Going zero waste refers to reducing our waste production so none of our trash ends up being sent to landfills and incinerators or harming our ocean ecosystems. Typically, one of the focuses of a zero waste home is reducing our plastic use. Instead of choosing products that are made up of plastic we choose products that are made of or packaged in materials that can be recycled, upcycled, or put into a compost pile. Plastic waste is one of the focuses of zero waste homes because plastic can take up to 450 years to break down and have been found inside various ocean wildlife. While going zero waste might seem like a lofty goal, there are many easy to make switches to make each area of our lives zero waste. We can choose to go to zero waste and still have the convenience of all our favorite products. Or if you need ideas for zero waste gifts we have your covered at Seek Bamboo.
Zero Waste Bathrooms:
If we look around our bathrooms, we are likely to see a whole bunch of plastic in many forms. The good news is there are a wide range of zero waste options. For example, instead of using a plastic toothbrush we can try a bamboo toothbrush. Bamboo toothbrushes can be composted when we are done instead of ending up in landfills like traditional plastic toothbrushes. Instead of having our toothpaste come in plastic tubes we can try various toothpaste tablets. These tablets are easy to use, and we find they are the best option if we travel. All we need to do is put one in our mouths, chomp down, and brush. These tablets also come in glass containers that can be easily recycled (if we don’t upcycle them into storage for our homes.) Instead of using plastic based floss that comes in plastic packaging we can choose silk or bamboo floss that comes in glass containers which are recyclable.
Zero Waste Cleaning
There are many easy swaps in order to move towards zero waste cleaning products. For example, we can choose bamboo paper towels which are better for the environment than tree-based alternatives. We can switch to wool dryer balls instead of using chemical heavy fabric softeners that come in plastic containers. We might use a bamboo dish brush instead of traditional sponges that come from petroleum or a vegan dish soap bar so we can clean our dishes without having to deal with so much packaging. Or you can opt for our zero waste cleaning kit which includes everything you need to transition to a sustainable kitchen.
Zero Waste Bath and Body
There are many zero waste products we can use to pamper ourselves when we step into the shower. For example, we might choose one of a whole range of shampoo or conditioner bars. These bars allow us to take care of our hair without us ending up with large numbers of plastic containers that both clutter up our bathrooms and end up producing a large amount of trash. We might reach for a bamboo brush or comb for our hair so we can always have a good hair day. If we use makeup we can use bamboo reusable cotton rounds and a bamboo makeup brush to make ourselves feel beautiful. If we really want to soothe our skin, we might choose a jade or rose quartz roller. We can go zero waste and still be able to step out of the house feeling our best.
Zero Waste Kitchens
For many of us the kitchen is where we spend time as a family cooking, eating, and having other quality time together. In terms of our kitchens, we might make the switch to reusable groceries and produce bags to take to the grocery store, which both removes plastic from the waste stream and saves us money because many communities now have some type of bag tax. We might choose beeswax wraps to reduce our need for single use plastic such as plastic wrap. We might even use bamboo cutlery which we can use at home or when we are on the go. All these kitchen products mean we can spend more time with those we love knowing we are also protecting the wider planet for them.
No matter what room of your home you are focusing on there are products that we can easily switch to in order to reduce the amount of waste that we produce. We all can take steps so we can feel better about ourselves knowing that we are doing our part to take care of the environment. Going zero waste is not a scary or hard challenge. We all can make the switch to zero waste products. If we do a little research, we will find that there is nothing standing in our way of taking the next steps to protect the land, air and sea.
