7 Tips for Zero-Waste Week
This week is Zero-Waste Week! Zero-Waste Week was created in 2008 as a national awareness campaign to help those who want to adopt a zero-waste lifestyle. It’s certainly challenging, but here are some tips to help you get a start on your zero-waste journey!
1. Think twice before buying
The biggest way to eliminate waste is to eliminate the thing that is causing waste in the first place. For most of us, that tends to be shops, whether that be grocery stores, clothing boutiques, or an online store. When purchasing items that aren’t so necessary, it may be helpful to adopt the twenty-four-hour rule, in which you give yourself twenty-four hours to consider your decision. If you’re still thinking about making the purchase after that time, chances are it’s worth it. If you forget about it in twenty-four hours, you probably didn’t need it in the first place. This mindset can help reduce the amount of impulse-buying you’re doing as well as the burden on your wallet!
2. Swap any single-use products to reusable ones
This is perhaps the most important step in trying to go zero-waste. Go over your day to day products and replace any single-use items with reusable alternatives. Some common single-use household items include cleaning supplies, drink cans and bottles, and wipes. Replacing these items each time you run out can actually get pretty costly, and switching to the reusable alternatives will actually save you money.
3. Switch to sustainable food wrappers
Most households use plastic wrap to cover and store their food, which generates a lot of waste that can’t be recycled. There are great alternatives out there like beeswax or leaf wraps, otherwise called “vegan wraps.” Keep your leftovers and the planet fresh by switching to a more sustainable food-wrapping alternative!
4. Bring your own utensils and silverware
It may be a good idea to invest in a portable silverware or utensil set. You can find them online or in lots of department stores. Typical sets will include a fork, spoon, knife, and straw. Or, you can create your own super easily by putting some silverware in a cloth bag. You can also bring your own coffee mug next time you go get some coffee! Keep your utensil set with you whenever you go out to avoid having to use plastic utensils!
5. Support zero-waste brands
The push for sustainability has been growing among corporations. Well-known companies like Google, Microsoft, and Toyota have committed to becoming zero-waste in the next few years. Help support companies that are trying to be sustainable by buying their products or raising awareness about their zero-waste efforts!
6. Avoid unnecessary packaging
Avoiding plastic packaging is probably the most difficult part of going zero-waste, but it’s incredibly important. If you think about it, most of the plastic we use on a day to day basis comes from packaging. Sure there are plastic straws, utensils, and bags, but those items are not typically used everyday. However, overly packaged items wrapped in layers of plastic are a pretty common occurrence, especially for groceries. Next time you go to the grocery store, try to pick out the least packaged items you can — and don’t forget your reusable bag to carry them with!
7. Reduce, reuse, repurpose, repair, and recycle
These “R’s” are key to adopting and maintaining a zero-waste lifestyle. Ideally, we should all be following the reuse and repair part, but that can be pretty difficult. It’s important to note that recycling is typically less effective than the rest, particularly for plastic. Less than eight percnet of the plastic we put in a recycling bin is actually recycled, and recycling plants use a lot of energy. While recycling is still a viable option, it should be considered as a last-resort option. Next time you need a new item, try using one of the “R’s” instead!
There are so many more ways to start adopting a zero-waste lifestyle. Zero-Waste Week is not about making everyone go zero-waste, but rather about raising awareness on the importance of it. Hopefully, we can all continue to stay motivated and keep adopting zero-waste habits even when Zero-Waste Week is over!