Let’s Chat About Zero Waste 

Let’s be real for a moment. Often depicted as the gold standard for sustainable living, we see so many climate influencers rage about the zero waste movement. But how feasible really is it? In our modern system where planned obsolescence is built into most products, I want to have an honest conversation about what zero waste really means in today’s society. That way you can stop feeling huge amounts of guilt every time you step out the door.

🐝 Living Plastic Free is a Privilege

While pursuing being plastic-free, it’s important to understand that not anyone can afford this luxury. Certain communities may have limited access to sustainable options, and the language surrounding plastic-free actions often overlooks this fact. I wish I knew that solely focusing on my waste is rooted in Western individualism, which is part of the reason we are here in the first place. Instead, we should think collectively about how we can benefit entire communities. We can do this by advocating for system change, whilst reducing our plastic consumption. If we have access to refill shops, buying in bulk, or the financial resources to purchase more expensive, sustainable options, then we have a responsibility to advocate for greater accessibility for all.

🌏 Focus on Progression, Not Perfection

I get so caught up in this, to the point it can lead me to feel guilty for a whole day if I forget my reusable cutlery. I wish I had known that striving for a zero-waste lifestyle doesn't mean eliminating all plastic from home overnight. It's about making conscious choices, seeking alternatives, and gradually reducing waste. Even if some plastic still finds its way into my life, I can still make a positive impact by focusing on overall waste reduction and embracing progress over perfection. Transitioning to a plastic-free lifestyle can be overwhelming, especially when we realize the extent of the plastic pollution problem, and how unavoidable it is at times. When I do have to consume plastic, I look for ways I can reuse the pieces. A general rule of thumb is that 10-20 uses of an item will offset the emissions created to create it. Knowing this made me feel better about the times I ultimately had to use a single use plastic item.

👊🏽 Advocate for Change

While the plastic waste issue receives significant attention, I've come to realize that it's just the tip of the iceberg and something that we love to shame each other for. The real challenges lie upstream, in the production and manufacturing processes. By shifting our focus to systemic change and advocating for sustainable practices in industries, we can address the root causes of plastic pollution and create a world where plastic is used within a circular economy. Two ways we can do this are by supporting frontline communities such as Plastic Free Places or Boomerang Alliance which are constantly fighting and working with governments to improve legislation on the use of single-use plastic and create a world where we can live plastic-free. 

Remember, shaming and guilt-tripping those around you while advocating for a better future for our planet, is not how you go about improving our future. It’s crucial to educate people and help them feel empowered to join in and create change!

Sustainable Living Tips

This week, we’re focusing on reducing our food waste!

🪱 Incorporate a compost bin into your home. There are heaps to choose from for any type of living situation. If you’re in an apartment I recommend choosing a worm farm or Bokashi Bin.

✍🏼 Write out your grocery list for the week. That way you aren’t buying random food items that will end up perishing.

🍎 Save your apple cores to make apple cider vinegar! Recipe here. 

Guppy Friend

Guppy Friend is a must for any home! Whenever you go to wash your clothes, pop them into their amazing little bags then they will catch the microplastics that shed off your clothing. Such an amazing invention that helps prevent microplastics from entering our marine and riverine ecosystems.

🐟 South Australia is banning single-use plastic shopping bags, amongst a whole host of other problem plastic items!

🥳 Climate Activism just halted a huge fossil fuel project (CP2) from going ahead. It would have had 20x the impact of the Willow Project - Activism works!

💋 Cosmetic companies in the EU are being made to pay for the pollution they’re causing.