Why do people live a zero waste lifestyle? Well in today's video I give it a go at answering this question, but I would love to continue this discussion in the comments below!! For the script please see here: sustainablyvegan.org/blog/why-do-people-live-a-zero-waste-lifestyle
You, too, are a beacon of light and a fountain of knowledge Gittemary. I appreciate all that you do to lead and inspire in this growing sustainability movement. I look forward to your book coming out in English this Spring. Thank-you for your awesome content… always full of intelligence, wit, humour and creativity. It was great seeing you in Immy’s video today. 🌎💦Ⓜ️ary🇨🇦🌿♻️
It was such a joy to chat to you and pick your brain about why you live a zero waste lifestyle and just generally catch up ! You too are such a bright light, and it's a joy to know you xx
I became a “greenie” in the 1980’s when consumption was fashionable. Due to my upbringing with a farming family and having travelled a lot during childhood, conserving nature made common sense. My grandparents survived two world wars and the depression. I still remember my Grandma taking a bus to the local shops with string bags and a basket, buying meat wrapped in butchers paper and loose produce without plastic. In the 1990’s, I embraced Voluntary Simplicity and taught myself permaculture from library books. These days I live in a city high rise flat and cannot compost due to the lack of facilities. However, I do the best I can with what I have. Repairing, reusing, recycling etc are my normal routine. I cannot afford zero waste shopping on a small, limited budget but I recycle everything that I can. I shop locally and support small businesses, cook most of my meals at home, repair garments, save water and ditched the consumer mindset for more sustainable options. I have always shopped at thrift shops and donate unused items back to them. I did invest in some lower waste products by shopping online when the pandemic hit and used my COVID supplement to invest in. I recycle drink containers for cash, use reusable produce and shopping bags and try to avoid wastage of any kind. Start small, start where you are and build on it. To quote: “90% of people doing zero waste in perfectly outweighs 10% of those doing it perfectly.” ~ Natalie Isaacs, One Million Women.
High school sewing teacher from 🇨🇦 here… I just thought I’d say that I see this video as being similar to a quilt… it’s crafted with creativity and skill, using rather ordinary materials, yet the whole is definitely greater than the sum of its parts. AND… in the end it tells a beautiful story. Traditionally, quilts are ZW… it’s all about using the things we already have to create something that combines aesthetics and purpose. Thanks, Immy, for this great video today… and have an awesome ZW week everybody. 🌎💦Ⓜ️ary💕🧵
this is the nuance and thoughtfulness the zero waste movement needs! your point about feeling empowered by lowering our impact rather than being burdened by inaccessible standards really resonates with me. i've changed my lifestyle because, luckily, i'm able to -- and i'm *trying* to be less bothered by the things i'm not able to do. your message here makes the latter part easier to reckon with 🧡
Great comment Allison… and I totally agree 💯 with everything you have so skillfully and thoughtful said (written). You and I are on the same page my friend. I really enjoyed reading your comment… it’s so much about the empowerment that we have and can share with others. Thank-you and have a great rest of your weekend. Ⓜ️ary🇨🇦
I completely see where you're coming from on this! I too am still trying to be less bothered. Have you found anything particularly hard to be less bothered by?
I really struggle with balancing food packaging with longevity. If I buy everything loose/fresh without plastic then it goes off before I can use it (childless couple). However if I buy frozen veggies in plastic they keep for much longer. But I always recycle carefully, buy the “better” packaging as much as possible, always carry water bottle, spork, etc etc to make sure I don’t need to get anything disposable on the go. I use public transport and walk and I’m “that person” always trying to recycle/reduce more in the office.
Could you buy the fresh veggies without plastic and then chop them up and store in the freezer? That way you avoid plastic and the waste of food going off. I appreciate though that not everyone has the time for this, I certainly don’t . But just thought I’d suggest it anyway
Such a well-rounded video Immy! Totally agree that we need to focus on holding big businesses accountable rather than criticizing individuals trying to live sustainably for being imperfect.
Such an interesting video! I remember the mason jar trend and how inaccessible that felt to me. It took a couple years after that for me to start making small changes in my life. Taking it slow made those changes permanent and sustainable, and now they’ve all added together to a substantial change in the way I live
Very thoughtful video Immy. I am from India but currently live in the UK. I would like to point out that zero waste lifestyle is something that's upcoming in the western world just now but having seen both the worlds just wanted to tell you that zero waste lifestyle was a way of life in India in the 80s and 90s. Food was served and is still served at weddings and restaurants on banana leaves which were then fed to cows so there was no waste. We always took food in stainless steel lunch boxes to schools, always carried water bottles. We didn't have supermarkets in India in those days. We had only local corner shops owned by locals. Bulk food like rice and lentils were bought in jute bags, and were packed in newspaper cones that were tied securely with jute twines. We had to carry stainless steel bottles to buy oil and other liquids, we used only bath, dish, washing soap bars that were wrapped in paper. Local milkmen delivered milk to people's homes in glass bottles or people would just get it in a stainless jar. My grand parents would pack us food in banana leaves lined on newspaper and tie securely with jute twine. Everything that we used was either recycled or biodegradable. I can list a lot of things here but things changed when westerternisation happened. We started using tupperware containers instead of stainless steel containers and slowly plastic took over everything. The way of life back home is nothing like what used to be. It's really sad. I am trying my best to live a life that's as sustainable as possible. As you say it's definitely not an all or nothing approach. It's best to be conscious and change however much each individual can.
Hi there, thank you so much for this perspective. It's so interesting to hear. Where abouts in India are you from? Westerners certainly have a habit of thinking they have discovered things when other cultures have been doing them for years!
