In this new era of eco-conscious and eco-friendly living there is one thing on everyone's mind: PLASTIC.
Single use plastic is one of the worst insults we've thrown on our planet in the last few hundred years, and the problem just seems to be getting worse. Unfortunately, we tend to take convenience (and cheapness) over conscience again and again - but I do believe times are changing; so if you're ready to get on board the green wave it's time to start integrating quick and easy solutions to work towards a zero-waste lifestyle today.
Huge shout-out to one of my favourite affiliates - Biome Eco Stores. They are honestly the BEST resource for zero-waste products; follow the link below by clicking on the image and browse hundreds of products to kickstart your waste free journey.
1. Bring a Keep cup
The first step to a plastic free is a solution you probably already know about; and it's one the most well-marketed of all the 'single-use plastic free' solutions. Disposable coffee cups are a HUGE problem - Most of them are NOT recyclable (depending on your recycling plant and council collection) because they're paper but have a plastic inner lining to stop them going soggy and most of them are also NON-Biodegradable; (more and more compostable solutions are coming out, which is fantastic and you should DEFINITELY shoot through a facebook message to your favourite cafe asking them to make the switch [please!!!]. But something to keep in mind on your zero waste journey is that any mass production of a product will have consequences for our environment, it's fantastic that there are better and better products out there for sure, but at the end of the day - avoiding unnecessary product consumption is always better than even using something you can compost).
We are still seeing an endless barrage of coffee cups on our environment. To put this into context for you:
We certainly love our coffee in Australia, and we have the best coffee in the world here in Melbourne; and the great news is that you don't have to sacrifice your steaming cup of godly nectar to go plastic free; Plastic waste from takeaway cups is totally preventable! A keep cup is one of the easiest solutions, just carry one around with you - or multiples! Have one in your handbag, or in your glove-box compartment in the car. Baristas will happily rinse out your coffee if you're a serial caffeine taker throughout the day, wash it up in the evening, ready for tomorrow - easy peasy, get into the routine and save the planet one coffee at a time (I recommend getting into long blacks - much better for the environment and your health than coffee with milk).
One little known extension of this plan is the reusable smoothie bottle; like a keep cup but for juice, smoothies, or milkshakes - almost all stores which sell smoothies will happily fill up your cup for you instead of giving you a disposable one; its easy and you also get to show off your eco-friendly lifestyle with a cool design.
There are plenty of products available on Biome, so head over there and get shopping. Alternatively you could check out this biodegradable reusable coffee cup on ebay or this eco-friendly reusable smoothie cup
2. Shave with a Non-Disposable Razor
Most of us are into hair removal, it's a fact of life - not to worry though; if you're not into the idea of waxing at a salon or using sugar to wax at home you still don't have to be a "hairy hippy" to live a sustainable life. Grooming CAN be waste free if you plan appropriately - don't buy disposable razors or those semi-disposable versions from the supermarket with plastic handles. Instead, invest in a long term solution; a steel razor with recyclable blades or an electric razor with which you won't have to think about changing blades for a loooooong time. Steel razors can be bought from Biome by following one of the links in this post - or you can simply buy one from ebay
Wanna take it to the next level? Buy a straight edge razor and a block sharpener **Note: NOT recommended unless you know what you're doing - for safety reasons**
3. Use a Menstrual cup, Cloth Pads or Period-Proof Underwear
If you're a regular menstruator or have friends open to conversations about menstruation, we've GOT to talk about how we manage our periods. One major component of waste is menstrual products; they've got their wrappers, they've got plastic inside - and to be honest, single-use menstrual products aren't all that healthy for your body or the environment AND they aren't convenient at all. Get on board with menstrual cups, they're my favourite solution to this problem - all the freedom to swim and be active that tampons bring but without the stress of TSS OR having to find yourself a sanitation bin every three hours. Honestly, the menstrual cup will be one of the best investments of your life - once you get the hang of using it it makes period time SO much less of a hassle. There are loads of resources online to tell you about how they work and why they're so awesome. From personal experience the Juju has changed my life - I absolutely love it, so much easier and less humiliating, I feel way better about my waste situation and it is INFINITELY more comfortable than pads, and I was always way too anxious about TSS to use tampons. Definitely, DEFINITELY look into menstrual cups and give them a try. There are many different types out there, don't get overwhelmed though, the Juju is a great one for beginners - available again on Biome, it comes in a range of models and it is clear and easy to tell which one is right for you. Or there are some REALLY cheap models on ebay and a lot of people are perfectly happy with how they function too. Or if you're not comfortable with cups, check out cloth pads like the hannahpad (also on biome) or google thinx or modibodi period-proof underwear.
