5 Eco-Friendly Lifestyle Swaps Every Indian Woman Should Try that are a Total Win for You

We’ve all heard and read about how we need to be more conscious about our things we buy and use. Going “eco-friendly” or being “eco-conscious” are not just trending buzzwords, they are a necessity we all need to embrace… NOW!

Especially as women, being the decision makers at home when it comes to how to spend and what to spend on, small lifestyle changes we make can have a huge impact on the environment. From household items to personal care and fashion, here are some eco-friendly lifestyle swaps tailored for Indian women that you can adapt easily and effectively.

Why Go Eco-Friendly?

Let’s tell you in quick why we need to adopt an eco-friendly lifestyle, or be more conscious about your choices:

  1.   Healthier for You and Your Family:

Natural products are free of harmful chemicals, toxins, and synthetic materials, reducing health risks for you and your family.

  1.       Bigger Savings in the Long Run:

Sustainable products are often designed to last longer, helping you save money over time. Items like reusable bags, menstrual cups, or high-quality clothing reduce the need for frequent replacements.

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  1.       Preserve for Future Generations:

Reducing waste, choosing sustainable fashion, or cutting plastic can help to ensure that we leave a healthier, greener world for our children and grandchildren to cherish.

  1.   Help you find Unique Items:

Eco-friendly brands often produce unique, handcrafted, and fashionable items, unlike fast fashion or mass produced items. So you can enjoy exclusive designs in clothing, accessories, or home décor that we bet your friend or neighbour wouldn’t have.

  1.   Supporting and Empowering Community:

By choosing green businesses, especially those led by women, you are in turn lending support to local communities (such as artisans), and even female entrepreneurship. Your money can drive change where it’s needed most.

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How to make simple and smart eco-friendly lifestyle switches:

Here’s a quick and simple guide of eco-friendly swaps you can start by making in your life. And all these brands and products here are from women-led brands, so an extra win-win!

1. Say No to Plastic Bags: Bring Your Own Tote

We all know how much Indians love and rely on our plastic bags, especially when it comes to purchasing groceries or other household items. But, did you know that a recent study has shown that India generates over 9.3 million tonnes of plastic waste annually. Most of this comes from single-use plastic bags, despite the Government issuing a ban on the same.

Swap the plastic bags for durable, reusable cloth or jute bags. Keep one folded in your handbag, so you are always ready for surprise purchases at the sabzi mandi or supermarket.

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Image Courtesy (L-R): Feb & Flowers; Twelve Twenty; Brown Living

If you are looking for eco-friendly tote bags to buy online you can check out Brown Living by Chaitsi Ahuja. If you want totes that are functional yet stylish, you can also check out painted totes from Feb & Flowers by Zara Naqvi, or quilted totes from Twelve Twenty by mother-daughter duo, Monika and Nimisha Leekha.

On a side note, similar practice is something we can all adapt as well when it comes to plastic water bottles, by carrying reusable water bottles.

2. Switch to Reusable Cloth Pads or Menstrual Cups

On an average, a woman uses more than 11,000 pads in her lifetime. As per a report in TOI, around 36% of menstruating Indian women use sanitary napkins, which generates close to 1,13,000 tons of waste annually. Most of the sanitary pads use plastic, and they take around 500-800 years to decompose. So imagine, the first sanitary pad made is still lying in a landfill somewhere.

These days we’ve many sustainable, and even cost-effective options available for us to adapt. Like reusable cloth pads, or even organic and biodegradable sanitary pads and menstrual cups.

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Image Courtesy: Avni Wellness; The Woman’s Company

Check out biodegradable sanitary pads and menstrual cups from women-led brands such as Carmesi or The Woman’s Company. You can also buy reusable cloth pads, like those from Avni Wellness or FabPad.

Want to know more? Read About – 5 Homegrown, Women-Led Wellness Brands for Women that are bringing Period Care with Sustainable Products

3. Ditch Chemical Cleaners for Natural Alternatives

This one is for the wellness of the whole family. Conventional cleaning products are packed with harmful chemicals that pollute our water systems and can cause health issues. As per studies, many cleaners contain ingredients that can irritate your skin, eyes, nose and throat. Switching to eco-friendly and natural cleaning products is far easier and accessible now.

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Image Courtesy: Bare Necessities; Koparo Clean

Whether it is bathroom, kitchen, laundry, dishes or even yourself, you can find products that are non-toxic and safe for families, especially children. Like Simran Khara’s Koparo Clean which uses all-natural, eco-friendly and plant-powered formulations in its products like laundry detergent, hand washes, surface and home cleaners, etc. You can also check out Bare Necessities by eco-warrior Sahar Mansoor. 

4. Adopt Sustainable Fashion Practices

The fast fashion industry is one of the largest polluters globally, and India is a major consumer of its products. According to an article in Forbes – we produce 7,793 kilotonnes of textile waste, and nearly 34% of post-consumer textile waste is in landfills. Depending on the nature of the fabric, some textile waste can take over 200 years to decompose in landfills.

You can switch to homegrown, sustainable clothing brands that use eco-friendly fabrics and circular practices. Like, fashion designer Payal Jaggi’s Kinche where you can find stylish collections using sustainable and upcycled textiles. 

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Image Courtesy (L-R): Pure Loom; Kinche; Anokha Bandhan

There are many women-led businesses that are now also moving towards using eco-friendly and plant-based fabrics. Ruchi Gupta’s Pure Loom is a homegrown brand where she uses natural and organic fabrics such as hemp, bamboo, linen, silk, and organic cotton. Similarly, Anokha Bandhan by sister-duo Mauli Halan and Aditi Gupta Arora, is another eco-friendly brand where you will find apparels made with plant- and fruit-based fabrics, such as bamboo, hemp, aloe vera, orange peel, soyabean, linen and others. 

Additionally, you can upcycle your own clothes, like turn old sarees into chic new dresses or kurta or, perhaps, a tote bag!

To know about more fashion brands that are smart conscious choice, then read: 7 Homegrown casual wear brands that will make you fall in love with sustainable fashion

5. Choose Eco-Friendly Beauty Products

Why expose yourself and the planet to skincare and makeup products that contain harmful chemicals, when we have so many natural and clean solutions available, right? And we are not just talking about good-ole home remedies and nani-dadi ke nushke, which are definitely amazing. Nowadays, there are many homegrown, beauty brands offering clean and natural solutions, that are also led by women entrepreneurs.

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Image Courtesy (L-R): Earth Rhythm, Tatha, Skog Beauty

You can find products that are clinically and dermatologically tested, while being eco-friendly and safe for your skin. Like Tatha by Divita Kanoria, Earth Rhythm by Harini Sivakumar, Secret Alchemist by Ankita Thadani, SKÖG Beauty by Gautami Agarwal, and more.

Adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start small by picking one or two changes that feel manageable, and gradually build from there. By making these swaps, you’re not just protecting the environment; you’re setting an example for others to follow.

Also Read: 3 Powerful Ways to Spread the Word About Women-Owned Brands You’ve Shopped From

Also Read: 7 Women-Led, sustainable Brands where you can find home décor of your dreams

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