Small Steps, Big Impact: Sustainable Living tips from Thankam Kumaran

David Attenborough, a popular British biologist, had once said, "Every breath of air we take, every mouthful of food that we take, comes from the natural world. And if we damage the natural world, we damage ourselves". With climate change, an evident catastrophe, it is nothing but a must to change our ways of living. 

Thankam Kumaran, who has written this blog, has been aiming to bring change through her content creation, where she speaks about sustainability as a practice. A patron of sustainable living, here in, she has highlighted how small practices can bring a big change in the environment.

Let's read what she has to suggest to people who are looking to adopt a sustainable style of living, in her words - 

The True Meaning of Sustainability

Now and then, sitting in a quiet corner, in a calm moment of my life, I reminisce on times gone by. These still moments take me back from where it all began, to where I stand today, as a sentient and sustainable human being.

When this happens, there is one core memory that really stands out. I realise that sustainability wasn’t something I learnt from a book. It was a natural and gently interwoven part of my upbringing. My mother led by example, reusing things, repurposing old clothes, composting, and giving dry waste to the kabadiwala. Watching her, I learned that nothing is waste, and my life mantra, “Nothing is waste; instead, in every waste there is immense opportunity”, is inspired by her approach towards waste. Today, this perspective grounds me emotionally and mentally, constantly replenishing my connection with myself and the planet.

Coming back to the present, I feel that sustainability is often misunderstood as a sacrifice, a compromise or at times even a sort of burden. But in truth, it is just a wonderful return to simplicity. It means looking to achieve that delicate balance between what we take from the planet and what we give back. It means valuing every resource and realising that nature and her resources are finite. 

One of the biggest myths around sustainable living is that it’s complicated, costly, or reserved for those who can afford organic labels and eco-certifications. This misconception shifts our focus from the real essence of sustainability.

How to Adapt to Sustainable Living

Choosing sustainability has been one of the most grounding and creative journeys of my life. It helped me reconnect with my artistic side and with my purpose. I began upcycling clothes with eco-prints made from Diwali flowers, cleansing my hair with reetha, crafting skincare from fruit peels, and switching to cloth-based sanitary pads. I cooked more mindfully, wasted even less, and embraced the beauty of simplicity. Decluttering became an emotional release; composting turned into quiet therapy. 

My small home garden gifted me vibrant leafy greens and sun-ripened tomatoes, nourishing both body and spirit. In choosing less, I discovered a quiet peace that continues to shape the way I live. There’s one thing I can’t help but reflect on during these quiet moments of nostalgia, and that is how deeply rooted sustainability once was in the everyday rhythm of Indian life. What surprises me most is that so many of the practices we now celebrate as 'eco-conscious' or 'sustainable' were simply second nature back then. No one spoke of sustainability. It was just how life was lived.

Existence of Sustainability in Indian Living

Women stored grains in sturdy metal tins or steel containers, used cloth napkins instead of paper ones, wrapped gifts in old newspapers, made cosy quilts out of cloth scraps, cooked leftovers into delicious meals and used cloth bags everywhere they went. On family outings, carrying home-cooked meals in steel dabbas and drinking water was the norm. Nothing was wasted. These weren’t trends, they were traditions, shaped by necessity and guided by respect for resources.

Today, sustainable living has no longer remained a choice, it’s an urgent life-impacting need. As climate change sends our planet into a tailspin of unprecedented events, our irresponsible actions fill oceans with plastic, landfills are piled sky high with waste, floods and fires ravage countries, habitats are getting destroyed and as we stand on the brink of a chilling catastrophe the planet is sending us a clear message – We must change how we live. 

A Note for all the Readers

I would love to share a small message with everyone reading this and with those who are acknowledging the urge within them to embark on their sustainable journey. “When you choose a life that aligns with your passions and values, you must be willing to let go of what no longer serves your highest good. The journey toward sustainability requires preparation, self-awareness and courage.” Remember, you don’t need to go all out at once. It’s a long journey, and the milestones are many. Pause for a while.

Sit down with yourself. Evaluate your options. Strengthen your intentions. And then make those small tweaks in your life. Don’t aim for a zero-waste lifestyle; instead, aim for a more intentional one. And while you're at it, pause to notice how it makes you feel. Do your choices make you proud? Do you feel more fulfilled? Do you feel more aware? Are you spending less? These are signs. Signs that you’re not just living for the planet, but for yourself, too. That you’re creating a life that’s more thoughtful, grounded, and emotionally rich, and in a noisy, hurried, over-consuming world, that is healing. That is the kind of quiet revolution we all need.

Sustainable Homegrown Brands to Shop from

Want to live a sustainable lifestyle, but don't know how? Here are a few recommended Indian brands from the patron herself. Check out these amazing recommendations by Kumaran below:

Palmera Brushes

Palmera Brushes is a homegrown brand that manufactures fine natural fibre brushes for home and industrial use. 

Zeme Farms

Zeme Farms was founded on the principles of ethical dairy production and food processing. It is managed by an Indo-Latvian couple.

Elephant in You

Elephant in You is a Hyderabad-based company focused on sustainable living, offering products related to food, clothing, and shelter, all produced organically and sustainably. 

Adrish Delhi

Adrish Delhi aims to promote an organic lifestyle and minimise waste through its operations. They also offer a wide range of products that are organically sourced. 

Maayu

Maayu is a Goa-based company focused on creating natural and comfortable innerwear that is 100% cotton, spandex-free and non-toxic. 

Moai

Moai is a sustainable, zero-waste, naturally sourced fabric brand.