Category Archives: Zero Waste Lifestyle

Christmas, DIY, Recipes, Zero Waste Lifestyle

Zero Waste Christmas presents

Posted on by ZeroWasteKids

This time of the year the amount of waste created senselessly is unimaginable. As long as I have been ecologically conscious I have tried a different approach to generate less trash. We have a big family so there is always around 40 presents to think about every Christmas.

Throughout the years I have tried all sorts of handmade gifts, like homemade jams, homemade cookies. candle holders, just to name a few.

This year I had been thinking to try something new and after researching for while I decided to try out a simple Lip Balm recipe, because who doesn’t get cracked lips in winter?

 

My boys just love making presents for our family for Chrismas, its become somewhat of a tradition, so they were eager to try something new out. Some of the process is a bit tricky for small hands but they helped whenever it was safe and got to see how lip balm is made!

List of ingredients:

400g of Shea Butter

200g of Beeswax

Essential oil of your choice ( I used Lavender and Tea Tree)

30 small glass jars

First off you need to steralize the glass jars

Next in a double boiler melt the Bee’s Wax

Then join the Shea Butter

I had to divide the quantity as I wanted to have two different scents.

Added around 15 drops of Tea Tree essential oil and mixed well.

Then just pour into glass jars

 

Repeat the process for the Lavender scented balm

Let them cool before closing the recipeint.

I used a marker to name the lip balm and best before date and then used some old stickers and some stamps that my kids had, to make them look pretty!

I thought a fabric wrap could work well and looked for some scraps I had at home.

My family loved the wrapping and were so pleased with the outcome.Turned out perfect for me, what about you?

(Please note that this recipe was made for a large quantity of lip balm. To try this for ust one lip balm please use the following recipe found here)

Zero Waste Lifestyle

Making the Shift

Posted on by ZeroWasteKids

Although my head has made decisively its shift to live a zero waste life, in pratice the challenges are constant. My first internal debate began with a legitimate question:

Should I throw away all the plastic in my house or should I use these products until the end?

The answer hasn’t been simple. Although I believe this is a personal decision to make I can tell you that through my process, I decided to finish some products and other simply discard.

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Some products I decided to finish before changing to a more sustainable option

On the look out for replacements I came across many new brands that promote a healthier alternative, but my feeling is that this movement, is starting to become a little like the organic movement a few years ago. The organic labelling is now a wealthy promoter of plastic packaging and for me this is the biggest contradiction out there.

There is always someone out there trying to make money of the “new trend”.

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Stopped using exfoliator because wasn’t sure if scrubbing agent was plastic

Now, the majority of people who want to make changes to their lives, don’t have any time to make these produts themselves, yet they are offfered a not so sustainable option after all. Having a closer look this is what you are still getting:

  • Too expensive
  • Wrapped in plastic
  • Still contain toxic ingredients

It has taken me a few good days, searching for good options, taking into account the ecological footprint when ordering online from abroad.

My advice for anyone in the same situation would be to follow these steps:

1. Start with one section of your house and make a list of items that will soon need replacing. Start searching online or around your area, you’re not buying yet, you’re just scouting.

2. Save items that grab your attention for any particular reason (use your camera phone to save stuff, shopping lists or online carts) I use instagram to save interesting posts I find and then later go back to them, when I’m ready to make a purchase or to deepen my knowledge of the product.

My priorities when buying are:

  1. Do I really need to buy this?
  2. No Packaging
  3. Ingredients
  4. Price
  5. Local

Hope this can help you in some way but remember, the point is your intention to change and with intention comes action.

 

Zero Waste Lifestyle

The Start

Posted on by ZeroWasteKids

A few months ago I came across Bea Johnson’s blog about her Zero Waste Home and was amazed by her lifestyle. Watching her made me think two things:

1. Wow, it’s really possible.

2. I wish I could live like this.

Of course Bea had a lifestyle that took her a good couple of years to adjust to and this is really important to remind yourself when you start embarking in this lifestyle, because it can become overwhelming.

