The Zero Waste movement started with author and environmentalist Bea Johnson. Her book, “Zero Waste Home”, published in 2013, popularized the movement. Her original message was to create as little waste as possible through things like homemade recipes and bringing your own containers to the shops, but the message she originally spread has evolved a lot since then.

What’s wrong with Zero Waste?

Nowadays, the movement is very popular and remains true to its roots, but some of the mindset behind the movement has changed. A lot of people have been conveying the idea (mostly through Instagram) that zero waste needs to look perfect; You need to have matching jars, a beautiful fridge full of loose produce, and create absolutely no waste no matter the circumstance. But is this truly possible?

Let’s be honest- no. Viewing zero waste this way carries the wrong values and makes us think that we are failing each time we create waste or our home looks a little messy. This is not how we should be feeling when we are trying to make positive changes in our lives. The term zero waste goes more with perfectionism than with trying your best. The movement should be something collective, not a competition to see who is doing the best and creating the least amount of waste. We should be supportive of one another through swapping eco-friendly tips and tricks, and inspiring each other to advocate for a clean environment.

Accessibility

This is another problem with the movement. Even though zero waste is very popular, not everyone has access to unpackaged food and other products. It may be easy to find in big cities, but not so much in towns and villages and other rural areas. Not everyone has a car or the means to take the bus or train to a city that has a zero waste shop. It’s not as easy as just moving somewhere to get better access. No one should ever feel like they are failing because the area they live in doesn’t have access to unpackaged food or zero waste shops.

Making Mistakes

It’s normal to make mistakes; No one is perfect and we’re all on a learning curve. We all make mistakes when we buy zero waste things that we think we need when actually, we don’t. That’s ok, just give this item to someone who needs it. Another mistake is that you might buy something that looks zero waste on the internet, but when it arrives, it's wrapped in plastic. Another common mistake is to think you need to buy everything new, especially jars so that they all match. The best thing to do is to reuse what you already have (like pasta sauce jars) or buy from thrift stores. Beauty is found in difference. If everyone was doing something the same way, how boring would the world be?! Having a low impact lifestyle should be affordable, hence reusing what you already have without feeling the pressure for it to look a certain way.

Low Impact Movement

Immy from Sustainably Vegan created the Low Impact Movement which represents the values of the lifestyle so much more. It’s about doing your best, not being the best, and understanding that creating zero waste isn’t possible, but we should all try our best to be kind to the earth. We don’t all have the same access to unpackaged foods, but we can still do all that we can and use resources like the internet which has made access to sustainable, ethical, zero waste online shops easy, and also has a wealth of low impact DIYs. A low impact lifestyle sounds much more feasible, accessible, and low-stress than a zero waste lifestyle.

Pauline Chicart

Packaging is everywhere in our world, and it causes a lot of environmental problems because of unsustainable production and disposal methods. To me, the word “packaging” itself already insinuates that it’s pretty much a waste because it served its only purpose after you have unpacked your goodies. A lot of packaging is inevitable because it is so widely utilized, but there are steps you can take to help defeat your consumption of packaging. Reusing packaging, disposing of it in an eco-friendly way, and avoiding single-use plastic packaging are all awesome ways to apply zero-waste principles to your packaging consumption. Here are some ideas to reduce packaging at home, at the food shop, and when shipping parcels, as well as some information on both the disposal and production of packaging materials.

At Home

While at home, you probably use a lot of cling-film and foil in the kitchen to store leftovers and half-eaten produce. To save money and reduce your packaging consumption, try replacing these single use materials with:

• Glass- jars and bottles

• Soy wax food wraps

• Silicone food covers/ lids for dishes

• Silicone storage bags

• Bamboo or stainless steel containers

At The Food Shop

When food shopping you will encounter a lot of food wrapped in single-use, plastic packaging. To avoid this environmental nightmare as much as possible, follow these shopping tips:

• Bring reusable shopping bags

• Use mesh or cotton bags for produce and other loose items like bread

• Use glass jars or cotton bags to buy food in bulk

• If you have to buy food in packaging, opt for materials like aluminum, metal, glass, or cardboard (make sure the cardboard isn’t lined with plastic).

