Deng and her colleagues regularly organize outdoor cleanup events and exhibitions to raise awareness.

"Many people don't fully understand environmental issues," Deng said. "They often see them as remote public concerns, unrelated to their own lives. But disasters affect us all. The conveniences we take for granted can quickly disappear."

She recalled the severe power outages in Sichuan during the summer of 2022, caused by high demand and extreme heat, which strained the region's hydropower supply.

Still, some people remain unconvinced. After a cleanup event, Deng remembered someone asking her, "Trash can never be picked up completely, so why bother?"

"It might seem like picking up trash only addresses the surface problem, not the root cause," she said. "But each piece of trash we remove helps reduce harm — and, more importantly, it inspires participants to start caring for the environment."

Liu Xueli, 23, a volunteer with Pickup China, shared her own eye-opening experience. At her first cleanup event, she was shocked by the amount of litter, much of which she had overlooked during past outdoor activities.

"According to our statistics, about 50 percent of the trash is plastic," Liu said. "Now, I consciously try to cut down on single-use items."

Liu's approach reflects the mindset of a new generation of environmentalists, who see sustainability not as a moral obligation but as a comfortable lifestyle choice.

"Just like some people prefer spending their free time reading or playing video games, mindful living is also about what feels natural and right for you," she said.