Category: Zero Waste

bookmark_borderHow to Pack a Zero Waste Lunch – Your Essential Back to School Guide

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Hey earth muffins! Fall is almost here! The weather has slowly been getting colder, and I have definitely been enjoying the cooler autumn vibes. The school year has officially begun, so I wanted to share some tips with you all today for packing a zero waste lunch. 🍎 These tips apply to your children headed off to school, but they also work for those of us who go to the office for work. As I mentioned in my September newsletter, I recently accepted a new job. At the end of September I will be going back to in-person work – so excited to leave remote work behind! Let’s jump right into some zero waste lunch tips.

Lunches packed in lunch boxes, a zero waste way to bring lunch to school

~Invest in a nice lunch box or buy one second hand.

If you plan on packing lunches for yourself and/or your kids, you will need a good lunch box. Before checking out any new options, I suggest shopping at second hand stores in your area. You might even be able to borrow from family or friends – or score a nice deal on Facebook Marketplace! Once you have exhausted used alternatives, find a lunch box that is 1) big enough to fit a full lunch and 2) made of high-quality materials that will last a long time. A lot of the “back to school” lunch boxes sold during the fall season aren’t always the best for long-lasting wear… Especially for work, think about possibly purchasing a stainless steel lunch container that will last a lifetime!

~Use reusable bags and containers!

Once you have a nice box, pack your zero waste lunch in reusables too. Instead of Ziploc bags, try out some reusable ones. Stasher bags are all the rage right now, but there are plenty of other products on the market too. I saw some great eco-friendly bags at Target recently! For larger items, use metal or glass containers. While many people use plastic Tupperware for lunches, I always try to avoid plastic touching my food. But, any reusable container will do – use whatever you already have in the house. Make sure your kids bring them home at the end of the day so that they can be washed and used again!

~Buy snacks from the bulk bins instead of individually packaged.

Grocery stores are full of individually packaged snacks… Which seem perfect for lunches. However, these are extremely wasteful in terms of plastic packaging. You often don’t get a lot in each bag, and the cost to buy individually packaged items is more expensive than buying a larger pack and separating the food yourself. A great zero waste lunch tip is to buy food from the bulk bins! Many bulk food stores have numerous snack options. Pack them in reusable bags and your lunch is ready to go!

Vegetables and fruit in reusable lunch containers

~Pack leftovers for lunch!

Don’t feel like you have to pack a new meal for lunches. A great way to prevent food waste is to bring your dinner leftovers from the night before to eat at lunch the next day! This allows you to save that food from going to waste in your fridge, and it is often much easier to pack than a bunch of snack bags. 🎉

~Try adding less meat options in your zero waste lunch.

We all know that plant-based diets are much better for the environment… So challenge yourself to pick a day (or a few days!) of the week to go meatless. One of my go-to lunches is a nice peanut butter and jelly sandwich – totally perfect for a Meatless Monday lunch! Every small change has an impact; avoiding meats in your lunch even just one day of the week helps.

~Bring lunch leftovers back home from school.

Instead of having your kids dump what they don’t eat, just ask them to reseal their reusable containers and bring them home. Then, compost that food waste! Ta-da, you just saved a bunch of waste from heading to the landfill. It is also a good idea to evaluate what your kids doesn’t eat. If there is a bit of everything left, you might be packing too much. When only a few items are left behind, they might not enjoy those foods as much. All good insights for keeping food waste at a minimum!

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Final Thoughts on How to Pack a Zero Waste Lunch

One of the easiest things you can do to reduce your impact during the school year is to just pack a lunch each day. Not only does this help you monitor what your kid is eating, it also allows you to shop in bulk, use reusables, and curb food waste in the cafeteria. The same goes for packing your own lunch for work; such a great way to stay eco-friendly during the year! 😊 Do you pack a lunch for yourself and/or your children?? Comment below your favorite lunch snacks!

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderLeekalos Reusable Menstrual Pads Review – An Easy Way to Zero Waste Your Period!

