If you are someone who has cared about the environment for years and have always had trouble finding someone to share your interest with, there is no need to worry anymore. Nowadays many people share their passion for keeping their environment clean for all of us and for the next generations as well.
The zero waste movement is one of the very promising environmental movements that emerged in past years and which aims at reusing and repurposing almost everything we own and living with the goal of leaving behind less or zero amount of waste. It might seem hard to follow but we are here to give you 7 tips that can ease your transition into that lifestyle.
1. Forget About Plastic Straws
If you must use a straw when consuming cold beverages then stop using plastic straws and start using stainless steel ones. Plastic straws are really avoidable and they end up in landfills. Make it a habit to carry your stainless straw with you when you are leaving the house if you are probably going to order a cold drink.
2. Replace Plastic Containers With Glass
Throwing away the plastic containers you have now if they are in good condition and getting new ones just to go zero waste sort of defeats the purpose. Make sure you buy a new glass container next time your plastic one gets ruined. Not only will you be saving the environment, but also you will be adding a nice aesthetic to your pantry or wherever you store your food. Also, note that some plastics are very harmful to your health, and storing food in them has negative side effects.
3. Shop in Zero Waste Stores
There are stores that specialize in selling goods in a way that does not add up to the waste that is already there. They sell products that are sustainable and have plastic-free packaging. Lately, there has been a huge rapid growth in zero waste online stores and that just makes the whole process more convenient. Supporting these stores and encouraging them is the only way the movement is going to continue to grow.
4. Take a Tote Bag With You When You Shop for Groceries
If you are unable to get everything you buy with plastic-free packaging, at least use fewer plastic bags in the process. Take a tote canvas bag with you the next time you go grocery shopping to reduce your use of plastic.
5. Carry a Water Bottle With You When You Go Out
If you spend a lot of time outside your home then you would obviously need to drink. Buying a bottle of water, finishing it, and then tossing it away is just another way of adding to the earth’s waste problem. Find ways to encourage and remind yourself to drink water regularly to feel and look healthy. Get a reusable water bottle and keep it with you instead of buying a new one each time you go out drinking water is extremely important for your health.
6. Use a Metal Lunch Box
Taking your food with you to work in a metal lunch box instead of plastic also reduces your chances of ordering takeouts. As we all know, take-outs are packaged and we end up throwing all the packaging after we eat the food. Using a metal lunch box instead of plastic hits two birds with one stone.
7. DIY When You Can
There are many things that we can do at home which will help us save money and at the same time reduce waste by reducing packing. You can make your own shampoo and skin care products, there are many recipes for things like these online that you can try. It might sound like a weird concept at first, but once you get used to doing that, you will consider it a very rewarding activity to do the things that you use on a daily basis by yourself. Who knows – this might even be the start of a side hustle!
Landfills are filled with our old clothes, furniture, broken plastic containers, and many other things that do not decompose. Our oceans are contaminated and that affects both our health and aquatic life. If you continue to live like this, the result is going to be disastrous. Luckily though, small changes can make a difference and a huge impact. Spread the word among your friends and family, you can even teach your kids, and make sure you get as many on board as you can. After all, the earth is for all of us and it is our duty to keep it clean.
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