4. Compostable Bin Liners (NOT NEWSPAPER)
Stop buying plastic to put your plastic in! One of the first steps to a zero-waste lifestyle is to stop bringing in unnecessary plastic, and bin liners are one of the top culprits. I don't advocate the newspaper solution for bin liners; mainly because while there are HEAPS of management solutions for landfill sites, your rubbish has to get there, and that is 100% up to you and how you package your rubbish in your household waste bin - if it's all floating around free in your wheelie bin, there's more of an opportunity for the small pieces to fly around and escape before it gets to the truck (plus, you don't want people to see what you've got in the trash do you?). So, a compostable bag is the best solution - it keeps everything nice and together (as long as you don't have too many liquids in your household bin that could accelerate composting) until it gets to landfill, and then doesn't contribute to the continuing plastic there that's polluting our planet.
Mind you - my favourite solution to the bin liner problem? Don't have a waste bin at all. (these bags are awesome for lining compost caddies too though and can be put straight into the compost or your worm farm - and you get to watch the composting take place! hooray!)
And yes, you can have a worm farm if you live in an apartment! There are indoor versions, which is pretty exciting if you ask me!
5. Produce Shop
Buy your veggies from the produce shop; more than likely this will mean you are helping local business and local farmers more than you would be by buying veggies at the supermarket; they're usually much fresher at the produce shop too, which means they might last longer in your fridge and can even be cheaper depending where you go shopping. They aren't pre-packaged (mostly) and this cuts down on SO MUCH unnecessary single use plastic. Take your own produce bags to hold them all together and avoid using those thin plastic bags from the roll. Super solutions!! You can buy Onya bags from Biome, which are my personal favourites - or you can buy the cheaper unbranded versions from ebay
6. Hit up your local Bakery
Here's one you might not have thought about much before - in standard households across this country we go through SO MUCH bread, probably at least a loaf a week? resonating with you? So... Stop buying bread from supermarkets that come in plastic bags. Bakeries are fresher, and again - you're supporting local business which is always a huge plus. The bread is usually TASTIER when it's freshly baked (which some supermarkets do as well). But of course the BEST bonus is that you can buy them plastic free! just take in a bread bag which you can buy from Biome - easy does it, no cumbersome plastic bag, no cumbersome polystyrene bread tag (those things are a NIGHTMARE to recycle, mostly they just go straight in the trash - not ideal) Make going to your nearest bakery a part of your routine, it's worth it just for the delicious smells (oh my!) as always, reusable bread bags can also be bought from ebay or you can always use the produce bags you bought in section 5 to buy buns for your lunch.
7. No Clingwrap or Ziplocks
In our household, we said goodbye to all kitchen waste a while ago, to replace the foil we got silicone baking trays, and to get rid of our reliance on flexible plastics we just started using reusable containers and eventually we didn't even miss cling wrap at all. But there are other options if you want to get rid of your cling wrap too without missing the convenience of plastic wrap; there are silicone wraps that work by stretching over your food like cling wrap but they're washable and reusable - such as the AGREENA wrap which are available from Biome. There are also wax wraps, some are made with
beeswax which I wouldn't recommend due to the ethical and ecological problems with bees in Australia - it's best to just not support that industry; there are wax wraps that are totally vegan and made with soy or other plant-based wax which last a long time and keep your food fresh. Or, again, just use glass jars or reusable containers or just put veggies straight in the fridge without any wrapping at all!
We bought sandwich containers to replace ziplocks, but you can also get certified home compostable ziplock bags which you can just pop right in your compost when you're done - easy as that!
