Going Zero Waste
So many aspects of day to day life can make a negative impact on the environment and in turn affect our health and well-being. It can also mean more stuff and things to find space for in and around our homes. Making some changes, even if they are small ones at first, can help reduce the amount of plastic and chemical waste that end up in our water, air, and soil. Here are some tips and suggestions to help you Go Zero Waste.
At the store: Bringing your own reusable totes and mesh produce bags on a shopping trip would have been the way to go before our current pandemic situation. Many stores, for the time being, are banning the use of personal reusable totes/bags. However, you can still leave the plastic at the store! When you reach the check out, tell them you will not be needing any bags and request that they place your items back in the cart after they scan them through. You can then cart your items out to your car (keeping your receipt on hand) and load them into your own reusable totes/bags for transport once you get home.
In the Kitchen: Consider using glass mason jars (with the seal top lids), stainless steel bento boxes, beeswax wrap, and reusable zip top bags for food storage.
For cleaning up: Try cloth napkins and towels as opposed to paper ones. Wooden brushes with natural fiber bristles are a great alternative to the ones with plastic handles and bristles, or sponges which can harbor quite a bit of bacteria in a short amount of time – yuck! Glass or metal spray bottles can be used with cleaning tablets that dissolve into water to make glass cleaners, all-purpose cleaners, furniture polish, and the like.
In the bathroom: Try shampoo and conditioner bars instead of bottled ones, and perhaps a natural sea sponge, loofah, or good old-fashioned washcloth rather than a plastic mesh pouf. There has also been a new trend towards tablet forms of hand soap, toothpaste, and mouthwash – just add water. They have zero waste packaging and have less chemicals in them. Heck, there’s even a silicone ear swab that you wash and reuse!
Many of these products are very eco-friendly, made with non-toxic/organic/all natural/sustainable materials or ingredients. Many come in minimal packaging or even compostable packaging to help save trees and keep plastic waste out of the environment.
Not only does going zero waste help the environment, it can be a healthier alternative for you and your family as well as taking up less space in your cabinets or on your shelves which means less clutter in your home!
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