@@SustainablyVegan Appreciate your reply Immy. I am from South East of India from a city called Chennai. I am sure past generations everywhere in the world were much more eco-friendly without even consciously thinking about it. Consumerist mindset is the culprit of all the ill that's happening in the world currently. I can't tell you how I fell for all those colourful tupperware containers when I was at school. I was even ashamed of carrying a stainless lunch box as it wasn't a fashionable thing to carry. Now in my adult life when I think about finding best eco-friendly options for all my daily needs I always go back to what I used to do as a kid. My husband and I and our families always keep reminiscing about those good old days when we were so kind to the planet. Hopefully that way of life will return across the globe so that we could conserve what's left on planet earth 🌍
Thanks, Immy, for being a HUB for all these amazing content creators. After re-watching the video I totally agree with your comment about the nuance and broader perspective involved in living a Low Waste lifestyle. There truly is so much at stake!! I love the concept of a “second wave” in this movement!! While I cannot directly control what happens behind the four walls of large polluting corporations, I can attempt to be a little beacon of light casting some glowing rays on the pleasures of living intentionally and feeling the empowerment of doing so. For example: I sew lots of reusable bags, sometimes I sell them but mostly I just give them away to people who will use them. The other day I was purchasing some loose produce and putting it in my produce bags. A lady was staring at me so I moved my cart out of the way to increase our physical distance. She literally rushed up to me and asked about my produce bags. When I told her I made them, she asked where she could purchase some of these bags. I told her that, at the moment, I didn’t have any to sell so she asked me if I would dump out my produce and sell her my used bags right there in front of the apple bin. It’s a cool thing when we can lead by example and show people the little everyday simple things that we do to eliminate waste. I look forward to seeing these full interviews on Patreon Immy and thank-you for being such a graceful and gently powerful leader in this movement. 🌎💦Ⓜ️ary💕🌿♻️
I am so inspired by your generation! My sustainable journey is underway, and I’m learning all the time and making small changes as I can afford them and I incorporate them into my day-to-day routines. Thank you all for being so thoughtful, intelligent, compassionate and concerned. Love from a retired high school English teacher in PA, USA. 💗👍🏻🌎🌱
I love that you talk about doing your best and not beating yourself up if you can't be completely zero. I am low waste. I use reusable bags, pack my lunches with reusable utensils, and use cloth instead of paper. Now days with the pandemic it makes it impossible to be zero waste as some restaurants or coffee shop will not allow you to bring your own utensils. I try the best that I can.
I live a zero waste lifestyle because this lifestyle has drastically improved my physical and mental well-being. I also love the idea of doing things that benefit the earth.
I think this was a great video. Honestly i’ve never subscribed to a zero waste lifestyle because I always thought that it was a level of perfection I could never achieve. I have made swaps in my life to reduce my impact on the planet but I’ve never called myself zero waste. The video does bring to light some needed changes with the idea of zero waste and for that I’m grateful.
Loved loved loved this. I’m so happy to see the movement adapting and changing, rather than abandoning the ‘zero waste’ term. I think the mental health benefits of a zero waste focus (while accepting perfectionism simply isn’t possible) are really something to celebrate - we can both act individually and support collective action - and it feels so much better to try and live a bit more in alignment with how we’d like the world to be.
Hi have just watched the video and I so agree with you, iam older (59) and just went Vegan 7 months ago after a year of being vegatarian, so this year and finding people on you tube I realised sustainability is part of what I want to do, admitiably I was first put off your channel by your accent, as a minamal wage worker I have preasure to try and secure my future where I'm dependant on my government pension and very little saving. But I'm so glad I put my own preducies aside as I feel your advice for the most part is good and helpful, thank you.
Long post alert! Commenting from Ghana! What wonderfully and much-needed nuanced perspectives! I started creating videos on zero waste mainly because for a long time, I was tired of seeing how much waste is ending up in my neighbourhood, public spaces and environment, and hated the feeling of powerlessness and waiting on governments and corporations to do something. Then I realized that my individual actions could make a difference, and that inspired me to try and get others on board, even if everyone makes just 1 change. I also realized it didn't much see what zero waste could look like in countries of the Global South like Ghana where e.g. our waste disposal systems are inefficient at best. I make different trade-off but that doesn't necessarily make me less zero waste and I hope to show others like me that it is realistic and possible. I'm happy to be part of this movement and look forward to seeing what we can achieve together!
Hi Jetta, I love this upbeat comment! Thank you so much for sharing your persepective from Ghana. What sorts of things have you found that you can do and which are more difficult?
@@SustainablyVegan me realising you actually responded 🤯 LOL anyways, the difficulties are mainly: lack or high cost of sustainable products in almost all categories; plastic is the dominant material 😔. Mass public transportation is also nearly non-existent making private road transport the default option. The worst difficulty for me though has got to be the lack of concern of the political elite. However, it is a lot easier in terms of grocery shopping due to the abundance of traditional and informal markets. Rainwater harvesting is also very common due to the difficult access to clean water - we actually have a huge ground reservoir built on my mum's compound for this purpose. For better or for worse, getting 2ndhand items are a breeze but I am also conscious of the dark side of waste colonialism which fuels this abundance in developing countries. Immy, I would love for you or Gittemarie to talk about this subject of waste colonialism, because even though I have a video planned on it, my channel is so tiny that I wouldn't be able to create the level of awareness that you can.
Hi Jetta, thanks for coming back to me. The waste colonialism idea is yours so you must make the video on it! Can you let me know when it's been published so I can have a watch? :-)
I’m up early… hand-washing my reusables, making a latte, and cleaning cereal box wax liners for a ZW Valentine’s craft project in my sewing classroom this week. What incredible timing that a notification has popped up for a ZW video from you while I’m zero-wasting it in my kitchen. I love it!! I’m uber-excited for this video and the Live Chat as I always appreciate the inspiration and the knowledge I get from you and your community. Thanks Immy for this video essay. 🌎💦Ⓜ️ary💕☃️
what I most appreciate is that its ok if I can't do it all. ive lived in many different place and with limited resources all my life...so a simple way of life was my upbringing... I am so thankful for the categories of these lifestyles today... once I found these as an adult I had to unlearn that this is not a poverty lifestyle as I knew it my whole life and today with so many options its more of a conscious choice than an imposition and this was a huge eye opener although now I see some harsh judgement its still all about how much of a change we as individuals can do... I can't afford sustainable clothing but I shop once every decade and only if I have to... I live a small life I use uniforms for work so my clothes n shoes last me YEARS and I hate shopping.... I love this way of life as well as my minimalist life and I can only lead by example and hope that others can see the reality our lives face ❤️
I have observed habits and area’s of waste throughout my childhood and adult lives I am 60) and so appreciated when others started presenting ideas we could problem solve and improve choices that could help meet needs that arise in life. Helping each other outside the box and creating products that help us make thoughtful choices. Where plastics are concerned I have found a few areas they occasionally still help reduce waste, but still hope for people to come up with ideas to replace those needs or improvements in it as a product to become a product that doesn’t present itself as toxic. I myself, for years fight to obtain even clothing made of natural fibers, preferably not blends. But as the years pass this has become more and more difficult, or sadly find some but they are saturated in chemicals. Let alone all the other materials and products we fill our home with. I so appreciate having a community of people that communicate they also care about those issues and may willingly choosing to brainstorm ideas, for self and others because it does take a team effort of creative thinkers that help us each move out of the box we get stuck in.
