Why I live a zero waste life | Lauren Singer | TEDxTeen

Lauren is an Environmental Studies graduate from NYU and former Sustainability Manager at the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, and the amount of trash that she has produced over the past three years can fit inside of a 16 oz. mason jar.

Lauren Singer is author of the Zero Waste blog, Trash is for Tossers and founder of organic cleaning product company, The Simply Co.

Through her blog, she has empowered millions of readers to produce less waste by shopping package-free, making their own products and refusing plastic and single-use items.

Her work has been profiled by New York Magazine, MSNBC, NBC, AOL, CNN, Yahoo, Fox Business, BBC and NPR, among others.

[maiskayed]

i just get sick of people saying it is impossible or it will never fit into their life style, you know what? don't be a zero waste person, but at least try to reduce your waste.

[Ayesha-sexf]

"We don't need a few people doing zero-waste perfectly: we need millions doing it imperfectly."

[johnfox]

"When you have fewer things, you take better care of them". One hundred percent true

[fernandanavarro]

She is proof that you can be sustainable and look amazing at the same time! No excuses people!

[sonialidder]

I really enjoyed her speech and her dedication to better our planet. What bugs me however is some of the comments on this video. Saying things like, "well you still gave a speech in an auditorium that used up energy" or "well you probably drove there or got a ride which is contributing to air pollution" etc. etc. etc.

Why? Why is it always necessary to point out the negatives and try to bring someone down when they are already trying so hard to do something good for our planet. So she may have sat in a car and maybe she didn't ride her bike today. Yes, she spoke at an auditorium so her speech could reach the masses and possibly spark a change in people to reduce some of their waste. Isn't she already doing so much? Why must we nit pick and bring people down all the time?

[carmenl]

I don't understand why this is called "TEDxTeen" when she's clearly an adult who has graduated from college.

[alainadacosta]

What a wonderful speaker! I took a sustainability class last semester which really inspired me but I let that fire burn out. This was a great reminder. I love the joy emanating from her, she feels like a kind person. It almost felt like talking with a friend.

[syahdin]

why would someone even say that she's doing these for attention?? she is doing something good

[mydailylife]

she has both attractive and healthy skin with amazing hair..

[franciscalopezhidalgo]

Thanks Lauren is very important for me and all Environmental.

[matthewrandell]

I did it for one month and it was surprisingly easy if you have access to a zero-waste shop where you can fill jars with pasta/rice/nuts/cereals etc.

[lloydchristmas]

Amazing. I wish companies would just send me things in a box rather than with 99% unnecessary packaging.

[cninusa]

she is beautiful both outside and inside.Good job, Lauren.

[alisingh]

It’s my goal to be 100% zero waste once I live on my own. The whole zero waste movement really inspired me. I recycle and try to reduce my waste and plastic but it’s harder when you are living with your parents house. It really is scary that pretty much everything is made of plastic packaging.

[thegreenlab-coat]

Everyone should strive for this level of environmental cleanliness 🌿🪴🌱

[highwayexit]

First easy steps: 1. Get a proper reusable water bottle. 2. Get a reusable coffee cup - stop getting coffee in those paper cups, they rarely get recycled. 3. Stop using plastic bags.

[gwentodd]

I really love her personality. A lot of activists tend to come across as somewhat condescending, and she didn't do that the whole time.

[emward]

A shining example how we all should be

[oscartu]

She is doing great job for the earth and herself and that was exactly what I am trying to do recently.

[challengertv]

Well I think the world needs the recipe of your DIY shampoo