1 Get reusable shopping bags, made of cotton, hemp, etc(natural fiber)

2 Find stores that sell in bulk, make sure they can exclude refillable container's weight from price-by-weight items in produce/bulk-dry goods

3 Get draw-string cotton produce-mesh bags and cotton grain bags

4 Switch your goods brands to ones that come in glass, metal, cardboard, paper, & wood containers instead of plastic packaging, as they are all bio-friendly, plastic is not. (Adams is one I'm trying for my peanut butter addiction)

5 Choose unpackaged produce options(Your dollar is your vote)

6 Make your own recipes for foods you like that doesn't have a non-plastic-packaged brand(mine is hummus. Someone start a glass-contained hummus brand, like put those empty salsa jars to use!)

7 Shop Local Farmer's Markets and do more DIY projects and meal-prep with your communities and don't forget the reusable bags/containers!

8 Avoid buying useful products that you don't need, especially if it comes with single-use plastic packaging. Creatively avoid buying plastic waste with your products

 9 Find wooden versions of kitchen/bathroom/home cleaning tools instead of going to the dollar store

10 Get your Soaps, Conditioners, Bodywashes, Shaving Cream, etc in bar form instead of liquid form

11 Find the liquid-free laundry strips instead of buying liquid detergent and use baking soda 

12 Only Buy cloths made from natural fibers like bamboo, cotton, hemp, wool, etc, not mainstream clothes made from oil(polyester, nylon, poly-fabrics, etc)

13 Have frequent 3-Point-Conversations with family, friends, customers, employers, restaurant workers, business owners, legislators, elected representatives, Investors, etc

 

