17 Zero Waste Swaps for Beginners
When we first start diving into the world of sustainability, it can seem very challenging or daunting. Most of the time we don’t even know where to begin. We are aware of the environmental crisis, and we want to help, but we don’t know how. It is not common knowledge what we as individuals can do to not negatively impact our world.
All we hear about is what seem like big far away problems, like the climate crisis for example, and think that big problems are big companies or government’s responsibilities. It is not well known what we are able to do in our day-to-day lives as society’s civilians. Well, one of the closest things you can do in your life is to start taking responsibility for the waste you produce.
It is possible to make a great contribution to our environment by well managing your waste. And no, I do not mean recycling. If you know me, you know that I’m not a big fan of recycling, and not because of the process itself, but because for decades it has been advertised as the solution to our waste problems. When the reality is very different. We cannot keep consuming and disposing at the rate we are thinking that recycling will solve everything.
It is not because it is written in the package that it is recyclable that it actually will be. There are a lot of things that people do not take into consideration. For example,
For a product to be recycled it should be cleaned. Therefore packaging with the rest of the food or dirty will go to the landfill. That’s why it is important apart from separating the trash, washing it;
It’s not because it says it is a recyclable material that it will actually go to recycling, sometimes because of where you live, the recycling companies don’t take a certain type of plastic, therefore, landfills;
It is not because you separated, washed your trash, and left it outside your house that it will go to the recycling company, a lot of things can happen along the way like it could fall off the garbage truck, could be torn by animals, or taken away by wind.
That is one of the reasons why the best option is to adopt a Zero Waste Lifestyle, and simply don’t take any chances, and be sure you are not contributing to pollution, just by not consuming these materials in the first place.
So, without further ado, here are some beginner zero waste swaps you can make in your home and day-to-day life to erase yourself from this trashy narrative:
Bathroom
One of the rooms where we generate trash the most. And the worst of it all: We do not separate that waste. So there it goes throwing used toilet paper with empty shampoo bottles, with used floss, etc. My big tip here is to eliminate the garbage bin from the bathroom completely. That way you avoid unnecessary trash, and can take more responsibility for what you are throwing away.
First of all swap all the regular brands you buy to brands that have sustainability in their DNA. Apart from eco-conscious brands using healthier ingredients for your hair and skin, they also think about the packaging of the product. Always prioritize glass and paper.
Swap all your shampoos, conditioners, and soaps for bar ones. There are a lot of bar brands out there standing out, so it shouldn’t be hard to find. The products are amazing, give the same results, have better ingredients, and last longer. Also, you could find in zero waste stores in bars, or liquid in bulk to buy.
Swap your regular toothbrush for a bamboo one.
Swap your deodorant for a mix of baking soda with coconut oil and essential oils. Or simply buy solid as well, a lot of soap and shampoo brands whose products are in bars, have bar deodorants as well.
The same with toothpaste, you can use the same mix for the deodorant, or buy tablets, in powder, or pastes with glass packages from eco-conscious brands.
For a plastic-free period, instead of using disposable pads, swap reusable cloth ones, period underwear, or menstrual cups/discs. It could take some time for adaptation for some people, but I promise it is more comfortable and hygienic than the disposable ones. I quit using disposable pads in 2019 and never looked back.
For shaving, try swapping disposable razors for metal ones. They are a little bit more expensive up front, but in time it pays itself, you will only need to swap the blades and it lasts your entire life.
Kitchen
Definitely the room where most of the trash is produced. It is estimated that over 50% of
all household trash comes from the kitchen. To reduce the waste produced here, you
can:
Buy dry food, such as grains, snacks, legumes, chocolates, candies, teas, flour, and so on in bulk instead of buying regular package food from the supermarket. Start to store your food in glass containers, and bring them to the store to fill with whatever you need, instead of buying food in packages, which are usually processed and, therefore not even good for your health.
Buy fruits and vegetables from farmer’s markets, or such places which do not use any plastic, instead of buying fresh food completely wrapped in unnecessary plastic. Bring your reusable bag and smaller bags for smaller or a few of the same items, and avoid coming back home with plastic bags.
Swap your plastic sponge for natural ones, also called loofahs. Synthetic sponges are a big problem because they cannot be recycled, so when their lifecycle is over, off to the landfill they go. Now loofahs literally grow in trees, so when you are done with them, off to composting they go!
Swap your sink’s detergent for in-bar coconut/Castille soap. Or buy in bulk, there are some zero waste stores where you can bring your container and pour liquid soaps, shampoos, and detergents, or try making your own.
Swap plastic wrapping for cloth ones. You know when you have to takeout a sandwich or cover a lidless tupperware in your fridge? Instead of using a plastic wrap, a great alternative is to swap it to cloth ones.
Laundry
For cleaning our house, we have the terrible habit of buying several different products for different parts of the house, when in reality, we just need a few different combinations of natural ingredients to get the job done.
With just 3 ingredients you are able to clean your whole house. Just baking soda, vinegar, and Castille/coconut soap (with some drops of essential oils of your preference) are enough to keep your house, clean, good-smelling, and free of toxic chemicals. Of course, if you are not comfortable or don’t have the time to make your own cleaning products, again you can always rely on zero waste stores, if you have near you, or shipping from eco-conscious brands.
Going Out
Ok, so now that you are educated on the basics of zero waste, and already are transforming your home into a sustainable haven, now is the time to learn how to keep being zero waste in the real world with our busy lives. The easiest thing to do to avoid unnecessary and unwanting plastics and disposable utensils is to have your own zero waste kit on your bag to go.
Water bottle. ALWAYS carry a water bottle with you. It’s extremely important to always stay hydrated, and the last thing you would want is to be thirsty and have to buy a plastic water bottle.
Cup. This is especially true for fans of coffee, like me. I always carry a cup with me apart from my water bottle, because you never know when you are gonna be at a place where they sell or offer coffee, juices, teas, and so on, in plastic cups. You will want to have yours.
Cutlery. This swap I have to say, is not that much necessary unless you eat a lot of takeout food out of your house. I almost never use my cutlery kit, precisely because I usually like to eat at home, and when I go out, they will almost never have reusable cutlery, so unless you feel like it is necessary for your life, is not one of the most important additions to your kit. The same goes for straws. You can simply ask for your drink without straws, but again, if you feel like it is something important in your life, and you like to use it, consider acquiring a metal or bamboo one.
Bonus Tip for a kickass zero waste kit: Include reusable cloth napkins and little cloth bags. You never know when you will need to clean or store something while on the go.
Zero Waste is a journey, don’t feel bad if you can’t accomplish it overnight. The more you immerse yourself, the more you will perceive the amount of trash that goes by in our lives, most of the time without even noticing. With time and practice, you will acquire knowledge on how to manage unforeseen waste and it will get easier.
It is actually not about producing zero waste. So don’t beat yourself up. It is almost impossible to achieve that living in today’s society, the important thing is to make yourself aware of your own impact and really try not to contribute to waste that could be prevented.
