#johnsonsgogreen

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Zero Waste Myths

The zero waste lifestyle is becoming more and more popular; so, I wanted to talk about a few of the common myths. It Costs A Lot of Money: MYTH This one couldn't be further from the truth. You will be saving exponentially. Packaging, paper towels, tissues, all that stuff costs money and you're literally throwing it away. Packaging on average adds an additional 15% cost to any purchase. The zero waste lifestyle is focused on repairing an item instead of replacing it. Instead of buying a new pair of boots for $200, have them repaired at the cobbler for $25. Zero waste promotes the use of the second hand market. We'd much rather buy something used than waste precious resources to create something new. The second hand market is full of goodies. All of the furniture in my house is second hand, most of my clothes, and lots of my zero waste essentials like my mason jar collection. I added three pieces to my closet this year for $75; retail value was $695. The initial investment for reusables might be slightly higher. For example, a high quality water bottle costs $20-$30, but after filling it up 20 times it pays for itself. Don't forget to check out the second hand market, I found my kanteen at the thrift store for $1.00. No more impulse buys either! You have to actually plan when you go shopping or to the grocery store. You're shopping more efficiently and buying only what you need. And, well.... I guess you could run into an impulse buy... like around Christmas... you could find a penguin plate at the thrift store - that matches your shirt. I mean how could I not buy that!? (Worth the sticker, worth the dollar) You Have To Store Your Trash in a Mason Jar: MYTH No, of course you don't! That's silly. The reason a lot of zero wasters store their trash is to be aware of the type of trash they're creating. In fact, I would recommend that you go through your trash. Seriously, do a trash audit. By looking at what you have, and being aware of what you're throwing away, it's so much easier to figure out what you need to eliminate. When I started GZW, I realized 75% of what I threw away was organic. I started composting and diverted almost all of my waste. The goal of the movement isn't to have everyone in the world cancel their trash service - although that would be pretty awesome. It's to bring awareness and change how you see the world. To make you think, "Maybe that doesn't need to be wrapped in plastic?" It Takes A Lot of Time: MYTH It feels the same to me. I go to the store less. I've downsized, so I have less to clean, less to maintain, and less to repair. Plus, I don't have to take out the trash. I cook dinner almost every night which takes about 30 - 60 minutes. I make our cleaning products which takes about 30 minutes every six months. And, I make a lot of beauty products which takes about an hour every other month? I won't make anything on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. It isn't sustainable for me. I'm waaaayyyy to lazy. Thankfully most all of my recipes take little time, little effort, few ingredients, and last a long, long time. Some of my favorites include dry shampoo and deodorant. You Have to Keep Everything With you at All Times: MYTH I've already debunked this on my travel post. I do think it's important to be prepared for unexpected situations. My go to items are a napkin and a 16 oz mason jar maybe slip in a bulk bag or reusable bag that folds up real small just incase? But, I don't think there's a need to bring every reusable you have with you everywhere at all times. But, you have to have a napkin.... 'cause - donuts. You'll Be Healthier: TRUTH! Yeah, you probably will be. You'll get to know your farmers. You'll start shopping local, which is great for the economy. Your sugar intake will probably plummet (mine did) and you'll be replacing that processed food with fresh fruits and veggies! You'll most likely be eating less meat and dairy and focusing more on a plant based diet. Plant based diets are the kindest to the environment and the best for your health. You might even find yourself switching up modes of transportation like walking and riding your bike. I love walking to the coffee shop or farmers market! Your House Will Look Like a Pinterest Board: ??? Ok, so this may be true. When your house is filled with glass storage jars and lots of natural products like bamboo, how can you go wrong? My house if made up of all second hand pieces, but I think they go together well. Is there anything holding you back from the zero waste lifestyle? How can you reduce your waste in the coming months? Featured Oct 13, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 6 Comments Oct 13, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 6 Comments A Zero Waste Guide to Receiving Gifts Oct 13, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 6 Comments Oct 13, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 6 Comments Oct 13, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 6 Comments Oct 13, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 