Thanks so much for making this great video! You really highlighted how the perception of ‘zero’ waste demands perfection and is really impractical for most people, as well as off-putting! I’ve only just recently started becoming conscious about my waste production and the choices I make as a consumer. But I love the feeling of satisfaction, empowerment and knowledge that I’m making a tiny difference in my everyday life, just from the choices that I make. A lot of my friends are also interested in the zero waste movement, so I created my social media channel to share my journey with everyone. I think the biggest thing for people to realise is that this movement isn’t about perfection and achieving ‘zero’, but in making conscious efforts that fit into our own individual lives and within our means. Every little action we do makes a difference 💚🌎
Hi and thanks for your comment! It's so true that every little action we do makes a difference. I really like your new year resolutions video - good luck with finishing the divemaster course!
I love this video! I try to live a zero waste lifestyle. I make changes all the time to get me closer and closer to my goal and I’m always learning new things. Thank you for this video!
I use to stress about food packaging but changed my mind set to make sure the food I am buying is not going to waste ... If I'm being honest I use to be real bad and I don't enjoy being in the kitchen ... So this part of my life working towards a more zero waste life style has been a struggle
I think, as long as influncers debunk the green washing companies, zero waste becoming trendy is a good thing. It just spreads awareness and reminds people every time they see a post or a headline to do something a little more sustainable. I have been at my new job for a year now. When I got I witnessed people throwing away dead batteries and ink cartridges. My head exploded! I offered to take responsibility for collecting them all and taking them to drop off locations. Now my coworkers bring in their items from home as well fir me to take. It's the little things that if you hear them enough, they stick with you!!
I love your point that government regulation should prevent brands from falsely claiming "sustainability". I don't know why this isn't the norm! It's false advertising, and since we live in capitalist Hell, the consumer should at LEAST get what they believe they're paying for.
I’m a student from Denmark and I’m deeply interested and invested in the zero waste discourse and practices. I’m limited in terms of resources but I’m trying to slowly implement sustainable practices like grocery shopping for exact use, try to pick produce with less plastic and never bulk buying in grocery stores. With my ADHD, I’m prone to impulse buying more than needed or intended, so I’m working on reducing my shopping in all forms. I also try to use zero waste hygiene products, reusable straws and bags, secondhand shopping with home decor and home appliances, but I remain restricted on certain things. Sustainable fashion is out of my budget in terms of proper brands, and secondhand shopping is difficult as a plus size person in Denmark, as the right sizes and proper garments are seldom available in secondhand shops, nor online. I also have food intolerances and allergies, which limits certain levels of sustainable food practices like plastic free packaging for most food sensitive items, as sustainable shops with refillable grains are out of budget for me. However, I graduate soon and I intend to up my practices as much as possible with the increase of income :’)
Hi Diana, thanks so much for your comment and for sharing your particular circumstances. It's interesting to learn that your ADHD affects you in the way you have described - with impulse buying. These are all such important perspectives that we don't always consider unless we really seek to understand inidividual circumstances. So, thank you again for sharing and please continue to do so!
There are things that I've completely stopped using, like paper towels, and there are things that I've limited my use of, like drinks that come in plastic bottles. I'm nowhere near my personal goals when it comes to zero waste, but I think that might have more to do with where I live and less to do with my drive to accomplish my goals. I'm still learning quite a bit every day, and hopefully that'll roll over into my future life.
Dear Immy, you have been my single most source of inspiration and support as I go through this low waste sustainable lifestyle. Your kind and gentle nature always assures me to continue on this journey whenever I fail or face a setback bcoz here in Mumbai many things are not accessible and most of the times we have to choose the lesser evil. Really loved your video ❤️
Although I've been trying to live sustainably since a few years, I have been feeling a little lost. Having to put in a lot of time and energy into seeing beyond all the greenwashing has been tiresome. I think your video has helped put things into perspective 😊
Im surprised that you didny have Shelby in this video but happy with the people you chose. I think when I explain why I am low waste, vegan, being socially conscious etc. I always say because it aligns with my values: caring for all living beings, trying to cause the least amount of harm to animals, mother earth and few human beings.
For me, I also took that perfectionist mindset until I realized I was never going to happy with myself and always feel like a failure if I didn't take it slow. I've decided that making swaps one by one is the best way for me to go zero waste without feeling overwhelmed. I plan on swapping my bread and the chips I eat in plastic last because these are comfort items for me, and I feel I could never sustain this lifestyle if I don't let myself have them until I'm absolutely ready to switch
I honestly think the all or nothing -mindset is the main reason people don't aim to be zero waste. Even I, a global north citizen with a lot of privilege don't consider myself zero waste, even though my lifestyle is very climate-friendly. It's the word "zero", but also the thought that one must do it aesthetically, have access and resources to waste-free grocery shops/gardening and the ability to place zero waste in the center of their life. I do basically everything I can, but I'm also mentally ill and poor (in my country's scale) and I live in a periphery. I value the environment and my health equally. This means that I make choices that are sustainable for my mind and body in the long run, even if they seem not perfect zero waste -wise. And I think the sustainability far more complexly than as just waste. E. g. some produce may be more sustainable when packaged in plastic than sold bare, because the packaging enables smoother transport and longer shelf life. Or, thin plastic is better than thick and hard. The most apparent reason though, why I don't identify as zero waste, is that we have no landfills in my country. We have an excellent goverment-funded recycling system that includes every kind of waste. And it's nation-wide. So the "waste" part has never been a thing for me in the first place, since everyone learns to recycle as a child here. It has been other parts of the environmentally friendly lifestyle that have caught my attention. (And yes, I know how privileged position this is 🙈) Overall, I think the best single thing one can do for the environment is to learn to find joy and fulfilment from somewhere else than consumption. We need to pursue identities beyond being just different types of consumers.
Hi S, thank you for your comment. I think you make some really interesting points but my favourite, and one that will stick with me, is when you say that we need to find joy and fulfilment away from consumption. This really resonates with me and I think you are absolutely right. Under capitalist societies, its hard not to feel that our identities are bound up with our consumption, and in turn, our enjoyment of life. Going against this grain is not easy, but the benefits for both the environment and us as individuals are worth it. Where is it that you live? It sounds like the government where you are is taking some good steps.