101 Ways to join Earth's much-needed Circular Economies Lifestyle

1. Ask for no straw in your drink order when out.
2. Don’t leave your house without a full reusable water bottle.
3. Ditch tissues for handkerchiefs.
4. Pick up a lonely banana.
5. Always say no thank you to free promotional items. They tend to be cheap and break easily.
6. Get a library card to support your local sharing economy.
7. Donate unused items in good condition to support the second-hand market.
8. Think second-hand first when purchasing something.
9. Try elderberry syrup if you feel a cold coming on instead of immediately reaching for a plastic pill bottle.
10. Swap your plastic toothbrush for a bamboo toothbrush.
11. Turn old sheets and towels into handkerchiefs, rags, napkins, and cloth produce bags.
12. Build a zero waste kit and put in the trunk of your car or carry it with you when you’ll be out so you’ll always be prepared. It doesn’t have to be large just a few items!
13. Wash clothes when they are actually dirty, instead of after only one wear.
14. Open a window to cool down your home or air it out.
15. Try to avoid palm oil.
16. Buy food without packaging or minimal packaging.
17. Instead of buying something when you’re having a bad day, do something. I.e. go on a walk, take a yoga class, meet up with a friend.
18. Repurpose stale bread.
19. Make dry shampoo to stretch between washes.
20. Surround yourself with items that serve multiple purposes to streamline and cut excess junk.
21. Commit to bringing your reusable bags to the store. If you don’t have them, turn around and go get them! After forgetting them once, you won’t do it again.
22. Try canning to preserve food.
23. Use bar soap instead of liquid soap, it tends to come with less packaging.
24. Swap disposable pads and tampons for cloth pads or a menstrual cup.
25. Change light bulbs to LEDs.
26. Be mindful when using technology.
27. Bring reusable produce bags for fruits and veggies.
28. Put on a sweater and socks before turning up the heat.
29. Turn the water off while brushing your teeth.
30. Don’t buy anything impulsively!
31. Try making your own lotion.
32. Check out your farmers market.
33. Make your own face mask from stuff in your pantry.
34. Try cloth diapering.
35. Get some houseplants at a local nursery to purify your air, don’t forget to return the little plastic pots!
36. Get rid of pests naturally.
37. Meal plan to avoid food waste.
38. Unplug electronics when not in use.
39. Try making tooth powder to avoid unrecyclable toothpaste tubes.
40. Buy more locally made goods.
41. Repair something when it breaks.
42. If you’re looking for a specialty item, like camping gear or an extra table for a party, ask a friend if you can borrow one before making a purchase.
43. Plant a small garden.
44. Learn how to freeze your food without plastic so it doesn’t go to waste.
45. Make your own febreze spray to freshen your room for pennies!
46. Start a backyard compost.
47. Swap little plastic chapstick tubes for DIY lip balm.
48. Surround yourself with tools and items that are meant to last a lifetime. Try to only buy objects once.
49. Try your hand at an easy all-purpose cleaning spray.
50. Look into collecting rainwater or a greywater system.
51. Store your food properly to make it last longer.
52. Find your local cobbler to repair tired shoes.
53. Know where everything you buy comes from whether it be food, clothing, or other household goods
54. Ask for no plastic and reused packaging materials for online orders.
55. Pack your lunch instead of eating out every day.
56. Reduce your meat consumption. If you’re not ready to go vegetarian start small: try Meatless Monday, weekday vegetarian, or even weekday vegan.
57. Learn to regrow kitchen scraps.
58. Line dry a load instead of using the dryer.
59. Try homemade mouthwash.
60. Ditch plastic shower loofahs for a real loofah or a bamboo bath brush.
61. Ask for a real mug at the coffee shop when staying in.
62. Always run a full dishwasher or load of clothes.
63. Most sunscreen causes coral bleaching, go coral friendly!
64. Bring your own container for to-go food and leftovers.
65. Ditch paper towels and use tea towels and rags.
66. Beware of greenwashing, always do your research.
67. Make your own deodorant.
68. If it’s a 30 minute or less walk, get outside instead of driving.
69. Vote with your dollars for a sustainable future.
70. Bring your own to-go cup when getting coffee on the run.
71. Look into tree-free TP.
72. Learn how to repair a button or hem to extend the life of your clothing.
73. Look into rechargeable batteries instead of disposables.
74. Serve dinner with cloth napkins.
75. Eat more vegetables and legumes.
76. Keep a bucket in the shower to water plants or flush the toilet.
77. Wrap presents in newsprint or not at all!
78. Swap cotton rounds for reusable rounds.
79. Focus on experiences rather than things.
80. Switch from a plastic disposable razor to a metal safety razor.
81. Wash your clothes in cold water when you can.
82. Make homemade gifts to give to friends and family.
83. Try Wheatless Wednesdays to cut back on intensive grain farming.
84. Avoid junk mail by placing a sticker on your box or going to dmachoice.org
85. Keep a stocked pantry to avoid getting takeout on busy nights.
86. Learn where to properly dispose of items like gift cards, old cell phones, batteries and unusable cords can be turned in at best buy etc.
87. Find your local tailor to help with clothing repairs.
88. Ask yourself if you truly need it before making any purchases.
89. Go paperless for all your bills!
90. Swap don’t shop! Host a clothing swap with friends.
91. Pick up litter when you’re out and dispose of it properly.
92. Make your morning cup of coffee with a french press or pour over with a reusable filter to avoid extra waste.
93. Ditch plastic q-tips for plastic-free or reusable.
94. Ditch sponges in lieu of compostable scrubs or brushes.
95. Try to shrink the amount you recycle. Zero waste is about recycling less not more.
96. Use both sides of the paper!
97. Avoid receipts when out, ask if one has to be printed. Sometimes they do, but not always!
98. Take public transit if available or carpool.
99. Join a community garden.
100. Swap tea bags for loose leaf tea in a reusable strainer.
101. Make my favorite zero waste switch: look at installing a bidet attachment.

