(As seen on "The Green Tourist")
Sustainability as a routine for a 25-year-old
Image Credit: Farihah's Instagram
Farihah Choudhury, a nutritionist working in Public Health Services and a blog writer in the UK, started her blog on Instagram as a student in 2018. Her blogs all touch on sustainability in everyday life, including sustainable fashion, food, travel and other habits. She talks about how sustainability has always been a part of her life, even at times when she did not realise it. Having immigrant parents from Bangladesh, she mentions that Bangladesh is “historically quite a low-income country”, but also believes that the economy there is making progress now.
Farihah holds a degree in Biology and marks that it was the starting point for her to pay more attention to the environment, global health and work towards sustainability. With a considerable number of followers on her Instagram page (@easypeasysustainability), Choudhury continues to post content that reflects her dedication to sustainability. London Runway Fashion Magazine awarded her as the Best Sustainable Influencer of the Year 2021. “I try to communicate stuff in an accessible way, I try to focus on the problems rather than on myself and try proposing solutions with tips and tricks, and maybe that is what resonates with people”, she says.
A mix of her passion for sustainability, as well as her other interests, is the main body of what her blogs consist of. She is an avid traveller who enjoys geography, maps and new languages. “Travelling sustainably means a lot to me because of my personal ethos. When I am travelling, I feel responsible ethically, but travelling sustainably is also a lot of fun because of the great things you get to see and learn”, says the 25-year-old. “It is also cheaper, you save a lot of money.” She mentions that she tries to opt for independent, green hotels (ones that don’t belong to a hotel group/chain) or traditional guesthouses (like homestays) whenever possible.
The advantage of staying local, according to Farihah, is that the money exchange happens directly with the local people, without any hidden costs or middlemen. This way, one is sure that the money is reaching where it is intended to reach. “I always try to choose the option that supports the local economy. I think that is the best way to remain ethical”, she says as she talks about her travel experiences. When a person “travels sustainably”, it means that they are taking the necessary steps towards a greener approach. This includes actions such as opting for green accommodation and buying from local artists and supporting the local economy directly.
The blog writer recalls her childhood, “I grew up in a working-class environment so there were principles. It all came naturally to me, because of how I was raised.” Farihah’s parents have played a massive part in shaping her mindset with regard to sustainability. “We used to wear clothes until they were ripped and we only bought new clothes twice a year for Eid. My parents, especially my mum, learned ways of living frugally, reusing stuff, making the most out of current resources had helped them save a lot of money back then”, Farihah adds.
“Even as a student, when I was learning about climate change, I think I’m quite a sentimental person. I was scared that the Earth was being destroyed and I was upset about it so I thought of channelling that upset into action because I am an idealist.” In March 2021, MIT explained on their “Ask MIT Climate” platform that a warming planet is really problematic and difficult to manage in terms of sustainability. Everyday human exercises and actions that add to environmental change are not sustainable, as they adjust the very planet we rely upon for every one of our necessities. In any case, environmental change additionally makes it harder to track down reasonable answers for different issues. Continuing to disrupt the climate conditions of the planet affects the rising of sea levels, our food sources and the way architects design the cities we live in, to name a few issues.
“I liked the idea of saving the world so I got into campaigning, petitioning and protesting because I realised that a lot of it was about system change. People have been having conversations about system change and it is further beyond just being plastic-free or single-use plastic”, mentions Choudhury, as she continues to speak about her journey as a sustainable activist in the country. She also remembers how she learned many new facts and got a clearer understanding of the position of things in terms of sustainability. With time, Farihah started promoting sustainability through fashion where she would give tips, collaborate with different ethical brands and interact with her audience to ensure they are following the sustainable path too.
“Fast fashion is skyrocketing these days. My parents, back when they were my age, did not have access to anything like this. It is this generation that has grown up with fast fashion, and I think it is not too late. I have seen some positive changes ever since I consciously started contributing towards sustainability.” She speaks highly of charity shops and thrift stores “If you swap 10 fast fashion items for four pounds each for one item that is made consciously and sustainably, you get less but it’s better in quality and it is all about figuring out your priorities”, Farihah states. Essentially, a sustainable lifestyle is cheaper if you are actively involved in it.
“We live in a system that is unsustainable in nature so it’s difficult to push back against it. We are surrounded by easy and cheap things and the system is consumerist by its roots.” In the current scenario, it is easier to place orders on an online shop without realising that the very drawback of this casual habit is actually the adverse effect on the natural environment. “Sustainability isn’t about replacing things that you have with wooden or paper things, it’s about being clever and reusing and repairing old stuff for fresh use. It is definitely not about replacing someone’s spending habits with another spending habit”, Farihah concludes.
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