Sustainability is the necessity of today and tomorrow. However, with multiple neologistic terms like eco-friendly, green, eco-conscious and eco-anxiety becoming a quotidian word, the confusion is getting deeper. They all stand for aiding the planet’s health however have different approaches that draw the line in interchanging them freely.

As the world is getting more aware and conscious about the choices and the steps, we as the citizens of Earth need to understand a few basics that aid our future. The terms sustainability, eco-friendly, green, eco-consciousness and in fact eco-anxiety have become quite famous in pop-culture. But if asked, many are not aware what status does each hold and how it affects and creates an effect in the long run.

While all these terms; sustainability, eco-friendly, green, eco-consciousness, and eco-anxiety, have a common ground and enunciate the priority of nature, our surrounding and minimizing the destruction that human beings are causing, on a broader and profound scale, each word holds a significant authority that is not fungible, categorizing the words as the NFT of the english vocabulary.

Today, we will discuss the same, find the similarities and differences of these words, their importance in the world and design domain and how they can not be interchanged.

You might be wondering, a dragged narrative of “There is No Planet B” is on the way, however, we are just aiming to raise a generation that is responsible and helps resurrects the charm of the planet, undo the mistakes that human beings are making and finally live a cohesive life in sync with nature.

Taking your attention back to some of the most common yet confusing terms of pop culture and eco-world, let’s conquer it one by one.

Eco-Friendly:

When the brands use the term ‘eco-friendly’, it simply means that the process of manufacturing it did not harm the planet. It does not ensure the sourcing part that goes before the manufacturing, hence, just emphasizing the production part. With technological advancement and the curiosity (that won’t kill the cat) to explore and utilize the unconventional materials, the label of ‘eco-friendly’ can be easily adorned by the brands but that does not ensure whether it would be helpful to the future runners and the current socio-economical setup. But as we all know even the smallest step counts, hence it is a good start to go ahead with future plans.

Green:

Green, the usual understanding of green has evolved. It is no more synonymous to the soothing color, it has become a way of living. Green living or the green tag ensure the well-being of environmental as well as human health. It emphasizes the recycle, reuse and reduce cycle in the overall aspect of living. Some of the green practices that we choose to make in everyday life are closing the tap while brushing the teeth, switching off the lights and fans while exiting the room, opting out from single use plastic and more on the same line.

Eco-conscious:

Eco conscious is a wide term which leans on the knowledge side. To be eco-conscious, the individual should be aware of the various tags that the brands use and not fall for the dupe practices which is also known as greenwashing. Many brands in the name of ‘eco-friendly’ or ‘ sustainable’, fool consumers to buy products that are not benefiting the planet or its health. When you go through their manufacturing process or supply chain, the data shows the harmful effects they are causing to the environment while just implementing a few factors for the tag of eco-consciousness. The consciousness and concerns regarding the same is on the rise since the pressing issues of climate change, habitat destruction, exploitation of natural resources are roped in to ensure a better future.

Eco-anxiety:

Eco-anxiety, though is a neologistic term, raising concern and addressing it is more important. To break it down, it is the psychological effect that an individual faces in view of the planet’s health and climatic changes. We all notice the shift in the weather conditions and how the course of seasons are changing. The natural disasters have become frequent and with this speed the future looks bleak. While to many it does not raise awareness, for a lot the anxiety is setting in; going through disturbed sleeps, nervousness, and more upon thinking about the planet’s health. Though eco-anxiety is still in its initial stage, if we as the citizens of Earth do not take appropriate measures, it will shape into a humongous issue.

Sustainability:

Sustainability is an umbrella term that encapsulates the ideologies of eco-friendly and green activities working in a three dimensional structure that includes environment, economic and social angle. It is a word that addresses the ongoing issues of the ecosystem as a whole without compromising the needs of future generations. The leaders and agencies who vouch for sustainability understand that the resources of Earth are limited and once depleted, cannot be restored, affecting society and economy. Hence, to have a sustainable tag and go ahead with the practice, an individual is required to consider umpteen factors that eventually does not negatively impact the future generation and aids to their healthy living.

To go ahead in the same line, world leaders have opted for SDGs- Sustainable Development Goal which includes seventeen aspects that has to be achieved by 2030. Moreover, the individuals are also supposed to step up and work in the direction that keeps the planet and human race running.

To keep the fuel of nature alive and help the human race develop without harming the planet, JD Institute of Fashion Technology Bangalore is raising a generation of aware designers who are in sync with their surroundings. Every course at JD Institute follows a global pedagogy that includes sustainability in their design sensibility and development.