7 Things I've Learned One Year Into Zero Waste

Hey earth muffins! I find it hard to believe that I started my journey towards living low/zero waste a year ago! 😲 This blows my mind, but I have had a really great year changing my habits in order to live a more sustainable lifestyle. To reflect on the journey so far, I thought it would be fun to share the most important things I have learned one year zero waste. 😊

When looking back on this year, I think the most important thing I have learned is that people get really sick of you talking about your sustainability efforts. At the start of my journey, I wanted to share all of the cool things I was learning with my family and friends; however, I feel like I talked about it too much. This made people not want to hear what I had to say, no matter how helpful the information was. To combat this, I now try to lead by example instead of forcing my opinion on others… And it actually works wonders! My family and friends now ask me about the things I am doing with genuine interest, so I think this is the approach everyone should take!

Leading by example has proven to me that your small steps towards sustainability WILL affect those around you. When my parents and I were sitting on the porch a few days ago, they started talking about what they should do about the plastic problem. These conversations were never brought up before, so I am so happy that my new mindset has impacted theirs too! 🥰

The journey will be hard at first, but it does get easier. It is difficult to change habits because they are habits after all, so stay patient with yourself! Every person who is “zero waste” does it differently, so find what works for you! There are many misconceptions on what it means to live low waste, but I have found it the most effective to figure out the places where you can reduce your waste and where you cannot.

I have found that grocery shopping is an easy place to start!

Even if you know you won’t be able to cut out the waste in one area of your house, just know that every little thing counts! Just imagine if every single person on the planet reduced their waste in the kitchen or the bathroom; there would be monumental change! 🙂 Alongside this point, it is important to remember that it’s okay to have bad days. If you have to use plastic bags at the grocery store one day or need to purchase a plastic water bottle from the vending machine, don’t beat yourself up! Many people aren’t doing anything to be sustainable at all, so be proud that you have been trying your best 😚

Lastly, this past year has taught me that living a sustainable lifestyle will definitely make you feel so good inside! I am so happy with the way I now live my life, and I absolutely love my new mindset in putting the planet first. I look forward to another great year ahead!! 🎉

What have you been doing in the past year to be more sustainable? What are your own zero waste successes and failures?

Love,
Jenna ♥