I am temporarily living in Italy and my experience here has been a very positive one in the long run. As anywhere in the world, it has its good sides and bad sides, but let me tell you something, Italians do like their plastic and its been hard to move away from it but not totally impossible.

Although Italy does have some bulk stores they are mainly in big cities and unfortunately very far away from where I live. It would be easier if bulk was available. The problem arises when bulk is not an option but you still want to live a zero waste lifestyle.

Another difficult aspect in my quest is the fact that as a family with two kids, things can become even more complicated when trying to move away from our plastic society. Those of you with children will appreciate that it is a challenge 🙂

So with these issues in mind I decided to share my experience, in the hopes that I can inspire some of you reading this, that may be in the same situation as myself. These are my steps into a healthier and greener lifestyle, as I cannot bare to sit and watch the constant devastation being inflicted onto our planet.

I am playing my part no matter how small or insignificant it can seem, I am sure its the future and the right thing to do. Hope you can join me for this journey too.

 

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Plastic Waste, Zero Waste Lifestyle

My first shopping trip with a zero waste mindset

Posted on by ZeroWasteKids

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When starting out in a zero waste lifestyle one has to keep in mind the time that these changes can take to implement, but a few things are pretty basic and can start having an immediate effect on the amount of waste your household produces.

After educating myself (thanks for A Zero Waste Home blog and then book) of all the basic and simple changes I could make on my weekly shopping, I went for it, knowing how hard it was going to be.

So to start with, I went to a smaller organic shop which I had already previously scouted as to know if I could take my newly acquired mesh produce bags.

I focused on fruit and vegetables as I have come to realise that this is where I could really make a difference each week. Bulk isn’t available in my area so all the basics, like pasta, rice, etc. have still to be bought in a plastic package – but I will leave this subject for another post.

In a small purchase I managed to save 6 plastic or paper bags from being used. I thought it was a good start 🙂

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For those of you who feel overwhelmed going zero waste (which I know its easy to feel so) here are some of the steps I’m taking to make some changes.

Simple and easy steps to start with now:

  1. Buy or make mesh bags for produce (fruit and veggies mainly)
  2. A sturdy bag to carry them in
  3. A reusable water only bottle (carry at all times, kids are always thirsty!)
  4. Drink tap water – install a filter in your water supply or if you’re like me in a temporary home, buy a filtered water bottle. Mine is made of plastic but I focus at the plastic being saved every week from plastic bottles.
  5. Buy or make cloth napkins and erase paper towels or napkins today.
  6. Stop using cling film, cover food with either a plate or some beewax wraps
  7. Make your own washing detergent (washing soda, white wine vinegar and any essential oil of your taste, works magically).
  8. Ditch the liquid soap and use a soap bar preferably without plastic packaging. I’m currently using Lush’s soap bars
  9. When shopping choose glass over plastic packaging, it’s healthier for you and the environment.
  10. For the ladies ditch tampons and plastic pads and use either a mentrual cup or cloth pads.
  11. Clean your floors with hot water, a cup of vinegar and a few drops of essential tea oil.
  12. Refuse all the plastic you possibly can

On my to do list:

  1. Make my own dishwasher detergent
  2. Make some toothpaste and try it with the kids!
  3. Find alternatives for coffee filters and/or machines

    4. Keep searching for glass alternatives to plastic packaging

I am surprised at how once you enter a zero waste mindset, how easy it is to implement these changes in your life. The alternatives have always been there but we are too busy, too tired and too used to going to a supermarket and buy what they tell us to buy. So it does take a little time, but we as consumers have all the power on our side. We just have to use it, and remember that there are thousands of us making these choices everyday. So don’t feel discouraged in the plastic ailes of supermarkets, make your choices wisely. I am finding the best option is to shop in small local businesses.

What are your thoughts? What are your struggles? Let me know in the comments!