What is a low-waste lifestyle? It means living sustainably, so that you impact the planet as little as possible. It means changing your buying habits to produce the minimum amount of waste, while ensuring that any waste you do produce has the smallest environmental impact it can. This way of living is becoming increasingly popular in world where climate-change effects all our lives.
Waste is a huge problem in today’s world, and plastic is at the root of the problem. While it is incredibly versatile as a material, it is a highly unsustainable product. Plastic is primarily made from oil – a fossil fuel, and the extraction of fossil fuels is notoriously damaging to the environment. Once the plastic has been made and used, it’s recycled – right? Well…no. Only 9% of all plastic produced in the world is recycled. The rest ends up in landfill or in the environment, most often the ocean. The “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” is a giant plastic island floating in the Pacific Ocean. It has formed because ocean currents have dragged plastic waste together, and it is 3 times the size of France. This waste is leaking microplastics into the sea and into the food chain. It impacts not just animal life, but humans too.
The easiest way to begin a low waste lifestyle is to tackle packaging waste. It’s a great way to reduce your environmental impact while still enjoying the things you love. All it requires is a little bit of extra thought when you’re shopping.
So how can you adapt to a low-waste lifestyle? Here’s a few tips to get started:
Refuse packaging when you can
The quickest way to reduce your waste is to simply not take it home with you. If you’re grocery shopping, try and buy loose fruit and vegetables wherever you can instead of buying those wrapped in plastic. It’s also worth investing in your own shopping bags. Most supermarkets sell long-life bags that last much longer than plastic ones. Try and bring your own bags when clothes shopping too. It’s easy to take the bag at the checkout, but you probably don’t need it.
Move away from plastic
Not everything can be bought packaging free, but it’s best to avoid plastic if you can. Instead, try and buy those items in glass or aluminium containers, both of which are much easier to recycle and repurpose. For example, instead of buying a (plastic) bottled soft-drink, buy a can instead. See if you can buy your favourite sauces in glass jars rather than plastic squeezy bottles. Try buying milk and juices in cartons rather than plastic containers. Consider any cosmetic or skincare products you use: are they available in glass containers or small tins instead of plastic? For example, lip balm in a small tin rather than a plastic tube, which is typically unrecyclable. Next time you’re shopping have a look around: what options are there to move away from plastic?
Try alternative products
Sometimes it isn’t possible to get the product you like in a more sustainable way. In that case, why not try a new product? Try using a bamboo toothbrush instead of a plastic one – it can be composted when you’re finished. Or swap your normal toothpaste (the tube cannot be recycled) for toothpaste tablets, which come in a glass jar. You could even try using solid shampoo instead of liquid shampoo. One bar of solid shampoo is equal to two shampoo bottles, and it comes in either a tin or a card box.
Ditch single-use products
Ditching single-use products is a well-known move, but it is worth emphasising because it’s important. Many people will have their own reusable water bottle and ‘keep cup’, maybe even a metal straw somewhere in their home. However, there are more items that can be replaced with long-life options. For instance, single-use cotton pads, often used for removing make-up, can be replaced with reusable and washable cotton pads that can be used hundreds of times. Swap cling-film with beeswax food wraps, which can be washed and reused again and again. Take a look at what you use everyday that is single use: can you swap it with a long-life version?
