Zero waste possibilities - 10 tips to avoid waste
What zero waste options are available to us in everyday life - how can you avoid waste?
Leading a minimalist lifestyle, producing less waste and living as plastic-free as possible - that's what many of us want.
Many don't even get started because the task seems so big and you don't know where to start. It doesn't have to be the giant transition and completely zero waste right away, where your entire year's waste fits into a mason jar. That can be a deterrent because we already have failure in mind and prefer not to do it at all.
The path to less waste and plastic in everyday life and a sustainable life consists of many small steps. And overall, they make the big difference.
We will show you practical tips that you and your family can use to reduce waste and be on the right track towards zero waste. ♻️
What options do I have to avoid waste?
Avoiding waste is not difficult, as waste is produced in almost every area of everyday life.
Let's get straight into the Zero Waste possibilities:
1. Repair instead of buying new
We live in a consumer society and we are constantly surrounded by advertising. This should tempt us to keep buying new things. However, the moment of happiness from consumption usually only lasts for a short time. After a short time we want a new bag or the next skirt, the next pair of shoes. Does that make you happy in the long run? We have found that the value of things increases when they are cared for. When you take care of something and fix it when it breaks instead of buying it new - you really learn to appreciate it.
2. Say no to plastic bags
In Germany alone, around 3.6 billion plastic bags are used every year. After a short period of use, these usually end up directly in the garbage. Plastic bags take about 20 years to break down into small pieces of so-called microplastics.
You can easily give up plastic bags, by always having a cloth bag, for example made of cotton, in your bag or backpack. With this zero waste tip you can already avoid a lot of waste.
Instead of the conventional plastic bags, fruit and vegetable nets made of cotton are suitable for fruit and vegetables in supermarkets.
3. Giving things away
Do you know the little boxes with the sign - for free - that you can spot on the street from time to time? From books, household appliances to toys, everything is included. These are great Zero Waste ways to put together a gift box that puts items you would rather classify in the trash category into others put a smile on your face would.
4. Recycle
Broken doesn't mean it has to go in the trash! There are now many examples of recycling or upcycling. With a little creativity, you can turn old things into new ones - Cleaning rags for the kitchen can be conjured up from old T-shirts, or a bedside table can easily be conjured up from two old vases.
5. Resell unused clothes
Giving gifts is a nice gesture, but would you like some money for some valuable parts? There is a remedy for this with online platforms such as Vinted. Here you can list parts that you no longer need at your desired price.
6. Buy less
It can avoid waste by asking yourself one question before every purchase: do i really need this This is the psychology of minimalism.
That's why it helps to listen to yourself before making a purchase and ask yourself the question: Am I just trying to fill an empty hole in me with this product? Or am I not living just as well if I don't buy this thing as well? Then many things can also be ballast. Or a substitute for a need that wants to be satisfied in a completely different way than through consumption.
7. Sustainable shopping
The best thing to do when you buy something is to make sure that it was manufactured in the most environmentally friendly and resource-saving way possible.
Seals such as organic, fair trade, GOTS and IVN Best show at a glance whether something has been produced according to comprehensible, socially and ecologically correct standards.
8. Washable makeup remover pads
There are also zero-waste alternatives for removing make-up. Anyone who used to remove their make-up every evening with disposable cotton pads very quickly had a full garbage can. Washable make-up removal pads Cotton, on the other hand, are used several times. After use, you can simply clean them in the washing machine and reuse them.
9. Pay attention to sustainable providers
A shop is not just a shop. In order to reduce waste, it pays immensely to take a closer look at a company you want to buy from.
As a company, we are in contact with all of our manufacturers and get an idea of the production conditions before we include them in our shop. By Bio certifications we can be sure that the company is subject to regular independent audits.
10. Avoid capsule coffee
Around 2 billion coffee capsules are used in Germany every year. That creates a lot of plastic waste. The production of the coffee capsules is also very energy-intensive.
Are you a coffee lover? Then there are some zero-waste alternatives. With a coffee maker made of glass and stainless steel, for example, you can completely avoid plastic and waste.
As you can see, living more sustainably is not that difficult.
If you heed these tips every now and again in everyday life, the initially unfamiliar behavior will slowly become a habit.
stay sustainable
your Bambuna team