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Hey earth muffins! If you have been reading my blog for awhile, you will know that I have been trying out sustainable alternatives to period products. The first menstrual cup I tried out, the Lena cup, I wasn’t a huge fan of. The silicone was on the harder side which made it uncomfortable for my body. I tried out the Organicup next, which was definitely softer than the Lena cup… But I still didn’t find it super comfortable either. I decided that I would take a break from menstrual cups and try out reusable pads instead (affiliate link). After using these Leekalos pads for a bit, I thought I would share my thoughts with you all. Let’s jump right into my reusable menstrual pads review!

A picture of four reusable menstrual cups

What I Love About Leekalos Reusable Menstrual Pads

Firstly, they work really well! Similarly to a disposable pad, the reusable ones catch your blood without leaking too. I was a bit concerned about this when I bought them, as single-use pads are made with specific materials to suck up everything. Reusable pads are made of just fabric, so I wasn’t exactly sure if they could successfully do the job or not. But, they definitey can! I bought a pack of smalls and a pack of mediums. At the start of my cycle (which are heavier days), I use the mediums. After day two I am totally fine with wearing the small pads. I love that you can get different sizes depending on your flow, just like “regular” pads!

Reusable pads are SO much more comfortable. The material of disposable pads is often plastic-y and makes weird noises when you walk… Because reusable pads are made of fabric, they are super soft and move with your body. Instead of having to stick it to your underwear, the wings snap together. There are even two different snaps that you can use for the perfect fit! I love this because 1) it is less obvious that you are changing your pad in a public restroom and 2) you can move the pad into a different position easily, if necessary. A stick-on pad definitely does not have this option!

This Leekalos reusable menstrual pads review would not be complete if I didn’t mention washing the pads. The ones I purchased are made of dark fabrics which means they did not get stained. I assume if you buy lighter fabrics they might stain a little, but overall they are super easy to wash! After I changed my pad I would rinse it off and soak it in my sink. Then, I would place it into the “wet bag” that came with the pads. At the end of my period, I did an express wash load to clean all of the pads – and they look good as new. Super easy and awesome that I will be able to use these again and again.

Other Things I Like About Reusable Pads

I also love that reusable menstrual pads save you money in the long run. I bought each pack of 6 pads for around $10 and will be able to use them for a long time (affiliate link). Normal pads and tampons are pretty expensive at the store, and you have to keep buying them every month or so. Plus, these disposable options have the extra environmental cost of rotting in a landfill for hundreds of years! Seems like a no-brainer to opt for the reusable alternative instead.

Lastly, there is just something about allowing your body to free bleed on your period. While I love the idea of menstrual cups, I haven’t been able to find one that works well for my body. Inserting and removing a menstrual cup can be a challenge, so I love that I can just snap on a pad instead. For me, it is definitely better to just let it all flow out naturally (but obviously this might not be your preference).

What I Dislike About Leekalos Reusable Menstrual Pads

While this doesn’t bother me, you might not enjoy getting up close and personal with your menstrual pads. It does add a bit of time to soak/rinse after you change your pad, but it really isn’t that much of a committment. It might even take you longer to insert or remove your menstrual cup if you aren’t skilled at doing so yet!

I also think it is important to note that your pad will obviously smell after it has been used… But, I have noticed the smell to be less than with a disposable one. Don’t worry – no smells will linger once you throw your pads in the wash! To combat any excess smells in the bathroom, I suggest wrapping up your pad before placing it in to your wet bag.

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Final Thoughts!

It isn’t very difficult to zero waste your period – there are so many great alternatives out there. I absolutely love reusable menstrual pads! I am a bit bummed I didn’t start with them; but, I guess I would have never known that I am not a fan of menstrual cups if I didn’t. Reusable menstrual pads are comfortable, easy to wash, and budget friendly. I highly recommend checking these Leekalos pads out (affiliate link)! I hope you enjoyed this reusable menstrual pads review – let me know your thoughts on zero waste period products in the comments below!

