Day to all citizens of this magnificent piece of the Pale Blue Dot.

Posted by admin | August 15th, 2011 2:25 am

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Impossible is nothing…

In the aftermath of the nuclear crisis, Japanese citizens have cooperated to help save electricity. In the process, they’ve reduced energy usage by 15% in Tokyo, one of the world’s most electric cities which is also one of most densely populated metros in the world.

It’s a concerted effort between the government , media , organizations and citizens. Massive in scale , complex to execute. Seemingly impossible to pull off. Yet , it has been done.

Japanese are bringing to the conservation drive a characteristic combination of national fervor, endurance, sloganeering, technology and social coercion. Read about it here.

One wonders if this is possible in other parts of the world ? Are citizens elsewhere equally willing to put collective well being over their individual comfort ?

In their own characteristic way Japanese citizens have shown that while no one can do everything. Every one can do a LOT.

 

 

Posted by admin | August 2nd, 2011 11:20 am

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Eco Veggie

 

One of the biggest reasons most folks invite or allow  plastic into their homes is to store fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator.

Disposed after one use, these bags leave the kitchen bin and head right to an ever growing pile of non-biodegradable waste. Environmental concerns aside, storing fruits & vegetables in plastic is far from hygienic not to mention plastic keeps fruits & veggies from breathing which makes them to spoil faster.

We designed the Eco Veggie to address each of these concerns. They’re easily washable & reusable making them both hygienic & eco, add to that the fact that they’re made in 100% cotton allowing produce to stay fresh for longer.

The reusable Eco Veggie is perfect for storing vegetables and fruits in your refrigerator. Its 100% cotton fabric keeps fruits & veggies fresher for longer . The thoughtful messages on the Eco Veggie bags spread joy..

A small step that goes a long way towards a more Sustainable World.

Click here to buy your Eco Veggie bags.

 

Posted by admin | July 29th, 2011 9:12 am

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Clean Planet Store

After months of work the Clean Planet Store is now Live !:) We’re delighted to be able to serve all you awesome folks across India .

 You can choose from our interesting range of hip and functional products and styles. We’ve got stylish Eco Totes, Eco Stationery, Eco Gift Bags, and our brand new ECO VEGGIE bags in store for you.

Browse our online store, take your pick, and fill up your Shopping Bag with all things ‘green’ and good !

Happy Eco Shopping !

 

 

 

Posted by admin | July 28th, 2011 9:48 am

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Monsoon companion – Miracle umbrella

We believe that objects can be designed to inspire..That belief inspired the creation of the Miracle Umbrella.

Miracle Umbrella

Miracle umbrella and Wise Tote

Miracle Umbrella and Tote Pal

Miracle umbrella with miracle tote

Inspire by walking around with Clean Planet Miracle Umbrella

p.s – in Mumbai monsoon we def need to be reminded of miracles !:)

Posted by admin | June 23rd, 2011 11:02 am

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Miracle Umbrella

The fields were parched and brown from lack of rain, and the crops lay wilting from thirst. People were anxious and irritable as they searched the sky for any sign of relief. Days turned into arid weeks. No rain came.
The ministers of the local churches called for an hour of prayer on the town square the following Saturday. They requested that everyone bring an object of faith for inspiration.
At high noon on the appointed Saturday, the townspeople turned out en masse, filling the square with anxious faces and hopeful hearts. The ministers were touched to see the variety of objects clutched in prayerful hands — holy books, crosses, and rosaries.
When the hour ended, as if on magical command, a soft rain began to fall. Cheers swept the crowd as they held their treasured objects high in gratitude and praise. From the middle of the crowd one faith symbol seemed to overshadow all the others: A small nine-year-old child had brought an umbrella.

When you do something , have complete faith that you will succeed.

Clean Planet is our act of faith towards our vision of a creative , sustainable world.

p.s – this is our umbrella


Connect with us at teamcleanplanet@gmail.com to buy the limited edition Miracle Umbrella

Posted by admin | June 21st, 2011 6:22 pm

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Bag Karma

All of us at Clean Planet are excited to be part of the Eco Bazaar, Eco Fest organized by Mocha Treehuggers in association with The Root. We’re looking forward to meet you and discuss things green and good.

On the occasion of World Environment Day we’d also like to share some ‘BAG KARMA‘ with you. Got an old re-usable bag in fairly good condition (no plastic please)? Donate it to us and buy a spanking new Clean Planet tote for 10% less! See you Sunday 5 June 2011 at Mocha Mojo, Bandra .

The bags collected will be given to those who can’t afford them..thereby helping them to go green.

Posted by admin | June 4th, 2011 6:40 pm

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The 'model' totes…

The local veg market

Compact Tote among veggies

Compact Tote with even more veggies

The eco purchase in progress

The vibrant fruits and veggies

"I wish all my customers would bring a reusable bag to buy veggies"..thought the veg seller :)

We’ve been taking pics of our tote family for the online store. We’re trying to be as eco friendly as possibly using natural light for most of the pics. Folks in the building intrigued, amused, think we have a really cool job (which we do).

The bags virtually have a mind of their own. They change their expressions often and unexpectedly ( we now have huge admiration and respect for folks who photograph birds and animals )

Last week the scene of action moved to a local vegetable market for photography of the Compact Totes . The vegetable sellers and customers who happened to be at the market then were curious and interested. One good outcome was that it helped them to appreciate the value of a reusable cloth bag..

A few decades ago a visit to the local veg market necessarily meant carrying you own reusable bag . The veg vendors had no plastic to give away. This is one of the aspects of life where it’s appropriate and essential to say “let’s bring back the good old days”.

Posted by admin | May 17th, 2011 3:09 pm

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A new way to holiday

Golden week in Japan is one of important national holidays treasured by the normally hard working Japanese . This year many of them have spontaneously decided to use their holiday time to support the tsunami relief work.

It’s not the way out-of-towners normally spend the start of the so-called Golden Week holiday, when Japanese commonly leave big cities to visit their home towns, take hot spring vacations or travel abroad. But after last month’s earthquake and tsunami decimated northeastern coastal towns and left an estimated 26,000 Japanese either dead or missing, these are not normal times.

“I saw the devastation on TV and felt I had to do something,” said Junko Sugino, 49, as she dragged a crate of mud through the narrow lanes between the tombstones.

“This is hard work, but it’s something that has to be done by people. Machines can’t fit into these tiny spaces,” she said..

Through the crisis and beyond the Japanese citizens have been admirable and inspiring in the way they have chosen to respond. Join us in renewing good wishes to the awesome Japanese to recover and rebuild their lives and nation.

Posted by admin | May 1st, 2011 12:41 pm

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