Zero Waste Aesthetic

Portfolio that includes a collection of resources and original photos I have come across which focus on the increasing popularity of zero-waste trends focused on social marketing. I am mainly interested in if the aesthetic of zero waste creates incentive to explore zero waste alternatives or if perhaps if it as seen as a barrier.  I myself am not 100% zero waste yet but I like to find all the possible ways to integrate the life style into my everyday life.    

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Hi! Are there any items in particular that you've found difficult to find a low waste alternative to?

Hello! Yes definitely make-up is one thing that I really wish there would be more low waste options for especially since most low waste versions I have found really lack in quality. I have slowly but dramatically cut back on the amount of products I use and try to find high quality products that last a lot longer. For example I am currently using the born this way concealer which I use on average everyday (I have bad under eye circles) and I have had it for over a year compared to other products I’ve had in the past that only last a few weeks. 

Pet products also are difficult to find low waste alternatives to such as food, other than buying in bulk there aren’t many low waste options. 

Electronics, specifically headphones I always end up breaking mine (and or my cat eats them) and I CANNOT live without headphones I am trying to search for an unbreakable pair but have not have much luck.

And certain food products can be difficult to find such as vegetarian foods like tofu, veggie burgers, veggie ‘chicken’ nuggets which I sometimes have a craving for. Also seaweed or nori always comes heavily packaged which makes me sad because I love making homemade sushi and or sushi bowls. 

However, to be a little more positive I will mention all the things I believe have really easy low waste alternatives to such as; personal hygiene products (face-wash, lotion, toner, soap, shampoo, make-up remover, dry shampoo, etc) cleaning products (seriously all you need in vinegar, water, baking soda, and optional essential oils and you can clean pretty much anything) fresh produce (with composting and reusable produce bags no waste is needed) condiments (you can whip up most condiments and sauces with a few base ingredients and it saves you from buying that one particular sauce you’ll only use once and will be left to die in your fridge)

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You know what they say when life (or the grocery store) gives you a bag of a dozen soon to go bad limes for $0.79 make black bean soup! Okay that might not be exactly how the saying goes but it was what I did! I think I have already commented on a post on discount food that is put in plastic and if the ends justify the means. I believe they do, sometimes zero waste concepts interrupt the bigger picture of lowering waste and overall sustainability. Yes the limes were in a plastic produce bag but also if no one bought them the plastic bag and the limes would have gone in the bin. In the end I am happy with my decision.

Also I do not have a citrus squeezer (is that the correct term?) so I cut my limes into sections and use my garlic press to help me get every last drop from my limes. It works really well I also recommend putting the limes in the microwave for a few seconds before juicing as it also makes it much easier to extract the juice (just make sure to already cut them or make a small hole in the lime so it doesn't explode also be careful they can get hot really fast)

If anyone else has any items (such as my garlic press) that they use for another unintended purpose I would love to hear! 

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I visited a zero waste shop for the first time ever last week and it was as beautiful as I dreamt it would be. While zero waste shops are few and far between they are becoming more popular and give me hope. They prove that low waste stores are possible and help to set the path for more stores to follow suit. Unfortunately, I feel like I haven’t seen much progress in waste reduction in normal grocery stores as many things still appear to be unnecessarily packaged in addition to many customers still using plastic bags. Next week I am going to send e-mails to my favourite grocery stores urging them so use less unnecessary waste and perhaps putting signs above the produce bags advising people to use less of them. I will share my format if anyone else wants to do the same! :)

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Did you get an environmental degree? I'm just wondering because I'm trying to figure out what kind of degree I should get. I'm passionate about the ecosystem, animals, children and psychology. So I'm a little stuck and I'm trying to weigh options and become educated from people who inspire me

I did get a degree in Environmental Studies with a specialization in International Development (graduated this week whoop whoop!). There are a lot of different environmental degrees at most universities now, such as environment and business, environment and sustainability, environmental planning, ecology and so on. So you might be able so combine one of the subjects you love with environment if you're having trouble deciding! Another thing that might help you decide is look at what jobs you would eventually want to have and see what the requirements are for that position. Good Luck!

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Macy’s anon! I’ll research what they do with their clearance clothes. One of my main issues is that it’s extremely difficult to find pants that fit me, so I worry I have to turn to big companies for pants. I’m buying new clothes because I have very little clothes and the washing machines at my apartment are expensive.. So I can’t afford to keep cleaning my clothes more often. The minimum on my laundry card I have to put on is 20$.

Yes pants can be difficult, it could be really beneficial to find ones that are slightly too big and learn how to take them in, though if you don’t have a friend or family member with a sewing machine this can be a little difficult. A good thing about pants or at least jeans is that you’re actually not supposed to wash them that often. Some people say to wash your jeans every 5-10 wears and some people say only a few times a year (which I’ll admit is a little extreme). I’ve heard of putting jeans in the freezer to kill order causing bacteria in-between washes. So investing in a couple nice pairs of pants you’ll wear often and for a long time is always a good idea, washing them less will cause them to last longer. I also recommend air drying your clothes to cut down on dryer costs if you're not already :)

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I’ve decided to try thrifting clothes more instead of buying from fast fashion, but I’ve been wondering about clearance items! I work at Macy’s so I just happen to be around clothes a lot. I wanted to try buying their clearance clothes instead of their usual products. Do you think that’s a good idea and good for the environment and what not? Thank you!

