Sustainable travel in Goa: A visit to the zero-waste store Ethico and the initiative "Offbeat in Goa"

Want to support sustainable initiatives as well as local businesses on your trip to India? Then you can't miss these travel tips. Be sure to visit the newly opened and stylish zero-waste store Ethico. In the integrated café, you can chat with the two founders about their sustainable mission. For more eco-friendly travel ideas in coastal Goa, I recommend you check out the online platform Offbeat Goa. Their offline center is also worth a visit. I'll show you exactly what it all looks like now.

Zero-waste store Ethico: store sustainably while traveling

Once in Goa, my friend Flo and I head to the new zero-waste store Ethicoindia to stock up on our travel essentials. The store offers a seemingly endless selection of sustainable products, including food, housewares, hygiene products, children's toys and more - all without plastic packaging. Apart from that, the main focus here is on a sustainable manufacturing process for the items on offer. So here you get the best quality at the best price. Speaking of quality: An emigrated German organic baker supplies Ethico with bread. We don't need to be told twice and order a baguette for next week. Small spoiler: Tastes better than at home. Like from a French boulangerie. In the store, I still plunder the hygiene department and find everything from my shopping list. Then I discover notebooks from The Second Life. As a copywriter, I can never have enough of them, so I grab two made of recycled paper and newspapers right away.

The inspiring story of the founders Rabia and Indranil

During our shopping trip we get very good advice and get to talk to the owners Rabia Tewari & Indranil Sengepta. They invite us directly for a chai in their small café and tell us their story. "That's where it all started," Rabia begins, while pointing to a framed newspaper article. On it, she can be seen with her husband on a city beach. Eyes shining, she continues, "Back then, we lived in Mumbai. The beach you can see in the picture was full of plastic before - over a meter high. We wanted to change that. That's why we founded Mahim Beach Clean up in September 2017. Together with 40,000 volunteers and public service employees, we collected all the trash, set up trash cans and installed solar lights. Now it hosts cultural events for residents and tourists like concerts, ceremonies, and beach clean ups."

"We love what we're doing for the environment," Indranil emphasizes, "That's why, after this project, we decided to launch the Zero Waste Store in Goa in October 2022."

Ethicoindia: A sustainable community online and offline

"So far, we've received nothing but positive feedback from local residents. The local council is also very enthusiastic about the business model and supports the concept," Rabia tells us about her success so far. Indranil then tells us about their future vision for Ethicoindia: "We didn't start Ethico to make money." Rather, the couple wants to create a platform for sustainable living and give back to the community in the process. In addition to the eco-friendly store and café, they promote environmental protection through conscious consumerism as well as education. Like Mahim Beach, which is now plastic-free, Ethicoindia is also intended to become a place of encounter, both online and offline. One of their projects is therefore to develop the second floor of the store as a co-working space. In the future, students and digital nomads like me will be able to work there. Who knows, maybe sustainable start-ups will emerge in the process. So if you ever plan a workation , I can only recommend this spot to you.

Clothes swap with Good Karma

Loaded with our purchases, we go to our accommodation inspired. To keep my IMPACKT suitcase from bursting after this shopping trip, I do a little spring cleaning and clean out my suitcase. Even after 6 months I still own too many things and do not wear everything. With a big bag of clothes, I make my way to the thrift store Good Karma. The store manager Sheena happily accepts my clothing donation. As I look around the store, I discover a few new clothes. But the thrift store is not all this place has to offer.

Offbeat Goa: small center, big community

Store manager Sheen tells me that the thrift store is part of the Offbeat Goainitiative, which promotes sustainable travel and community development. They have built a small center that offers a variety of activities and facilities. In addition to the thrift store on the second floor, there is a vegan café on the first floor. This offers snacks or drinks and is a great place to socialize with like-minded people. Behind the building is a green courtyard where the New Earth Gathering market can be found. Here, local businesses such as artists:ers and organic farmers display their wares. Another highlight of the center is the environmentally conscious hair salon Shine Hair Studio, where only natural products are used. On the spur of the moment, I have my hair cut there by hairdresser Ranjit. It's great to see how the concept of sustainability is integrated into so many aspects of the center.

Offbeat Community - Interview with the founder

After my tour and freshly styled from the hair salon, I spontaneously meet the founder Vijaya Pais of Offbeat Goa because I want to learn more about her and the initiative. "In 2014, I started the facebook group to keep the community up to date on what sustainable businesses and offerings are here," Vijaya tells me. It has become a place for sharing and collaboration, supporting local businesses as well as travel deals that promote upcycling as well as sustainability, among other things. With over 50,000 members:in their Facebook group and 80,000 across all platforms, they are a growing movement that promotes sustainable ideas and makes them accessible to all. Perfect for discovering unique as well as environmentally conscious vacation ideas for the coastal region.

In the mood for IMPACKT and the sea? Then plan your sustainable trip to Goa now. Put the zero-waste store Ethico on your bucket list and get inspired by the Offbeat community or my other tips about the coastal region when planning your vacation.

Love greetings,

Your Franzi