Omg ive been following gittemary for so long, shes so great and down to earth with vegan and zero/low waste lifestyle. One of my fave youtubers for sure that i keep the notif bell on for.
i work in a supermarket. People say 'oh they shouldnt use plastic'. But 1 if you look, supermarkets exist to sell you individually wrapped food portions. Nowadays, eg 'stir fry offer: sauce, chopped veg, readycooked noodles for five pounds' each thing in plastic, each thing individually wrapped for you. They're not farmers' markets, farmers markets are farmers markets, greengrocers are greengrocers. 2 And if they only sold bread, dried pasta, veg, fruit, tea, coffee, sugar, salt, flour, oil, cheese, eggs and meat, they'd be two stalls at the farmers' market, or four, or six. But not a supermarket. How could they make money and clean up the whole food market, literal sense? How come most of the money spent on food goes to four shops? That can only happen if they sell processed foods (and note i'm not including pasta, bread or cheese as processed, although they are). You either buy into that having individual portions shipped on motorways and even first class on planes from the third world, or you don't. I don't see a way round it without having a lifestyle change that's unaffordable, not in your sense, but in the sense of having your own land, because land now without a house costs double what land with a house on, and god knows, say a quarter of us Britons will never be able to own our own homes, let alone a garden you could live from. Idk, i really dk
Trully brilliant and insightful video. Lets make zero waste more wholesome and encompassing of an overall goal towards circular systems of society, through consumer vote, rather than simply a social branding tool. Thank you for this.
Love this style of video from you Immy... such an intelligent and well researched look at this topic and you have included some of the best and most relatable creators.. LOVE a bit of Gittemary... such fun and so down to earth
What a great, interesting, well-made video! Hopefully it reaches many people that are starting their sustainable journey or perhaps need some more confirmation/motivation/information :)
This is so important to highlight this thing of doing what you can is good enough and it's okay if you can't control this or that as much at a certain time in your life! I'm currently living with my grandma for my uni years and I was beating myself a lot at first, but I slowly realised that it's okay, because if I'm not the one making the decisions, I can't control it. So doing the small things that I can control, is already enough and we celebrate the little wins, like bringing a bokashi compost bin in and convincing her to buy less meat. It's not a lot, but I can't do much more for the moment.
Hi Lea, what you're doing is enough! I think we can celebrate what we are doing without telling ourselves that it's not much or it's not enough. Individual contributions will always be limited by circumstances and that's ok. How is your bokashi composting going?
I’m pretty low waste, never got to a fully black and white zero waste mindset as I was in the transition process when I had a realization. I had a local BnB owner tell me that because of the health department she had to plastic wrap whole apples for her guests. I hadn’t gotten a pre-made (wrapped in plastic) local baked good for a while and I just had a face palm duh moment. I will eat things in plastic if it’s from a local/small/minority owned business. (And try to recycle soft plastics when I can) And I do not put as much pressure on my local, family owned Asian and middle eastern grocery stores as I do the large Kroger chain and don’t get things in plastic there. Being zero waste is only a part of my sustainability journey as I’m learning about permaculture/food forests, anti-capitalism, decolonization, etc
Zero waste is something I see as a fun thing to do and that is literally the only reason, ish, that makes me want to do this lifestyle. The thought of growing my own food, bringing my own food and utensils when I am out and about, drinking from the same plastic bottle I bought five months ago just seem fun to me. Idk if it is weird or a stupid reason but it just is like that.
For those interested in the topic of racial inequality and consumerism, the book 'Consumed' bij Aja Barber will be discussed by Leena Norms and Ash Tanja at the end of february. (I haven't read the book yet, but seems like it will be interesting!)
Having a baby fed by formula, a business where i need to use plastic bottles and a very, very unprepared country for recycling, trying zero waste has only made me feel worse. So I tried something better. I tried doing my best. I use cotton bags, I try to eat vegan, I keep single use containers and try to reuse them, I buy second hand. I try. And it's better than not trying.
I try to be conscious about the planets resources in areas that feels easy for me. My partner and I have just moved to an apartment from a tiny house because there is a baby on its way. So we had to get a lot of new things, both considering the baby but also all the furniture and other household ware. And I really try to get everything, or most of the things second hand. People around me very easily thinks it is out of economicall reasons but my number one force is that there is so much stuff out there! It feels ridiculous to buy new things. And I don't want to to go to Ikea and get everything from there and then get the feeling I am living in one of their catalogues. I don't care so much about others opinions and already have a hippie stamp on me (dreads, vegan, tiny house builder...) but I could get if people outside of this 'alternative' sphere get put off if people think that the lack money and therefore get things second hand - that it can be a status thing.
🎶💌🎶 It is SO amazing to watch the rate of those learning, utilizing the internet for good, for quite a few years now! I am almost 40, so I didn't grow up with it. Very thankful I didn't, but what it can give ♡ Inspiration and hope everywhere! Thank you! Sending bright glittery (because, why not?) love and hugs your way! Stay strong and kind! ❤
All of our furniture is second hand and we recycle as much as possible and reuse as much as we can. We'd like to do more, we're learning to grow and reduce what we own... it is a process but we're on it. ;)
I think about zw the same way as martial arts and their "belt system". I've practiced jujitsu and as a beginner had a white belt. Once you know a few basic things, you get a yellow belt, then orange, green, blue, brown and the selected few will also reach a black belt. That equals your mason jar. These individuals play a big role as teachers, but don't sustain a club (/movement). It's the lower levels who "pay the bills". I think you can identify yourself as a zero waster if you want to, even if all you do is use your own water bottle and library but you have a desire to do more and learn more. You decide what YOUR version of the "yellow belt" is - there's no official test. I've done a few workshops on zw and this is what I preach anyways. Do what you can with what you have, where you are.
My community does not provide composting and I do not want to set up a backyard compost because it will attract wildlife. Not all foods are available without packaging. We do not have good 2nd hand stores. I have tried thred up and was disappointed in the quality of the garment. I am overwhelmed by too many listed products and the time it takes to find something I want.
Hi Ivy, that's understandable. It's important that we have these discussions about why it might be difficult to reduce our waste, depending on our individual circumstances. Have you been able to find other ways to reduce your waste that you feel are right for you?
@@SustainablyVegan Yes. I have drastically stopped my consumption of everything. I used to think that if I could afford it, I could have it. Now I think of the environmental impact and pass on the purchase. I also have been vegan for 11 years, but I made this switch mostly due to not wanting to harm animals.
What an interesting video. Thank you! I think what scares people off zero waste is the ZERO. I might be biased (my channel's name is MENOS waste, menos=less) but it can be daunting for people to aim for perfection... But I love thinking about one day being able to say I live Zero waste, a little bit at a time
I hate how much food packaging waste I have, but due to a food allergy (celiac) I cannot eat any food that isn't carefully packaged to prevent cross-contamination. I really see no reason, other than the current lack of infrastructure, why companies are not planting tons of hemp and using biodegradable plastics for all of their packaging.
Hi Rainstorm, thanks so much for sharing this. There are so many reasons why people might not be able to buy unpackaged food and it's really useful to hear about your specific obstacle.
