What is eco friendly?

This is a question that is coming up again and again in peoples minds as the number of so called ' eco friendly' options increase in the market. But what does it exactly mean?
There are things that are very clearly toxic to life - or are they so clear even?

eCoexist has been recommending for several years now that all our festivals should move to only using natural and biodegradable materials. In the case of Ganesh Chaturthi we have been warning people that materials like Plaster of Paris and chemical paints are toxic to water bodies and should not be immersed in lakes, rivers or in the sea.

However currently there are claims being made that PoP is good for water and that paper mache, even though biodegradable, causes harm. The validity of these claims has to be established by a deeper study into their references and the research they are quoting. In this atmosphere of confusion - people are unsure of how to make their choices and don't know what to believe.

In the above visual we have tried to put down the range of choices that altogether determine how ecofriendly your celebration is or can be. It is the combination of all of these aspects that can help you decide whether you are moving toward Nature or away from her.
 
Ultimately there are a few very basic truths that one could refer to as a guide

1. Keep all water resources clear of anything that doesn't belong there - no sewage, no industrial effluent and no chemical materials.

2. All the materials you use should be biodegradable and compostable.

3. Reuse everything as much as you can. Avoid single use items.

4. Share ! Let there be one idol for as many people as can celebrate together.

5. Let your devotion be measured by the depth of your feeling and not the size of your idol. 
Listen to Lolita Gupta explain it on 95 Big FM radio in the video below