IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TOYOTA

These days, it’s noticeable how the word ‘sustainability’ has found itself literally everywhere. It’s in product descriptions, restaurant menus, headlines of numerous articles (including this one) and honestly even in conversations I find myself in. Like when I tell someone I work in Makati but I live in Quezon City, I’m instantly met with a slight look of pity along with the words ‘Oh, that’s not sustainable.’

What sustainability stands for, however, goes beyond product descriptions and the like. It’s a shared desire towards a better way of using resources and improving life for everyone. With this, the things we do and patronize in the name of sustainability need to come from within. It’s crucial that we obtain habits that are in fact progressive and will benefit us in the long run. And so, here are very specific choices we could make right this very moment.

Researching alternatives

It’s quite ironic how even with all the information that is literally at our fingertips, we rarely take the time and initiative to reeducate ourselves and find more information about, well, everything. Not doing research is a big no-no when it comes to living a sustainable life just because we choose to stay ignorant, settle for what’s ready, and, more often than not, static things (like when people still claim that climate change isn’t real) that we seemingly already know.

Because of the lack of new knowledge, we may tend to feel boxed in when there’s actually interesting new concepts and things to try every day like making our own mouthwash. To research is to give our brain some oil by which it could run smoothly again.

Making well-informed choices and practicing healthy consumerism

The previous habit and this next one are interlocking pieces of the same puzzle. When we research, a wide variety of options will present themselves to us. And with this, it’s crucial that we constantly make the most rational and informed choices. This may well be applied to the notion of supporting genuinely sustainable and innovative brands and movements that weren’t just done out of a whim or marketing strategy.

As stated, the word sustainable has been ubiquitous lately, which means certain people that may not really be promoting it can throw it around here and there for profit. So, doing research and making well-informed choices go hand-in-hand in the process of healthy consumerism and ensuring things would work out in the long run

Asking ourselves “Do I really need this?”

One of the main causes of wastage is the crisis in overproduction. Though this is fueled by a system that convinces us we constantly don’t have enough. Most of the time, we overlook the fact that we already have more than what we need and so we stock up on unnecessary things, all the while ignoring the fact that when we hoard things, we either deprive other people or run the risk of wasting them.

Just as the iconic Marie Kondo advises us to ask ourselves if a certain thing sparks joy whenever we are tidying up, we could also reduce the amount we have to declutter by stopping and asking ourselves, “Do I really need this?” It’s time we stop ourselves from buying another pair of white shoes or another nude lipstick. Let’s be content with what we have for once and only take what we need, may it be in the market or the restaurant. Not only will this save us money but most likely other people, too.

Adopting eco-friendly technology

The technology we use every day undeniably makes our lives easier; I know life and communication would be difficult without our phones and, of course, mobility wouldn’t be the same without cars. With our constant use and even identification with technology, it’s only fitting that we also support well-intended technologies.

Our means of transportation is exactly the kind of technology we should give careful consideration. With the traffic situation in the country, we spend more time in our vehicles. Then again, what it runs on should also concern us as it’s something that directly affects other people.

Not only is there a big responsibility for motorists to uphold safety but one fifth of the carbon emissions harming the environment actually comes from the cars we drive. Nevertheless, one of the first brands to use this information as a wake-up call towards sustainability is Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP).

*Photo of the Mirai, a Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle, which runs on hydrogen and only emits water*

As it takes on the task of promoting sustainable mobility in the Philippines, TMP will be showcasing its strong lineup of low-emission, self-charging hybrid electric vehicles from Dec. 5 to 17 at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay and from Dec.18 to 22 at Bonifacio High Street in Taguig City. You can also get the chance to have a go of these vehicles as test drive opportunities await you on the event venues.

Being conscious and eating mindfully

Our eating habits are like our choices of religion. Being predisposed to eating meat or only eating plants largely stems from where we came from. Nevertheless, and as stated in the first habit, we should reassess the things we’ve come to know and understand.

I’m admittedly a carnivore, a meat-eater or whatever you call it, but along the way— and especially whenever I see a truck filled with pigs being transported most likely to a slaughterhouse—I am constantly reminded of the fact that what I’m eating was once a living creature.

On top of this, is the alarming fact is that the process of raising livestock also contributes up to 18% of worldwide human-induced greenhouse gas emissions that’s most likely contributing a great deal to global warming.

Though, I didn’t stop eating meat altogether since it’s not an overnight process, whenever I have other choices, I take it. It would reduce consuming it and hopefully, also the violence and pollution that comes with it.

And so, I’m not hard-selling the fact of cutting off meat from our diet so quickly but just to remind everyone to be a conscious carnivore and in general, to second-guess what we’re constantly feeding and fuelling ourselves with, if it’s even ethical or if it doesn’t come from harming not only other creatures, but also our environment. If not, take the first step towards improvement today.

If you want to know more about Toyota’s HEVs, you can check their website and Facebook page for updates on their upcoming projects. You can also check out their new Hybrid cars here.

Header photo courtesy of Unsplash

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