Embracing sustainable living

Sustainable influencers

Chen Jiaorong, a 27-year-old internet influencer, first learned about the concept of "stooping" from overseas video bloggers — a concept that involves picking up discarded items, refurbishing, and repurposing them.

Chen was among the first to introduce this concept within the Chinese social media sphere, and for her, this behavior brought additional value to life far beyond people's imagination.

"Stooping enhances my observation of surrounding things and effectively alleviates my internal struggles," Chen explained. "This behavior makes me realize that even without enough resources, I can gradually achieve my goals through picking up and collecting."

Currently, Chen operates a social media account with approximately 50,000 followers dedicated to stooping and the recycling of old items.

With participation from thousands of people, according to Chen, active communities related to these topics are causing an increasing number of people to pay attention to the circular economy and sustainable living.

Su Yige, 25, one of the first Chinese video bloggers to share a sustainable lifestyle, provides her take on the overarching theme of environmental protection: "Leave the least trace on Earth and as many stories as possible."

During her university years, Su stumbled upon an image of a small glass jar filled with trash, representing eight years of waste generated while practicing a zero-waste lifestyle.

Raised in a frugal and environmentally conscious family, Su quickly developed an interest in zero-waste living and committed to it for three years.

However, whether crafting her own cleaning products or composting kitchen waste, this lifestyle, which generates minimal garbage, has proved immensely challenging and caused Su considerable anxiety and distress.

"We don't need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly." This statement by Anne Marie Bonneau, a well-known Canadian zero-waste blogger, prompted Su to shift away from ascetic environmental practices and seek sustainable living solutions that ordinary people can adopt, maintain, and find joy in.

Through extensive learning, contemplation, and practical experience in environmental knowledge, Su introduced the concept of "traceless" living. The idea is to enjoy life while leaving as little trace as possible, aiming to be users of Earth's resources rather than plunderers.

"Loving oneself and loving the Earth are not mutually exclusive in most cases," Su said.

Her concept of traceless living found realization in Jianzuo village in Nangqen county, Yushu Tibetan autonomous prefecture, Northwest China's Qinghai province.

With invaluable natural landscapes and biodiversity, the village is located in the source area of the mighty Lancang-Mekong River. This region is one of the most sensitive globally regarding climate change.

Realizing that casually discarding garbage was threatening the natural environment and wildlife in the Lancang River source area, Jamyang Sherab, a local Buddhist scholar, organized villagers in April 2016 to establish the Dejia Environmental Protection School. The goal was to guide herders to return to a healthier lifestyle.

Under the guidance of three goals — zero waste, altruism, and organic food — the herders gradually eliminated the use of plastic and disposable items, consumed only locally produced organic food, and successfully established the first truly zero-waste community on the plateau after a year of effort.

Pachuk Tsering, a 26-year-old Tibetan, ventured out of Jianzuo village to pursue higher education and, upon graduating, chose to return to his hometown as the project leader for the Dejia Zero-waste Community. His primary responsibilities include monitoring water sources, wildlife, and phenological phenomena, as well as providing explanations to tourists.

Working alongside Pachuk are numerous young volunteers from across the country. "I'm delighted by the sincerity and environmental awareness of today's youth. They provide me with great motivation," he said. "In this fast-paced era, environmental work is much like spiritual practice, cultivating not only the natural environment but also one's character and inner self."

Regarding the future development of the community, Pachuk aspires to explore business conversion points within environmental protection, such as developing eco-friendly products and enhancing ecological tourism experiences. These initiatives aim to create a stable source of income for the community, fostering sustainable development.