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderDIY “Eat Me First” Box – An Amazing Food Waste Management Tool

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Hey earth muffins! Food waste is a huge issue in the modern age. While people all over the world are starving, many first world countries throw away a crazy amount of food… You might think this is a problem for other people, but I can guarantee you are guilty of it as well – we all are! Even if you care enough to read about how to reduce your food waste, you might still find youself with wasted food in the kitchen. In today’s post, I wanted to share a great food waste management tool that I have been using for quite some time now – an “Eat Me First” box. Let’s jump right into the DIY!

What is an “Eat Me First” Box?

In the simplest of terms, this box is a daily visual reminder to reduce your food waste. It doesn’t even need to be a box – it can be a bowl, a shelf in your fridge or pantry, or a bag. Many people aren’t aware of the foods in their kitchen that are almost expired/going bad. This is because they are often spread out throughout the fridge and pantry. Unfortunately, this leads to wasted food. I know I definitely have had to throw away food because I forgot it was there! Once all of this food is in one location, you can get in the habit of choosing it first. This is an amazing food waste management tool because you will reduce the amount of food that gets thrown away to the landfill. Plus, it is super easy to make!

What You Need:

-Some sort of box. Like I mentioned above, this doesn’t actually need to be a box and can be anything from a mason jar to a basket to a shelf in your fridge.

-Food that is almost going bad. Examples include bananas that are almost brown, bulk food nearing its expiration date, etc.

What to Do:

First, figure out what to use for your box. Get creative! Find something from around the house or hit up some local secondhand stores to find something that will work. I personally found a huge vintage spaghetti bowl to use for this DIY food waste management project.

If you want, decorate the box! This is helpful for anyone with kids, as some fun decorations get them excited to eat whatever is inside. It might be useful to create an “Eat Me First” sign to attach to the box as well. Use art supplies you already have in the house for decorating. I suggest avoiding things like glitter that are not sustainable (and get everywhere!).

Once the box is finished, find a place to put it. I suggest a shelf in the fridge that is accessible to all members of your family. Or you can place it on a similar shelf in the pantry. Or even both if you make two boxes!

Fill the box with food that is almost going bad. This can be anything from leftovers to fruit that is almost too ripe or rotten. Anything goes! Make it a practice to choose food from this box first before selecting something else from the kitchen. This ensures your food waste will be less, which is awesome!

If you still end up with some food waste, no worries. You have at least made some effort to reduce it! If you compost, place the food waste in the compost bin to naturally break down. Last resort, throw the food into the trash.

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Final Thoughts on this DIY

I highly recommend making an “Eat Me First” box for your kitchen, as it is an effective food waste management tool! It is easy to get into the habit of eating from the box first before eating other foods. Plus, it is much easier than composting if you have been trying to think of a way to divert your food waste from heading to the landfill. Don’t be disappointed if you still find yourself creating waste even with this box – keep up the great work and you will see small improvements over time! Do you have an “Eat Me First” box in your kitchen? Comment below your thoughts and what you think of this DIY!

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderHow to Zero Waste Your School Supplies!

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Hey earth muffins! I can’t believe it is already back to school season. 👩‍💻 The schools where I live started super early this year due to Mister Corona – August 23rd! While this is my second fall that I will not be heading back to school, I always get excited for the upcoming months. With the start of a new school year comes the need for classroom supplies… So, try your best to make as many sustainable choices as possible! I’ve talked about zero waste school supplies on this blog before, but I wanted to share my top tips for how to zero waste your school supplies this year. Let’s jump right into it! 🍎

A picture of zero waste school supplies

~Buy your school supplies secondhand!

Instead of heading right to Target or Walmart to stock up on school supplies, try searching through secondhand options first. The best place to start is to look at the items you already have in your house. I definitely would always end up with extra pencils, paper, and notebooks at the end of each school year. This is the perfect opportunity to use up what you already have! Many thrift stores around this time of year also have tons of school things to purchase – and you might even save yourself some money too! Along with secondhand stores, check out your local Buy Nothing page on Facebook or even Facebook Marketplace to see if anyone is getting rid of the supplies you are looking for. You can even ask family or friends in your area to see if they have something you need.