Hello! Well, on one hand some companies throw away all their unsold items so you would be preventing an item from ending up in the trash (if that is Macy’s policy) but on the other hand you are supporting a business/system that is wasteful so that is really on you to decide.

You might like like this answer but the ideal thing to do is cut back on the amount of clothes you buy all together and only make occasional purchases that you absolutely need. I know it can be tempting to buy new pieces but as someone who has lived out of a suitcase for many years of her life you do not need as many clothes as you think. This does not mean you can never buy new clothes but it just means to being more conscious when making a new purchase and really analyzing if you truly need it. 

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Hello! I ordered some food (not too zero waste friendly, I know,,,) and forgot to say I didn't need any napkins... If I didn't use the napkins, can I recycle them?

Hello! Composting them would be and ideal option but I know that’s not always an option for everyone. Unfortunately most places do not accept napkins in their recycling but every city is different so you can (and everyone should) do some research on your cities recycling program to see what is accepted and what is not. Cities can really vary for example where I went to university accepted plastic bags in their recycling but my home town does not. 

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i recently made a switch from gum to mints, but i was wondering if you think it would be a good idea to reuse the tin as a shampoo bar container? the altoids tin doesn't close really tightly so it's not airtight like most tins sold for soaps.

Hello! The only reason the tins sold for shampoo/soap bars are air tight is to make sure water doesn't collect in the bottom and make a mess of the soap when it’s in the shower and not in use and also to not drip soapy water in your bags when traveling. So I think it could work well for travel as long as the bar is completely dry when you put it in the tin. I’m also not sure if those tins are rust proof so you might need to keep it away from water all together but for getting it to point A to point B without getting smushed or rubbing off on your other things I think it would work great (and look really cool). 

Altoids tins are incredibly versatile they’re great for organizing things or using for cute crafts that can be given as gifts! Here’s a list of things I found online but the possibilities are really endless!

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Not to be weird or anything but I would just like to say that I love your blog, it's super informative and just a blast to read. Keep up the good work!

Thank you so much I really appreciate it! Also I’m sorry if this is really late I stoped getting notification for ask! I’ll make sure to check more often!

[bigforeheadgaaal]

Useful information ! Reblog ASAP 

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I always thought it was weird when I got a refill they gave me an entirely new one when it’s literally built so you can remove the actual medicine

[mamalorisworld]

Pass this on, I’ve used inhalers for over 20 years and didn’t realize.

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For my fellow asthmatic waste reducers! 

You should also return any unfinished medications to the pharmacy so they can be disposed of properly :)

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hey! i was just wondering if you knew of any zero waste alternatives to tape? it uses a lot of plastic (the tape itself, the little circle that holds the tape, the plastic dispenser) and i just feel really bad about it every time i use it. love your blog btw!

Hello thank you! I don’t actually use a lot of tape but if you need it for sending packages or other work related things you can find biodegradable tape or buy tape without the dispenser and use scissors to cut it instead. I would also explore other methods of sticking things together such as staples, sticky tack, string, etc. If its for wrapping presents there are a few ways to wrap presents without tape such as with compostable paper and string or through folding.

Sorry I don’t have much information on this I don’t know why I don’t use that much tape or stick things together often but I hope it helps a little! :)

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I’m soooo excited to be starting my garden this year but I completely forgot about how much plastic plants are stored in, it makes reducing waste pretty hard. However, my father and I ventured to a small scale nursery which had many plant options in compostable cups that you plant in the ground along with the plant! I don’t know why more places don’t offer this type of container for the plants as it is likely a lot cheaper to produce than plastic in addition to being much more environmentally sustainable. Additionally, this nursery also accepts old plastic planting containers to reuse (as they grow their own plants). Some of the benefits of going to small, family owned businesses! Also their zucchinis were only $0.75 compared to the garden section of the grocery store at $3.99! 

Other ways to cut back on waste in the garden include regrowing food scraps and growing from seeds rather than pre planted seedlings from the nursery. Both are also a lot cheaper!

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A fantastic video about the ways in which companies and consumers create obstacles to recycling. 

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it’s so interesting to me to learn how plastic is more efficient in a system of recycling than glass. Opposite of my previous beliefs.

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Super interesting video by Hank Green that I feel helps to look at waste in the broadest sense. I think in the Zero Waste movement a lot of zero wasters get caught up on themselves and their own personal contribution to global waste and not how the problem exists all all different levels throughout the world. I think it is important not only to learn how waste is created but also think as Hank says “how [waste] is treated on average by society.” Not everyone has the time or knowledge available to them to live as many zero wasters do and to ignore that is doing the earth no favours. 

