World Conservation Day: Here are 7 lesser-known sustainable habits to inculcate in our daily lives

World Conservation Day is around the corner (July 28) and we're here to tell you how we, as individuals, can play our roles. Although you probably must have wondered, at least once, why there exist ceaseless environment-related 'days' that we celebrate and what really is achieved by them.. The significance is abundant, if you ask us.

Each environment problem is our problem, you see. From Plastic Bag Free Day to Day for Biodiversity, these reserved occasions not only spread awareness but also emphasise on how crucial it is to save the planet we live on - one aspect at a time.

Given below are some habits that could shock you, some that you probably wouldn't have heard of and most that we can inculcate in our daily lives to help the environment:

We talk about food we eat often but what about the food we don't eat? Let's discuss mindful eating, shall we?

From utilising carrot leftovers for soup to making croutons out of stale bread, from using apple peels to heat em up and making tea to using squeezed lemon tops to clean the stove — use your creativity and reuse any food you can!

Moreover, we can learn to love the leftovers, can't we? Last night's Biryani can become the next day's lunch (provided it hasn't gone bad, of course) and so on!

Each time we take our car for a short ride to the supermarket or kirana store or to the pharmacy, it harms the environment more than we realise. Short car trips have been found to be especially hard on the fuel economy, because cold engines require time to warm up. And with each short stop, we don't do it any favours.

So, the next time you've to go somewhere nearby, choose your bicycles or walking. It can only help your physical health, too! Or, if you do need your car, try doubling up on errands.

Turning banana peels into feritilisers — now that's something!

Making a compost is easy and we're sure you must have done the same in your life, at least once. But did you know that adding banana peels to your compost piles can enhance it further? The banana skin adds important nutrients like magnesium, calcium, sulfur, potassium, sodium, etc, to the compost that make it a healthy environment for flowering and fruiting plants. The nutrients also help retain water and make the soil lighter, as you add it to your garden.

Chopsticks are in fashion, right? If you're a fan of K-Dramas, you'd know why and probably would have mastered the art of eating with them by now. In the Korean culture, usually wood/bamboo or metal chopsticks are used for eating food. Well, who says we can't do the same?

Let's learn to eat with wooden chopsticks, instead of plastic forks and spoons, for the environment instead of K-culture this time. Or, well, whatever your motivation may be! As long as we're shedding plastic, we're good!

We all use milk packets and do know the plastic is harmful. However, what if we can make a minute change to ensure the plastic doesn't create major menace. Ready?

How to we usually open the package? By cutting a triangular piece off it, right? Did you know this snipped portion of the sachet usually disintegrates into microplastics. Rain and wind sometimes blow the microplastic into drainage systems, which could eventually lead to clogging. These fragments can also enter waterbodies and harm marine organisms on consumption.

Next time, we suggest you cut into the milk packet by making a clean line across the sachet so that no smaller portion falls off. However, even if it does, make sure you put the remaining piece into the packet before disposing it off. Basically, a small habit that wouldn't make any difference to us but could help save the environment if everyone becomes a bit conscious!

Despite popular beliefs, no, slow fashion does not mean that you'd have to compromise on style and fashion! It entails and promotes sustainable practises and processes of making and overall reduction in waste. The emphasis is laid on high-quality, usually handcrafted/woven garbs rather than trend-driven ensembles that are destined for landfills after a couple wears. In turn, it also supports and promotes local artisans and communities.

Sticking to environmentally-conscious brands, that champion sustainable cloth materials, is something we can do. Besides, avoiding accumulating clothes you don't need and reusing your old ones always help.

Let's start with the basics. If you own a home, want to reduce your electricity bill significantly and, at the same time, invest in clean energy, this is for you. The benefits of solar power are plenty — from being renewable and, thus, reducing carbon emissions to being more reliable than other energy sources.

Did you know that the process of installing solar panels in your homes has become simpler for applicants, owing to the online procedure introduced by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)?

With net metering system by your side, all you have to do is pay for the deficit power consumption cost (basically, the difference between solar power generated and the power consumed by the household). This is how you can drastically reduce your electricity bill. Along with this, you can also avail solar subsidy benefits.