How and where to start with zero waste?

Much more than a trend to ease our conscience, the zero-waste approach is a true lifestyle on a daily basis. “Plastic has flooded our lives: it can be found in product packaging, cosmetic ingredients, clothing textiles, or construction materials. More broadly, our “throwaway society” is characterized by single-use items and planned obsolescence. An ecological nonsense encouraged by the consumer society. On a daily basis, at our level, we can already change our habits to reduce plastic consumption and seek alternatives” - Greenpeace.

 

What is the zero-waste approach?

 

The zero-waste approach (or zero waste in English) aims to reduce consumption in general, but more specifically the consumption of non-recyclable materials.

It is a set of practices that also aims to reduce the use of single-use products and services to reduce the carbon footprint of your lifestyle.

The zero waste trend can be summed up by the "5Rs":

 

• Refusegoodies, samples, receipts... Anything offered to you for free but that you do not need.

• Reducepurchases, especially those with non-recyclable packaging. Buying in bulk and using jars is therefore recommended.

• Reuseby choosing reusable products (paper towels, handkerchiefs, water bottles, etc.) rather than single-use disposable products.

• Give back to the earth by composting and sorting organic waste, for example. It is essential to promote the protection of ecosystems to enrich our soils.

• Recycle the waste that you were not able to avoid. 

 

Where does the zero waste practice begin?

While it is obvious that the environment requires all our attention, few people take the step towards a more responsible lifestyle. However, it is quite simple thanks to new brands and mission-driven companies to find the right products.It is clear that you need to set reasonable and achievable goals regarding zero waste so as not to get discouraged.

The goal is to proceed gradually so as not to find it unachievable. 

 

Simple tips for a more zero-waste daily life 

 

1/ Reuse jars for your picnics

It's super simple and multifunctional depending on their size. Remove the labels and sterilize your jars to give them a second life. Then, let your imagination run wild for your picnics or trendy appetizers: Verrines, tapenades, raw vegetables.

The little extra : since they are airtight, you can easily close them again and take them with you.2/ Buy in bulk as much as possible to limit over-packaging Support bulk grocery stores and small local businesses. Organic products are often cheaper in bulk and this allows you to choose the quantity you really need. 3/ Extend the lifespan of your items It's difficult to make your items last in the era of planned obsolescence and overconsumption. However, before throwing away and replacing, see if it is possible to repair, sew, or alter.Get help from a professional if needed.

 

4/ Prioritize second-hand items 

Second-hand is a great way to save money. The best approach is to ask yourself if you really need it. This kind of habit will help avoid fueling phenomena like fast fashion. For purchasing your digital devices, refurbished products are a good solution, as this will help reduce digital pollution. Finally, nowadays, it is extremely easy to find very trendy and inexpensive second-hand clothing on online platforms like Vinted, as well as at flea markets or in vintage thrift stores.

 

Zero-waste accessories

The most commonly used accessory by zero-waste enthusiasts is, of course, the reusable water bottle.Water bottles are responsible for a large part of theplastic pollution, especially in the oceans. If you add the packaging of the packs and the shopping bag in which you put it, you quickly realize that this is the biggest problem to solve.

 

1/ The insulated water bottle 

The water bottle is the accessory you need. In most cases, tap water is perfectly safe and drinkable. It is therefore recommended to use a refillable water bottle rather than water bottles that will pollute unnecessarily. 

You will find a stainless steel water bottle perfect for this role and to take the first step in your zero-waste approach by following this link.

 

2/ Makeup remover squares and rounds

No more using industrial and polluting makeup remover cotton pads. Even though cotton is a natural material, it is important to know that it is not necessarily an eco-friendly material. In fact, its highly energy-intensive production is one of the most polluting on the planet. 

Here are some explanations: 

• 75% of the world's cotton production is carried out using pesticides.

• Cotton is often bleached using chlorine or heavy metals, such as lead and chromium. 

• The production of a single kilogram of cotton requires up to 20,000 liters of water!

When you know that a French woman uses an average of 6 disposable cotton pads daily for makeup removal, that represents more than 160,000 cotton pads over her lifetime.  

Switching to the reusable model is necessary to reduce your almost daily consumption of these makeup remover pads. 

Makeup remover squares and rounds, often made from organic and ethical cotton, are perfect for reducing your consumption. 

 

3/ The organic linen shopping bag 

Reducing plastic waste means reducing the purchase of shopping bags.By choosing a reusable and sturdy bag like the organic linen shopping bag, you will not only be able to reduce your plastic consumption, but also reduce your bag purchases (and therefore the amount on your receipt).

 

4/ The bamboo toothbrush

The bamboo toothbrush is an alternative to the traditional plastic toothbrush. 

Every year, nearly 5 billion plastic toothbrushes are thrown away worldwide. Due to their small size, toothbrushes are not recycled… and end up in our landfills, or worse, in our oceans. A toothbrush takes about 500 years to decompose. 

Bamboo toothbrushes are fully compostable and recyclable.Cap Bambou brushes are made from bamboo that does not contribute to deforestation, and the forests are managed responsibly. 

 

5/ Ecological sanitary protections

On average, a woman uses between 10,000 and 15,000 menstrual products in her lifetime, generating 45 billion waste items per year. 

Sanitary protections are regularly the subject of controversy regarding their health risks. For several years, the emergence of reusable and ecological alternatives has allowed women to reduce their environmental impact and protect their health.

You can choose washable sanitary pads, a menstrual cup or menstrual underwear. It is up to you to find the protection that suits you best.

The zero-waste approach can be complemented by many other accessoriesthat you will discover over time.

 

Zero-waste cosmetics and products

 

If you want to go even further into the zero-waste trend, you will need to consider a drastic change in the products you use daily.

The bathroom is the main source of waste in a home. Indeed, various industrial cosmetics are often packaged in non-recyclable containers and are sometimes low-quality products.

 

1/ Solid shampoo

This is the star of bathrooms for zero-waste enthusiasts.And for good reason, its advantages are numerous:

• Convenient format to use and carry with you

• Natural ingredients from organic farming

• Short formulas that are environmentally friendly

• Recycled and recyclable packaging

• Proven effectiveness for different hair types

To start your new zero-waste beauty routine, begin with this solid shampoo .

 

The benefits of the zero-waste approach

 

It is quite simple to draw up a (non-exhaustive) list of all the advantages of adopting this zero-waste lifestyle:

• Ecological and in line with today's challenges.

• Economical, as there is no longer a need to constantly buy new products.

• Healthy for your body in the case of cosmetics. "Zero waste often encourages us to return to raw, minimally processed products, or those with simpler compositions. This is especially true in the bathroom and for cleaning products, and you can even make some products yourself. The same applies to food. By avoiding packaging, we also reduce our exposure to plastics.In short, we know better what we put inside ourselves, on ourselves, and around ourselves." - Zero Waste Paris

• Convenient, because everything is reusable, so no more need to spend your Saturday in shopping centers.

To go further in zero waste, discover how to easily save water.