8. Milk Free (make your own nut milk)
One of the most common pieces of plastic I see in people's kitchens is milk bottles, even *paper* cartons have a layer of plastic - inside to keep from degrading. There are a heap of reasons why you should be avoiding cow's milk altogether, but even plant based milks bought from the grocery store usually have less-than-healthful ingredients in them, like added sugar and oil. Luckily, making your own milk at home is SUPER easy and all you need is a nut milk bag; which of course you can get from Biome and also from ebay. Literally all you've got to do is soak some nuts, or oats, or seeds, or beans, and then blend them up (I use a NutriBullet), then strain it through the nut milk bag! Voila! You've got milk! If you still need help, this seems like a pretty good recipe. The pulp is REALLY good in muffins too. All in all, I think this way is much cheaper and well worth it - homemade almond milk is much tastier than any I've found in the supermarket - and it froths well to have as hot chocolate or in coffee. Woop!
9. Natural fibre reusable grocery bags
You might not know that the reusable bags most promoted by supermarkets (the "green" bags - which aren't necessarily green in colour) are actually made from plastic. They certainly are handy, and for sure those weaved plastic bags which can be used again and again are much better for our environment than single-use plastic bags or even those "reusable" thick-walled plastic bags that are commonly sold at 15c. But a much better solution is a natural fibre bag which is then completely compostable, leaving no plastic fibres behind which we know can get into waterways and cause great harm to our ecosystems. So do our planet a favour and spend a little bit more money to get Hemp, Jute, Cotton, or Natural Fibre Canvas grocery bags instead.
10. Bulk Shop
In the new wave of environmentally conscious consumers that inspired this blog post, the consumer demand for zero-waste shopping has inspired loads of new bulk stores to open up in cities all over the world which is SUPER amazing. So, basically the way it goes is you bring your own containers or jars (or use compostable paper bags) to fill with pantry goods, then you pay by weight - which is super awesome! And although some of the things might be a little bit more expensive than in the supermarkets due to the boutique nature of zero waste right now; there are tons of perks - like being able to buy only a tiny amount of something if you want to use it in a new recipe and aren't sure if you like it or not, but MOST of all Z E R O W A S TE, no plastic in sight - yay! You can find them by just googling "zero waste store near me" or something of that nature, in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne there are some awesome options,
In the East of Melbourne? I want to make a special mention to the Unwrapped Pantry in Belgrave South which is an awesome little store with friendly staff and reasonable prices, it's well worth a visit if you're out that way! Go stock up your pantry!
Happy shopping! (and don't forget to check out BIOME!!!)
Single use plastic is one of the worst insults we've thrown on our planet in the last few hundred years, and the problem just seems to be getting worse. Unfortunately, we tend to take convenience (and cheapness) over conscience again and again - but I do believe times are changing; so if you're ready to get on board the green wave it's time to start integrating quick and easy solutions to work towards a zero-waste lifestyle today.
Huge shout-out to one of my favourite affiliates - Biome Eco Stores. They are honestly the BEST resource for zero-waste products; follow the link below by clicking on the image and browse hundreds of products to kickstart your waste free journey.
1. Bring a Keep cup
**Some cafe's even give a discount to people who bring their own keep cup so you could be helping your hip pocket as well as our planet**
The first step to a plastic free is a solution you probably already know about; and it's one the most well-marketed of all the 'single-use plastic free' solutions. Disposable coffee cups are a HUGE problem - Most of them are NOT recyclable (depending on your recycling plant and council collection) because they're paper but have a plastic inner lining to stop them going soggy and most of them are also NON-Biodegradable; (more and more compostable solutions are coming out, which is fantastic and you should DEFINITELY shoot through a facebook message to your favourite cafe asking them to make the switch [please!!!]. But something to keep in mind on your zero waste journey is that any mass production of a product will have consequences for our environment, it's fantastic that there are better and better products out there for sure, but at the end of the day - avoiding unnecessary product consumption is always better than even using something you can compost).