Personally I try to make less waste because of my mental health. Like all mental health stuff, it`s a priviledge to be able to do it. But honestly grocery stores give me anxiety and buying stuff in a zero waste shop makes me feel good. That`s the reason I do it. I don`t really think it makes a difference though... I think for that you have to do stuff as a group and on the streets
Why do people live a zero waste lifestyle? Well in today's video I give it a go at answering this question, but I would love to continue this discussion in the comments below!! For the script please see here: sustainablyvegan.org/blog/why-do-people-live-a-zero-waste-lifestyle
Immy you are such a bright light in the sustainability movement, thank you for including me and for everything you do 💚 You absolutely rock 🌿
I see you the same way, Gittemary x
You, too, are a beacon of light and a fountain of knowledge Gittemary. I appreciate all that you do to lead and inspire in this growing sustainability movement. I look forward to your book coming out in English this Spring. Thank-you for your awesome content… always full of intelligence, wit, humour and creativity. It was great seeing you in Immy’s video today. 🌎💦Ⓜ️ary🇨🇦🌿♻️
It was such a joy to chat to you and pick your brain about why you live a zero waste lifestyle and just generally catch up ! You too are such a bright light, and it's a joy to know you xx
I became a “greenie” in the 1980’s when consumption was fashionable. Due to my upbringing with a farming family and having travelled a lot during childhood, conserving nature made common sense.
My grandparents survived two world wars and the depression. I still remember my Grandma taking a bus to the local shops with string bags and a basket, buying meat wrapped in butchers paper and loose produce without plastic.
In the 1990’s, I embraced Voluntary Simplicity and taught myself permaculture from library books.
These days I live in a city high rise flat and cannot compost due to the lack of facilities. However, I do the best I can with what I have. Repairing, reusing, recycling etc are my normal routine. I cannot afford zero waste shopping on a small, limited budget but I recycle everything that I can. I shop locally and support small businesses, cook most of my meals at home, repair garments, save water and ditched the consumer mindset for more sustainable options. I have always shopped at thrift shops and donate unused items back to them.
I did invest in some lower waste products by shopping online when the pandemic hit and used my COVID supplement to invest in.
I recycle drink containers for cash, use reusable produce and shopping bags and try to avoid wastage of any kind.
Start small, start where you are and build on it.
To quote: “90% of people doing zero waste in perfectly outweighs 10% of those doing it perfectly.” ~ Natalie Isaacs, One Million Women.
High school sewing teacher from 🇨🇦 here… I just thought I’d say that I see this video as being similar to a quilt… it’s crafted with creativity and skill, using rather ordinary materials, yet the whole is definitely greater than the sum of its parts. AND… in the end it tells a beautiful story. Traditionally, quilts are ZW… it’s all about using the things we already have to create something that combines aesthetics and purpose. Thanks, Immy, for this great video today… and have an awesome ZW week everybody. 🌎💦Ⓜ️ary💕🧵
this is the nuance and thoughtfulness the zero waste movement needs! your point about feeling empowered by lowering our impact rather than being burdened by inaccessible standards really resonates with me. i've changed my lifestyle because, luckily, i'm able to -- and i'm *trying* to be less bothered by the things i'm not able to do. your message here makes the latter part easier to reckon with 🧡
Great comment Allison… and I totally agree 💯 with everything you have so skillfully and thoughtful said (written). You and I are on the same page my friend. I really enjoyed reading your comment… it’s so much about the empowerment that we have and can share with others. Thank-you and have a great rest of your weekend. Ⓜ️ary🇨🇦
I completely see where you're coming from on this! I too am still trying to be less bothered. Have you found anything particularly hard to be less bothered by?
I really struggle with balancing food packaging with longevity. If I buy everything loose/fresh without plastic then it goes off before I can use it (childless couple). However if I buy frozen veggies in plastic they keep for much longer.
But I always recycle carefully, buy the “better” packaging as much as possible, always carry water bottle, spork, etc etc to make sure I don’t need to get anything disposable on the go. I use public transport and walk and I’m “that person” always trying to recycle/reduce more in the office.
Could you buy the fresh veggies without plastic and then chop them up and store in the freezer? That way you avoid plastic and the waste of food going off.
I appreciate though that not everyone has the time for this, I certainly don’t . But just thought I’d suggest it anyway
Such a well-rounded video Immy! Totally agree that we need to focus on holding big businesses accountable rather than criticizing individuals trying to live sustainably for being imperfect.
Such an interesting video! I remember the mason jar trend and how inaccessible that felt to me. It took a couple years after that for me to start making small changes in my life. Taking it slow made those changes permanent and sustainable, and now they’ve all added together to a substantial change in the way I live
Very thoughtful video Immy. I am from India but currently live in the UK. I would like to point out that zero waste lifestyle is something that's upcoming in the western world just now but having seen both the worlds just wanted to tell you that zero waste lifestyle was a way of life in India in the 80s and 90s. Food was served and is still served at weddings and restaurants on banana leaves which were then fed to cows so there was no waste. We always took food in stainless steel lunch boxes to schools, always carried water bottles. We didn't have supermarkets in India in those days. We had only local corner shops owned by locals. Bulk food like rice and lentils were bought in jute bags, and were packed in newspaper cones that were tied securely with jute twines. We had to carry stainless steel bottles to buy oil and other liquids, we used only bath, dish, washing soap bars that were wrapped in paper. Local milkmen delivered milk to people's homes in glass bottles or people would just get it in a stainless jar. My grand parents would pack us food in banana leaves lined on newspaper and tie securely with jute twine. Everything that we used was either recycled or biodegradable. I can list a lot of things here but things changed when westerternisation happened. We started using tupperware containers instead of stainless steel containers and slowly plastic took over everything. The way of life back home is nothing like what used to be. It's really sad. I am trying my best to live a life that's as sustainable as possible. As you say it's definitely not an all or nothing approach. It's best to be conscious and change however much each individual can.
Hi there, thank you so much for this perspective. It's so interesting to hear. Where abouts in India are you from? Westerners certainly have a habit of thinking they have discovered things when other cultures have been doing them for years!
