How to go #ZeroWaste and #CarbonNeutral ?

This is a curated list of tips that I practice every day to reduce waste in general, reduce my carbon footprint, and ultimately transforming towards environmental sustainability. This is a dynamic curated article; I keep on adding the tips as and when I adopt the practices. Also mind that these are not just random tips collected from internet, mere armchair philosophical preaching; these are the real actions, ‘tried and tested.’ Do you have an additional tip that I should consider? Comment in the comments section below.

Minimizing waste

1. I eat less (I fast every Sundays)
2. I never peel my veggies (Carrots, Potatoes, Cucumber etc.) Reduces waste, plus (more importantly), preserves the nutrients
3. I steam my vegetables (saves energy, reduces carbon footprint, preserves nutrients)
4. I soak grains in water prior to cooking. Saves energy and reduces carbon footprint
5. I save electricity as much as possible. Most of my clothes are wrinkle-free, enabling me to forget about ironing. I steam my clothes instead of iron. All bulbs in my house are LED. I sleep early and rise with the sun, minimizing need for artificial lighting. I spend more time outdoors in the park.
6. I save freshwater as much as possible
7. I use reject water of RO water purifier and water after cleaning veggies for gardening
8. I compost my organic waste. I have started composting my hair and nail clippings too. Composting support my Kitchen gardening
9. I buy less stuff (automatically lead to less waste). I have this quote nicely framed: “It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.” — Seneca and “The things you own, end up owning you.” — Tyler Durden
10. I buy local, seasonal food (cheaper, healthier)
11. I bake my own bread every week. Result: No wasting plastic wraps of commercial bread loaves. More freedom to add ingredients as I like. No color/preservatives, feeling of self-sufficiency.
12. I buy milk from the milkman. Result: No wasting plastic milk covers, and no carcinogens and EDCs (Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals) in my milk
13. I redefine my priorities. Nationalism (lowest)< Humanism < Environmentalism (highest)
14. I try to minimize ‘single-use’ plastic in my life:
15. I do not use any disposable cutleries/polythene shopping bags
16. I always carry portable collapsible silicone coffee mug, reusable steel cutleries collapsible multi-use plastic bag to conferences and events.
17. I never use flex-boards (Vinyl banners) in the events that I organize in my university
18. I never serve packaged water in PET bottles in events/conferences that I organize. Instead, I serve water in flasks with reusable glass tumblers
19. I reuse my plastic grocery shopping bag for years (I do not use cloth shopping totes which are known to increase carbon footprint)
20. I recycle plastic containers. As gardening pots, flower vase etc.
21. I donate my old clothes to the needy and I sell my old/unused stuff online
22. I use rechargeable cells (AA, AAA) instead of disposable ones.
23. I use biodegradable cycling water bottles and garbage bags
24. I use solar-powered wrist-watch (Casio G Shock G 5600 DR)
25. I use reusable cloth and microfiber face-masks instead of disposable masks (surgical/N95 etc)
26. I use microfiber cloths to clean household utensils, appliances, furniture etc with plain water (no synthetic chemicals which are bad for environment). This also let me reduce plastic wastes
27. I use normal bar soap for taking bath, no fancy shower gels/shampoo etc. This let me reduce plastic container reject waste.
28. I take a fast shower (3 minutes long) to save as much water as possible. Shower pumps 7 liters of water per minute (7x3 0 21 L). Indian style bucket-and-mug bathing (25 L one bucket) is still better than long shower bath/ tub bath
29. I use a bidet, no tissue paper, in toilet
30. Not quite #ZeroWaste, yet, blood donation is mention-worthy in this list. I celebrate my birthdays by donating 2 units of blood to the government blood bank. I regularly donate my plasma as well. Many studies suggest regular blood donors live longer. “You don’t have to be a doctor to save lives”
31. Post Death waste minimization: I am a complete organ donor (my organs, if useful, gets recycled). I have signed up to donate my whole body for teaching and research post-death (whereby I continue to be a teacher and researcher for a long time!)

Minimizing Carbon Footprint

1. I bike to work, bike to commute and bike to tour. (Cycling leads to better physical health, Longevity, Mental health, decreased stress levels, better sleep. Cycling is also Zero-emission, and lower in carbon footprint. Cycling also helps to go fossil-fuel-free, which is good for countries like India where almost 100% of fossil fuel are imported.
2. Though I love to travel, I have decided to travel less. Travelling, especially air-travelling, has a very high carbon footprint. Instead, I travel far-flung places through books. I also travel to great museums, art galleries and architectural marvels virtually.
3. I organize virtual conferences and webinars instead of physical meetings. It helps me tremendously to reduce the overall carbon footprint.
4. I pack my lunch to work every day. result: Better control of ingredients, a feeling of self-sufficiency
5. Only rarely do I drink milk/consume dairy products. I am a vegetarian and prefer local foods
6. I always carry a water bottle with water. Result: I save a ton of carbon footprint by going free of packaged water in PET bottles
7. I vote for the politics that protect our environment. I carefully read and look out for environmental policies in the election manifestos of parties and exercise my franchise wisely.