We are still seeing an endless barrage of coffee cups on our environment. To put this into context for you:
Australians drink more than 50,000 cups of coffee EVERY HALF HOUR.
We certainly love our coffee in Australia, and we have the best coffee in the world here in Melbourne; and the great news is that you don't have to sacrifice your steaming cup of godly nectar to go plastic free; Plastic waste from takeaway cups is totally preventable! A keep cup is one of the easiest solutions, just carry one around with you - or multiples! Have one in your handbag, or in your glove-box compartment in the car. Baristas will happily rinse out your coffee if you're a serial caffeine taker throughout the day, wash it up in the evening, ready for tomorrow - easy peasy, get into the routine and save the planet one coffee at a time (I recommend getting into long blacks - much better for the environment and your health than coffee with milk).
There are plenty of products available on Biome, so head over there and get shopping. Alternatively you could check out this biodegradable reusable coffee cup on ebay or this eco-friendly reusable smoothie cup
2. Shave with a Non-Disposable Razor
Wanna take it to the next level? Buy a straight edge razor and a block sharpener **Note: NOT recommended unless you know what you're doing - for safety reasons**
3. Use a Menstrual cup, Cloth Pads or Period-Proof Underwear
If you're a regular menstruator or have friends open to conversations about menstruation, we've GOT to talk about how we manage our periods. One major component of waste is menstrual products; they've got their wrappers, they've got plastic inside - and to be honest, single-use menstrual products aren't all that healthy for your body or the environment AND they aren't convenient at all. Get on board with menstrual cups, they're my favourite solution to this problem - all the freedom to swim and be active that tampons bring but without the stress of TSS OR having to find yourself a sanitation bin every three hours. Honestly, the menstrual cup will be one of the best investments of your life - once you get the hang of using it it makes period time SO much less of a hassle. There are loads of resources online to tell you about how they work and why they're so awesome. From personal experience the Juju has changed my life - I absolutely love it, so much easier and less humiliating, I feel way better about my waste situation and it is INFINITELY more comfortable than pads, and I was always way too anxious about TSS to use tampons. Definitely, DEFINITELY look into menstrual cups and give them a try. There are many different types out there, don't get overwhelmed though, the Juju is a great one for beginners - available again on Biome, it comes in a range of models and it is clear and easy to tell which one is right for you. Or there are some REALLY cheap models on ebay and a lot of people are perfectly happy with how they function too. Or if you're not comfortable with cups, check out cloth pads like the hannahpad (also on biome) or google thinx or modibodi period-proof underwear.
Here's a video from JuJu explaining exactly why they're such a great solution:
4. Compostable Bin Liners (NOT NEWSPAPER)
Stop buying plastic to put your plastic in! One of the first steps to a zero-waste lifestyle is to stop bringing in unnecessary plastic, and bin liners are one of the top culprits. I don't advocate the newspaper solution for bin liners; mainly because while there are HEAPS of management solutions for landfill sites, your rubbish has to get there, and that is 100% up to you and how you package your rubbish in your household waste bin - if it's all floating around free in your wheelie bin, there's more of an opportunity for the small pieces to fly around and escape before it gets to the truck (plus, you don't want people to see what you've got in the trash do you?). So, a compostable bag is the best solution - it keeps everything nice and together (as long as you don't have too many liquids in your household bin that could accelerate composting) until it gets to landfill, and then doesn't contribute to the continuing plastic there that's polluting our planet.
Mind you - my favourite solution to the bin liner problem? Don't have a waste bin at all. (these bags are awesome for lining compost caddies too though and can be put straight into the compost or your worm farm - and you get to watch the composting take place! hooray!)
And yes, you can have a worm farm if you live in an apartment! There are indoor versions, which is pretty exciting if you ask me!
