CSIR launches 'Wrinkles Achche Hai' campaign to ditch ironed clothes once in a week; here's why

CSIR has launched the 'Wrinkles Achche Hai' campaign, urging its employees across India to ditch ironed clothes every Monday until May 15. This unconventional move aims to raise awareness about energy conservation and environmental sustainability within the scientific community.

The campaign, translating to 'Wrinkles Are Good,' draws attention to the significant carbon footprint associated with traditional ironing practices. According to CSIR, ironing clothes emits substantial amounts of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas contributing to climate change. Dr. N Kalaiselvi, CSIR's director general, highlighted that ironing each set of clothes releases about 200 g of carbon dioxide, thus promoting the idea of wearing non-ironed attire to reduce emissions.

The initiative, backed by a circular jointly issued by CSIR and CLRI, Chennai, challenges employees to refrain from ironing their clothes at least once a week. This action aims to reduce energy consumption and demonstrate collective commitment to environmental sustainability.

The campaign, coinciding with the ongoing 'Swachhata Pakhwada' (Cleanliness Fortnight) from May 1-15, underscores CSIR's dedication to adopting sustainable practices beyond symbolic gestures. Moreover, as part of broader energy-saving measures, CSIR plans to implement operational protocols aimed at reducing electricity consumption across its laboratories, with an initial target of a 10% reduction in electricity charges during the pilot phase from June to August 2024.

This initiative follows the installation of the country's largest climate clock at CSIR's headquarters in Delhi. Established in 1942 by scientist Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, CSIR has a rich history of scientific innovation, with its labs contributing significantly to national development.