How to Cultivate a Zero-Waste Lifestyle

Are you working towards a more eco-friendly lifestyle? Are you wondering how to approach life with a zero-waste mindset? In this post, I outline the key tenets of the zero-waste movement. And I’ll explore the swaps you can make to minimise waste in every area of your life.

What does “Zero-Waste” actually mean?

The zero waste movement sets out to prevent any rubbish from being sent to landfill, or polluting oceans, waterways or any other part of the environment.

Living with a zero-waste mindset can also benefit the environment in a myriad of ways, simply by reducing consumption.

Refuse-Reduce-Reuse-Recycle-Rot

The 5Rs of zero-waste living should be followed in this order, to be most effective in cutting waste and minimising harm to the environment.

1. REFUSE: First, refuse any items that you do not need. Living more minimally and intentionally is the easiest way to limit our impact on the environment. Carefully considering each and every item which you acquire is the fastest and most powerful way to cut down the amount of waste that you send to landfill. This applies to any single-use items, freebies, or anything else which you are unlikely to use before consigning it to the bin.
2. REDUCE: Along a similar vein, once you have stopped acquiring things which you do not need, take a critical look at the items which you feel are essential. How many of each item do you actually need? Also, aim to reduce the purchase of new items, opting for second-hand wherever possible. This particularly applies to clothing, household items, and personal care products.
3. REUSE: If you find a gap in your inventory which you might fill with a new purchase, shop your own items first. Can you repurpose or upcycle something you already own? Similarly, if you are about to throw an item away, can you repair or repurpose it within your home? This particularly applies to clothing, containers, and other household items.
4. RECYCLE: Many people believe that recycling is the answer to reducing waste. However, recycling is an energy-intensive operation. It is also plagued by “wish-cycling” – people putting inappropriate or unclean items in with their recycling. Whilst this is well-intentioned, it is worse than not recycling at all. In fact, if a batch of materials destined to be recycled is contaminated with too many wish-cycled items, the whole batch may be consigned to landfill! Check the guidelines on your local council website to find out what you can recycle at the kerbside and your local recycling centre.
5. ROT: Whether you start home-composting or send your organic waste to your council’s waste management centre, rotting is the final step to minimise your waste. This applies to food and garden waste.

My Experience

As a family, we are very environmentally aware. Almost all our decisions centre around our aim to minimise harm to the environment, animals and other humans.

When Sir David Attenborough’s Blue Planet series aired in the UK in 2017, George and I were already a long way into our sustainability journey. But we saw the penny finally drop for our friends and family. As cameras captured plastic bags at the bottom of the ocean, people around us began to fully appreciate the devastation that humans have wrought on the planet.

I realised that I had to double-down on my efforts. While this problem was fresh in people’s minds, I needed to keep the conversation going and lead by example. Although I was, and still am, far from perfect!

For me, working towards zero-waste goes hand-in-hand with living minimally and sustainably. We take what we need, and no more. But even with my conviction and determination, it’s not always easy.

In fact, it often feels like I have to go out of my way to find more sustainable, less wasteful options and ways of doing things. I hope that my guide saves you some headaches and hours of deliberation!

Many of the options presented here are not only beneficial for the environment, but may also save you money and be better for your health, too.

Food and Kitchen

Food is essential – we all need to eat! But sadly, so much of the food available to us is sold in plastic packaging. And there is so much hidden plastic waste as a result of the agricultural processes involved in producing our food.

Quick Wins

• Look for a local weigh-and-save shop near you. These sell all sorts of food stuffs – just take your own containers and fill them up!
• Try buying fruits and vegetables loose from a greengrocer or farmers market, instead of the supermarket.
• If you drink cow’s milk, buy it in glass bottles from the milkman instead of plastic containers from the supermarket.
• For storing food, ditch the tin foil and cling film; use Tupperware or reusable wax wrap instead.
• Wash and reuse ziploc bags.
• Swap your scratchy pad or sponge scourer for a compostable sponge, or a washing up brush with a replaceable head.

Up for a Challenge?

• Have a go at growing your own fruits and vegetables – zero food miles, zero waste, zero pesticides!
• Try making your own pickles and preserves.
• Bake your own bread, pastries and treats.

General Household

Quick Wins

• Swap your squirt cleaners in plastic bottles for reusable glass bottles. Try Ocean Saver’s drop in cleaning tabs, or try mixing your own cleaning detergents with natural products.
• Use cleaning cloths and rags instead of paper towel wherever possible.
• Instead of bowls of potpourri or air freshening sprays, try vases of cut flowers.
• Opt for laundry powder in cardboard packaging instead of liquid laundry detergents and fabric softeners. For more ideas, why not have a look at my post about making your laundry routine more eco friendly!
• Try to avoid seasonal decorations, especially if they will only be used once.

Up for a Challenge?

• Deliveries are responsible for vast amounts of plastic packaging waste. Not to mention the emissions generated by couriers for all those deliveries! Try a month-long no-buy.

Personal Care

We are told that we need all kinds of products for shiny hair, healthy skin and white teeth. And all of it seems to come in plastic bottles. Surely there must be a better way!

