ULTIMATE BEGINNERS GUIDE TO ZERO WASTE! P.1

A quick and concise beginner's guide to adopting a zero waste lifestyle.

EDITS PLEASE READ:

BEFORE YOU PURCHASE ANYTHING - Make sure you actually need it, it is obviously NOT zero waste to throw away something to buy a more sustainable item. ONLY buy something if you actually need it and it will help you in the long run.

Get your 5Rs right: Refuse what you do not need, Reduce what you do need, Reuse what you consume, Recycle what you cannot Refuse, Reduce or Reuse, and Rot (Compost) the rest.

1. I suggest using a tablet or computer because it seems in this day and age we all have one anyway, so I advocate to use what you already have rather than wasting more by using paper.

2. ECOVER IS NOT 100% VEGAN ANYMORE SO I DO NOT ADVOCATE IT!!

Follow me:

Links:

Menstrual cup:

Keepcup:

Reusable Straws:

▲ W H A T I S M I N I M A L I S M ?▼

▲ Z E R O W A S T E ▼

Zero waste Travel Tips

30 Day Zero Waste Challenge

2 Steps to Zero Waste

Zero Waste Essential Kit

Zero Waste // Where I'm At

Zero Waste Food Hacks:

5 Zero Waste Hacks:

Zero Waste Swaps {Kitchen}

How I Eat Vegan and Zero Waste:

How to Reduce Your Food Waste:

▲ M O N E Y S A V I N G ▼

30 Day No Spend Challenge:

Live Below the Line Challenge:

▲ M I N I M A L I S T ▼

5 Things I no Longer Buy

Minimalist Packing and Zero Waste Travel:

4 Things you should get rid of:

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▲ S O C I A L M E D I A ▼

I N S T A G R A M : @Sustainably_vegan

I N S T A G R A M : @Rebel_Pix

T W I T T E R : @sustainably_vega

F A C E B O O K : Sustainably Vegan

[caseyjones]

beginners should note: if you already have a re-usable plastic bottle, use that instead of buying a new one. same goes for toiletries finish up the ones already bought before purchasing zero waste alternatives

[tabiripetrovich]

as a child I lived in hungary. everybody lived like this. there was no waste.
in 1983 we moved to England. it was nothing but waste on there.
funky how Hungary is big on waste these days because they are crazy about western development and brits are going waste-free.
something is off.

[StickyRice]

"Straws.. are for suckers"
Lol, I see what you did there xD

[otiliatibljas]

Great video, so inspiring! In Toronto we have an event called "repair cafe" where you can bring in items that are broken and volunteers try to fix them. They usually have 3D printers to reproduce odd plastic bits that break etc. It's an amazing initiative that empowers people and creates community while keeping items out of the landfill.

[deanachildress]

For anyone who doesn't like menstrual cups, cloth pads are also a thing and they are so comfy and work way better than disposable! 😊

[OxfyMags]

One more thing to add: use handkerchieves instead of tissues. In a country like the UK you blow your nose all year round so having hankies saves a lot.

[agatheb]

Great advice, clear, simple and very helpful!! However, I think that sometimes we tend to forget about the "invisible" waste that we produce. Maybe typing on a computer seems better than writing on paper but the electricity that it needs is not zero waste. And the more we use our computers, the quicker we will have to replace them; and their production is very damaging for the environment.

[alexismorgan]

You forgot libraries for books, movies, dvds, etc!! Also electronic versions of all of the above :)

[kennabrienn]

If you need tea on the go, check out Celestial Seasonings. Their tea bags are 100% biodegradable, they don't use strings or paper tabs, and all of the ingredients are organic and fair trade. Everything is manufactured here in Colorado.

[snooze]

so glad you mentioned the sustainability of plant-based milks!

[ilovesquigs]

I'm in love with this lifestyle but all I can focus on is your voice. I love it so much. I could listen to you for hours.

[megb]

My mom and a few other people in my city have Little Free Libraries. We stock up a large mailbox with books and it's open to the public for other to take a book and leave some. It's like a circular book exchange.

[oyvucku]

You can also make use of your public library over buying books- there are some good finds there, and they can order books in for you.

[AshleyandSkooter]

I thought when you put your dog up you were gonna say “adopt don’t shop” 😂 thrift your animals ❤️

[laurah]

These are great ideas, but regarding the straws, I've realised as a support worker that it is a bit ableist of us to demonise people who use plastic straws.

People with motor neuron conditions are not always able to use a stainless steel or glass straw, as they get far too hot, and, as they are not flexible, can end up injuring their mouths if they experience spasms or spasicity. Re-usable plastic straws can be very difficult to clean and easily get blocked with mold and mildew, and I've noticed with many clients that they will buy disposable straws and use them and clean them several times over before they are eventually discarded. For comfort, safety, and hygiene, this is their best option.

The same goes for precut or peeled fruit and vegetables in plastic containers or bags. For people living with a disability, having precut foods gives them the ability to prepare meals with more independence and dignity.

I love that we are trying to save the planet 🌏 Let's also be kind to everyone. We are all trying our best, so it's important not to put anyone down, especially for something like using straws. 💕

[ljab]

Cool ideas for zero waste beginners. The only thing that irked me was your self-made toothpaste. Baking soda is really bad for your teeth and although it makes them whiter, it also damages the enamel of the teeth. So be careful with that.

[janivels]

great video. thank you for the inspiration. but please think twice about those soap nuts. they are traditionally used in india but because so many people ask for these eco friendly alternative all around the world they started to get too expensive for poor people there. non eco frendly washing powder is now more affordable for them. which means many people in areas without sewage systems that provide toxic fluids from leaking into nature wash their clothes with non eco friendly stuff and endanger the environment just because they have no choice. soap nuts can be replaced by selfmade chestnut soap. you can find recepies on pinterest. if chestnuts do not grow near you try to find other plant based surfactants. and even if you choose eco friendly washing soap it is a better alternative to soap nuts because in most of Europe and the US we have good sewage systems.

[pascalelegarraga]

I live in Chile and most of these tips are so much harder to take (albeit not impossible). Nobody here cares about throwing away plastic or other non-degradables... it’s sad. I’ve never seen a bamboo toothbrush and there’s no “natural” stores like Whole Foods here. You basically have to make everything from scratch and alternatives are very scarce. I just have to try extra hard to live as sustainably and as zero waste as I can! It is a tiny bit more difficult since there’s less resources, but I guess that just forces you to be even more creative and natural with your stuff. Loved the video!

[debb]

Part of what I loved on this video was your voice. It was calming, and one could really tell of your passion of this journey.

[jwinkies]

One thing I like about your channel is how you understand that different people are in different places. To me, you present the way you live and explain why, but I never feel judged or pressured to adopt everything straight away. Thank you for that :)