How can I make the switch to a conscious, waste-avoiding lifestyle easier - and what should beginners know? These questions are asked by many people who are affected by our Waste problem in the environment but do not yet know exactly how they themselves can become part of the solution in everyday life.
No matter whether you recognize yourself in it or simply want to make it easier for your friends to get started: In this article, I'm going to give you my best tips and tricks for an easy introduction to eco-conscious living. Zero Waste Lifestyle by the hand. Let's go!
The basic equipment for zero waste beginners
Two things are crucial to getting off to a good start in your waste-avoiding life: your personal mindset and a few items that I can use for Zero Waste Basic Equipment count. First, I'll show you which five things help you for what good reasons and where you can get them.
1. Drinking bottle
The easiest way to really get started is with your own drinking bottle and that you Water from plastic bottles against water from the tap in exchange. Fortunately, the latter is drinkable, especially in Germany.
Drinking tap water from your own drinking bottle is easy on your wallet, as the water about 100 times cheaper than plastic bottled water. You also avoid drinking water from sources privatized by large corporations. Just one of the many reasons that e.g. Nestlé under criticism stands.
These drinking bottles I recommend (not only) beginners:
Tip: If you don't trust the water from the tap, it's worth buying a water filter. You can also buy the bottle on demand or with the App Refill can be refilled (free of charge) in companies.
2. jute bag / backpack
This Zero Waste tip for beginners is a real sustainable life hack from my grandma.
Just take a jute bag with you for shopping. You can get it for €1 at any supermarket checkout and it will last a lifetime with good care.
Even a backpack will do! By carrying your shopping in it, you avoid the plastic bag and unnecessary packaging waste.
- These jute bags* and this backpack made from marine litter* I can recommend it to you!
Tip: Look in the article about the most superfluous plastic packaging over. You will be surprised at the nonsensical ideas that manufacturers and sellers come up with.
3. lunch box
A reusable lunchbox is ideal for newcomers to the zero waste lifestyle. For example, you can use it to eat unpackaged at the Fresh food counter shop at the supermarket or organic market and your food cooked at the lecture take me to work.
- This stainless steel lunchbox* I have been using it myself for many years.
Important: You don't have to throw away your old Tupperware just because it's made of Plastic are. Just keep using them until they're gone. Then you can replace them with plastic-free boxes.
4. fruit & vegetable bag
You've probably seen the free plastic bags for fruit and vegetables in the traditional supermarket, right? Leave them behind and just use them instead Reusable cotton nets, to plastic-free shopping.
You are Ideal for smaller foodssuch as mushrooms, tomatoes or potatoes. Larger fruits such as apples or bananas can be bought with a net or simply loose.
- These fruit & vegetable nets* I've had since I started with Zero Waste.
Tip: Do you already know Food Sharing? With this you can save food from bakeries or supermarkets that would otherwise have been thrown away. Just join in and save the Reduce food waste.
5. canning jars
We still know preserving jars from grandma and grandpa. Today, they are once again adorning many kitchens, as they are a real tool for zero waste beginners, but of course also advanced users. You can use them in the unpackaged store or at the weekly market, for example. go shopping and food in it Store clearly in the kitchen.
- These preserving jars* are highly recommended.
Tip: There is even a Solar preserving jar*that charges in the sun and glows in the dark. A sustainable accessory for the balcony and at the same time a great project to support the people of South Africa. If you want to know more, take a look at the Interview with the founder of Sonnenglas in.
Zero Waste Mindset for Beginners
Starting something new is always a matter of willpower. As it's in your head that you decide how quickly you adapt the beginner's tips, I would like to give you a few more tips here. Advice on the right attitude and useful basic rules along the way.
"«It's just a straw», said 8 billion people."
Unknown (more under Zero Waste Quotes)
You will often hear sayings such as "Oh, that one plastic straw" or "You alone won't change anything anyway". If everyone thought like that... Consider such moments as an opportunity to inspire others to get started with zero waste.
