From Zero-Waste Family to Zero-Waste Community
Amid the towering skyscrapers and the hustle-bustle of Mumbai city, Sunita Gokhale stands tall as a pioneer of sustainable living. She is the founder of the Earthing Store, a platform for ecologically conscious products that not only aims to create awareness of the garbage problem our planet is facing but also convert that awareness into a willingness to take responsibility for the trash created by each household.
Gokhale’s journey to sustainability began with a deep sense of concern about the garbage strewn all over the roads, rivers, and beaches. This concern eventually led her to a zero-tolerance policy towards waste. Being a zero-waste home herself, Gokhale decided to help other conscious homes achieve zero-waste. Her sustainability journey started with her family and has now multiplied into a zero-waste community.
However, Gokhale’s journey has not been without its challenges. She has faced several obstacles since she began her sustainability journey. One of the significant challenges is that even aware people may not always buy plastic-free/sustainable swaps. Despite her best efforts to keep the rates reasonable and competitive with plastic options, people tend to label sustainable products as costly. Additionally, people may buy sustainable options with vigor initially, but they may not continue to buy them in the future. Masses think these are niche products not meant for them. Moreover, people compare prices of handmade products with machine-made ones and find an excuse not to buy because of the cost.
However, Gokhale remains undeterred by these challenges. She tries her level best to sell products at fair prices and sometimes has to let go of customers who label them as overpriced. Gokhale’s sustainable living has benefited her life and that of her family significantly. Her kid follows their example, takes efforts to not create waste, and understands the importance of zero waste. Similarly, many of her clients, friends, and relatives say that they are inspired to reduce waste consciously because it makes sense to them. Gokhale never thought that someday she would inspire someone, but her sustainable living has brought about a positive change in her community.
Gokhale intends to use her knowledge and resources to help others who are willing to live sustainably. At the Earthing Store, they provide end-to-end solutions to achieve zero waste homes. Apart from selling sustainable products, they take home composting workshops regularly and take clean dry plastic, paper, glass waste as well as e-waste and old clothes and hand it over to a responsible waste aggregator who will ensure that it reaches the right channel for upcycling/recycling and does not end up in landfills.
Gokhale’s story is an inspiration to all those who are passionate about sustainable living. She has shown that small changes in our daily lives can make a big impact on the environment. Her story serves as a reminder that we all have a responsibility towards our planet and that it is up to us to create the kind of world we want. Gokhale’s journey to sustainability has been emotional, powerful, thoughtful, and educating, with impeccable grammar, language, and sentence structure, much like the impeccable products that she sells at the Earthing Store.
The Earthing Store is more than just a platform for ecologically conscious products; it is a movement. A movement that aims to create a world where waste is no longer a problem but a resource that can be used sustainably. Gokhale’s vision for a sustainable future is a bright one, and her passion for the environment is contagious. Her work is a testament to the power of one person’s actions in creating a positive impact on the world.
