10 Zero Waste Essentials for Beginners

The zero-waste movement is a lifestyle where people aim to eliminate their trash output completely. This means no plastic, no wrappers, no garbage. While this may seem like an unrealistic task in today's very disposable society, everyday people all over the country are showing that it can be done.

Why do we need zero waste?

A zero-waste strategy needs to ensure everyone has access to tools to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste where they live, work, and play. A zero-waste approach also protects the health of communities by reducing pollution in the air, water and soil by keeping toxics and waste out of landfills and incinerators.

10 must-have Zero Waste Essentials are :

1. Reusable Water Bottles

A reusable water bottle takes less oil to produce, replaces all the plastics that you would have used, and thereby reduces both your carbon footprint and helps reduce the plastic burden on landfills, oceans, streams, and other places that plastic waste ends up.

2. Bamboo Utensil Set

Considering that bamboo material grows faster than trees, switching to bamboo utensils can save cutting down of trees to make wooden utensils. The best part is that bamboo utensils are safe for your food as they do not react when heated. The same cannot be said for plastic utensils.

3. Reusable Shopping Bags

Recycling plastic bags often costs more than it is worth and so, many recycling facilities will not take them, meaning they end up in landfills. As they are not biodegradable it can take up to 1,000 years to break down through photodegradation, resulting in the bag breaking down into small, toxic particles. Investing in reusable bags, either canvas or hard plastic will minimize the number of disposable bags that end up in landfills across the country.

Disposable plastic bags are often flimsy and break easily, whereas reusable bags are more durable and can carry more without breaking. This means you can fill it up to the top without the fear of splitting which in turn will reduce the number of bags you need to use, and trips made to and from the car!

4. Eco-Friendly Toiletries

The advantages of using eco-friendly toiletries are:

• you can save money in the long run by investing in reusable products.

• they are healthier for you and the environment.

• they have reusable or biodegradable packaging.

• you can reduce your plastic waste.

5. Compostable Snack Bags

Benefits of Compostable Bags

• Biodegradable bags break down which means the plastic gets absorbed by the earth.

• Compostable bags are much better for the environment.

• Using compostable bags makes it much easier to recycle.

• Using biodegradable products eliminates landfill and the breakdown of toxic gasses.

6. Reusable Stainless Steel Straw

Stainless steel straws are reusable and can last for ages if you clean them properly. In addition, stainless steel does not leach chemicals and does not interact with the product you are consuming. On the other hand, plastic straws can only be used once and leech harmful chemicals.

7. Stainless Steel Lunchbox

Stainless steel is 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without loss in quality or purity. Alternatively, plastic is “downcycled” into another lower-quality plastic product that becomes one step closer to a landfill. Plastic Pollution Coalition reminds us: “Indeed, collecting plastics at curbside fosters the belief that, like paper, aluminum and glass, these will be converted into new similar objects. But this is not the case with most plastic. These products will still end up in a landfill, and therefore, they do not stem the need for more virgin petroleum product.”

Switching out your plastic food storage can take time, and if you’re still using plastic during your transition, check your plastic numbers to minimize your exposure toxins. Check out our full-range of stainless steel containers, including divided containers, insulated containers for hot and cold, and nesting sets to save storage space.

8. Reusable Coffee Cups

Reusable Coffee Cups Are Environmentally Friendly- disposable paper coffee cups don't often get recycled properly and end up in landfills. This is bad for the environment. Reusable coffee cups can be used over and over, reducing waste and helping keep the environment cleaner and healthier.

9. Plastic Free Kitchen

The majority of household waste comes from the kitchen. Shopping for only what you need and no more, freezing leftovers and making your own veggie stock from your food scraps is great start. You can also start the healthy habit of composting your food waste – this is very important in terms of reducing carbon emissions.

10. Silicone Compost Bin

Silicone, like plastic, can be recycled multiple times. However, silicone usually has to be sent to a specialized recycling company to be properly recycled. Because of this, many users will simply throw away silicone at the end of its life (where it will sit without breaking down for centuries.) When properly recycled, or sent to a company’s take-back program, silicone can be downcycled into an oil that can be used as industrial lubricant, playground mulch, or another lesser product.