50 OF MY DAILY ZERO WASTE HABITS IN 24 HOURS

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[mollyd]

just a reminder for everyone that buying "zero waste" alternatives to things you already have that are still useful is the complete OPPOSITE of zero waste! the most ecofriendly and sustainable product is the one you already have and the things that you DON'T buy! for example, I love the aesthetic and look of a sustainably made bamboo hair brush, but the plastic brush that I've had for the past 10 years still works perfectly fine, so I wont be buying a bamboo brush until my plastic one is completely unusable

[wiktoriakusak]

So... this is basically a step by step tutorial to be zero waste on a regular day. So all we need to do I start one of this habits and then add more and more. Thanks for this guide!

[animeninja]

Idk if this is really zero waste, but I am often creating things from things I have because I'm broke. I'm good at making furniture out of cardboard(dressers, chests, baskets) making baskets from grasses and fabrics, making pillows and stuffing them with clean old socks and knickers along with loose fibers, sewing clothing on my machine or by hand(usually with bedsheets or resizing clothing from the thrift store) I also forage for wood to create trellises for my garden and forage for food while I'm at it(this does require research, but becomes easier with time. I'm loving the surplus of mulberries rn) also, when I have plastic, I am often using it to plant stuff because plants are the most important part of my life. I still holes in containers to use as seed starters, grow leafy greens in plastic bags I find(shallow root systems :) ) and use harder plastics for propping up plants. I really enjoy making food out of food waste and avoiding waste. Why waste things you can use? Things deserve a second life

[BillyLingard]

I think an important part that people forget is not buying things to help you be zero waste if you never did it in the first place... I.e. drinking straws and wooden cutlery.

[ashleyhogermeer]

I put water that’s been left in a bottle too long in my kettle or leave it for my plants.

[donnaterry]

The closest store that has any type of bulk is a 35 minute drive. But my closest grocery store is a six minute bike ride away. I would love to visit the bulk store but I’m not over there very often. I think choosing to ride my bike and use canvas bags is better than driving 35 minutes for bulk items.

[Marilyn]

Buying second hand things is something so small and makes a big difference! 👏

[sophisticatedwrat]

I never even thought about the fact that cloths that are not made of natural materials would shed microfibres. Idk why that didn't occur to me but when I move into my own place, I will take that into consideration.

[jessrrowe]

This video was so helpful to see how u actually implement some of this stuff in your everyday! Thanks

[acmulhern]

These are all excellent tips. Very aspirational.
Here's a few things I do that weren't mentioned in the video:
1. I take cold showers to save on energy (and it makes me feel good).
2. I grow and multiply my own herbs.
3. I sew my own period pads out of old clothes.

[CharlineLikesC]

Baby steps... I switched to reusable menstrual pads which feel very good after having a hard time experimenting with a Diva cup. Also I acquired a non-plastic razor that uses regular razorblades. And one way that I am practicing zero waste without even thinking about it was my book habit. Yes I participate in Life's library, so I get some new books each year all while supporting Partners in Health in Sierra Leone, but most other books are either shared with friends or from an open library shelf where I also recycle my only-read-once books.

[bettyadkisson]

I use banana peels and comfrey leaves for natural fertilizer tea for garden and house plants. And the egg and potato water for inside plants and crushed eggshells in holes of all garden plants when planting. All cardboard and papers in my compost bin. And all onion bags for pot scrubbers. I just tight 3 bags into knots. And crochet& knitted dishclothes and back scrubbers. And yes I reuse my freezer bags a good wash and rinse and hang too dry.

[offair]

What an amazing and unique way of showing tips! We are slowly incorporating more and more zero waste products and ideas into our lives and really appreciate you saying at the end that it won’t happen overnight. Every little thing makes a big big difference. Thanks for all the hard work you put into this video, it really was inspirational xx

[chungchung]

Thank you Gittermary, I love the video! One small thing I've done is transition from normal tissues to 100% cotton/linen handkerchiefs which I made by cutting up some second hand shirts into rectangles and stitching the hems. Its an ongoing process and I sew them while watching/listening to things, or on video call with friends/family. I am by no means zero waste yet or even close - but its a small thing. Its good for my skin, better for the planet - and also saves so much money. I also have been using the period cup for over 2 years now! xx

[lisav]

I line dry most of my clothes year round. In the winter we heat with a wood stove, which makes the air even more dry, and drying clothes on a rack in front takes very little time and puts moisture back into the air. I also keep a pot of water on the wood stove rather than running a humidifier. I’ve been saving my toilet paper rolls, candle remnants and dryer lint to make my own fire starters. Instead of donating my unwanted household items to the overwhelmed thrift stores, I leave them by the road in front of my house, everything’s gone in a day or two and most likely to someone who will use it rather than send it to the landfill.

[bettyadkisson]

Yes I've been doing the same and have multiple batches of veggies pickled veggies, jams,jellies and freezer packages if tricolored peppers and onions for stir fries and tacos. And sometimes sealed meats has long as their still cold. That way I will can them up .

