Tag: zero waste

How To Travel More Sustainably – 5 Important Tips

How To Travel More Sustainably – 5 Important Tips

The travelling industry and associated transportation of travellers produces a large part of the greenhouse gas emissions. You may already be doing quite well and live more sustainably by being more conscious about your life at home. But then you decide to go on holiday 

Zero Waste Essentials – 6 Ideas For Beginners

Zero Waste Essentials – 6 Ideas For Beginners

Disclaimer: This post contains affilitate links – I will earn a commission if you buy any item. If you are starting your zero waste journey you may be wondering what the zero waste essentials are. What are the items that will help you start out 

6 Top Zero Waste Tips

6 Top Zero Waste Tips

Let’s be honest: we are trying our best to live zero waste but it can be difficult at times. Maybe your partner is not convinced of zero waste living or thinks it is not important. Maybe you live in an area without a zero waste shop and find it difficult to shop in a sustainable way. Don’t worry, the zero waste lifestyle is a step by step approach. I will share with you my top zero waste tips in this blog article. Feel free to share your own top zero waste tips in the comment section.

What Is Zero Waste Living?

The idea, of course, is that you produce no waste or as little as possible. Sometimes it is more specific to disposable plastic packaging as the plastic is one way or another polluting the environment.

You most likely will have heard of the mantra Refuse – Reduce – Reuse – Recycle which sums it up nicely. Try to refuse items if you can, if you can’t try to reduce or reuse them and try to select items which can be recycled. If you are a beginner these are my top zero waste tips you may be able to adapt easily in your life.

Top Zero Waste Tips

1. Less Shopping

Let’s start with an easy top zero waste tip: one of my first steps was to shop less for items I don’t really need. The easiest for me personally was clothes as I never enjoyed shopping for clothes in the first place. I now only replace items if my clothes break beyond repair and buy most clothes second hand. Over time this approach helped me save a lot of money. I also love the feeling of making a great bargain for an item I really needed.

Also, consider purchasing fewer meals in plastic packaging. So that would concern a lot of processed food which is marketed as a great way to save time and quickly cook a “healthy” meal. This is rarely the case. Be more considerate of what you are eating and purchase food if you can in bulk from shops that use little to no packaging. Yes, these shops exist and had a recent surge of interest. More people are now keen to bring their own containers so they can be re-used. The benefit: you only purchase what you need, rather than what is being marketed to you.

2. Cook More Food From Scratch

This can be a tricky but rewarding step. Of course, ready-made and processed food come in a lot of extra packaging and you are more flexible when buying ingredients. However, it usually still comes in not recyclable packaging. If you are lucky to live close to a Zero Waste or Bulk store try and shop there. Yes, it may seem more expensive at first but if you keep accounts and regularly cook from scratch you will notice that you end up spending less. If you need ideas head over to my recipes section. It is actually really affordable to make your own oat milk, granola or bread for example.

Top Zero Waste Tips

3. Zero Waste Cleaning

There are lots of nearly forgotten tips and tricks on how to clean without chemicals. Did you know you can clean your stainless steel pans with white vinegar or tomato sauce? Did you know you can replace your old plastic toilet brush with a more sustainable one? There are so many smart ways of cleaning your house with Zero Waste methods. Be inspired and share your own tips in the comment section!

4. Recycling

Find out what items can be recycled in the area you live in. Sometimes recyclable items are picked up with the normal rubbish collection or you have to find specialists who recycle more unusual items.

Also consider which items still have value. My favourite strategy to get rid of items who still have value is to sell them on flea markets or through online market places. If the item does not have much value or you just want to get rid of items quicker than selling them consider donating them to a charity of your choice.

There are also online platforms, like Freecycle, which allow you to pass on items which hold little to no value to you but may come in handy for others, sometimes even just as parts. My friends are always surprised to hear of what I was able to pass on: old cardboard boxes – check (great for moving house), old headphones which do not work anymore – check (for parts) or old magazines. Someone might find them handy. Over the past few years, my old items have been used in art projects or repurposed which makes me incredibly happy.

5. Find Joy In Activities Shared With Others

Buying a shiny new object gives you a short burst of positivity. You added a new item to your collection and it may or may not get used or admired in your home. Why not spend more time on activities like exercise, going for a walk in nature or volunteering to get that positive boost? There are so many activities that you can enjoy with family and friends. If you need some me-time, why not try one of these activities and focus on yourself? Yes, that is ok too – we all need some me-time every now and then. And some need more than others.

