Some say it's a trendy hipster fashion whilst others believe it's the enlightened way to live, but a logical take on the minimal-residue lifestyle surely takes its sustainable attributes on board. In the modelled 'linear waste economy', we live today, the products are designed and destined to have a residual packaging. Now, one might assume the reasons for that being a push to the packaging industry, but when in big picture such excessive non-bio-degradable packaging is incredibly harmful for our future days. The option of recycling is, what critics say, a delayed linear economy of garbage disposal. We need something more radical and vigorous, they say.

Minimal residue lifestyle focuses on cutting down on anything with a non-reusable packaging and the optimum usage of its contents. It encompasses all the utilities of a common household like clothes, consumable goods, furniture, electronics etc. and essentially follows the ideals of not buying into fully-consuming what exists already. Also known as 'minimalism', this way of living is taken more as a challenge of pushing one's boundaries to reduce the disposable garbage.

Minimalism is strengthening its foothold in India, and we have many of our fellow countrymen following and successfully being an ideal for taking such an example. Their simple habits are an inspiration to hundreds and thousands of nature-friendly households in the country. And according to them, they are not only just 'acting well', they are saving some good money over an extended period of time.

Now some tips paving the path towards minimalism:

1) Avoid plastic at all costs, be it the packaging, content or in any form whatsoever.

2) Buy loose items, use reusable carry-containers.

3) Compose the organic waste, use it as compost for your plants.

4) Use clothing items for other purposes if they're not in use.

5) Employ glass, rubber and wood items for DIY home decor.

These are some general steps which would further motivate you to go zero-waste, in your own personalised way.