6 Comments Oct 10, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 18 Comments Oct 10, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 18 Comments Zero Waste Periods: Menstrual Cup Oct 10, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 18 Comments Oct 10, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 18 Comments Oct 10, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 18 Comments Oct 10, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 18 Comments Oct 6, 2016 Lifestyle 2, Zero Waste Holiday Kathryn Kellogg 2 Comments Oct 6, 2016 Lifestyle 2, Zero Waste Holiday Kathryn Kellogg 2 Comments Ethical Halloween Costumes: Plus Six Costumes You Have in Your Closet Oct 6, 2016 Lifestyle 2, Zero Waste Holiday Kathryn Kellogg 2 Comments Oct 6, 2016 Lifestyle 2, Zero Waste Holiday Kathryn Kellogg 2 Comments Oct 6, 2016 Lifestyle 2, Zero Waste Holiday Kathryn Kellogg 2 Comments Oct 6, 2016 Lifestyle 2, Zero Waste Holiday Kathryn Kellogg 2 Comments Sep 29, 2016 Lifestyle 2, Minimalism Kathryn Kellogg 18 Comments Sep 29, 2016 Lifestyle 2, Minimalism Kathryn Kellogg 18 Comments What Do Zero Waste and Minimalism Have in Common? Sep 29, 2016 Lifestyle 2, Minimalism Kathryn Kellogg 18 Comments Sep 29, 2016 Lifestyle 2, Minimalism Kathryn Kellogg 18 Comments Sep 29, 2016 Lifestyle 2, Minimalism Kathryn Kellogg 18 Comments Sep 29, 2016 Lifestyle 2, Minimalism Kathryn Kellogg 18 Comments Sep 15, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 2 Comments Sep 15, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 2 Comments Everything You Want to Know About Zero Waste Sep 15, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 2 Comments Sep 15, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 2 Comments Sep 15, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 2 Comments Sep 15, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 2 Comments Sep 12, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 15 Comments Sep 12, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 15 Comments 13 Unexpected Uses for a Mason Jar Sep 12, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 15 Comments Sep 12, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 15 Comments Sep 12, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 15 Comments Sep 12, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 15 Comments Sep 8, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 4 Comments Sep 8, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 4 Comments How to Make a 5 Minute Meal Plan Sep 8, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 4 Comments Sep 8, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 4 Comments Sep 8, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 4 Comments Sep 8, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 4 Comments Sep 1, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 14 Comments Sep 1, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 14 Comments Zero Waste Takeout Sep 1, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 14 Comments Sep 1, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 14 Comments Sep 1, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 14 Comments Sep 1, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 14 Comments Aug 29, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 4 Comments Aug 29, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 4 Comments How to Repel Bugs Naturally Aug 29, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 4 Comments Aug 29, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 4 Comments Aug 29, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 4 Comments Aug 29, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 4 Comments Aug 22, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg Comment Aug 22, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg Comment Be Zero: A World Wide Conservation Effort Aug 22, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg Comment Aug 22, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg Comment Aug 22, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg Comment Aug 22, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg Comment Aug 15, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 12 Comments Aug 15, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 12 Comments Ultimate List of Zero Waste School Supplies Aug 15, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 12 Comments Aug 15, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 12 Comments Aug 15, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 12 Comments Aug 15, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 12 Comments Aug 11, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 8 Comments Aug 11, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 8 Comments Zero Waste Camping Aug 11, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 8 Comments Aug 11, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 8 Comments Aug 11, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 8 Comments Aug 11, 2016 Lifestyle 2 Kathryn Kellogg 8 Comments