~Opt for e-textbooks instead of buying them 📚

Back in college, I made the mistake of buying a few of my textbooks. Now that I am out of school, I definitely have never looked at them again…. So I would recommend either renting your books or getting an e-book version. While renting isn’t the best choice due to shipping back and forth from the rental company, it is great that the books are able to be reused each semester. Plus, some teachers/professors are strict about having a physical copy of the book during the school year. However, if you are able, an e-textbook is a great sustainable option! Many e-books have options to virtually highlight and add notes as well, which is a great way to help you study throughout the year.

~Buy yourself a refillable pen!

Along with pencils, pens get wasted a lot during the school year. In order to truly zero waste your school supplies, you need to choose options that are better for the environment. In terms of pencils, pass on plastic mechanical ones and use traditional wood pencils instead. These create a lot less waste, and you can even buy pencils that can be composted or planted once used up! For pens, I suggest investing in one with refillable ink. Not only are these super great for the environment (just think about all the plastic you won’t have to use anymore!), they also are cool and fun to use. Amazon has a good selection of refillable ink pens starting as low as $10, so I recommend checking them out (affiliate link)!

A hand holding a refillable fountain pen

~Read online versus printing to save paper

Similarly to your textbooks, do your best to read online instead of printing. This saves paper, which is obviously better for the environment. Adobe Reader has some great annotation features for PDFs that can be used for note taking. I loved doing this in college because I was able to have everything on my laptop when I studied at a library – no need to lug around a binder full of articles! If you need to print something, make sure to print double sided and two pages to a side. This will print 4 pages of your reading on one piece of paper, which still saves at least a little paper!

~Always opt for a sustainable version of your favorite school supplies!

If you have to buy new, don’t just purchase the cheapest thing at Walmart. While this is tempting, these are not always the best eco-friendly options. (Yes, even if it is marked “sustainable” or “recycled paper” – I see you greenwashing companies!) Instead, I suggest doing some research and finding smaller brands that have exactly what you need. From zero waste planners to highlighter pencils, there are a bunch of awesome eco-friendly school supplies out there! Buying from these companies supports small business and ensures that you are buying the most planet-friendly option.

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Final Thoughts on Zero Waste School Supplies

Overall, it is totally possible to have zero waste school supplies! ✏️ While the back to school shopping list can be overwhelming at times, it is totally manageable if you reduce the new items you have to purchase. I suggest using what you have first, then looking at all secondhand options before buying new. Then, do your research to pick a great sustainable alternative to the product you were looking to buy! I hope everyone is having a great back to school season so far – I am so excited for autumn and the upcoming months ahead! What was your favorite back to school purchase this year? Comment below and let me know what sustainable brands you love!

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderHow to Dispose of Bamboo Toothbrushes Properly

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Hey earth muffins! A couple of months ago, I shared my thoughts on bamboo toothbrushes. These are such a great swap to make in your bathroom. They are more eco-friendly than plastic toothbrushes and are even better for the environment than electric brushes as well. When making the switch to bamboo toothbrushes, it is important to dispose of them properly at the end of their use. Unlike typical plastic brushes (which get tossed in the trash), you must take the time to dispose each part of the brush in the correct place. This ensures that you create the lowest impact for this sustainable swap. Let’s jump into how to dispose of your bamboo toothbrushes!

A picture of three bamboo toothbrushes sitting in a cup in the bathroom

1. Check to see what your toothbrush is made out of.

Usually, the handle is made out of bamboo and the bristles are made of plastic. Don’t think that because the handle is made out of wood you can compost the whole toothbrush… Because you often can’t! The plastic bristles will not break down in a compost bin. Depending on what type of compost system you use, adding in the plastic bristles can negatively affect the rest of the compost bin too. Don’t think you can just throw the whole brush in the trash either. Even though the handle is made of bamboo (which is a natural material), it will NOT breakdown correctly in a landfill. As it decomposes, it will release methane – not good! There is no point in buying a bamboo toothbrush if you just plan on throwing it away.

2. Rip out the plastic bristles!

This is my favorite part of the whole process. 😊 Take some pliers and start ripping out those plastic bristles! They are often in small bundles on the brush head, so grasp a section firmly and give it a nice tug. They shouldn’t be super difficult to remove; I am quite weak (guilty as charged), and was able to easily rip out all of the bristles in about two minutes or less. Once all the bristles have been removed, throw them away into the trash! Check out this video below (at 1:35) to watch how to remove the bristles from your bamboo toothbrush.