[rachelreese]

This is a great video for any person to begin their journey to sustainable living. I had no clue how in-depth zero waste can go. I just started learning about composting and recycling to help with the waste that can't be recycled. But of course, it would be better to steer clear from the companies that produce these harmful items in the first place.

[geckoserrar]

O yes thanks for these veggie storing tips! I often buy too much produce for a week from the market because I’m still getting used to cooking for myself and end up loosing a lot of it. Excited to try this!!

[Sydney-Gauthier]

Ive been knitting for 7-8 years now and a couple of my favorite things to make are reusuable dishcloths/handtowels (To reduce the amount me and my family have to spend kn paper towels) and tote bags so I don't have to use plastic bags

[michaelafischer]

Such a great video! For anyone coming to this video and using it as a starting point to overhaul their life, I'd like to share a bunch of tips relating to some of the things in the video. I've kept each tip in its own comment, so expand the thread if you'd like to read more. Full disclosure: I'm still a novice, unlike the beautiful and incredible Gittemary, but my own learning curve can hopefully shed some light on how to make the habits and swaps seen in this video work for you. With that, let's hop to it! <3

1) Something not covered by this vid or many sustainable beauty/daily routine vids is that YOU NEED TO WEAR SUNSCREEN every day, and SUNSCREEN IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN MAKE AT HOME! This advice applies to absolutely everyone, including people with dark skin tones. The rays from the sun cause skin cancer, and they also account for 70% of skin ageing. Even in low UVB (burn) conditions and behind windows (e.g. sitting at your work desk by a window or driving in a hot car) UVA rays still penetrate your skin and mutate your cells. Darker skins have natural UVB protection, but all skins are susceptible to UVA, so we all need daily SPF.

So, let's talk about sunscreen from a sustainability point of view:

I cannot stress enough that sunscreen is really difficult to produce, even in a laboratory context. It requires complicated and extensive testing, which cannot be reproduced at home, and unfortunately, there are no known natural alternatives. You may have seen coconut oil (or something similar) suggested online as containing "natural SPF". This is not true. Some plant ingredients (probably coconut oil) do have an inherent SPF, so to speak, but this is a) insignificantly small, and b) not photostable. Not being photostable means that the sun 'filter' actually deteriorates on contact with light, so as soon as you need it to protect you, you're completely vulnerable and will incur sun damage! Creating photostable sunscreen is a serious manufacturing challenge and is one of the main reasons you can't just mix zinc into your homemade moisturiser. It's also important to note that the SPF in your make-up is also not enough to protect you while outdoors, because not enough is used on the face to achieve the full SPF rating.

If you're under 30 or don't have serious concerns about ageing skin, sunscreen is also an opportunity to ditch a bunch of serums and creams from your routine, which is definitely more sustainable. Sunscreen is currently one of one two ingredients actually proven to prevent skin ageing. The other, by the way, is Vitamin A, so make sure to get safe but sufficient quantities of this in your diet, and consider a Vitamin A-based step to your skincare routine. I suggest rosehip oil, as anyone can use it and it can be acquired sustainably in bulk! It improves acne (because it is linoleic acid-rich) and sensitised skin; prevents and softens wrinkles; assists skin cells to behave normally and turnover quickly; and also contains collagen-promoting, skin-brightening Vitamin C. If your skin doesn't need a lot of assistance to stay regular, you can improve your sustainability--and keep your skin more youthful than ever--by swapping out commercial anti-ageing products for a sustainable, vitamin A-rich cream or oil + sustainable sunscreen.

So, which sunscreen option is most sustainable and the best option for you? You'll probably need to do some research and decide that for yourself. However, most people in the eco community prefer mineral sunscreens, which contain zinc and titanium dioxide. (Neither of these enter the bloodstream in their non-nano form.) To avoid a white cast, anyone darker than Fair/Porcelain should buy tinted zinc sunscreen. Sustainability bonus? This can totally double for your base make-up, if you like a tinted moisturiser look (or look for brands whose tinted sunscreen offers a bit of coverage). You can also get un-tinted micronised zinc sunscreen, in which the particles have been shrunk down to not sit on the skin and not create a white cast. However, this micronised and nano particle sunscreens shouldn't be worn into the ocean (and may even create issues washing down the sink), as they're bad for marine life.

Personally, I suggest avoiding titanium for health reasons (as advised by Dr Marko Lens, skin cancer specialist), and some people find nano-zinc irritating too. So, I believe the best option for most = tinted zinc. OR if you're in Australia, Europe, or Asia, you can research new-generation ORGANIC chemical filters. Whatever you choose, do not use sunscreen containing oxybenzone. This chemical filter is sadly still widely used in the US (but is not really found in Australia or Europe). It is a known hormone disruptor and damages oceans. It is very important that you do not put this on your young children!

Try to find a tinned or refillable sunscreen. Generally, I recommend SPF 30+ (and 50+ for light skintones), but for everyday/indirect sun exposure, I love the Australian brand Peggy Sue's refillable Daily Defence Moisturiser, which is SPF 15, and is plain, un-tinted zinc with no cast or shine (use about 5 pumps for proper coverage). If you can't find a sustainable option, just buy reef-safe sunscreen (no oxybenzone, no nano particles) and put sun safety first until you can find an eco option.