Most simply put, Zero waste is living a life that sends nothing to a landfill. Sounds unrealistic, scary, and even laughable, I know. But I’m going to show you what zero waste really means and why it’s important. As well as easy and attainable ways we can all strive for this unattainable goal.
What Zero Waste Really Means
Zero waste is a lifestyle and a movement. It’s more than just living waste-free or with a mason jar that holds our years’ worth of waste, as some of us have seen via social media. This is a movement that will continue to redefine how our world functions and thrives.
I’m sure most of you reading this are thinking, no one can be completely zero waste. Well, you’re right. This is why I try to focus on the importance and impact this lifestyle offers and how this movement betters our lives, our ecosystem, and the lives of those around us, (people and animals both).
Zero waste is a lifestyle that uses our personal lives and consumption habits as a way to rebel or protest what’s happening today. We seem to love things in excess, clothes, food, luxuries, etc… but unfortunately, this leads to awful results. From polluted oceans and land, dying animals, climate change, and just never being satisfied. Our mentality as a society has shifted from if it’s broken, fix it, to if it’s broken, just buy a new one.
Living a zero-waste lifestyle forces companies to shift with our changing habits. The more people that come aboard this movement and lifestyle, the faster and greater the response will be from companies to match our new and earth-friendly lifestyle. We would focus more on what we need, not what we want. We’d reuse whatever we’ve got as long as we can and fix it when we know how. We would choose to use non-disposable items and purchase things secondhand.
What Does Zero Waste Look Like?
Zero waste is taking small steps toward a greater purpose and goal. It’s replacing single-use items with reusable items. It’s not buying those black leggings because you already have three pairs in your closet. It’s being a conscience consumer.
Zero waste starts with using a reusable grocery bag instead of collecting an eternal stash of plastic bags that won’t biodegrade. Even if it takes 152 times to remember to actually bring them in the store before you reach the check-out line. It’s using a metal or silicone straw instead of one-use plastic straws. Or, trying a bamboo toothbrush instead of our plastic ones. It’s being conscious of what materials our everyday household items are made from.
Social media paints this picture of glass jars, reusable bags, and crazy or uncomfortable-looking fabrics. It gives an image of an all-or-nothing lifestyle. However, I have found that it’s a lifestyle that represents a movement, a better world, and an enjoyable journey. It’s striving towards an unattainable goal for the well-being of our society and world. And, all it takes is small steps at your pace, while being conscience.
It seems like an overwhelming and daunting way of life but the commitment to this lifestyle results in an amazing change. We, as consumers, have an enormous amount of power. Just the little bit of momentum living a zero-waste lifestyle has picked up recently has resulted in zero (or low) waste shops and ‘bulk’ sections in grocery stores and farmers’ markets. This is all because of demand, the demand that we set.
Living a sustainable and zero-waste lifestyle doesn’t have to be as scary or difficult as it sounds. It just takes finding a pace that works with your schedule and budget. Every change matters, even the smallest change makes a huge difference. Take it one step, one change, one item at a time. With patience and commitment, we can make an enormous impact with just a few small changes.
