As a society, our culture is causing several problems for our planet.
According to the World Bank Group, the world generates 2.01 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste annually!
Do we really need to destroy our natural resources to create products that will end up as waste? We should rethink our actions and embrace conscious living instead. And that’s where the zero waste movement comes in.
This probably sounds familiar: using reusable shopping bags, collecting glass jars, saying no to plastic straws, and so on.
But can you make a difference? Is it possible to create zero waste? What does real-life zero-waste living look like in 2022?
Let’s find out!
What is a Zero Waste Lifestyle?
As simple as it sounds, the zero waste lifestyle is a concept that focuses on reducing the amount of waste an individual creates on a daily basis.
Simply put, the zero waste movement promotes a circular economy and aims to reformulate the concept of “waste”.
The primary purpose of this way of living is to protect the environment. When people reduce the amount of rubbish they send to landfills, they’re also reducing pollution, fighting climate change, preserving natural resources, promoting conscious living, and much more!
So, what’s the goal? Reducing your waste to “zero”.
But there’s one problem: This sounds impossible to achieve, doesn’t it?
Well, it doesn’t have to be this way.
Is It Possible to Be Truly Zero Waste?
Let’s be honest, chances are you’ll never truly reduce your waste to “zero”. And you shouldn’t worry about it, seeking perfection while on your conscious living journey will only cause frustration. That’s just an unrealistic goal.
Now, let’s take a realistic approach:
A zero waste lifestyle is all about minimising your waste production as much as you can, even if that means reducing your waste by just 25%.
That’s the beauty of a low waste mindset, you can try your best to reduce the amount of rubbish you send to landfills today and keep learning new ways to get closer to “zero” waste every day.
Easy Ways to Start Living a Zero Waste Lifestyle
As you can see, going zero waste is something we can all try, it just takes some practice. If you’re not sure how to embrace conscious living and start your zero waste journey, focus on the 5 Rs of waste management:
- Refuse: Don’t accept things you don’t need.
- Reduce: Avoid disposable products when possible.
- Reuse: Use items repeatedly, you can even repair or repurpose them.
- Recycle: Recycle what you can’t refuse, reduce, or reuse.
- Rot: Compost the rest.
Final Thoughts: Can You Really Make a Difference?
Now more than ever, it’s important to take care of nature. And while it’s impossible to go completely zero waste, reducing our waste is a great way to encourage conscious living. Just think how much waste you could prevent from entering the environment if you start your zero waste journey today!
And more importantly, you could inspire others to be part of the solution as well!
Sources: