Imagine a world, where there is no trash collection service, no dumpsters etc. How would you manage your waste ? We don't realize this, but its a privilege to have someone to manage our waste . However most of the times these waste are dumped to landfills and end up being toxic to the environment.
Few changes in our lifestyle and we can reduce waste up to 85%
What is Zero waste lifestyle and why do I follow it ?
Follow these easy swaps for a sustainable lifestyle : 1. PLASTIC TOOTHBRUSH VS BAMBOO TOOTHBRUSH Around 3.6 billion plastic toothbrushes are produced every year. And majority of these plastic brushes end up in oceans and landfills. Think about it, we change our brushes every 3-6 months. Meaning each person uses around 2-3 plastic tooth brushes a year. Â
Switching to a bamboo toothbrush is one of the easiest and cost effective way to reduce waste. Bamboo brushes are made from 100% biodegradable bamboo which is also a fast growing plant. Bamboo is also naturally anti-bacterial which means no pesticides are used during its cultivation. So brush without worries !
The one I use is from the humble co. They are also cruelty free, vegan and BPA free. Every humble brush purchase goes towards funding for the benefits of children in need. Find more here.Â
2. PLASTIC CUTLERY VS OWN CUTLERY WITH A STEEL OR BAMBOO STRAW
Buy you're own little cultery set with the essentials like a knife,spoon,fork and a straw. Plastic cutlery is one of the worst offenders as majority of the plastic cutleries cannot be recycled and end up in landfill.France recently banned the use of plastic cutleries. Polystyrene1 is the most common material that is used to produce plastic cutleries, this material is very hard to recycle. Therefore buy you're own cutlery set which you can carry around and reuse. Also while buying takeouts ask them not to provide you any plastic cutleries. Over 8.5 billion straws are discarded annually. This is very alarming. Make the small sacrifice today and say no to plastic straws. If you are very keen on using straws, use a steel or bamboo one. 3. PLASTIC BAGS VS CLOTH BAGS Plastic bags take about hundreds of years to recycle and this poses as a threat to our wildlife. Therefore always remember to carry your own reusable Cloth / Jute bag. 4. LIQUID SOAPS VS BAR SOAPS
One of the common misconception is that using a soap dispenser with Plastic pump is more sanitary, Infact this is not true. This plastic pump is also one of the hardest part to recyle. Simply switch to bar soaps. Some companies also make shampoo and conditioners in this form. 5. PLASTIC RAZORS VS SAFETY RAZORS
In 1990's we threw away about two billion disposable razors. That number has since risen to over 2 billion razors ending up in landfill each year. That’s a LOT of plastic waste. Using safety razors help you save money as you don’t have to buy disposible ones and you can use this for a very long time ! If you are afraid to use one click here to know more about shaving with safety razors. 6. CLEANSING PADS VS REUSABLE ONES Cleansing Wipes are made from a combination of things such as polyester, polypropylene, cotton, wood pulp, and rayon fibers, many of which are not biodegradable. . Use the reusable ones, which you can wash and reuse ! This is a great eco-friendly alternative. 7. NATURAL REMEDIES VS CHEMICAL ONES  Most of the skincare products we buy come with a lot of packagings, a good way to reduce this and also to save some penny is to switch to making more natural products. Check my friend's blog to read more about the natural remedies for a glowing skin. 8. USE YOUR PHONE
In this digital era, instead of writing things down, use your phone. For instance, instead of keeping a diary to write your daily schedule, simply add them to your google calendar. 9. SINGLE USE COFFEE CUP VS REUSABLE COFFEE MUG
I'm a caffeine addict and I drink coffee almost every day. With a busy lifestyle, I understand the fact that people prefer to grab coffee on the go. A lesser known fact is that even though you might think most coffee cups are made of paper and that they can be recycled, but it has a wax coating which makes it very hard to recycle, Read more here . Therefore by carrying your own Reusable coffee mug, you can sometimes get a small discount. Bonus !! 10. MENSTRUAL CUP VS TAMPONS, PADS etc. An average woman spends about $120 per year on pads and tampons. where as when you buy a menstrual cup, you can use it up to 10 years. The one I use is from Organi Cup, they also have a 100% biodegradable packaging, which is a bonus. Read more about them here. 11. BEES WAX PAPER VS PLASTIC CLING WRAP Reusable wrappers can be used as a planet friendly alternative to cling film and tinfoil.
12. SWITCH TO ETHICAL BRANDS
 To lead an eco friendly and conscious life, stick to brands that are ethical. Brands that don’t test on animals, find more about animal testing on my previous post, brands that doesn’t use parabens and uses minimal packaging etc should be first on your list.
Make these easy switches and be a more conscious consumer !
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