5. Produce Shop
Buy your veggies from the produce shop; more than likely this will mean you are helping local business and local farmers more than you would be by buying veggies at the supermarket; they're usually much fresher at the produce shop too, which means they might last longer in your fridge and can even be cheaper depending where you go shopping. They aren't pre-packaged (mostly) and this cuts down on SO MUCH unnecessary single use plastic. Take your own produce bags to hold them all together and avoid using those thin plastic bags from the roll. Super solutions!! You can buy Onya bags from Biome, which are my personal favourites - or you can buy the cheaper unbranded versions from ebay
6. Hit up your local Bakery
Here's one you might not have thought about much before - in standard households across this country we go through SO MUCH bread, probably at least a loaf a week? resonating with you? So... Stop buying bread from supermarkets that come in plastic bags. Bakeries are fresher, and again - you're supporting local business which is always a huge plus. The bread is usually TASTIER when it's freshly baked (which some supermarkets do as well). But of course the BEST bonus is that you can buy them plastic free! just take in a bread bag which you can buy from Biome - easy does it, no cumbersome plastic bag, no cumbersome polystyrene bread tag (those things are a NIGHTMARE to recycle, mostly they just go straight in the trash - not ideal) Make going to your nearest bakery a part of your routine, it's worth it just for the delicious smells (oh my!) as always, reusable bread bags can also be bought from ebay or you can always use the produce bags you bought in section 5 to buy buns for your lunch.
7. No Clingwrap or Ziplocks
beeswax which I wouldn't recommend due to the ethical and ecological problems with bees in Australia - it's best to just not support that industry; there are wax wraps that are totally vegan and made with soy or other plant-based wax which last a long time and keep your food fresh. Or, again, just use glass jars or reusable containers or just put veggies straight in the fridge without any wrapping at all!
We bought sandwich containers to replace ziplocks, but you can also get certified home compostable ziplock bags which you can just pop right in your compost when you're done - easy as that!
8. Milk Free (make your own nut milk)
One of the most common pieces of plastic I see in people's kitchens is milk bottles, even *paper* cartons have a layer of plastic - inside to keep from degrading. There are a heap of reasons why you should be avoiding cow's milk altogether, but even plant based milks bought from the grocery store usually have less-than-healthful ingredients in them, like added sugar and oil. Luckily, making your own milk at home is SUPER easy and all you need is a nut milk bag; which of course you can get from Biome and also from ebay. Literally all you've got to do is soak some nuts, or oats, or seeds, or beans, and then blend them up (I use a NutriBullet), then strain it through the nut milk bag! Voila! You've got milk! If you still need help, this seems like a pretty good recipe. The pulp is REALLY good in muffins too. All in all, I think this way is much cheaper and well worth it - homemade almond milk is much tastier than any I've found in the supermarket - and it froths well to have as hot chocolate or in coffee. Woop!
9. Natural fibre reusable grocery bags
You might not know that the reusable bags most promoted by supermarkets (the "green" bags - which aren't necessarily green in colour) are actually made from plastic. They certainly are handy, and for sure those weaved plastic bags which can be used again and again are much better for our environment than single-use plastic bags or even those "reusable" thick-walled plastic bags that are commonly sold at 15c. But a much better solution is a natural fibre bag which is then completely compostable, leaving no plastic fibres behind which we know can get into waterways and cause great harm to our ecosystems. So do our planet a favour and spend a little bit more money to get Hemp, Jute, Cotton, or Natural Fibre Canvas grocery bags instead.
10. Bulk Shop
In the new wave of environmentally conscious consumers that inspired this blog post, the consumer demand for zero-waste shopping has inspired loads of new bulk stores to open up in cities all over the world which is SUPER amazing. So, basically the way it goes is you bring your own containers or jars (or use compostable paper bags) to fill with pantry goods, then you pay by weight - which is super awesome! And although some of the things might be a little bit more expensive than in the supermarkets due to the boutique nature of zero waste right now; there are tons of perks - like being able to buy only a tiny amount of something if you want to use it in a new recipe and aren't sure if you like it or not, but MOST of all Z E R O W A S TE, no plastic in sight - yay! You can find them by just googling "zero waste store near me" or something of that nature, in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne there are some awesome options,
In the East of Melbourne? I want to make a special mention to the Unwrapped Pantry in Belgrave South which is an awesome little store with friendly staff and reasonable prices, it's well worth a visit if you're out that way! Go stock up your pantry!
Happy shopping! (and don't forget to check out BIOME!!!)
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