Zero Waste Lifestyle: Five Ways to Get Started
Source: Pic-uk.ph
Living a zero-waste lifestyle sounds impossible- but a man can try. The world has changed in several aspects that negatively affect us, humans, in the most obvious way. The air we breathe and the water we drink are now polluted. Taking this perspective, we can assume that we are the victims of environmental changes. However, if we look closely, we are the root cause of these all. We overlook our contribution to the problem. Our negligence in maintaining our natural resources and reservoirs, greatly affected how these wonders function to our benefit. What goes around comes around, we bet.
To address this phenomenon, it is just right that we tinker with some of our old unhealthy, and destructive habits. Correcting these and seeking ways to live cleaner and more responsible is the first thing to do. Monitor your ecological footprint or your consumption and waste proportion. See how many more earth you need to sustain your lifestyle. It will shock you!
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To help you with your journey in getting started living a zero-waste lifestyle, here are some easy practices you can incorporate into your day-to-day life.
1. Stop using disposable utensils
In this fast-moving era, time has become a luxury. You buy conveniences just so you can save hours of your day. You eat outside, in fast food chains and restaurants, where massive use of plastic disposable utensils is practiced. When you head to work, you grab foods and drinks in the drive-thru, which use the same kinds of utensils. You have to ditch the plastic spoon, fork, cups, plates, and straws. Provide your own! It may be impossible to take all these with you every day but what you can do is make little changes. Shift to bamboo straw or spoon and fork for a starter. Several stores online offer customizable and eco-friendly utensils you will surely love. This step goes a long way in achieving your goal.
2. Use Recyclable containers and bags
When you go to the grocery, malls, or any shops, you will be needing one essential - a shopping bag. This is to carry your stuff or to secure the products you bought. Most of the time, the management or the store has one ready for you in the form of a plastic bag. Regardless if you only have a few purchases, if they accumulate, you will have a lot of plastic contribution. You can only imagine how much trash you produce in a week! You can take with you a recyclable bag to avoid that scenario. Unlike the utensils, this one is handy and you can just carry it around so when you decide to buy an item. Skip the plastic bags. You can also take some containers for food or condiments. There are several zero waste local stores in the country like Ritual and Go, Heart Shop. Their products are in large containers where you can scoop up grams of your choice and transfer them directly to your containers. This is sustainable and waste-free shopping you’d surely look forward to.
3. Plant your own herbs
One way to achieving a zero-waste lifestyle is to produce as many products from your own backyard. Yes, producing your own herbs and vegetables will help a lot in saving the environment. Doing this contributes to minimized packaging and transportation debris of these specific goods. Also, it is safer for you and your family as you can grow those using organic fertilizers or from your own house trashes like food scraps. You can maximize the space in your own house to build a mini-farm. You don’t have to pay the over-the-top prices in the market anymore! You don’t just become eco-friendly, you also help yourself save up money!
4. Buy from local organic stocks
There are food stocks we can’t afford to grow in our own space at home but, it doesn’t have to be purchased in big supermarkets that produce huge amount of plastics as well. Localities have farming communities where you can get fresh and organic crops that are planted with minimal to zero harmful chemicals. Patronizing home-grown organic products minimizes use of commercial fertilizers plus it helps farmers sustain a more eco-friendly planting system.
5. Invest in a greener home
Going zero-waste requires commitment and investment. It has to be the two that work together. Your commitment to sustaining a cleaner living is what drives you to invest in the things that will enable you to achieve it. One particular investment is a greener home. Make your house the hub of go green initiatives. You can start with your garbage segregation and DIY composite for biodegradable waste. You can cultivate your own stocks and plant trees in your backyard. If you don’t have your own home yet, you should prioritize this factor in choosing your home. Pick a place that is organized, secure, safe, nature friendly with a collective group of homeowners who are advocates. Place yourself in a community that will encourage you to live a sustainable life away from polluted and crowded places. Having a support system like that will likely help you achieve a zero-waste lifestyle just like you intend to.
Photo from Lessandra Official
There is no other way to achieve a zero-waste lifestyle but to stay committed to pursuing the goal. Execute to make a change - for you, your family, and Mother nature. This life-changing journey is not achievable overnight. It’s a lifetime commitment we all should make. There will be limitations as we have varying needs and we don’t live with the same privileges in life. Although, one thing is for sure. Your effort will mean a lot to the collective community who share the same advocacy as you in saving our decrementing environmental system. Keep going because the next generation deserves a beautiful place to live in. You got this!