Mumbai (Commonwealth Union)_ Dia Mirza, renowned actress, eco-investor, UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador, and UN Secretary-General’s Advocate for Sustainable Development Goals, recently celebrated her son Avyaan Azad Rekhi’s second birthday in a sustainable manner, adhering to zero waste and plastic-free principles. She shared some pictures and video of the eco-friendly birthday party on her social media, showcasing how easy it can be to commemorate such occasions without generating waste.
In the video, Dia Mirza explained the sustainable properties that she used in the party and how she organized the waste-free party. She chose reusable lanterns in place of plastic balloons; replaced plastic cutlery with bamboo and reusable alternatives; chose sustainable decorations like linen tablecloths, old toys, and upcycled cloth buntings instead of plastic embellishments; set up an organic crayon and pottery corner for games; and arranged return gifts with a sustainable touch, including tree saplings in the name of kids and eco-friendly luggage tags. Furthermore, she made sure to have a waste segregation area.
Dia Mirza, known for her environmentally conscious decisions, consistently utilizes her fame and influence to drive positive change in society. Emphasizing the importance of educating children about celebrating in a sustainable manner, she stated in her social media post, “Zero waste, zero plastic birthday. Because what’s good for our children is good for the planet.” Ms. Mirza also detailed how waste was handled in an eco-friendly way, providing details in her post. She wrote, “Wet waste: 23 kgs; Coconut Shells: 15 kgs; Dry waste: 5 kgs. Wet waste mainly consisted of kitchen waste and banana leaves. The coconut shells were dried and processed to make coco peat, while the dry waste, primarily paper cups, was sent for recycling.”
Several times, Ms. Mirza has celebrated an occasion in an environmentally friendly manner. In 2021, she married Vaibhav Rekhi in a full sustainable wedding, featuring hand-crafted gift bags, reusable attire, no food waste, eco-friendly decorations, and a strict avoidance of plastic. Earlier, during an interview with the Banega Swasth India team, Dia Mirza emphasized that every individual on the planet must contribute to climate action. She also shared seven simple steps individuals can follow to contribute to climate change mitigation.
- Adopt a mostly plant-based diet and eat local and seasonal fruits and vegetables.
- Reduce consumption and minimize waste.
- Plant indigenous trees, replacing material gifts with tree planting in the names of the intended recipients.
- Refuse single-use plastic and excessive packaging.
- Conserve energy, water, and fuel through measures such as using energy-efficient bulbs, turning off appliances when not in use, taking shorter showers, and utilizing carpooling and public transportation for fuel saving.
- Follow waste-free and environmentally friendly festivals and celebrations by practicing waste segregation, composting, recycling, and repairing.
- Support environmentalists and organizations working towards climate change and protection of forests and wildlife.
Dia Mirza’s commitment to sustainable practices serves as an inspiration, encouraging others to make mindful choices and contribute to a greener and more sustainable future.
