A GUIDE TO ZERO WASTE LIVING!

Happy Friday! Today, I am sharing with you a guide to zero-waste living! According to the UN, every year, humans dump 2.12 billion of waste, and most of the things we buy, end up being thrown out 6 months later. It’s alarming and not sustainable. So, today, I thought I would share with you my tips to start living more sustainably. One way you can do so is through zero-waste living. A zero-waste lifestyle consists of reducing the amount one consumes and consequently throws away.

If you want to know more about this lifestyle, then keep on reading, and don’t forget to check out my previous post: 2021 HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS.

A Guide To Zero Waste Living

Why is Zero Waste living important?

Like I mentioned above, every year, humans dump around 2.12 billion of waste, and most of the things we buy, end up being thrown out 6 months later. Most of which are not recyclable or even biodegradable. This consequently causes more pollution, threatening our health (especially of less-privileged communities) and the future of our planet. Because of that, many communities around the world work towards zero waste.

Zero-waste living consists of reducing what we throw away as much as possible and avoiding unnecessary waste.

In general, this type of living helps regulate climate change and expand the life of plants. It’s just one way of living more sustainably and ensuring a better future for the next generation. Another positive impact is that it creates more jobs in waste management. It also goes against overconsuming which we all know is toxic for our environment and communities.

How to start?

Shop in Bulk

The first way you can start getting into this lifestyle is by shopping in bulk. Bulk shopping means buying a product in the quantity that you desire whether it is rice, flour, beans, lentils, tea, spices, or cleaning products. It’s the perfect way to live a more green life because you only buy the quantity you need and you avoid any useless packaging.

At the grocery store

If bulk shopping is not an option for you, you could always buy products in bigger formats, to avoid throwing away extra packaging. Moreover, you can avoid buying fruits and vegetables that come already wrapped Or, products that are overly packaged. For example, if you buy cookies that are wrapped in individual servings, all the “layers” of packaging are not necessary and will end up… in the trash.

Reuse containers and packaging

The third way is tied to the first one and that is to reuse containers. I love it when my jars of mustard empty so that I can reuse them for storage or for bulk shopping. This is perfect to avoid throwing away empty containers or jars and buying new empty ones. It’s also better for your wallet. You can also find a way to reuse any product you intend to throw away. For instance, instead of buying towels to clean the house, I love to use old t-shirts or old pieces of cloth.

Buy secondhand items or borrow from a friend

The third way to live a more green life is by buying secondhand items or borrowing stuff from your The fourth way to live a more green life is by buying secondhand items or borrowing stuff from your friends. This is another way to avoid buying more stuff you know you’ll throw away after a couple of uses and give love to some unwanted things. In the same way, instead of throwing away the things you don’t need, you could always donate or sell them.

Support brands with the same values

Supporting brands that follow the same values as you do is another perfect way to live a more sustainable lifestyle. In the past year, I’ve encountered so many amazing brands that follow strict guidelines to avoid dumping more waste and producing unnecessary things. For instance, a lot of brands offer products without packaging (bar soap, or in bulk), packaging that is made sustainably or that is biodegradable.

Purchase and consume wisely

The next step to living a more sustainable life is to think before buying. That’s actually a step I mentioned in my article: HOW TO BECOME A CONSCIOUS CONSUMER. Thinking about what you should buy or consume can help you control what you throw away and avoid buying things you don’t need. This applies to anything: electricity, water, skincare, or food. So, next time you want to buy something, think about whether you need it or if you can borrow it from someone you know.

Skip disposable products

The seventh step is to avoid disposable products, such as disposable utensils and dishes, plastic straws, or disposable water bottles, and go for products that last and that you can somehow reuse. For example, instead of buying disposable dish sponges that may contain plastic, you can opt for an interchangeable dish brush. Another example is to use your own reusable bags for shopping. Plastic bags always end up in the trash and increase the amount of waste that is buried.

Opt for products with sustainable material

The next way you can live a zero-waste life is by opting for products made out of sustainable material, such as bamboo toothbrushes, compostable dental floss, or compostable sponges. That way, whatever waste you create, is just better for the environment.

Compost and recycle

Last on my list should always be your last resort to living a sustainable life and that is to compost and recycle. Sure, both are great for the environment but remember that they are not available in some countries and a lot of things are not recyclable or compostable. So before thinking about either, think about the eight other ways you can reduce your waste!

A Guide To Zero-Waste Living

This was my guide to a zero-waste lifestyle. These tips are coming from a beginner-conscious consumer and I hope they inspired you to adopt more sustainable habits and to just reduce your waste 🤍! Have a wonderful weekend and I’ll see you next time!

xx

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