Zero-Waste is a phrase you might be hearing more often these days, but the idea of producing no waste can be intimidating! But you don’t have to be perfect and completely waste-free to start integrating the philosophy into your lifestyle. In fact, it is probably best if you take your time transitioning to a new way of life! If nothing else, every small step you take makes a difference for your overall carbon footprint.

Pro Tip - Focus on the “reduce and reuse”, and save recycle as the last option!

Swap 1 - Plastic Containers for Glass

Trading out those stained old plastic containers for sturdy glass ones probably seems like an attractive option. Not only do they last longer than typical flimsy plastic ones, but glass is infinitely recyclable! If it breaks or you need to get rid of it, you can either donate it to a secondhand shop or wash and recycle it.

While glass storage containers can be pricey, you can sometimes find them at secondhand shops, estate sales, or discount stores like TJ Maxx. Buying secondhand is a great way to reduce and reuse even more!

Swap 2 - Fast Fashion for Secondhand

One of the biggest, most wasteful industries in our age is the fashion industry. Most garments are made cheaply, with synthetic fabrics, and often with exploited labor. Ethically, it would be ideal to buy handmade fabrics and clothes or make your own. Unfortunately, not everyone has that kind of budget or time. You can cut down on your consumption of clothing simply by purchasing secondhand. That doesn’t mean you have to buy outdated or aged clothes! Secondhand shops will often stock quality and trendy items at a higher price-point (though that is still usually cheaper than buying new).

Check out your local stores and figure out which ones have the best selection. Some secondhand shops are actually run by local charities as a way to generate revenue for their community work.

Swap 3 - Plastic Baggies for Beeswax Wrap

How many households do you imagine go through a whole box of 100 plastic baggies each week? You can cut down on your use of disposable storage bags by using alternatives like beeswax wrap. It can be washed and reused, it is easy to mold around whatever you are storing, and comes in various sizes. You can often find a variety pack with multiple sizes. They are easy to use for sealing the tops of bowls or just wrapping around half of a lemon.

Another alternative is using re-useable silicon storage bags. While these are re-useable and a better option than one-and-done disposables, they are still plastic that will eventually make it to a landfill to decompose for hundreds of years. Sometimes you can find them made of recycled plastic, which is the best case scenario.

Swap 4 – Disposable Bottles for Bulk Refills

Many bath and beauty companies are embracing the push for environmentally-friendly options and offering alternatives to traditional disposable packaging. (Grove is my favorite!) Some lucky areas even have access to bulk-focused food stores that have bins or dispensers of household essentials where you can bring containers to refill! It’s the ultimate way to reduce packaging in your groceries. Some grocery stores, usually specialty or “natural” food stores, will have bulk dispensers and bins that you can use, but they generally supply plastic bags to fill. Check with your local grocers to see if they have a “bring your own container” option!

Swap 5 – Water-based Cleaners for Concentrates

Did you know that most household products are primarily made of water? It is often the first ingredient in lotions, laundry soaps, and cleaning solutions. This extra weight and volume contributes not only to the size of packaging, but also the carbon production of transport! Fortunately, companies like Grove Collaborative are now producing concentrates and glass spray bottles that can be used infinitely for cleaning solutions!

Swap 6 – Amazon for Local Shops

If you are able to pay slightly higher prices at your local specialty shops and stores, that is a great way to keep your money in the local economy instead of multinational corporations. Instead of buying a wall print off of Amazon or at Target, see if you have local artists or a local art council that sells artwork you could use instead. Oftentimes, you can get local artwork for close to the same price. If you can wait a few days to hit up a specialty store instead of buying an obscure product on Amazon, do it! The more money you keep local, the better it is for your local economy.

Remember, voting with your dollars is the easiest way you can make a big impact! As businesses see demand rising for genuine, natural products, they are forced to create products to suit that demand. Corporations might not care about emails or tweets or letters that we write urging them to do better, but they certainly care when it starts to cost them money.