3. Toss the handle into the compost bin or repurpose it.

Now that the plastic has been removed, feel free to throw the toothbrush handle into the compost bin. The wood will easily break down now that it has been disposed of correctly. If you don’t have a compost bin, I suggest finding someone in your area who does have one. Another alternative is to reuse the handle in some way around the house. I’ve seen some cute garden markers on Pinterest from old bamboo toothbrushes! For those heading on a camping trip before the weather gets cold again, use the wood as a fire starter. 🔥 Feel free to get creative!

how to dispose bamboo toothbrushes pinterest pin
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Final Thoughts on Properly Disposing Bamboo Toothbrushes

It is important to dispose bamboo toothbrushes properly, as it isn’t truly sustainable unless you do so! Why bother buying a bamboo brush if you are still going to toss it in the trash like you would with any other plastic brush? Once you have determined what materials your brush is made out of, dispose of each section correctly. Throw out any plastic bristles and put the bamboo wood in a compost bin where it can breakdown naturally. Ta-da! You just successfully disposed of your bamboo toothbrush! 🎉 Are you using a bamboo toothbrush? Comment below and let me know if you would give one a try!

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderIzzy Beauty Mascara Review: An Amazing Zero Waste AND Carbon Neutral Makeup!

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Hey earth muffins! During the pandemic, I haven’t been wearing makeup very much if at all. It has been nice to let my skin breathe! 😊 When I was packing up my bathroom before I moved last month, I realized that some of my makeup needed to get replaced. It was wayyy too old! In the past, I have used Clean Faced Cosmetics cake mascara. It is a great product, but I thought this would be a good opportunity to try another sustainable mascara. I found Izzy Beauty through some Google searching and needed to give their mascara a try. After trying it out for awhile (#gifted), I wanted to share my thoughts in an Izzy Beauty mascara review post – let’s jump right into it!

A picture of the zero waste Izzy Beauty mascara in a stainless steel mascara tube

What I Love About My Izzy Beauty Mascara

For starters, this mascara is zero waste. The product itself is packaged in a stainless steel tube that can be returned to the company and reused over 10,000 times! After using a cake mascara for so many years, it is nice to use a mascara in a typical tube package again. 😃 When I saw that you can send the product back to get a refill, I was concerned that this would create extra mailing waste during shipping. BUT, this company sends your mascara in a reusable mailer. The mailer reminds me of the pencil cases I would use in high school, except with a clear flap for the actual packing label. This is something I have never seen before; so amazing!

Along with the sustainable tube, the brush is made out of recycled plastic. I love that the whole mascara is made of eco-friendly materials AND you can get it refilled. Such a great circular economy! The brand truly cares about the environment, as they take measures to reuse water used in the production process as well as keep manufacturing close together to reduce emissions. Compared to the industry standard, their mascara has a 78% smaller carbon footprint after 25 refills. The more you reuse them, the better!

Izzy Beauty mascara reusable mailer with slot for packing label
The back of the reusable mailer

How Does it Work?

I obviously have to mention how the mascara works in this Izzy Beauty mascara review… Spoiler: it works great! I have always been one to enjoy a mascara that gives me length. The shape of the wand does a nice job increasing the length of all my lashes without clumping up. While the black color is noticeably darker than the cake mascara I was using, it compares to other mascaras on the market. The product also increases the volume of your lashes as well. Definitely a great mascara to try out!

What Could Be Better

This Izzy Beauty mascara review would not be complete without mentioning the price. Compared to drugstore options, it is quite expensive. To purchase it one-time, the mascara is $39. The company strongly urges you to sign up for the subscription service to refill your mascara every 3 months. This costs $35 + $19 every month if you pay quarterly; or, you can pay $85 for an annual subscription. While sustainable products are often more expensive, a high price like this will exclude many people from trying it out. The last cake mascara I bought was under $20, so there are definitely better priced products on the market. But, the cost of Izzy Beauty includes refilling, cleaning, and shipping… So it depends on what you are willing to pay for high quality, sustainable makeup.

