Zero Waste - Because everything starts at home

June 25, 2021

Written by Georgia Douvall

Zero Waste - Because everything starts at home

June 25, 2021

Written by Georgia Douvall

What is zero waste?

It is a philosophy that encourages the redesign of making products to make them easily reusable. Creating a limited effect on the enviroment. Zero waste was a concept bought to small towns in New Zealand. It is now a worldwide movement.

Things I Was Already Doing Towards Zero Waste

Reusing plastic bags: Or even better bring your own fabric bags.
Choosing reusable straws: Paper straws or a metal straw that you can wash and reuse.
Saying no to plastic cutlery: Say no to plastic cutlery/cups/plates. Use reusable mugs and bring to your local coffee shop.
Using soap bars and organic dishwashers: Use products that are housed in recycleable packaging or reusable packaging. This includes your skincare, fabric softener and your dishwasher tablets.
Repurposing glass, cardboard and paper: Re-use and refill your empties as much as possible. For example a glass bottle can become a vase.

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Did you know?

The world dumps a massive 2.12 billion tons of waste every year. (According to The World Courts)

Disturbing Facts About Plastic

50% of plastics are used only once.
It's expensive to manufacture plastic.
Most plastic items take 450 years to biodegrade.

How Plastic Waste Impacts Oceans

8 tons of plastic waste are dumped in the sea
All these critically affect marine life forms
300,000 tons of waste float on ocean's surface
Fishing nets are discarded and left in the ocean

What do we do now? Something has to change to protect nature

THE 5 R'S

Refuse
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle
Rot

REFUSE: Single-use plastics: (bags, bottles, cups, and utensils), freebies (party favours, hotel toiletries), disposable items, and junk mail.

REDUCE: Purchase repairable items over disposable ones, try to avoid unnecessary purchases, shop second hand and eco products, decrease exposure to tempting advertising messages.

REUSE: Practice borrowing and sharing items, repair instead of replace, Rethink the items you already have and find reusable ones.

RECYCLE: Actively recycle home waste such as glass, plastic, cardboard etc as well as clothing and unwanted items.

ROT: Use your leftover food waste as a fertiliser or recycle in your food waste bin, Throw food waste in a worm bin and let worms turn your waste into high-quality fertiliser.

Advocate Eco-friendly alternatives

There are plenty of alternatives out there we just have to search for them, such as reusable water bottles, bamboo toothbrushes, and reusable lunch bags.

Join beach cleanups

You can clean you local area by literpicking or join a group clean up for later in the year. Check with your local community activities.

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Some Ideas to get you started!

Buy bamboo tooth brushes and toothpaste tabs
Purchase foods not wrapped in plastic at your local supermarket. Bring your own fruit and veg bags.
skincare in recycleable packaging or reusable packaing.
Use multitasking products to limit the amount of products you need to purchase.
Use containers or beeswax wraps instead of clingfilm or tinfoil.
Try clothing from charity/thrift stores or online such as eBay.
Use coral friendly SPF
replace paper towels/wipes for fabric towels/napkins
Use menstral cups/ pants
Go paperless for bills/recipets
Use lose leaf tea
Grow your own herbs - just a window needed.