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Zero Waste
Zero waste is a concept that migrated from the industrial sector into the everyday lives of people who wanted to make behavioral choices in order to effect positive change to their health and the health of our planet. According to Wikipedia, zero waste is a set of principles focused on waste prevention. Zero waste is the “conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of all products, packaging, and materials, without burning them, and without discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health.” In other words: finding new ways to get the things we need without causing the overproduction of trash! The leaders in this new way of buying suggest things like buying bulk organic foods online, swapping out disposable single use items for reusable and looking for alternatives to items that come with unnecessary packaging.
Zero Waste is a Desirable Lifestyle Choice
Making the choice to go zero waste at home can be an adventure in finding new ways to do things. There are many creative ways to contribute to this practice in your daily life. Zero waste forerunner and guide, goingzerowaste.com, suggests there are many ways to start making the change: using a French press to prepare coffee and tea eliminates paper filters, using a hankie instead of tissue, trading plastic bottles of liquid hand soap for luxurious bar soaps, using glass drinking straws, and one of the most unique suggestions, using a refillable fountain pen.
Bringing Zero Waste to Your Kitchen
Another way that makes a big impact on minimizing the amount of stuff you end up stuffing in the trash is purchasing bulk foods. The variety of organic foods you can purchase online (from websites such as Sibarita and similar others) is staggering, like coconut and olive oil, grains, rice, tea and coffee, and dried beans and lentils. Not only does this practice reduce the amount of packaging used, but it is efficient for your budget, as well. Buying bulk organic food online can save you 15% at the register. Just a couple of things to keep in mind:
Don’t buy more than you will be able to use before the product expires. Buying more than you need will end up costing you in the end because you will have to throw the food, and your savings, in the trash!
Invest in some airtight storage containers to store your products at home in smaller quantities. Don’t forget to label each container with its contents and the date it was filled.
Next Step: Dive into Zero Waste at Home
Making the choice to go zero waste at home is good for you and for the environment. Buying bulk organic foods online is an easy and surefire start to making the small steps required for such an important transition. Just keep in mind the few simple tips mentioned here and before you know it, you will be finding all sorts of ways to make this ideal your everyday life!