How to Adopt a Zero-Waste Lifestyle
Are you aware that the world produces approximately 2.01 billion tons of municipal waste yearly? Also, did you know that 33% of this waste is handled in ecologically unfriendly ways?
The waste often includes tissue papers, plastic bottles, packaging materials, and paper cups you use daily. The waste often emits lots of carbon dioxide when disposed of, causing environmental pollution.
However, you can take the initiative to adopt a zero-waste approach and change this narrative.
Below are simple ways you can adopt a zero-waste lifestyle.
1. Start by Replacing Plastic Trash Bags with Biodegradable Bags
Plastic is a non-degradable waste material that can remain in landfills for extended periods, causing environmental pollution. For instance, solid waste in the Pacific Ocean has caused devastating effects on the marine ecosystem.
For this reason, it is wiser to use biodegradable garbage bags. These bags are compostable, so using them is a great habit to adopt for a zero-waste lifestyle.
2. Make Compost Manure from Kitchen Waste
Another eco-friendly way to adopt a zero-waste lifestyle is by converting organic waste from your kitchen into compost for your kitchen garden. Doing this will help you manage your kitchen waste while helping you produce organic food. Simply put, this will be a win-win situation for you and the effort toward environmental conservation.
3. Start Using Cloth Towels Instead of Disposable Paper Towels
Perhaps you’re wondering how paper towels contribute to environmental pollution. Have you ever thought about the fossil fuels that go into the manufacturing and transportation of paper towels? These aren’t exactly eco-friendly.
Dish towels are ideal for your kitchen, while some cloth napkins can do well for the dining area. Unlike disposable paper towels, you can reuse cloth towels repeatedly for a long time since you’ll only have to clean them before reusing them. Ultimately, taking this approach can help you adopt a zero-waste lifestyle.
4. Opt to Use the Old-Fashioned Diapers
More often than not, you prefer using disposable diapers since you won’t need to wash them to reuse them. However, did you know that these products consist of traces of dioxin? This highly toxic substance is a by-product of the paper-bleaching process and can lead to skin rashes on your child.
Therefore, rather than using disposable diapers, you should consider switching to reusable old-fashioned cloth diapers. Ultimately, you can adopt a zero-waste lifestyle while ensuring your baby stays safe and healthy.
5. Make It a Habit to Purchase Products in Bulk
If you’ve been purchasing products from your local supermarket in small quantities, it’s time you develop a new eco-friendly habit. Often, purchasing in small quantities multiplies the amount of packaging material for the multiple products you buy.
Instead, consider adopting a new environmentally friendly habit of purchasing such items in bulk, particularly soaps, cleaning agents, and lotions. Ultimately, this will reduce the frequency of visiting your local supermarket and waste from packaging materials.
6. Purchase Fresh Food Rather Than Canned Food
You can also adopt a zero-waste lifestyle by ensuring you always purchase fresh food from your local market rather than canned ones from the supermarket. That way, you can avoid wastage while getting better nutritional value.
The Bottom Line
Adopting a zero-waste lifestyle by making the above six changes in your life may appear insignificant to the global cause of conserving the environment. However, little initiatives taken by each person worldwide will have a huge impact on the planet’s future. Therefore, if you’re a champion of environmental conservation, start by making these and other changes to impact environmental conservation efforts positively.
