“It’s not easy being different,” eco-loft resident Ivan told RT. “But there are also some friends who say: if you manage to do this, we will do the same – we just don’t want to be the first ones to do it.”

The flat is full of biodegradable bags and eco-efficient bulbs; water meters are on all of the taps. One thing you will never find there, though, owners say, is a plastic bag.

“In Moscow there are quite a lot of people who travel,” Ivan said. “And they see that in almost every house people do separate their trash. People start to think that it is possible, that it is done.”

On the loft’s wall there is a quote by Gandhi: “Become the changes you want to see in the world.” The group is so dedicated to conservation that they are even using hay bales as chairs.

For somebody keen on interior design, such an eco-approach might seem unexciting, but the enthusiasts do their best to make their flat more attractive with wacky décor and style.

Moreover, they are even ready to sacrifice their own look for the sake of ecology.

“Think about it: if all people were bald, we could save a lot of shampoo bottles,” said eco-loft resident Green. “All that plastic packaging ends up in the ocean, and the shampoo we pour down the drain.”

Still, even eco-loft residents there have hang-ups – especially mental ones.

“The major problem is that environmental issues are closely connected with social ones – so we stick to a small-steps theory,” Green told RT. “We start by making a couple of small steps and try to show by example, try to involve more people into our community.”

Eco-propaganda is a very important part of the enthusiasts’ lives.

“We have a project – an eco-school – where we work on educating people on how to cut down on the damage we cause,” eco-loft resident Yana Murashova told RT. “What I find surprising is how often new people come to our lectures. Moreover, after that they start expressing interest toward an eco-lifestyle.”

Eco-loft residents say that the next step for them is expansion: for years, they have been dreaming about a nice country house for 10 with everything they need in it.