Due to the increasing pressures of the environmental impact of our consumer habits, it’s becoming more and more important to be conscious of the decisions we make and the lifestyles we lead. The ever-growing zero-waste movement, or revolution shall we say, has committed themselves in living more consciously and aim to be part of the solution. Living completely zero-waste can be a difficult transition, and living completely zero-waste isn’t the only way to be part of the solution. Even making small yet gradual changes to our lives is taking a step in the right direction and still helps the cause. Read on to find out our suggestions for essentials in starting to live a zero-waste lifestyle.
Grocery shopping is perhaps one of the main ways that plastic unnecessarily makes its way into our lives, nearly every kind of product is wrapped in plastic. Reusable bags are the way to go when it comes to avoiding plastic at the grocery. You can buy fruit and veg that are loose and just through them in the bag, they are reusable and are handy to have with you wherever in case of any last minute unplanned grocery trips. Using cotton produce bags means they’ll last longer and can be kept fresh and clean easier by easily throwing them in the wash. Get yourself different sizes of reusable produce bags to use for different things.
Since you’ll be trying to live a more plastic free lifestyle, you’ll come to see that the hulk section is your new best friend which means so will jars. Places like Whole Foods and most natural food stores will have a bulk section where you’ll be free to fill your jars (or any containers) up with things like seeds, coffee, flour, sugar and many more. Just remember to bring them whenever your planning to stock up on any essentials you need from the bulk section and remember that planning is key when it comes to living more zero-waste.
Perhaps one of the more difficult things to transition to zero-waste is your hygiene products, hard as it may be it certainly isn’t impossible. Surprising as it may be, beauty and skincare products can make up the most of your plastic usage and many of those products are often a lot harder to recycle such as the average toothpaste tube. Making the switch to more natural and easier to recycle products like your deodorant, soap, detergent, shampoo and conditioner are great steps to cut out the plastic. Some natural food stores even have these products in bulk meaning you can bring in your glass jars and avoid the plastic completely.
With the fast-paced lives we lead, its easy for the little ways that plastic can come into it to go un-noticed especially with our demand for things to be on the go. Takeouts make single-use disposables almost completely unavoidable, however, there are more and more cafes and restaurants who are adopting a more sustainable philosophy. For times that single-use disposable plastic may seem unavoidable, simply just refuse the cutlery they give and bring your own. Bamboo utensils are a great option to bring around with you and metal straws are also becoming very popular.
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