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Eco-Friendly Products: Its advantages and disadvantages

Eco-Friendly products can be defined as the products which are not harmful to the environment whether in its manufacturing phase or disposal.

Table of Contents

  1. What are Eco-Friendly products ?
  2. Why to use Eco-Friendly products ?
  3. Advantages of using Eco-friendly products ?
  4. Disadvantages of using Eco-friendly products ?
  5. Case Study: From Waste to Eco-Friendly
  6. Conclusion

What are Eco-Friendly products ?

An Eco-Friendly product is one which Keep in check all the steps including all the steps involved from sourcing raw materials, manufacturing and packaging. These products are biodegradable, recyclable or compostable in nature.

Some example would be using clean source of energy like wind, water or solar power, using raw materials obtained from naturally and organically grown produce. Also, the packaging would be of such nature that either it would be biodegradable or recyclable in nature.

Time and again , we are reminded of the simple fact that Nature was, is and will be the supreme force that shapes the lives of all the living beings . May it be in the form of floods, wildfires, tornados, or as the recent case of a deadly virus outbreak.

We, as humans, will have to ultimately adapt our lives centred on the candid rules of our Environment. Also, this has to be a collective effort, as we are all aboard on the same boat of Life form species along with all the elements of nature. Usage of Eco Friendly products is one such necessity. 

Technology has developed so rapidly over the last century, like never did, during any other such period of human existence. And as we are consuming more and more, we are generating more and more non-biodegradable wastes too.

This sharp change in the ecological pattern leads to ecological problems (pollution of resources, depletion of ozone layer etc.)

Why to use Eco-Friendly products ?

The amount of damage we have inflicted upon the Nature has reached an alarming level. Our Non Eco-friendly practices have not only affected the humans, but it has also taken a toll on the flora and fauna surrounding us. 

Activists around the world are raising their voice against the same issue. The only way to fight this scenario is to go with Eco-Friendly practices and products.

Imagine you have to choose between:

  1. Non-Eco Friendly product which will not degrade for about 500-100 years and it would be either dumped in a landfill or dumped in sea where the aquatic animals will encounter it sooner or later.
                                                                   OR
  2. Eco-Friendly product which was manufactured by environmental friendly process and its purpose is to have a positive impact on environment as well as the person using it

Without a doubt one would choose option 2.

There are various reasons to use Eco-Friendly products and some of them are as follows:

  1. When you buy Eco-Friendly products you help the use of sustainable materials, fair labour wage, and environmental friendly practices and more importantly you support a better future for coming generations.

  2. You will help to break the vicious circle of demand and supply which will eventually result in decreased prices of Eco-Friendly products. You will also motivate the manufacturers by helping them to stay in the market and will boost them morally as there is someone out there that believes in their company.

  3. Looking at the demand of such products, others will get the motivation to start a venture of their own. More competition in the market will drive the firms to come with better products at affordable prices, given that the companies don’t deviate from the main motto.

  4. Imagine how much it will help in employment generation. This would help in more labour flow in not only the product manufacturing companies, but also the labour required in farms as well. There is a big chain behind which works to deliver the product at your doorsteps.

Advantages of using Eco-friendly products ?

Nature

Eco-Friendly Tourist
  • The Carbon footprint would get reduced considerably. And thus the rate of Global warming would get reduced, which in turn would lead to a decrease in the rate of melting of the polar glaciers.
  • Soil pollution would get reduced considerably. The quality of soil for cultivation would increase. The seepage of rainwater into the groundwater level will occur properly.
  • The quality of water in our water resources would improve considerably. Many people in the modern world still consume the unfiltered water from the rivers and lakes.

    So, an improved water quality would lead to a decrease in the diseases occurring due to polluted water.
  • Eco Friendly products are reusable as well as not reusable in nature .And this is a blessing. Non-biodegradable products may cause pollution upon reuse.

    For e.g., packing hot food again in a colored polythene wrap may lead to some harmful chemicals entering the food. At the same time a bag made out of Coir or an old t-shirt will stick with you for a long period of time.

Agricultural

A worker working in a Eco-Friendly farm
  • The agricultural sector of the economy would get an economical boost. The demand for organic alternatives like Jute, Cotton, etc. would lead to diversification in the crop pattern. These crops can prove to be very good cash crops.
  • The impact on the global health scenario would be positive. A large percentage of the health sector savings could now be diverted to other sectors like education etc.
  • The micro, small and medium enterprises of the economy will get a boost. New Eco Friendly  products can be designed , for eg the Handicrafts industry of India will get a major boost by the increased sale of their products like, Cloth/Jute bags, wax candles, bamboo water bottles etc.

Economical:

Paying More Money
  • Eco Friendly products are reusable as well as not reusable in nature .And this is a blessing. Non-biodegradable products may cause pollution upon reuse.

    For e.g., packing hot food again in a colored polythene wrap may lead to some harmful chemicals entering the food. At the same time a bag made out of Coir or an old t-shirt will stick with you for a long period of time.

Disadvantages of using Eco-friendly products ?

  • Eco Friendly products cannot completely replace the non-biodegradable products. There are many applications where non-biodegradable substances like Plastic etc. are more suitable for molding/designing purposes.
  • The hygienic standards of the Eco friendly products are not always appropriate, for e.g. usage of earthen pots to drink Tea instead of Cups is debatable in terms of hygienic standards.
  • Eco Friendly products can prove to be costlier. A plastic bottle is cheaper than a Bamboo bottle; a plastic bag is cheaper than a cloth bag etc. A large subsidy might have to be given to promote the usage of Eco Friendly products.

    Here is a blog about how expensive the Eco-Friendly products are and the reasons behind it.
  • Eco Friendly products have lesser shelf life than the non-biodegradable products. For e.g., the Shelf life of Plastic can practically said to be Eternity
  • Eco Friendly Products have limited design and fashion possibilities. On the other hand the Non-biodegradable substances like Plastic can be drawn into any shape /color. 

Case Study: From Waste to Eco-Friendly

The Problem

Stubble Burning
  • The burning of farm stubble is a major problem in India. The burning of the stubble from the rice and wheat crop fields after the crop has been harvested releases a large amount of harmful gases into the atmosphere along with the particulate matter .
  • Cities close to such agrarian based states (e.g. Punjab and Haryana) , like the capital of India, New Delhi, receive a lot of Atmospheric pollution and thus hinder the general health of the entire people living in the area.

The Solution

  • People in Thailand faced the same problem. But some people came up with an innovative method, involving Eco-Friendly products and are able to make good profits too.
  • The farmers, who used to burn the farm stubble after harvests, were approached. They were made aware of the harmful effects of their practice. The stubble, was instead bought from them at nominal prices.
  • It was then taken into a warehouse. With the help of grinders , the entire stock was formed into small powder. The powder pack boiled for four hours in  the boiler and then stored into silos. The most interesting part is this: It was then exported to India.
  • In India the product was used to make bio degradable cups, paper plates etc.
    In conclusion, we can say that the straw was turned into Gold!

Conclusion

I hope by now you would have understand about “What Eco-Friendly products are ?” and it’s importance in our life. Living an Eco-Friendly lifestyle right now is not a choice but a necessity.

Also, we learned with the “Stubble Burning” case study that, how with little research and effort we can turn waste into something which is not only Environmental-Friendly,but is capable of bringing monetary benefit as well.

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