@@SustainablyVegan Appreciate your reply Immy. I am from South East of India from a city called Chennai. I am sure past generations everywhere in the world were much more eco-friendly without even consciously thinking about it. Consumerist mindset is the culprit of all the ill that's happening in the world currently. I can't tell you how I fell for all those colourful tupperware containers when I was at school. I was even ashamed of carrying a stainless lunch box as it wasn't a fashionable thing to carry. Now in my adult life when I think about finding best eco-friendly options for all my daily needs I always go back to what I used to do as a kid. My husband and I and our families always keep reminiscing about those good old days when we were so kind to the planet. Hopefully that way of life will return across the globe so that we could conserve what's left on planet earth 🌍
Thanks, Immy, for being a HUB for all these amazing content creators. After re-watching the video I totally agree with your comment about the nuance and broader perspective involved in living a Low Waste lifestyle. There truly is so much at stake!! I love the concept of a “second wave” in this movement!! While I cannot directly control what happens behind the four walls of large polluting corporations, I can attempt to be a little beacon of light casting some glowing rays on the pleasures of living intentionally and feeling the empowerment of doing so. For example: I sew lots of reusable bags, sometimes I sell them but mostly I just give them away to people who will use them. The other day I was purchasing some loose produce and putting it in my produce bags. A lady was staring at me so I moved my cart out of the way to increase our physical distance. She literally rushed up to me and asked about my produce bags. When I told her I made them, she asked where she could purchase some of these bags. I told her that, at the moment, I didn’t have any to sell so she asked me if I would dump out my produce and sell her my used bags right there in front of the apple bin. It’s a cool thing when we can lead by example and show people the little everyday simple things that we do to eliminate waste. I look forward to seeing these full interviews on Patreon Immy and thank-you for being such a graceful and gently powerful leader in this movement. 🌎💦Ⓜ️ary💕🌿♻️
I am so inspired by your generation! My sustainable journey is underway, and I’m learning all the time and making small changes as I can afford them and I incorporate them into my day-to-day routines. Thank you all for being so thoughtful, intelligent, compassionate and concerned. Love from a retired high school English teacher in PA, USA. 💗👍🏻🌎🌱
I love that you talk about doing your best and not beating yourself up if you can't be completely zero. I am low waste. I use reusable bags, pack my lunches with reusable utensils, and use cloth instead of paper. Now days with the pandemic it makes it impossible to be zero waste as some restaurants or coffee shop will not allow you to bring your own utensils. I try the best that I can.
I live a zero waste lifestyle because this lifestyle has drastically improved my physical and mental well-being. I also love the idea of doing things that benefit the earth.
I think this was a great video. Honestly i’ve never subscribed to a zero waste lifestyle because I always thought that it was a level of perfection I could never achieve. I have made swaps in my life to reduce my impact on the planet but I’ve never called myself zero waste. The video does bring to light some needed changes with the idea of zero waste and for that I’m grateful.
Loved loved loved this. I’m so happy to see the movement adapting and changing, rather than abandoning the ‘zero waste’ term. I think the mental health benefits of a zero waste focus (while accepting perfectionism simply isn’t possible) are really something to celebrate - we can both act individually and support collective action - and it feels so much better to try and live a bit more in alignment with how we’d like the world to be.
Thanks Immy.❤ We do not live zero waste. But that being said we try our best to more conscious of what we bring into our lives.
Hi have just watched the video and I so agree with you, iam older (59) and just went Vegan 7 months ago after a year of being vegatarian, so this year and finding people on you tube I realised sustainability is part of what I want to do, admitiably I was first put off your channel by your accent, as a minamal wage worker I have preasure to try and secure my future where I'm dependant on my government pension and very little saving. But I'm so glad I put my own preducies aside as I feel your advice for the most part is good and helpful, thank you.
Long post alert! Commenting from Ghana! What wonderfully and much-needed nuanced perspectives! I started creating videos on zero waste mainly because for a long time, I was tired of seeing how much waste is ending up in my neighbourhood, public spaces and environment, and hated the feeling of powerlessness and waiting on governments and corporations to do something. Then I realized that my individual actions could make a difference, and that inspired me to try and get others on board, even if everyone makes just 1 change. I also realized it didn't much see what zero waste could look like in countries of the Global South like Ghana where e.g. our waste disposal systems are inefficient at best. I make different trade-off but that doesn't necessarily make me less zero waste and I hope to show others like me that it is realistic and possible. I'm happy to be part of this movement and look forward to seeing what we can achieve together!
Hi Jetta, I love this upbeat comment! Thank you so much for sharing your persepective from Ghana. What sorts of things have you found that you can do and which are more difficult?
@@SustainablyVegan me realising you actually responded 🤯 LOL anyways, the difficulties are mainly: lack or high cost of sustainable products in almost all categories; plastic is the dominant material 😔. Mass public transportation is also nearly non-existent making private road transport the default option. The worst difficulty for me though has got to be the lack of concern of the political elite. However, it is a lot easier in terms of grocery shopping due to the abundance of traditional and informal markets. Rainwater harvesting is also very common due to the difficult access to clean water - we actually have a huge ground reservoir built on my mum's compound for this purpose. For better or for worse, getting 2ndhand items are a breeze but I am also conscious of the dark side of waste colonialism which fuels this abundance in developing countries. Immy, I would love for you or Gittemarie to talk about this subject of waste colonialism, because even though I have a video planned on it, my channel is so tiny that I wouldn't be able to create the level of awareness that you can.
Hi Jetta, thanks for coming back to me. The waste colonialism idea is yours so you must make the video on it! Can you let me know when it's been published so I can have a watch? :-)
I’m up early… hand-washing my reusables, making a latte, and cleaning cereal box wax liners for a ZW Valentine’s craft project in my sewing classroom this week. What incredible timing that a notification has popped up for a ZW video from you while I’m zero-wasting it in my kitchen. I love it!! I’m uber-excited for this video and the Live Chat as I always appreciate the inspiration and the knowledge I get from you and your community. Thanks Immy for this video essay. 🌎💦Ⓜ️ary💕☃️
what I most appreciate is that its ok if I can't do it all. ive lived in many different place and with limited resources all my life...so a simple way of life was my upbringing... I am so thankful for the categories of these lifestyles today... once I found these as an adult I had to unlearn that this is not a poverty lifestyle as I knew it my whole life and today with so many options its more of a conscious choice than an imposition and this was a huge eye opener although now I see some harsh judgement its still all about how much of a change we as individuals can do... I can't afford sustainable clothing but I shop once every decade and only if I have to... I live a small life I use uniforms for work so my clothes n shoes last me YEARS and I hate shopping.... I love this way of life as well as my minimalist life and I can only lead by example and hope that others can see the reality our lives face ❤️
I have observed habits and area’s of waste throughout my childhood and adult lives I am 60) and so appreciated when others started presenting ideas we could problem solve and improve choices that could help meet needs that arise in life. Helping each other outside the box and creating products that help us make thoughtful choices. Where plastics are concerned I have found a few areas they occasionally still help reduce waste, but still hope for people to come up with ideas to replace those needs or improvements in it as a product to become a product that doesn’t present itself as toxic.