Quick Wins

• Swap your bottles of body wash, shampoo, conditioner and face wash for solid soap bar alternatives.
• The same for hand soap at each of your sinks. Get rid of the dispensers of liquid soap, and use a bar of soap instead.
• And whilst you’re at it, ditch the roll-on and spray anti-perspirants in favour of a refillable deodorant like Wild, or a solid block deodorant.
• Use a bamboo or wooden toothbrush instead of a plastic one. And consider a natural, zero-waste toothpaste, too!
• If you cannot live without perfume, try essential oils or a solid fragrance balm.
• Swap sanitary towels and tampons for a reusable alternative. Whether you choose a menstrual cup, period underwear or reusable pads, you will be saving yourself money in the long-run and doing a good turn for the planet!
• For hair removal, swap your disposable razor for a safety razor. Or have a go at hot waxing!

Up for a Challenge?

• Could you wash your hair less frequently? Maybe every second or third day, instead of every day? Perhaps even push it out to once a week? Fewer hair washes will mean you use less water, less energy, and fewer products. And as an added bonus, you will save time and money!
• Would you consider reusable toilet paper? All you need to do is cut up some rags and keep them in your bathroom. The routine for washing them is very similar to reusable nappies (or you could even throw them all in the wash together if you are also doing reusable nappies for your little one).

Skincare and Makeup

In our never-ending pursuit of eternal beauty, many of us collect bottle after bottle of skincare products that make bold promises. That’s before we consider our make-up collections! How many of us routinely use only a handful of the products in our make-up bags?

Quick Wins

• Try reusable pads instead of cotton wool for cleansing, toning and removing make-up.
• Any skincare routine done regularly will bring out the best in your skin. Once you have found a range of products that work for you, stick with it.
• Ideally, when you’re looking for a skincare range to suit your skin, look for brands with good eco credentials that focus on keeping packaging and waste to a minimum.
• And then apply these criteria when buying new make-up products, too.

Up for a Challenge?

• Are you a full face of makeup all the time kinda person? Why do you think that is? Could you swap out your current moisturiser, primer and foundation for a tinted moisturiser instead?

Clothing and Footwear

The fashion industry causes a great deal of harm to the environment, as I explored in my post “How Can I Make My Wardrobe More Eco Friendly.”

Quick Wins

• Stop buying new clothing.
• Shop your wardrobe first for anything you can upcycle or accessorise.
• Look for second hand pieces if you really do need to bring new items into your collection.
• If you really absolutely do need to purchase something new, opt for eco friendly brands that make quality pieces clothing which will last and last.

Up for a Challenge?

• Have you thought about cultivating a capsule wardrobe? Hone your style and select a handful of colours that suit you best. Choose a few staple items and build a cohesive collection of clothing around them. Aim to have under 40 items in total. Each item should mix and match with at least five others.

Out and About

Quick Wins

• Single-use beverage containers are convenient but very wasteful. Carry a reusable water bottle and/or coffee cup with you instead.
• Prepare lunch and snacks to take with you in order to avoid convenience foods.
• Take your own reusable shopping bags with you.
• If you are taking little people out with you, bring activities for them to avoid impulse purchases.

Up for a Challenge?

• Spend a day out in your favourite nature spot, without generating any single use waste. Pack a homemade picnic and snacks, fill up your water bottles and tuck your Thermos of tea in as well!

Garden

Quick Wins

• Start composting your organic waste to avoid bringing in compost (and the plastic bags compost comes in!).
• Take a more organic approach to gardening. Minimise the use of chemicals (and the plastic spray bottles and tubs that they are sold in).
• Avoid sileage tarps and other plastic ground covers. These invariably get ripped or torn and rarely last more than one season.

Up for a Challenge?

• Grow your own plants from seeds. And try soil blocking or making your own newspaper pots to reduce the number of plastic plant pots.

Gifting

Quick Wins

• Ditch the single use gift wrap, bags and tags and try reusable gift wrap instead.
• Instead of buying gifts, why not take the time to hand-make a card and bake some tasty treats?
• Or if you’re crafty, make your own gifts.

Up for a Challenge?

• Try opting out of gift exchanges and instead give the gift of your time and company. Plan a fun day out for your best friend’s birthday. Take your little one to the beach, and then have fun baking and decorating a birthday cake together.

Summary

Every item comes with an environmental cost, and with a trail of waste in its wake. Some of that waste if visible – tags, labels and packaging. Much of that waste is invisible at the point of purchase – offcuts of fabric, additional packaging for shipping, pollutants in water ways, and so much more.

First and foremost, to adopt a zero-waste mindset, you must radically cut down on purchasing. Buy only what you really need, and refuse the rest.

Then follow the remaining four of the 5Rs to manage any waste you generate appropriately.

Here’s a final BIG challenge. Could you collect all your waste for a year? Every piece of rubbish that is left after you going through the 5Rs. How much rubbish would that be? What lengths would you go to, in order to keep that to a minimum?

This list is by no means exhaustive. Please leave me a comment if you have any more ideas!