• Opt for plant based foods produce, rice, beans, etc.- they usually come in less packaging, and are better for your heart and wallet!

Shipping Parcels

A lot of packaging is required to ship parcels, especially if the goods you’re shipping are fragile. To be more environmentally friendly when shipping, re-use materials you already have and only buy new materials when necessary. The best materials include things like:

• Cardboard

• Paper, magazines, and newspapers

• Bio-degradable packaging peanuts

• Mushroom, seaweed and other natural plant-based packaging alternatives

• Corrugated bubble wrap

• Paper tape

Disposing of Packaging

It’s no doubt that living a zero waste and generally low impact lifestyle greatly benefits the environment. If you create less waste, you’re demanding less resources, helping to curb plastic pollution, and are making an effort to avert the climate crisis. What most people don’t think of is how this lifestyle benefits more than just the environment- it benefits our economy and our communities, too. 

Want to know the best ways to shop zero waste whilst living or working in a big city? Here I give you some tips on shopping zero waste in London from independent shops to supermarket chains.

Following a low waste lifestyle may seem challenging, especially when it comes to food shopping considering you have to do it on a regular basis and everything is wrapped in plastic!

Buying package free in London is fairly accessible and easy nowadays, with bulk stores and refill shops opening up all over the city, supermarkets slowly responding to consumer demand for less packaging or recyclable alternatives to plastic, and cafes and restaurants allowing you to bring your own coffee cups and tupperwares for takeaways. Here are some tips to help you take advantage of the eco-friendly options that London has to offer.

Bulk Stores:

The first and obvious choice when it comes to zero waste shopping are bulk stores; where you can bring your own up-cycled jars, bottles and boxes to refill with dried goods, oil, vinegar, washing liquids, etc… Here are a few of my favourites across the city: (remember to bring all your empty containers and reusable bags!)

West:

Environmental movements have been touted as movements for the rich and elite throughout history. This misconception has persisted through to modern environmental movements, and because of this, many think that the zero waste movement is for those who are rich enough to afford it- which isn’t true. Living zero waste won’t only reduce your waste and overall impact on the planet, but it will save you money, too. Here’s 5 ways that going zero waste could save you money. 

Buy Less

A zero waste lifestyle parallels with minimalistic principles because a big component of the lifestyle is just generally buying less. Buying less means you’re demanding less products to be made, meaning less resources and energy is demanded to make products. By demanding less resources, you’re reducing emissions related to product production and transport, as well as resource extraction. So, when you buy less, you’re helping the earth and spending less money at the same time. It’s a win-win. 

Buy Used

Thrifting is a big aspect of a zero waste lifestyle, not only because it lessens your environmental impact, but also because it’s so cheap. Thrifting means you aren’t demanding any more new products to be made, so you’re saving resources and emissions. You can also buy a dress at thrift shop for less than half the price as a new one. By buying used you also aren’t supporting the fast fashion industry- one of the most wasteful, unethical, and polluting industries in the world. Thrifting will save you money, save the earth, and it’s a fun way to find some unique clothes.

Buy Bulk 

Buying bulk foods not only cuts down on food packaging waste, but it can also save you money. When you buy from bulk bins, you don’t have to account for the cost of packaging, meaning the products are (generally) cheaper. You also only have to buy what you need, so you won’t waste any money on food you don’t need. This also cuts down on food waste.

Buy Local

If you buy produce locally from the farmers market, you’re probably getting some of the best organic produce around at one of the best prices available. Produce at a farmers market doesn’t have to be transported as far as most of the produce you’ll find in a traditional grocery store, so that cost is cut out of the product. One study showed that organic produce is around 40% cheaper at farmers markets than at traditional grocery stores. 

Don’t Buy Single Use

The zero waste lifestyle contains little single-use, disposable products, and instead favors reusable products made out of materials like cloth, metal, and wood. While reusable products are generally a bigger investment upfront, they can save you a ton of money in the long run. Switching plastic water bottles for a reusable water bottle can save the average family $6,000 over 5 years, and similar savings can be found by switching from disposable paper products like napkins and paper towels to reusable cloths. 

How has zero waste saved you money?

Kayla Guilliams