I myself, for years fight to obtain even clothing made of natural fibers, preferably not blends. But as the years pass this has become more and more difficult, or sadly find some but they are saturated in chemicals. Let alone all the other materials and products we fill our home with.
I so appreciate having a community of people that communicate they also care about those issues and may willingly choosing to brainstorm ideas, for self and others because it does take a team effort of creative thinkers that help us each move out of the box we get stuck in.
I CAN'T BELIEVE ITTTTT, I LOVE TO SEE YOU TALKINGGGGGG WITH THEEEEEEEMMMM.
Thanks so much for making this great video! You really highlighted how the perception of ‘zero’ waste demands perfection and is really impractical for most people, as well as off-putting!
I’ve only just recently started becoming conscious about my waste production and the choices I make as a consumer. But I love the feeling of satisfaction, empowerment and knowledge that I’m making a tiny difference in my everyday life, just from the choices that I make. A lot of my friends are also interested in the zero waste movement, so I created my social media channel to share my journey with everyone.
I think the biggest thing for people to realise is that this movement isn’t about perfection and achieving ‘zero’, but in making conscious efforts that fit into our own individual lives and within our means.
Every little action we do makes a difference 💚🌎
Hi and thanks for your comment! It's so true that every little action we do makes a difference. I really like your new year resolutions video - good luck with finishing the divemaster course!
I love this video! I try to live a zero waste lifestyle. I make changes all the time to get me closer and closer to my goal and I’m always learning new things. Thank you for this video!
I feel like this was exactly my journey over the past four years as well.
I use to stress about food packaging but changed my mind set to make sure the food I am buying is not going to waste ... If I'm being honest I use to be real bad and I don't enjoy being in the kitchen ... So this part of my life working towards a more zero waste life style has been a struggle
I think, as long as influncers debunk the green washing companies, zero waste becoming trendy is a good thing. It just spreads awareness and reminds people every time they see a post or a headline to do something a little more sustainable. I have been at my new job for a year now. When I got I witnessed people throwing away dead batteries and ink cartridges. My head exploded! I offered to take responsibility for collecting them all and taking them to drop off locations. Now my coworkers bring in their items from home as well fir me to take. It's the little things that if you hear them enough, they stick with you!!
I love your point that government regulation should prevent brands from falsely claiming "sustainability". I don't know why this isn't the norm! It's false advertising, and since we live in capitalist Hell, the consumer should at LEAST get what they believe they're paying for.
The analogy with fitness is great! You can do so many things that have an impact, it's not just the Lauren Singer way.
I’m a student from Denmark and I’m deeply interested and invested in the zero waste discourse and practices.
I’m limited in terms of resources but I’m trying to slowly implement sustainable practices like grocery shopping for exact use, try to pick produce with less plastic and never bulk buying in grocery stores. With my ADHD, I’m prone to impulse buying more than needed or intended, so I’m working on reducing my shopping in all forms. I also try to use zero waste hygiene products, reusable straws and bags, secondhand shopping with home decor and home appliances, but I remain restricted on certain things. Sustainable fashion is out of my budget in terms of proper brands, and secondhand shopping is difficult as a plus size person in Denmark, as the right sizes and proper garments are seldom available in secondhand shops, nor online. I also have food intolerances and allergies, which limits certain levels of sustainable food practices like plastic free packaging for most food sensitive items, as sustainable shops with refillable grains are out of budget for me. However, I graduate soon and I intend to up my practices as much as possible with the increase of income :’)
Hi Diana, thanks so much for your comment and for sharing your particular circumstances. It's interesting to learn that your ADHD affects you in the way you have described - with impulse buying. These are all such important perspectives that we don't always consider unless we really seek to understand inidividual circumstances. So, thank you again for sharing and please continue to do so!
Immy, I discovered zero waste because one of your videos came up on my recommended. You are the reason I’m trying to live more sustainably
There are things that I've completely stopped using, like paper towels, and there are things that I've limited my use of, like drinks that come in plastic bottles. I'm nowhere near my personal goals when it comes to zero waste, but I think that might have more to do with where I live and less to do with my drive to accomplish my goals. I'm still learning quite a bit every day, and hopefully that'll roll over into my future life.
Dear Immy, you have been my single most source of inspiration and support as I go through this low waste sustainable lifestyle. Your kind and gentle nature always assures me to continue on this journey whenever I fail or face a setback bcoz here in Mumbai many things are not accessible and most of the times we have to choose the lesser evil. Really loved your video ❤️
Although I've been trying to live sustainably since a few years, I have been feeling a little lost. Having to put in a lot of time and energy into seeing beyond all the greenwashing has been tiresome. I think your video has helped put things into perspective 😊
Love this keep these coming and yay you're back 🥰🥰🥰🥰💕🥰🥰
Im surprised that you didny have Shelby in this video but happy with the people you chose. I think when I explain why I am low waste, vegan, being socially conscious etc. I always say because it aligns with my values: caring for all living beings, trying to cause the least amount of harm to animals, mother earth and few human beings.
Beautiful video, thank you ☺️
these are *such* relevant conversations to have!
For me, I also took that perfectionist mindset until I realized I was never going to happy with myself and always feel like a failure if I didn't take it slow. I've decided that making swaps one by one is the best way for me to go zero waste without feeling overwhelmed. I plan on swapping my bread and the chips I eat in plastic last because these are comfort items for me, and I feel I could never sustain this lifestyle if I don't let myself have them until I'm absolutely ready to switch
fantastic video and collection of thoughts here!
I honestly think the all or nothing -mindset is the main reason people don't aim to be zero waste. Even I, a global north citizen with a lot of privilege don't consider myself zero waste, even though my lifestyle is very climate-friendly. It's the word "zero", but also the thought that one must do it aesthetically, have access and resources to waste-free grocery shops/gardening and the ability to place zero waste in the center of their life. I do basically everything I can, but I'm also mentally ill and poor (in my country's scale) and I live in a periphery. I value the environment and my health equally. This means that I make choices that are sustainable for my mind and body in the long run, even if they seem not perfect zero waste -wise.
And I think the sustainability far more complexly than as just waste. E. g. some produce may be more sustainable when packaged in plastic than sold bare, because the packaging enables smoother transport and longer shelf life. Or, thin plastic is better than thick and hard.
