You have probably come across the term zero waste lifestyle, but you are not sure what it consists of. This type of lifestyle is all about promoting responsible choices regarding the prevention of our environment. One of the main goals is to reduce global pollution by reducing the amount of garbage that winds up in the oceans and landfills. Therefore, the target is to make as little trash as possible. Here are some beginner’s steps that will (hopefully) lead you to a waste-free lifestyle.
Metal straws are your new best friend
Plastic straws are a single-use item and contribute greatly to environmental pollution. So, why don’t you ditch those and use a better alternative – metal straws! Not only they are eco-friendly but are also long-lasting, easy to clean and can be used over and over again.
Buy in bulk
The best way to eliminate as much food packaging as possible is to buy products in larger quantities. Although not everything is available package-free, more and more supermarkets provide the option of buying in bulk at least products such as flour, grains, beans, spices, sugar, cereals and even candy. Make sure to bring reusable containers.
Avoid plastic bags at all cost
Breaking from this bad habit is the easiest change that will get you closer to the zero waste lifestyle. It is widely known that only a small percentage of plastic bags get recycled, while most of them end up in landfills. Nowadays every grocery store sells cloth bags. So, you have no excuses!
Swap out your plastic toothbrush for a biodegradable one
A bamboo toothbrush will offer you the same cleaning quality as a plastic toothbrush with the only difference that the bamboo one is biodegradable. Since plastic brushes can take up to 1000 years to decompose, it is good to have this option in mind.
Get some reusable water bottles
Worldwide more than 60 million water bottles end up in the trash…daily. Let that sink it. Although 20 to 30% of them end up being recycled, it is still not an excuse to keep on using plastic bottles. Therefore, a small change such as using a reusable water bottle can make all the difference.
Compost as often as you can
Why would you toss out food scraps when they can be composted? Instead of throwing them into the garbage, put them in a compost bin and let them decay naturally. Not only will this benefit mother Earth but it will also benefit your plants. Decomposed organic material can enrich the soil with numerous nutrients and do wonders for your plants.
As a society that is constantly on the go and always looking for convenience, it can be quite hard to change our habits overnight. However, the tips mentioned above are a great start that will allow you to join the zero waste lifestyle and do your utmost to protect the environment around you.
