Eco-minimalism has become more vital than ever in the present world. The art of minimizing and cutting out unnecessary items from any household has reached more people, and eco-minimalism is slowly spreading, educating people about how a lack of material things is not only good for humanity’s psyche but also amazing for our natural environment.
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What is eco-minimalism?
Architect Howard Liddell and energy consultant Nick Grant were the ones who introduced the term Eco-Minimalism to the world. The main objective behind introducing this term was to build eco-friendly infrastructure.
As the modern world navigates between advancement and sustainability, it becomes important to imbibe Eco-Minimalism into daily lives. Capitalism has led most of the population to believe that every product in the market has one or another purpose and, therefore, must be brought at all costs. If one doesn’t buy it for its function, then they must buy it because other people are buying it.
Over-consumption of these unnecessary goods has led to a clutter of not just the space it is in but also the minds of its dwellers. An eco-minimalist is someone who lives a simple and sustainable life of buying and consuming only the necessary items. When one limits the use of their material ownership by using only the stuff they need to use, they encourage sustainability of the natural environment.
The core values of eco-minimalism
Eco-minimalism, though the most beneficial lifestyle to adopt, demands a lot of discipline and self-control from an individual. Its core values guide the person who is planning to practice mastering it. Let us take a look at those key values:
- Sustainability: It is one of the foremost values of this practice. Eco-minimalism imbibes sustainability to its core when its practitioners reuse the products instead of always buying new ones;
- Simplicity: Eco-minimalism draws its philosophy from the term “less is more.” The more people are aware of their needs and requirements, the more apparent what they do not need becomes, thus clearing away all the clutter and life and paving the way for simplicity;
- Self-sufficiency: Eco-minimalism preaches people to be self-reliant. This practice reinforces self-sufficiency by encouraging the process of growing one’s food, utilizing solar energy for day-to-day use, etc;
- Conservation: Conservation is an integral part of eco-minimalism. It is all about using the Earth’s resources judiciously and encouraging others to be part of this sustainable practice.
Read also: Minimalism, is this the key to sustainable living?
The benefits of eco-minimalism
Since eco-minimalism is all about conservation and sustainability, it has numerous advantages that far outnumber its disadvantages. Practitioners of eco-minimalism have highlighted some of the many benefits it provides; let’s take a look at that:
- Clutter-free life: As the name itself suggests, eco-minimalism promotes a simple and sustainable life; it helps individuals eliminate or minimize unnecessary clutter that hinders the environment. One can lavishly enjoy this clutter-free life as it also saves money on storage units;
- Toxic-free environment: One of the best ways to decrease the environmental impact is to live an eco-minimalist lifestyle. It helps people reduce their carbon footprint on Earth, which is one step towards progress;
- Decreases pollution: The production of plastic bags and other synthetic materials paves the way to create a lot of pollution. Using it frequently leads to toxicity being realized in the surroundings. Eco-minimalism promotes recycling and the use of transportation for work, which helps reduce global warming;
- Helps mental health: The more clutter and disorganization one surrounds themselves with, the more turbulence their minds face. Eco-minimalism helps to improve mental health and live a simple and serene life without yielding to capitalism.
How to get started with eco-minimalism
All it takes to implement eco-minimalism in life is to develop a disciplined mindset. In a world where everything is just a fingertip away, it is important to control the self.
One can start with cleaning out or donating items they do not need or educating oneself about how to reduce one’s carbon footprint. For example, trying to decrease meat consumption or taking public transport is one way to go. It is vital to embrace eco-minimalism as a wholesome lifestyle, not just as a charming trend.
Read more: Zero waste movement: what is it and how to apply it