 

9 Simple Areas of the Eco-Friendly Lifestyle

1. Reduce Food Waste:

1. Write down what is inside of your fridge before you go grocery shopping! Plan meals around the food that needs to be eaten first. 
2. Buy less than you think that you need. We tend to over buy on food so remove on meal from your meal plan because you'll most likely have an unexpected dinner out or leftovers! 
3. Chop and store the produce when you get home from the store so creating meals is easy during the week. 
4. Store your food properly so it doesn't go bad! Head to this post for a list on how to store your produce plastic-free. 
5. Ignore the dates. Best-by, sell-by, and use-by are NOT expiration dates. There's no scientific way to predict the exact day something is going to expire so use your best judgement with smell and taste. If it tastes fine - it's probably fine to eat. 
6. Eat your ends and stems. Are you still throwing the tops of the carrots and beets out? STOP IT. They are delicious!! Beet tops make a great chard substitute and carrot tops make a delicious pesto. Check out this cookbook for TONS of tips on how to use your scraps. 
7. Save the peels of your onions, carrots, garlic, and celery ends to make a delicious vegetable stock that you can use to infuse more flavor into rice, quinoa, etc. 
8. Use your freezer to freeze fruits and veggies you might not have time to get to before they turn. 
9. Use slightly mushy fruits in smoothies or breakfast breads. 
10. If you do have any leftover food, make sure you compost it! Get our guide for composting. 

2. Re-Think Transportation:

1. Drive less. Like WAY less. 
2. Opt for riding your bike. 
3. Grab public transportation. 
4. Create a 30-minute rule. If it's under a 30-minute walk, walk or ride your bike. 
5. Combine your trips so you're not ping-ponging back and forth. 
6. Take one less intercontinental or international flight this year and opt to vacation somewhere closer to home. 
7. Pack lighter when you travel. 
8. Carpool! Try to get a carpool sheet going at work so people can ride together to save on gas and cut down on emissions. 
9. Pitch working from home for a day or two to reduce emissions... and work in your pajamas. ; ) 
10. Switch to an electric vehicle and charge it with solar power. 

3. Make your Home More Efficient:

1. Opt for LED light bulbs.
2. Install low-flow showerheads, faucets, and toilets.
3. Look into gray water systems or catching rainfall. 
4. Install solar panels and a solar battery. Don't own your home? Look into switching where your energy comes from with your electricity service provider or joining a community solar farm.
5. Seal all of your windows and/or replace them with more efficient double-paned windows. 
6. Add insulation to your home. 
7. Unplug your devices to prevent phantom electricity from being consumed. 
8. Keep a bucket in your shower to catch the water while it's heating up and use it to water plants or flush the toilet. 
9. Wash your clothes in cold water. 
10. Hang your clothes to dry on the line instead of using the dryer. 

4. Avoid Single-Use Plastic: 

1. Say no to freebies. 
2. Invest in a water filter for your home to avoid buying bottled water. 
3. Buy several reusable water bottles and keep them full of filtered water so you can grab and go and be out the door. 
4. Bring your own bags to all stores like pet store, hardware store, grocery store, etc. 
5. Bring your own cloth produce bags to the grocery store or the farmers market. 
6. Drink your coffee in the cafe in a real cup. 
7. Bring a thermos to the cafe to get it to-go. 
8. Bring your own container to take home leftovers from the restaurant. 
9. Say no to straws. 
10. Opt for plastic-free produce and food. 

5. Make Simple Swaps in the Bathroom: 

1. Use a safety razor or electric razor instead of a disposable plastic razor. 
2. Opt for a bar of soap instead of body wash. 
3. Try a shampoo bar or use a refillable service like Plaine Products.
4. Create a core of makeup that you use everyday, and one for special occasions and don't buy ANYMORE than that. 
5. Implement a 'one in, one out' rule where you only buy one product once you finish a product.   
6. Use the correct amount of product. Often we use way too much product. Here's a handy guide for how much you really need. 
7. Cut your tubes open to get the last bit of product and don't let any of it go to waste. 
8. Put your toner in a spray bottle and spray it on your face instead of using cotton rounds that absorb a lot of the product. 
9. Switch to reusable cotton rounds instead of disposables.
10. Opt for a bamboo toothbrush. My favorite is Brush with Bamboo. 
11. Opt for products in glass instead of plastic. 
12. Look for beauty products with clean ingredients that are better for both your health and the health of the planet. 
13. Install a bidet attachment
14. Go for recycled or tree-free toilet paper. 
15. Switch to reusable menstrual products like period panties, menstrual cups, and cloth pads.

