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The Zero Waste approach aims to create a society with less trash and less waste. It is not only about keeping on producing as much trash on the pretext that it can be recycled; the overall aims is to rethink the way we consume to produce less trash, use less ressources and better manage the existing waste material. Here are few tips to go towards a zero waste lifestyle to show you how simple it can be. It is advantageous from every angles (environmental, financial, health-wise) and easy to put into practice.
- Solid shampoo, solid toothpaste, solid body wash, solid deodorant… Solid everything. Those (generally) comes in recyclable – even compostable – packaging and therefore avoid an accumulation of plastic.
- A woman usually use between two and four cotton pads per day for her diverse skin products. Multiply that per days of life and by the number of coquette women on Earth and you get… well a lot. On top of the amount of waste this represents, cotton is usually bleached, which is not so friendly to your skin. Investing in reusable washables pads is therefore good for the planet, good for you AND good for your bank account. Win-win-win.
- An alternative option for make-up removal is to use washable face cloths or small towels with cleansing oil (or any vegetable oil really).
- Invest in some fabric tissues. It might make you think “ Eww” and then about your grandparents but seriously, what is in it is between you and yourself. Or should be. Designwise there are now funkier alternatives than the beige/brownish-tartan-grandpa-style (This Etsy shop for example: God Save the Teatime).
- Now about your precious ears, any Ear-Nose-Throat specialist or paediatrician would tell you that cotton buds are pure evil and that a good clean should only involve clear water, a bit of soap and your little finger. Culture point: In french, the pinky finger is called “auriculaire”, from auris – the ear, in latin. You are welcome.
- Or let’s call a cat a cat: use more eco-friendly sanitary products when on your periods. There are now so many alternative options to the classic tampons and sanitary pads: menstrual cup, washable pads, menstrual/period underwear or, if you want to keep on “riding the cotton pony”, sanitary protections made of organic recyclable vaginal flora-friendly components. You can easily find what works the best for you during Shark week. (You have to admit the english language has amazing expressions. One of my other favourites: “arts and crafts week at Panty Camp”)
- When I say “less”, I do not mean to stop showering all together (or maybe. If you want. And work from home. Where you live alone). Again, it is all about doing little things which add up to a bigger result. The zero waste idea also includes trying to “waste” as little water as possible. An easy gesture to reduce your water consumption: think about turning off the water while applying your shampoo/conditioner or while shaving for example.
- Washing your hair everyday is not only unnecessary but also pretty aggressive to your scalp. If you feel like trying something new, the no-poo method, or not using shampoo, appears to be a very efficient technic. Obviously it is not about letting your hair go wild and dusty but about using softer products such as conditioner (which also contains cleansing agents) for example and not to wash your hair more than once a week. In between washings, the no-poo-er brushes his.her hair to spread the sebum all along the strands and use eco-friendly dry shampoo.
- Body-wise, there is a similar movement called “unwashed” that recommends not having more than three showers a week; simply a good wash of the important bits daily and voilà!
- Better means using eco-friendly products and avoiding the super chemical products usually found in supermarkets. Favour simpler compositions (like for your food basically), avoid harsh components like sulfates (which is usually found in cleaning products… for floors and motors).
- If feeling crafty and wanting to go “all natural” without spending too much money, you can make your own products with very few ingredients: a neutral cleansing base and essential oils of your choice, depending on what your nose likes or potential skin issues you could use help with.
- Replace the cleansing base with some sodium bicarbonate (baking soda to its friends) and a little bit of water to make your own shampoo. The vast kingdom of the internet is filled with home-made recipes!