5 good reasons for Zero Waste
For a good zero waste start, you should also always know, why you want to start or have started this lifestyle in the first place. These reasons clearly speak for it:
- Reduce your own waste: A progressive society is characterized by the fact that people leave behind as little waste as possible through their own behaviour. Reducing waste saves costs and conserves resources during disposal and recycling.
- Protect the environment and animals: Every year, human waste in the environment alone kills 135,000 marine mammals and around 1,000,000 marine birds. By starting your zero waste lifestyle, you are saving the lives of many animals.
- Avoid plastic waste: Plastic is eternal because it is not biodegradable. Every bit of it, no matter how small Microplasticsthat has ever been produced is still somewhere in this world. Fish eat it! This is how Plastic in the food chain and ultimately on our plates.
- Stop waste exports: So far, we Germans have been sending a large proportion of our waste abroad. Out of sight out of mind. Unfortunately, we have no control over what happens to our waste there. As a zero waste beginner, you become part of the solution to the problem.
- Be a role model: Anyone who produces masses of waste, even though it could be avoided by simple means, is not a role model. As a zero waste beginner, on the other hand, you lead the way and show how to do things better.
A few years ago, these reasons prompted me to start with zero waste and the Disposable society counteract.
The Zero Waste basic rules
Use these briefly explained tips to set the baseline if you want to significantly reduce your waste in the future:
- Reject: For example, reject free pens or flyers in the pedestrian zone to avoid litter. More about this in the article Saying no in the Zero Waste sense.
- Reuse: A jute bag can be reused forever, but not a plastic bag. So use more things that can be reused.
- Reduce: Many things in your life you don't need. Just take a look in your closet or drawers. A minimalist lifestyle saves money and makes you happy.
- Borrowing: Newly purchased items are usually packed in plastic and sometimes lie in the famous drawer again after a week. Therefore, borrow things like a longboard, a drill or an angle grinder from neighbors or rental portals.
- Repair: Is the sole of your shoe starting to come loose? No problem, there's a shoemaker for that! Repairing saves money and natural resources.
- Replace: The world doesn't need plastic straws. Even as a beginner you can use them e.g. through Bamboo straws* or Glass straws* Replace
There are even more! But as a zero waste beginner, you don't have to internalize all of these rules immediately. Instead, use them as support and let them become part of your basic attitude in the long term.
4 practical tips for zero waste beginners
Now your mindset is right too! 🙂 Here are a few beginner tips for things that you can basically replace directly:
- Toothbrush: Grandma already had a toothbrush without plastic - today the Wooden toothbrush* back in fashion. Of course, waste is still produced, but from renewable raw materials.
- Cling film: The foils are usually made of plastic and can be damaged by such vegan oilcloths* can be replaced. They are washable and reusable in the long term.
- Cotton swabs: A seahorse with a plastic cotton bud? Yes, such a picture has gone around the world before. To prevent this from happening these biodegradable cotton buds made from bamboo and cotton* or directly such stainless steel ear cleaners* meaningful.
- Shampoo: Shower gel and hair shampoo bottles generate a lot of waste. A good tip for zero waste beginners is therefore bar soaps. Recommended is this soap for the skin* and this soap for the hair*.
These are just a few ideas for things you can replace relatively quickly as a Zero Waste beginner. You can find more inspiration in the Plastic free store here at CareElite.
Just start with zero waste and keep learning!
I hope that this article has helped you a little bit as a Zero Waste beginner. As you can see, it's not that complicated to start a zero waste lifestyle. At the same time you achieve a great effect for our society and especially for our environment.
In conclusion, I have here some further articles from the blog that are guaranteed to help you:
- Plastic free living - tips & tricks
- General zero waste tips
- Plastic waste - statistics, facts and figures
- Zero waste when traveling
"Be yourself the change you wish to see in this world."
Mahatma Gandhi (more at Environmental protection quotes)
Do you have any questions, tips or experiences of your own that you'd like to share about starting a waste-free lifestyle? Then please write me a comment!
Stay clean,
PS: In my Zero Waste Blog you will find many more tips and tricks that are suitable for both beginners and advanced litter avoiders. Next, for example, learn how to organize your Bathroom plastic free do!