Zero Waste Myths

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Silicone Bags by stasher

No more throwaway plastic. These reusable silicone bags hold way more than snacks—and they go from pantry to freezer, microwave, and dishwasher.

These look really cool!

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10 REUSABLE ITEMS WHICH GOT ME THROUGH MY ZERO WASTE CHALLENGE

Written by Holly Rose of Leotie Lovely | Photography by Shane Woodward Over the first two weeks of October, a group of Ethical Writers Coalition members took a zero waste challenge. Read about the beginning of the challenge here. Over this two-week challenge, I finally figured out the balance between being prepared, being forgiving, and being confident enough to ask for what I want. As I was travelling the entire two-week period, I didn't have the comforts of my home life which would have made the challenge significantly easier. The process made me more mindful overall, of the actions and products I excuse myself to use which don't align with my beliefs. It taught me how slowing down, making a few extra efforts and uttering a few extra words can completely transform habits and purchases in and outside of my daily routine, like sitting and eating or holding on to my recycling until I found a suitable bin. What made it much easier to minimise the waste I was creating was the gear I had invested in over the past months as I made new discoveries on my #GoneGreen2016 journey, which I put to use in full force over the two weeks of semi-zero waste glory. ONE. KEEP CUP In Paris, I don't use this cup as much as I do when I leave, partially because I don't leave my house, but also because taking coffee to go is kind of taboo. You're kind of looked down upon if you don't just stay and sit. When I travel, however, as I have been for the weeks since this #EWCZeroWasteChallenge commenced, I make good use of it. Allowing me to avoid using the coffee cups offered by cafes and chains, which are made with polyethene plastic and are not recyclable no matter which bin you put them in. • READ MORE HERE • GET YOURSELF ONE HERE TWO. KLEAN KANTEEN This is an item I use daily, even if I'm not leaving the house because I'm so damn clumsy. We’re paying 2,900 times the price for water which comes from the same source as our taps. To top it off, it takes 17 million barrels of oil to produce 30 billion water bottles, it also takes more water to produce a bottle of water than the bottle itself will hold. Plus, the plastics the bottle is made of, like all plastics, will never decompose. • READ MORE HERE HERE • GET YOURSELF ONE HERE THREE. LIGHT MY FIRE SPORK This is one of the easiest zero waste solutions to tote along with you and it's one of the items you'll find most useful on the go. It fits along with the rest of my stuff in my little Sonya Kashmiri bag, and comes with a cover, so even if you can't clean it you don't have to worry about it sliming your stuff. • READ MORE HERE • GET YOURSELF ONE HERE FOUR. REUSABLE MAKEUP PADS Another item I use daily is a reusable makeup wipes from Lamazuna which you can wash after use, as a replacement for cotton pads and balls, which are made from one of the world's dirtiest crops due to the insecticides and pesticides used to grow it, which are hazardous to human, wildlife and ecological health. • READ MORE HERE • GET YOURSELF A SET HERE FIVE. TOTE BAG This is perhaps one of the most obvious sustainable switches to make when looking to live greener or live zero waste. About 1 million plastic bags are used every minute and each one takes 1,000 years to degrade. This is one of many reasons to avoid them at all costs, whether you’re using them as shopping bags, produce bags, or zip-locking food in them, they’re about as evil as evil comes • READ MORE HERE • GET YOURSELF ONE HERE *25% discount on anything from the site with coupon code EWCZEROWASTE* SIX. TUPPERWARE Using one of these is was one of the best ways to avoid waste while travelling, whether it is around your own city or up, up and away. Even if you don't bring your own prepared food, it gives you an option to avoid being served in a non-recyclable throwaway tray. In Paris, London and Barcelona, every cafe, to-go counter or restaurant I asked was happy to drop whatever I had ordered in my container for me to store or take away. • READ MORE HERE • GET YOURSELF ONE HERE SEVEN. REUSABLE STRAW I'm not really a straw person, but now would consider purchasing one just to keep around as they do come in handy now and again. If you’ve seen this Youtube video of a plastic straw stuck in a tortoise’s nose, you’ll understand why it’s such a selfish product for us to use. Straws are hugely harmful to the environment and to wildlife, yet each day we use 500 million straws, enough to fill over 46,400 large school buses per year. • READ MORE HERE • GET YOURSELF ONE HERE EIGHT. REUSABLE PRODUCE BAGS These babies are key to my existence now as when I'm not planning to be out long or end up wanting a snack while I am, I can keep one of these fabric bags folded in my little Sonya Kashmiri purse and if I want a pastry or a sandwich I can stuff it in the produce bag which kind of doubles as a napkin. These are great for last minute pick-ups from the grocery store, too, as they're easy to carry with you. • READ MORE HERE • GET YOURSELF ONE HERE NINE. HANKY My mum got me a hanky from her trip to Mexico, all embroidered and floral and pretty. For ages, I didn't want to use it because I was afraid of ruining it, then I realized a hanky in a drawer is a bit of a bore. So, when I started this challenge, I decided to keep it in the inside pocket of my little cross body bag so I could avoid killing trees by wasting napkins and tissues that I didn't need. It came in handy numerous times and has managed to make it through the two weeks looking just fine. • GET YOURSELF ONE HERE TEN. BAMBOO TOOTHBRUSH I could go on and on about how much I love bamboo toothbrushes, but I'll let you give them a try and see for yourself. Basically, I made the switch when I found out it takes over 1,000 years for a single toothbrush to decompose, and even when it does, the plastic is never really gone. It just breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces entering the food chain in what could only be described as a murderous disguise. Bamboo is biodegradable and sustainably harvested meaning our three-month turnover for toothbrushes is leaving a minimal impact on the planet. • READ MORE HERE • GET YOURSELF ONE HERE I've got a few more items I use which I talk about in the video below if you want to give it a little view: Find more zero waste challenge posts from: ECO CULT MY KIND CLOSET REBECCA BRATBURD STYLE WISE SUSTAINABLY CHIC SUSTAINING LIFE TORTOISE AND LADY GREY This post contains affiliate links, which means I get a small commission if you buy anything through the link (it doesn't change the amount you pay). I only include brands that I believe in, that I would use myself, or think might be of interest to you. 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These products are great items to have as you start to reduce waste!

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