Could these Japanese philosophies be the key to a less wasteful and more contented life?

Modern day living is exhausting the planet. We consume products from fashion to food with overwhelming speed, and replace more than we replenish or repair. Something broken? We’ll discard the old item at the drop of a hat and purchase a new one straight away. But this lifestyle is far from sustainable and the fast pace we exist at is catching up with the Earth. This is why we’re looking to our neighbours in Eastern cultures to help change our attitudes and show us how to become more creative and resourceful in the process.

According to cbenvironmental.co.uk, the average household in the UK produces more than a tonne of waste every year. Put together, this comes to a total of 31 million tonnes per year – equivalent to the weight of three and a half million double-decker buses. To say we’re wasteful is putting it lightly. And that’s where our attitudes to the items we own, buy and consume, and are therefore responsible for, need to change. Enter wabi-sabi and kintsugi. Although you may not know much more about Japanese culture beyond the traditional images of beautiful cherry blossom trees, silk kimonos and the ancient art of origami, these philosophies are well worth putting on your radar.