Navigating Sustainability Post-COVID: A Tale of Rationalization and Resource Optimization

In the unforgiving grip of the March 2020 Covid lockdown in India, essential supplies became elusive, and the convenience of same-day home deliveries came to a grinding halt. The stark reality of scarcity forced a re-evaluation of our approach to resources. Until March 21, 2020, India's bustling economy had accustomed us to the luxury of immediate access, and almost unlimited supply, but the lockdown abruptly halted this rhythm. This crisis became a catalyst for a deep-seated sense of rationalization—a realization of the vital need to utilize every last bit of resources and optimize them to the fullest.

As the WFH revolution unfolded in this new paradigm, a heightened awareness of resource optimization also emerged as a necessity. Our home-centric lifestyles, marked by reduced outings, prompted a comprehensive view of daily activities—from stationery to meeting times, screen usage, and kitchen waste—all demanding a holistic approach toward optimization and reuse.

The lockdown experience in India echoed globally and became a profound teacher, emphasizing enduring values such as perseverance, optimization, resourcing, prioritization, and consistency. It subtly initiated a collective introspection into our habits and instilled a shared responsibility to tread lightly on the planet. Embracing a mindset of recycling, reusing, and reducing became second nature for most of us. With climate change concerns on the rise, it is more important than ever for us to evaluate our individual behaviors and keep those habits of recycle and reuse going. Let's leverage the profound lessons learned during lockdowns to construct a future where every resource including time is not just valued but utilized judiciously.