Lastly, I wanted to mention something that might be a con for people: you get charged a fee if you don’t return your mascara tube and/or reusable mailer. While I think this is definitely justified (as the stainless steel tubes are expensive to make), I feel like many customers would get annoyed with this – especially since this fee isn’t advertised very well on their website when you buy the mascara. I found it buried in the FAQ information. For the mascara, this fee is $25 and the mailer is $5. Definitely not cheap! I like that this is an incentive to return the product (thus keeping the circular economy going), but it needs to be more clear that you will get charged if you do not participate.

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Final Thoughts on Izzy Beauty Mascara

Overall, I think this mascara is good! While it is a bit darker than I prefer, the mascara gives great length and volume to my lashes. The company is extremely sustainable from a zero waste system of refilling to being Carbon Neutral certified. Plus, I absolutely love the idea of the reusable mailers which I have never seen before! While they are definitely a “high-end” product due to the price, it would be totally worth it to purchase this eco-friendly product over another expensive mascara at Sephora. What did you think of this Izzy Beauty mascara review? Comment below and let me know if you would purchase this mascara!

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderHow To Read Your Cervical Mucus!

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Hey earth muffins! If you have been reading my blog for awhile, you will know that I monitor my cycle using the basal body temperature and cervical mucus methods. The basal body method is super simple – just take your temperature each morning and track using an app. However, the cervical mucus method takes some time to learn… I have found these methods super insightful on my cycle, so I wanted to share my tips on reading your own mucus. 😊 Let’s jump right into how to read your cervical mucus!

What is Cervical Mucus?

Not gonna lie, I think the word “mucus” is pretty gross. It reminds me of The Princess and the Frog. 😂 BUT, there isn’t anything nasty about your cervical mucus! Healthline defines it as “a fluid or gel-like discharge from the cervix”. Your hormones stimulate the glands in the cervix to produce this mucus, which is why it varies in thickness and amount depending on what stage of your menstrual cycle you are in. To keep track of your own mucus, all you need to do is observe it. When you are about to use the bathroom each day, wipe with some toilet paper before doing your business. It is also helpful to touch/stretch the mucus, looking for characteristics mentioned below. Some people prefer to actually insert a finger to monitor their mucus, but I have found that the toilet paper method is easier (and less invasive).

The Types of Cervical Mucus

During your period

When you are on your period, you will not be able to see any cervical mucus for obvious reasons. Know that it is there, you just can’t see it!

A few days after your period

Once your period is over, you will experience some “dry days”. During these days you will not have any cervical mucus. These days are when you are infertile during your cycle, so the risk of pregnancy is much lower. The length of this infertility period depends on your cycle… But, once you start to see cervical mucus you know you are on to the next stage!

Before ovulation

Before you ovulate (and are at your peak of fertility!), your body prepares by releasing cervical mucus. This mucus will be creamy, glue-like, and slightly stretchy to the touch. Depending on your body, this mucus can be white, yellow, and/or cloudy. As ovulation approaches, this mucus will become more clear, watery, and slippery to the touch.

Ovulation

This is the most important stage in this how to read your cervical mucus post! 😊 Once you notice your cervical mucus is the consistency of egg whites, you are ovulating! The mucus will be clear and easily stretchable. To test if it is “stretchy”, place a bit of mucus between your thumb and pointer finger and slowly pull the fingers apart. If the mucus stretches and doesn’t break, then you know you are in this phase of your cycle! If you are wanting to get pregnant, this is the best time to start trying; if you want to avoid pregnancy, this is when you need to be extra careful.

After Ovulation

After you are done ovulating, your cervical mucus can either go back to being creamy like the “Before ovulation” phase or just stop altogether to have more “dry days”. For me personally, I have a couple of days of creamy mucus before dry days until my period starts again. During this phase, you have a low risk of pregnancy as you already ovulated in your cycle!

