You Can Help Fight Climate Change By Wearing Non-Ironed Dress Once A Week, Here Is How

In a world where fashion often dictates our choices, it's not every day that you meet someone willing to stand out by embracing the ordinary. I've learned that sometimes, simplicity can make a powerful statement. Our campaign, "Wah - Wrinkles Achhe Hai," isn't just about wrinkles; it's about recognizing the environmental impact of our everyday choices.

UNSPLASH

What is the cost of ironing your dress

Why do all eyes turn to me when I walk into a room, a meeting, or a conference? It's not my charismatic presence; it's the simple, unironed cotton kurta I choose to wear. This isn't a fashion statement, but rather a conscious decision to reduce our carbon footprint and make our planet a better place to live.

The magic of this unironed cotton kurta is that it can save up to 200 grams of CO2 emissions per garment. "Wrinkles Achhe Hai" is more than a catchphrase; it's an acknowledgment of the positive effect of embracing a more sustainable approach to dressing.

We often hear about big things like international agreements (like the Paris Agreement), conferences (like COP), and efforts to reduce carbon emissions when it comes to tackling climate change.

Why you don't have to iron all your dress

However, it's equally crucial for individuals to understand the importance of their actions and make changes in their everyday habits. In fact, sometimes it's easy to achieve things by doing nothing. In the context of climate change, this might mean reducing consumption, conserving resources, or simply allowing nature to thrive without human interference.

UNSPLASH

What impact it can make

An average electric clothes iron consumes 500-2000 watts. A 2000-watt iron, used for 15 minutes daily, uses 0.5 kWh daily, totaling 15 kWh per month. When we iron clothes in pairs (5-7 minutes per piece), one day's ironing by one person contributes up to 200 grams of CO2. Extrapolated nationwide, this leads to a staggering 250 million grams (or 250,000 kg) of CO2 emissions daily.

India's electricity mainly comes from coal, with each unit causing 1 kg of CO2 emissions. If everyone in India skipped ironing for a day, we'd save 250 million units of electricity, equal to avoiding 250 million kilograms of CO2 emissions. This illustrates how collective small actions can make a significant environmental impact.

What is Wah - Wrinkles Achhe Hai

Now, we're extending an invitation to individuals and organisations across the country and all over the world to join us in the "Wah - Wrinkles Achhe Hai" campaign. Suppose we truly want to create a healthier world for our children and future generations. In that case, we must reevaluate our consumption habits and adopt an approach rooted in the principles of Energy Swaraj.

UNSPLASH

Starting on Monday, October 23, 2023, which marks the eve of Dussehra, a day symbolising the victory of good over evil, we launch a mission to inspire ten million people to wear non-ironed clothing every Monday. This may seem like a small step, but it's a significant stride towards reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable living. "Wrinkle Day" will become synonymous with "Green Today."

How to take part in Wah - Wrinkles Achhe Hai

Our campaign is about more than just wrinkles; it's about making conscious choices to safeguard the future of our planet. We propose the simple yet effective AMG (Avoid-Minimize-Generate) model of Energy Swaraj as a blueprint for reducing our ecological footprint.

Joining the "Wah - Wrinkles Achhe Hai" Campaign is easy. All it takes is encouraging every member of your organization to don non-ironed clothing every Monday throughout the year. To officially join, you can register at https://es-pal.org/ccd and commit to taking #ActionForClimateCorrection.

We encourage you to share your journey on social media using the hashtags #NoCO2 and #WrinklesAchheHain. When you tag Energy Swaraj Foundation, you're contributing to a growing movement that's focused on environmentally responsible living.

PEXELS

Our campaign offers a refreshing perspective on environmental responsibility in a world that often prioritizes appearances over substance. It's a reminder that sometimes, less is more, and wrinkles can be beautiful, especially when they represent a commitment to our planet.

As a society, we have a collective responsibility to address the challenges of climate change and reduce our carbon emissions. By taking simple steps, such as embracing wrinkles and adopting the AMG model of Energy Swaraj, we can contribute to a more sustainable future. We invite you to join us in saying, "Wah - Wrinkles Achhe Hai!" and making the world a greener and healthier place for all.

In a world dominated by perfectly pressed attire, there's someone who stands out not for their impeccable dressing but for their unwavering commitment to our planet. Every room they enter becomes an arena for change, every meeting an opportunity to inspire, and every conference a platform for a remarkable campaign: "Wah - Wrinkles Achhe Hai."

This article is published in association with Energy Swaraj Foundation as part of our Climate Action series. Prof. Solanki is founder of Energy Swaraj Foundation and Neha Kumari is a research associate at Energy Research Foundation.