Hey earth muffins, happy World Ocean Day! 🐠 Back when I started my eco journey, I wrote a post about how to live a low waste lifestyle. Now that I’ve learned a lot from 3 years of “zero” waste living, I thought it would be fun to rewrite that post! There are so many ways to live sustainably; but, there are some things that are essential if you want to start an eco journey yourself. Today’s post will be a list of the top things you can do to live zero waste – let’s jump right into it!
1. Reduce, reuse, repair, compost, THEN recycle.
The planet can’t be saved by just recycling. The recycle system isn’t as great for the environment as people think it is… Which is why it is last in the “reduce, reuse, recycle” saying. If you are trying to live low waste, you should first reduce. Overconsumption is a huge issue, so reducing what you buy is much better. Then, you must reuse what you already have in your house. When things break down, repair them instead of purchasing again. Make your things last as long as possible! In terms of food waste and compostable materials, compost them instead of throwing in the trash. Then, as a last resort, recycle what is allowed in your community – don’t be a “wishcycler“!
2. Buy secondhand!
A great way to avoid plastic packaging and overconsumption is to buy secondhand. You will be purchasing goods that have already been created; this reduces the amount of resources used compared to buying a totally new item. There are many great secondhand options: thrift shops, antique stores, Facebook Marketplace, ebay, Craigslist, Freecycle, etc. You don’t need to buy everything secondhand to be low waste, but always look at secondhand options first!
3. Avoid all single use items.
This is probably the easiest tip to live zero waste. When you use up a single use item in your home (say cotton pads for example), make the swap to something more sustainable! I’ve made some bad eco swaps before, so don’t get discouraged if it takes some time to find the best eco-friendly swap that works for you! Here are some of my favorite eco swaps:
| Single Use Item | Sustainable Swap! |
| Plastic razor | Metal safety razor |
| Shampoo bottle | Shampoo bar |
| Ziploc bag | Mason jar |
| Tampons/pads | Menstrual cup |
| Plastic bags | Reusable bags! |
4. Be conscious of how you travel.
Another way to live zero waste is to be conscious of your methods of transportation each day. Instead of driving everywhere, walk or bike when possible. If you are able to work remotely sometimes, take advantage of working from home! 😊 In terms of traveling for vacations, try to choose a more sustainable option if possible. Trains and cars have a lower carbon footprint than flying, so consider those options when you are making plans.
5. Save water and energy as much as possible!
There are many opportunities to save water once you make the effort. Instead of washing your dishes by hand, use a dishwasher (which actually saves more water than you think!). Reduce the length of your shower. Turn off the faucet when you are brushing your teeth. It all makes a difference! In terms of energy, make it a habit to turn off the lights when you leave a room. Another great way to save energy is to use natural light whenever possible. Do you really need to keep the lights on in the afternoon when the sun is shining into your room? Probably not!
6. Reduce or stop eating meat.
As many of you know, I live zero waste by being a vegetarian. It has been almost two years of a meatless diet, and I absolutely love it! If you don’t want to quit cold turkey, then start by implementing Meatless Mondays into your meal plan each week. This gives you a great opportunity to try out some vegetarian options all the while reducing your impact on Mother Earth. A win-win!
Final Thoughts
Living low waste is awesome for both you and the planet. There are so many tips and tricks for living this lifestyle, so I hope these top tips can inspire you to make some easy changes to your daily routine. If you want to learn more about zero waste living, I’d love you to follow and stick around! The earth muffin family is a fun place to be, and I’ll be sharing a lot of great content around sustainable living. 😀 What have you been doing recently to reduce your impact?
Love,
Jenna ♥
I love that you included a really wide variety of suggestions here. My goal for the week is to cut down on my shower time by a couple of minutes. Then try to cut it down a little more the next week. Thank you for the inspiration!
Jenna, loved your post rewritten after three years of experience. Thanks for sharing what you’ve learned.
Jean, thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed what I’ve learned – crazy to think it has already been three years! 🙂
Jenna ♥