“#purelovefortheplanet holds a lot of power and reminds me to love the planet with pure intentions.”
We sat down with Tanvi Lonkar, artist, plastic trash warrior, and our newest ambassador
March 8, 2020
Q: What inspired you to be a zero-waste activist?
A: In my opinion, I was really late in the game. But when it hit me, it hit me hard and the need to switch to a zero waste lifestyle felt like an urgency. It was August 2018, I was on my way home from my 9-5 job, listening to a podcast, of course. The podcast was “The School of Greatness” by Lewis Howes where he was interviewing Lauren Singer, who we all know, is the front face of the zero waste movement. It almost felt like I had been living under a rock, and after that podcast I couldn’t look at plastic the same way.
Q: Share with us your zero-waste beauty routine.
A: It took me months to finally call my beauty routine “zero-waste”. I used everything I already owned (unless expired), and then made sustainable switches. Going zero-waste also made me realize I don’t need a zillion products for my face. I wash my face with a tea tree or charcoal face cleansing bar, moisturize it with Samudra Skin & Sea’s Wild Seaweed Face Cream, followed with a sunscreen with SPF 30 from Raw Elements. Right after a warm shower, I moisturize my entire body with Samudra Skin & Sea’s Body Butter, I absolutely love it, especially in this weather. I always keep the “Yay For Earth” lotion with me to moisturize my lips, and really dry areas like my cuticles throughout the day.
Q: Tell us more about how you use your art to empower women.
A: Ever since I played the role of Teenage Latika who was a victim of human trafficking, in the film Slumdog Millionaire, I was determined to help empower women. Art is the love of my life, pretty much on the same level as my cats, and so I found myself wanting to paint powerful women. I interviewed women from different cultures, countries, ethnicities, and painted them. I wanted the world to see their stories through my paintings, and I wanted women from these different cultures to relate to them. They are simple, yet powerful women, who look the viewer directly into their eyes showing their confidence. The only intricate thing on my paintings are their clothes, because I love fashion. So far I have painted women from Ethiopia, Taiwan, India, Mexico, Lebanon, Wales, and currently working on a Turkish woman. The series will continue to grow. I also have a series of quirky, and puny illustrations of women that many of us can relate to and have a laugh at.
Q: What's the story behind your hashtag #PureLoveForThePlanet? What are your tips on how to live a plastic-free and sustainable life?
A: I love this question, no one has asked me about my hashtag until now. I guess I would always say “pure love” instead of “true love” in instances of loving someone or something. Pure love to me is unconditional love no matter what you get in return; whereas I never believed the term “true love”. I think it holds a lot of power and reminds me to love the planet with pure intentions.
For tips on a plastic-free and sustainable lifestyle, you’d have to go visit my Instagram page @tanvilonkar because I could never cover everything in a couple sentences. But I’ll say this:
Do your best and know that mistakes will happen.
Encourage companies to change instead of shaming people because not everyone is privileged to make sustainable changes in their life.
Sustainability isn’t about buying new sustainable options, but to use what you already have in your home.
Follow Tanvi on Instagram @tanvilonkar and enjoy 10% OFF any order in our shop with her code TANVI.