Veganuary: Experts share smart hacks to switch to a greener lifestyle

When in the world of words mdash did veganism marry January The Veganuary pledge was introduced by a UKbased nonprofit organisation by the same name in 2014 The campaign aims for a world where veganism is the norm and not the exception So in the first month of the year the drive encourages people worldwide to try a sustainable way of life for the next 31 days or beyond Over the years this pledge to protect the environment has grown and inspired individuals and businesses alikeAre you keen to adopt veganism but too anxious about a complete lifestyle change Are you confused about where to start Fret not With chef Vicky Ratnani and singer Monica Dogra turning ambassadors for the campaign in India experts share easy tips to make greener choicesStep up to the plateMohit Bulchandani founder of the healthconscious cafe chain Seeds of Life suggests itrsquos always good to start small ldquoInstead of deciding on extreme and unrealistic goals participants who have signed up for the drive should plan their baby steps towards a plantbased dietrdquo the entrepreneur sharesgtgt Food is personal People canrsquot be expected to change their diets in a day Since dinner is a light meal they can try eating a vegan dish in the evening The idea is to make a switch with just one meal a day so that you donrsquot feel overburdened with the newnessgtgt Indian cuisines make us believe that dairy is a necessity So itrsquos difficult for many to give up on milk and milk products For those who consume three to four cups of milk tea or coffee in a day using oat milk or almond milk is a nice way to begin with the pledgegtgt Many sustainable food options and dairy substitutes are available in the market Beginners can try those out and find their fixgtgt Once a person is comfortable with small daytoday vegan choices they can plan ahead They can then make almond milk or cashew cheese at homegtgt Often a person opting for a new diet is naturally encouraged to pursue it after witnessing significant health benefits Watch the signsGoing green at homeMukta Dandale customer support executive at Brown Living mdash a platform for vegan utilities notes that anybody accepting a challenge such as this one should be convinced of their reasons Yashashree Kale who runs petsitting service Guardian Of The Purr agrees with Dandale She also stresses on the need to fall back on research from time to timeSteel spice boxgtgt A home thatrsquos beginning to adopt greener alternatives should keep the needs of their babies or pets in mind While some dog breeds can survive on a vegetarian diet cats are natural carnivores A vegetarian diet shouldnrsquot be imposed on themgtgt Pet parents can try using recyclable food bags leashes made up of natural fibres and steel litter boxes in their houses Avoid plastic toys and use cotton or wooden toys to keep your furry friends from ingesting microplasticgtgt Commercial floor cleaners and detergents are harmful for pets because they stay close to the floor Try organic cleaners from Reflekt The most reliable way to check for a vegan and organic productrsquos authenticity is to check their brand details on Zoobop a platform that verifies claims of sustainable consumerism A dog wears an organic leashgtgt For daily household hacks begin with using coconut coir scrubbers in the kitchen This small step can ensure that microplastic doesnrsquot get mixed up with the ocean water One can also use glass copper and steel bottles Buy a steel spice box for the kitchen countergtgt Cling wraps or aluminium foil should be replaced with zerowaste products like beeswax wraps These wraps are cotton cloths dipped in beeswax Once the wax film wears off it can be used as a regular piece of clothgtgt We often end up buying flashy streamers and loads of decorative plastic to adorn our homes Instead use natural colours waste material and flowers to spruce upyour surroundingsConsciously stylishRuchi Sally managing director of the vegan footwear label Melissa India says ldquoItrsquos vital to see sustainability as a corporate social responsibilityrdquo She adds that while corporate houses are rising to the occasion itrsquos a positive sign that people are interested in tackling the causes of climate changegtgt Avoid using leather That doesnrsquot mean your next best alternative is only plastic or recyclable materials There are different kinds of faux leather mdash mushroom cactus leaf grainbased pintildeatex and vegan cork leather Reading up on the greener options can help you buy wiselygtgt People can choose recyclable fabric while buying earrings belts bags and other trinketsgtgt Consumers should educate themselves about the difference between singleuse plastic and recyclable plastic The latter doesnrsquot contribute to carbon emissions as muchgtgt For cosmetics itrsquos advisable to look for the Leaping Bunny PETA or CCF logo as these are the organisations that strictly regulate their approvals for brands One shouldnrsquot just believe a vegan tag on the covergtgt Make it a habit to find the universal recycling symbol on product packages Itrsquos an important practice for anybody who is slowly incorporating green beauty and fashion items in their life