Zero-Waste
Waste is everywhere. We are so accustomed to single-use convenience that our way of living evolved into a throwaway society. Because it is easy, convenient and simply it’s just there! We didn’t know better, growing up in this convenient world. It is time for change as alternatives exist. (and they aren’t hard to reach out to!)
The single-use plastic problem
We already know that plastic takes hundreds of years to decompose. A product with such a lifespan, mass-produced for single-use, only creates problems. From all the plastic ever created 12% has been destroyed by incineration and only 9% has been recycled. This means that most plastic (79%) finds its way into the world’s ecosystems endangering all life forms on earth.
Luckily, different projects in the world are trying to clean up the mess we created. I spent the past year, trying out different products and looking for ways to make this work.
Ocean Waste Dumping: The Scary Truth
What is zero-waste?
Since the invention of mass-produced plastic in the 1950s, a throw-away culture has evolved in which obsolescence and single-use are serving the best interests of corporations. In this throw-away culture, it is normal for a single-use item to be used for 10 minutes but to remain on earth for hundreds of years.
60 years later, litter is everywhere to be found, wildlife is suffocating on plastic waste and countries do not know how to dispose of their trash anymore. There are so many types of plastic that recycling programs aren’t effective and can only deal with 9% of the problem.
Zero-waste is a lifestyle that aims to reduce the waste generated on earth. It offers the simplest solution to pollution by tackling the plastic problem at its source.
Zero-waste is rethinking the way we consume to avoid using products that will remain on earth for hundreds of years, after being used for only 10 minutes.
Plastic Waste: 7 Zero Waste Alternatives
The zero-waste movement is about finding beauty in simplicity. About doing more with less and refocussing on what is essential. The movement is made of a community of change-makers who all take small steps towards sustainability. Together we go step by step towards a world with less waste. Join the journey. Aim for progress, not perfection.
At this point, I would love to point out that;
I am far from perfect. I fly overseas many times a year, I drive a car and I don’t do everything in my power to avoid plastic-free grocery shopping. I mean, I would love to get tofu without a plastic wrapper, but it’s simply not available yet. And that’s okay. Because change is coming and change is happening. Every. Single. Day. When we shop for food or skincare products, we literally vote with our dollar! Yes. It is more powerful than voting for the right president, simply showing which company and what values you support, by choosing their product.
And I am trying to do better, every day. I am aiming to do better. I strive for progress over perfection and I cherish every little progress of mine as a huge accomplishment. We can do it, together.
I love when companies make sure to make it their mission of ‘Rethinking how we use our resources to improve our wellness and environment.”
You probably consider yourself “woke” when it comes to the environment – you recycle, avoid bottled water and ensure you always read about the devastating environmental impact of plastic – but most of us still generate too much waste in our daily lives.
Steps are being taken to slash our use of plastic bags and a zero-waste lifestyle has become, dare we say it, somewhat trendy in recent years, thanks to the rise of zero-waste lifestyle bloggers and Instagrammers. However, it can be difficult to practice what we preach day-to-day, particularly when we’re food shopping at supermarkets, most of which cover items in excess packaging.
What are zero-waste swaps?
Zero-waste swaps are alternatives to reduce the waste generated from single-use items. Swaps exist everywhere, whether it is in the kitchen, the office, the bathroom there is always a possible swap around.
Swaps come with three main advantages:
- Swaps generate the least amount of waste possible.
- Swaps usually do a better job than their wasteful counterparts.
- Swaps save you money in the long run as they are reusable.
Now, I would like to show you 3 ways of being more eco-friendly, that you might have or might’ve not heard of yet!
~ Offsetting your carbon footprint, by planting a tree
Recently, a powerful non-profit organization has reached out to me, if I can help spread the word about their mission and vision for the planet. Trees for the Future is one of the largest non-profit tree planting companies in the world.
There are many ways you can help support an amazing organization like that, you can donate, share their stories over your social media to your friends and family, be a part of their newsletter and so on. I really recommend watching a documentary that they’ve produced last year. You can even host a fundraiser in their name and help them raise money, take part in the events they host over the world and calculate your carbon footprint while you’re at it. Their website is a great starting point, full of helpful resources. Simply visit Trees.org =)
At this point, if you aren’t familiar with Ecosia, please go check it out! You can install it for free on your browser, and all it does is plant trees as you browse the web! It is not annoying like other browsers, where things and ads would pop up at all times. I’ve had it for a long time and I love it! (this isn’t sponsored, I just love the tool)
~ Creating a zero waste period
Hello ladies, this one is for you.
So, the famous menstrual cup; I had heard about them for quite a while before I actually tried one out. My mom has been using one for years and I decided to make a change 2 years ago and I never went back!!
Why I love using a menstrual cup:
1. The biggest personal benefit for me is how long you can leave them in (up to 12 hours!), so I don’t have to worry about changing it during the day.
2. It’s very sustainable – using a menstrual cup means a zero waste period. Every month menstruating women throw away pads, tampons, applicators, plastic, and paper packaging. Using a menstrual cup cuts out all this trash.
3. They save money. While menstrual cups are more expensive upfront (they seem to range from about $20-$40), you actually save a lot of money if you add up everything you would otherwise spend on other kinds of period products.
4. Tampons may contain toxins. There are debate and not much research into whether tampons contain things like dioxins or pesticides, so I’d rather play it safe.
5. Less clutter. I love being able to minimize the things I own, so not having boxes in the bathroom or tampons floating around my purse is wonderful.
Follow my Green Planet board on Pinterest for more tips!
As I am a strong believer in recommending things I love to use to my friends and readers, go check out Ruby Cup. Like I said, I have been using it for a while and loving it since day one. I do not get any leaks and let me tell you something. It is great for traveling. Coming from someone who travels literally all the time, I think its a great source. I love Ruby Cup because apart from affordable pricing, they actually donate a cup whenever someone buys one, to young women in need, who cannot afford it.
Shop your Ruby Cup here. And forget about ever spending any money on your period, ever again.
~ Composting (a guest post)
Please check out Laura’s composting guide, linked below. I am a big believer in the circle of life, in every aspect of it. No wonder, my mom has been teaching me these techniques and home remedies for a long time. What if there was a way to grow your own garden, grow your plants into beautiful and thriving flowers, without any chemical-full store-bought fertilizers?
Ta-daaaah! Here comes the composting. Nothing new, our people have been doing it for generations and generations. Not only, you are minimizing the actual food waste to a complete zero, but you are also doing something good to the soil, where you spread your compost at. Making it fertile, in a beautiful, natural way.
Check out my new YouTube video from this weekend:
Do you have any more tips? Let me know in the comment section!
More about Alenka
“My name is Alenka and I’m a Squamish based photographer. I love using my medium to capture sports, adventures, underwater shots, adventures in the mountains and days on snow! Very simply put, I’m one stoked girl, ready to get up at 2 in the morning and hike for sunrise, go to the airport and take a random flight…you name it!
Photography, web design and digital marketing have been things I’m proud to call my job lately! Very flexible, lots of traveling and even more adventures than when I was a kid. Here, on my website I share tips on photography, spreading awareness about the zero-waste lifestyle and sustainability and crazy stories from my travels. Welcome.”
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4 Comments
Laura
Thank you for including my compost guide!
Alenka Mali
No worries, thanks for sharing it with us. I hope you have a good day, Alenka.