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Recap of How to Read Your Cervical Mucus

There you have it – a basic guide on how to read your cervical mucus! 🎉 While it sounds a bit complicated at first, it is actually quite simple to pick up on. Once you start looking for that egg-white consistency, it is easy to place other mucuses in the correct phase of your cycle. Along with the basal body temperature method, the monitoring of my mucus has given me so much insight to my menstrual cycle. I highly suggest you all do the same! Have you ever tried the cervical mucus method??? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderHow to Be Zero Waste While Living with Your Parents

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Hey earth muffins! A month ago I moved back in with my parents after moving away from Grand Rapids, MI. My boyfriend and I made the decision that we want to purchase a house instead of renting an apartment. When deciding where this house would be, it just made sense to head back home where both our families are! The housing market is crazy right now, so we are hunkering down with our parents until we find a great first home. 🤞Moving back in with family is amazing, but it also throws a curveball on my eco living habits. Here are my tips for how to be zero waste while living at home with your parents!

Give yourself some time to feel out the situation.

While I visit home often, it has been awhile since I lived with my parents. Obviously, they have different ways of living than I am used to, especially when it comes to sustainability. Instead of just continuing to live the way you were living, I sugget laying low for awhile. Your eco journey can wait a week or so! This will allow you to see how they function and do certain things. Once you observe for a bit, then you can decide where you can continue living the same way and which areas need a bit of an adjustment for the time you are living there. Your parents are doing you a huge favor, so don’t cause any trouble!!

Don’t badger your parents to make a million sustainable changes!

I am lucky that my parents are about as sustainable as my boyfriend is. I’ve written a whole guide about how I live with someone who isn’t as sustainable as myself; I suggest you check it out if you are in a similar situation! It is never a good idea to try and change every single thing your parents do all at once. In your observation period, you may have noticed 25 different areas where your parents could easily change a habit to be more sustainable. Remember, even your own eco journey has been a slow process! Don’t expect your parents to drop everything and join the zero waste movement all at once. While you can introduce them to certain eco products slowly, just do this one small step at a time!

Lead by example.

People tend to make observations about the way other people do things. If you don’t want to directly talk with your parents about new sustainable habits they can make, I suggest just living as eco-friendly as possible in your current situation. Your mom might comment on your makeup – so talk about the latest zero waste brand you are trying out! Bring your parents to your favorite local thrift store and introduce them to the joys of secondhand shopping. There are so many opportunities to share your eco knowledge in an encouraging way once you are under the same roof!

Introduce them to your favorite sustainable documentaries and books!

When you are trying to decide what to watch for the next movie night, suggest a new documentary you have been wanting to see. They might be totally on board with watching something educational. I know my dad is always looking for good book recommendations; if your parents are similar, share some of the best eco books! Just like I was hooked after reading No Impact Man, maybe they will jump on the sustainability bandwagon on their own accord.

Live a little non-zero waste for a bit…

Living with someone who isn’t as sustainable as you can be challenging. During the time you live with your parents, you might just have to cut your losses and realize that you won’t be able to live as eco-friendly as you’d like. This happened with diet for me. I’ve shared my tips for living with someone on a different diet before (my boyfriend is a huge carnivore; I’m a vegetarian). My parents have been supportive with my choice to eat no meat; however, I recently decided I wanted to also cut out fish. But, my parents usually cook a bunch of fish when I am visiting because they aren’t too comfortable with vegetarian recipes. Now that I am living here, I will be eating fish until I move into my own house, just because it makes it easier on them. I’ve cut my losses and my eco journey is still intact! 😊

Final Thoughts on How to Live Zero Waste with Your Parents

Moving back in with your parents is just like moving in with a new roommate… It might take some time to mix your habits and daily routines, but it will eventually work out! It is important to not pressure your parents to convert to living exactly how you were before you moved in. That is never a good suggestion in a “how to be zero waste” post! Instead, lead by example and slowly influence your parents into making small changes. That being said, accept that you might have to cut your losses and be a little non-zero waste for a bit… But that is totally okay! Your eco journey will be stronger than ever again! What is your current living situation? How do you deal with living with people who aren’t as eco-friendly??

Love,
Jenna ♥

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