6. Make Simple Swaps in the Kitchen: 

1. Don't buy individual servings of food. Buy larger servings and portion them out at home. 
2. Use reusable dishcloths instead of paper towels. For more tips on ditching paper towels read this blog post. 
3. Avoid plastic wrap by switching to beeswax wraps. 
4. Quit aluminum foil by switching to reusable silicone mats. 
5. Store your food in glass containers like snapware or mason jars. 
6. Swap plastic baggies for reusable silicone baggies. 
7. Pack your lunch in a lunch box instead of a brown paper bag. 
8. Use real plates and flatware. 
9. Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins. 
10. Clean-up with a simple homemade cleaner of 1 part vinegar / 1 part water. 
11. Opt for looseleaf tea (tea bags are made with plastic!) 
12. Ditch the Kuerig and opt for a trash-free method like pour-over, french press, etc. 
13. Keep a stocked pantry so you can make all of your favorite meals quickly without creating trash. 
14. Spend a few minutes prepping a few foods to help get zero waste dinners on the table fast. 
15. Swap sponges for compostable bamboo dish scrubs

7. Live Local:

1. Head to your local farmers market. 
2. Start a small garden, even an herb garden in your windowsill. 
3. Try to regrow your food from scraps like green onions or celery. 
4. Join a CSA (community supported agriculture) and receive local, farm-fresh goodies straight to your doorstep.
5. Support your local small businesses like local soap makers etc. 
6. Find your local repair shops like tailors, cobblers, tinkerers, and woodworkers to get all of your things repaired. 
7. Eat with the seasons and enjoy the bounty of your region. Maybe even try your hand at preserving foods. 
8. Shop your local thrift store or garage sales when you're looking for new homewares, small appliances, even trendy clothing. 
9. Join a local community garden where you can compost and even have a hand in growing your own food. 
10. Get involved in your community by screening a documentary, hosting a clean-up, or giving a talk to help others live a more eco-friendly life. 

8. Re-Think Your Plate:

1. Go heavy on the plants.
2. Participate in meatless-Mondays
3. Participate in wheatless-Wednesdays 
4. Commit to eating plant-based two days a week or more if you can! 
5. Opt for smaller plates of food and go back for seconds if you're still hungry. 
6. Make sure you actually eat your leftovers! 
7. Make local produce the star of the show and lightly garnish with animal products. 
8. Focus on crops that aren't as water-intensive like lima beans, corn, peanuts, quinoa, watermelon, radishes, spinach, etc. 
9. Re-brew your tea leaves 
10. Opt for local, in-season fruits and veggies as snacks instead of pre-packaged ones. 

9. Shop Consciously: 

1. Support companies that have ethical practices. 
2. Look for companies that offer warranties on their products. 
3. Look for companies that are environmentally focused. 
4. Purchase products that give back to environmental organizations like through 1% for the planet. 
5. Pick products that have staying power and will last with your for years. 
6. Ask yourself if this is something you could proudly pass onto your grandchildren. 
7. Wait 30 days before making a purchase. 
8. Buy less! 
9. Look for recycled content and corporate responsibility programs where they will take their products back at the end of their life. 
10. Look for items that can be repaired and mended.                                         
11. Well folks, that was 100 tips! I hope that you picked up a few new tricks that you can implement in your daily life.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      (This list is from pelacase.com, as are the links within. We Do not get paid to repost their content, we just like to share the hard work that's already been done for everyone with you guys)  Source:https://pelacase.com/blogs/news/100-easy-ways-to-be-more-eco-

 

 

What Zero Waste Looks Like?