Though Hank touches on one important way to make these changes, policy change, he failed mention the power that consumers have with demanding a change in products and their packaging. With money (or lack of thereof through boycotts) and or words consumers have the power to tell companies what they would like to see. I think this is what the Zero Waste movement is really about, consuming only products that are sustainable and or produce less waste than traditional products. However, it important to include all members of society in these actions and not just the environmentalists of the world. Easier said than done eh?

Also I want to do more research on this whole recycling glass situation I am fascinated by it, I’ll make a post next week to share what I find.

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Happy Earth Day!! Tick off your progress of your zero-waste journey! How many do you do already and how many will you be able to do by the end of the year?

Going zero waste is something that everyone adapts to differently according to what they have available, so do what you can, be aware and spread the word!

I wanted to add a link to every product, and I also need to add some other things but if you want to help me out that’d be great!

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Such a good little list!

I would just add coconut oil to the make-up removers section that’s what I use and it hands down works better than anything you can buy in a store! Also for face washes you can buy solid face wash bars or D.I.Y’s that would very well. :)

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I’ve had my pela case for almost a year now and I love it! I’ve honestly dropped my phone so many times and the case has protected it every time!

That’s really good to hear thank you! 

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Hello everyone I am back from Peru and unfortunately I was in need of a new phone case. I thought the one I had bought with the phone would last a long time as it had a lifetime warranty however, it was falling apart after only one year without any drops. I came to the realization that things you use on a daily basis go through normal wear and tear and I wanted to find a new phone case that would be a little more sustainable. After a quick search I found Pela cases, which not only offer plastic free packaging but also a biodegradable case. I find Pela to be a good example of responsible cradle to grave manufacturing. The cradle to grave concept includes how the product is ‘born’ (where materials are sourced, how it it manufactured, the environmental impact of the production, ect...) and includes the environmental impact of the products ‘death’ (what happens to it when it no longer serves its purpose). In today’s world with environmentalism becoming trendy, a lot of greenwashing often happens where companies are just trying to capitalize on products that seem ‘sustainable.’ However with greenwashing, how the product is produced, it’s durability and what happens to it when it has served it’s purpose is not taken into account. 

To avoid greenwashing you have a few options

Research the product, look for transparency in the company, the material used (is it durable like metal, easily recycled like glass, compostable, etc) and where they are sourcing their materials.

Buy second hand, you may not be purchasing something that is cradle to grave environmentally sustainable but that product has already been produced and is bound for the trash so getting as much use as possible out if it can help you serve your purpose and give a longer life to an existing product

Go without, analyze if the product is really necessary. Do you have something else that could also work? Could you borrow the product from a friend and return it when it is done? Can you repair and old product to make it functional again?

I am happy that I found a company that has a unique solution to a unique problem, I am always delighted when I see these types of products. I included a photo of the packaging (there was nothing else inside only the case) and of how the case looks on my phone. I am happy with it, I thought it would be hard but it is actually flexible however, it feels durable.

** I want to note that this is not a sponsored post in anyway just my opinion of the product. I was given one of those codes to share where someone can get $10 off towards any product: http://pelacase.refr.cc/clareseg it expires May 15th but worry not if you are reading this after I am sure you can google Pela code and find one there!

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Update

Sorry I have been inactive for a couple months now, I have been traveling and busy working on placement. (My co-worker and I ran an environmental summer camp which taught children able various environmental themes, it was very busy but very rewarding).

I have less than a month left on placement then I will graduate! I am taking the next year off to figure out which direction I want to go with my life (internship, career, grad school, work abroad... I have no idea). Some upcoming projects that I have planned and want to document (since I’ll actually have time) are;

Room Renovation 

I am going to be majorly decluttering my room (responsibly), painting, deep cleaning, reorganizing and updating with new furniture 

I want to do this with very little or hopefully no waste through borrowing, donating, refurbishing and buying second hand, so I think it will be interesting to see how I pull it all off.

Did I also mention my plan to do it all for $0?

Expanding my Garden 

My raspberries have taken over half of my garden so I want to expand to grow more veggies and herbs

I will also be able to use my compost for the first time in years!

Updating my Closet

I will be a graduate and a lot of my clothes are still from high school so I feel like a new some new ‘adult’ pieces

I want to re-learn how to use a sewing machine in order to give life to some old or second hand clothes

Reducing Pet Waste

I (accidentally) adopted a cat in Peru and she will be coming back with me and I want to look into more sustainable pet care (kitty litter, toys, food, etc..) 

Making More of my own Products

I want to continue to see what normally ready to go products I can make myself as I find it not only reduces waste but it makes me feel more accomplished 

I want to look into shampoo, conditioners, soaps, laundry products and cleaning products to start.

So thank you all for your patience as you continued to follow me while I was M.I.A. I have a few things planned for the next month (challenges, cleaning, water and travel) so stay tuned! Also any suggestions or anything you would like to see me post about I would love to hear. Thank you all!! :)