6. Sharing Is Caring

Recently, I’ve tried sharing apps to reduce the amount of waste being produced. The concept is simple: someone purchased something which they did not like or just did not end up using. You can add these items on the platform and whoever is interested in them will contact you and arrange for collection. It is a very easy process and everyone I met so far when collecting items was super nice. My go-to app is Olio and not only have I received items that were given away, but it also helped me declutter. Definitely one of ma favourite top zero waste tips!

We have managed to get complete meals from Olio. We collect a lot of fruit and veg and my favourite was a roasted tomato soup that I made from some tomatoes which were past their prime.

Some platforms also allow businesses to distribute their unsold goods. My favourite platform is Olio which has a section for food and non-food. Not only do I help to reduce the waste in landfill but it also helped me cut down the cost of food in our household.

7. Swap Liquid Soap For Soap Bars

Most liquid soap comes in plastic bottles but the switch to soap bars is actually very easy. Not all soap bars are being packaged in recyclable material but I noticed a trend that more are being made available without plastic packaging. Also soap is easy to make at home and if you don’t feel like making it yourself check out a few independent shops who sell handmade soap and support a local small business! I found many of these when browsing artisan craft fairs.

I hope my top zero waste tips will help you with your own zero waste journey. Remember that no one is perfect and little steps are better than making no efforts at all.

This is just a short list to get you started. If you have other top zero waste tips feel free to share them in the comments. Always remember: be gentle with yourself and don’t compare yourself to others. Every bit you do is helpful. 🙂

How To Clean Stainless Steel Pans Easily

How To Clean Stainless Steel Pans Easily

We’ve all been there: You cook something delicious and when it comes to cleaning the pan you realize you managed to burn your stainless steel pan and you cannot figure out how to clean it. Learn how to clean stainless steel pans easily. If you 

Alternatives To Wet Wipes

Alternatives To Wet Wipes

Wet wipes are seemingly an easy way to clean around the house and are everywhere. Unfortunately, they then get binned and land in landfill. Considering how many most of us use on a regular basis it is time to think about alternatives to wet wipes. 

The Best Alternatives To Plastic Toilet Brushes – 3 Options For The Eco-Conscious Household

The Best Alternatives To Plastic Toilet Brushes – 3 Options For The Eco-Conscious Household

Disclaimer: This post contains affilitate links – I will earn a commission if you buy any item.

They are in most households – plastic toilet brushes. Hardly anyone likes them, they are potential germ buckets and if you have toddlers they may mistake them for toys. Here are the best Zero Waste alternatives to plastic toilet brushes.

alternatives to plastic toilet brushes

Alternatives To Plastic Toilet Brushes

I heard that people start using more eco-friendly alternatives so I was curious what is out there and wanted to share this here with you! I’ve collected a few alternatives to plastic toilet brushes that would help you reduce plastic waste in your home

1. Wooden Toilet Brushes

The toilet brush does not need to be plastic of course! There are plenty of wooden alternatives that you could try. I particularly like this one which has natural coconut fibre bristles and a wood handle. It is comfortable to grip and the natural coconut fibre bristles are durable and don’t damage the enamel of the toilet or bathtub.

It is not as flimsy as regular plastic toilet brushes and it has a curve at the end so it will easily clean under the rim of the toilet.

2. Using Citric Acid

Citric acid is great for cleaning as it kills bacteria, mould, and mildew. So why not use it to clean your toilet instead of a toilet brush and/or bleach?

It could not be simpler: just out some citric acid in the kettle with water and boil which cleans your kettle as well! Ensure it is cooled down as you don’t want to pour boiling water on the toilet enamel as it could damage it. Leave this for a few hours (best overnight of course). Do this regularly and if there are any stains in between you can just wipe them down when wet.

3. Silicone Toilet Brushes

If you are more after a more traditional solution but don’t want bristles you could try a silicone toilet brush. Handling is a bit different than a normal toilet brush but after a few minutes, you will get the hang of it easily. It is important to call out this brush does have s small part that is plastic but it is very sturdy, cleans the toilet well and does not drip as much as regular toilet brushes do. It is a bit pricier than the other solutions but could be right for you if you don’t want toilet brush alternatives with bristles or use citric acid.

This brush is also great at cleaning under the rim which is more difficult to clean with more traditional brushes. The case for the brush comes with a sticky pad on the back and stays securely on the wall.

What do you use to keep your toilet clean? Do you have any alternative suggestions? What are your best Zero Waste alternatives to plastic toilet brushes?

Easy Reusable Makeup Remover Wipes

Easy Reusable Makeup Remover Wipes

Cute and practical. These reusable makeup remover wipes will help you cut down waste! When I started my Zero Waste journey and cutting down on purchases these little facial wipes were one of my first changes. I don’t actually use that many makeup remover cotton