The most apparent reason though, why I don't identify as zero waste, is that we have no landfills in my country. We have an excellent goverment-funded recycling system that includes every kind of waste. And it's nation-wide. So the "waste" part has never been a thing for me in the first place, since everyone learns to recycle as a child here. It has been other parts of the environmentally friendly lifestyle that have caught my attention. (And yes, I know how privileged position this is 🙈)
Overall, I think the best single thing one can do for the environment is to learn to find joy and fulfilment from somewhere else than consumption. We need to pursue identities beyond being just different types of consumers.
Hi S, thank you for your comment. I think you make some really interesting points but my favourite, and one that will stick with me, is when you say that we need to find joy and fulfilment away from consumption. This really resonates with me and I think you are absolutely right. Under capitalist societies, its hard not to feel that our identities are bound up with our consumption, and in turn, our enjoyment of life. Going against this grain is not easy, but the benefits for both the environment and us as individuals are worth it. Where is it that you live? It sounds like the government where you are is taking some good steps.
Omg ive been following gittemary for so long, shes so great and down to earth with vegan and zero/low waste lifestyle. One of my fave youtubers for sure that i keep the notif bell on for.
This video is AMAZING. I love this format. Thank you to everyone who was involved, it was so educational !
This is honestly one of the best videos I have ever watched!!
Thank you for such incredible content! Love your videos 🥰🙏🏼
i work in a supermarket. People say 'oh they shouldnt use plastic'. But 1 if you look, supermarkets exist to sell you individually wrapped food portions. Nowadays, eg 'stir fry offer: sauce, chopped veg, readycooked noodles for five pounds' each thing in plastic, each thing individually wrapped for you. They're not farmers' markets, farmers markets are farmers markets, greengrocers are greengrocers. 2 And if they only sold bread, dried pasta, veg, fruit, tea, coffee, sugar, salt, flour, oil, cheese, eggs and meat, they'd be two stalls at the farmers' market, or four, or six. But not a supermarket. How could they make money and clean up the whole food market, literal sense? How come most of the money spent on food goes to four shops? That can only happen if they sell processed foods (and note i'm not including pasta, bread or cheese as processed, although they are). You either buy into that having individual portions shipped on motorways and even first class on planes from the third world, or you don't. I don't see a way round it without having a lifestyle change that's unaffordable, not in your sense, but in the sense of having your own land, because land now without a house costs double what land with a house on, and god knows, say a quarter of us Britons will never be able to own our own homes, let alone a garden you could live from. Idk, i really dk
Trully brilliant and insightful video. Lets make zero waste more wholesome and encompassing of an overall goal towards circular systems of society, through consumer vote, rather than simply a social branding tool. Thank you for this.
Thank you so much, Veruschka.
Love this style of video from you Immy... such an intelligent and well researched look at this topic and you have included some of the best and most relatable creators.. LOVE a bit of Gittemary... such fun and so down to earth
Thank you so much!
What a great, interesting, well-made video! Hopefully it reaches many people that are starting their sustainable journey or perhaps need some more confirmation/motivation/information :)
This is so important to highlight this thing of doing what you can is good enough and it's okay if you can't control this or that as much at a certain time in your life!
I'm currently living with my grandma for my uni years and I was beating myself a lot at first, but I slowly realised that it's okay, because if I'm not the one making the decisions, I can't control it. So doing the small things that I can control, is already enough and we celebrate the little wins, like bringing a bokashi compost bin in and convincing her to buy less meat. It's not a lot, but I can't do much more for the moment.
Hi Lea, what you're doing is enough! I think we can celebrate what we are doing without telling ourselves that it's not much or it's not enough. Individual contributions will always be limited by circumstances and that's ok. How is your bokashi composting going?
I’m pretty low waste, never got to a fully black and white zero waste mindset as I was in the transition process when I had a realization. I had a local BnB owner tell me that because of the health department she had to plastic wrap whole apples for her guests. I hadn’t gotten a pre-made (wrapped in plastic) local baked good for a while and I just had a face palm duh moment. I will eat things in plastic if it’s from a local/small/minority owned business. (And try to recycle soft plastics when I can) And I do not put as much pressure on my local, family owned Asian and middle eastern grocery stores as I do the large Kroger chain and don’t get things in plastic there. Being zero waste is only a part of my sustainability journey as I’m learning about permaculture/food forests, anti-capitalism, decolonization, etc
Zero waste is something I see as a fun thing to do and that is literally the only reason, ish, that makes me want to do this lifestyle. The thought of growing my own food, bringing my own food and utensils when I am out and about, drinking from the same plastic bottle I bought five months ago just seem fun to me. Idk if it is weird or a stupid reason but it just is like that.
For those interested in the topic of racial inequality and consumerism, the book 'Consumed' bij Aja Barber will be discussed by Leena Norms and Ash Tanja at the end of february. (I haven't read the book yet, but seems like it will be interesting!)
Having a baby fed by formula, a business where i need to use plastic bottles and a very, very unprepared country for recycling, trying zero waste has only made me feel worse. So I tried something better. I tried doing my best. I use cotton bags, I try to eat vegan, I keep single use containers and try to reuse them, I buy second hand. I try. And it's better than not trying.
Hi Diana, that's understandable. If it's making you feel worse, it's not the one. But doing what you are doing right now sounds pretty great!
"Everyone has to decide for themselves what's realistic"
I try to be conscious about the planets resources in areas that feels easy for me. My partner and I have just moved to an apartment from a tiny house because there is a baby on its way. So we had to get a lot of new things, both considering the baby but also all the furniture and other household ware. And I really try to get everything, or most of the things second hand. People around me very easily thinks it is out of economicall reasons but my number one force is that there is so much stuff out there! It feels ridiculous to buy new things. And I don't want to to go to Ikea and get everything from there and then get the feeling I am living in one of their catalogues. I don't care so much about others opinions and already have a hippie stamp on me (dreads, vegan, tiny house builder...) but I could get if people outside of this 'alternative' sphere get put off if people think that the lack money and therefore get things second hand - that it can be a status thing.
🎶💌🎶 It is SO amazing to watch the rate of those learning, utilizing the internet for good, for quite a few years now! I am almost 40, so I didn't grow up with it. Very thankful I didn't, but what it can give ♡ Inspiration and hope everywhere! Thank you! Sending bright glittery (because, why not?) love and hugs your way! Stay strong and kind! ❤
Loved the colab 👌🏼😍🌈
All of our furniture is second hand and we recycle as much as possible and reuse as much as we can. We'd like to do more, we're learning to grow and reduce what we own... it is a process but we're on it. ;)
I think about zw the same way as martial arts and their "belt system". I've practiced jujitsu and as a beginner had a white belt. Once you know a few basic things, you get a yellow belt, then orange, green, blue, brown and the selected few will also reach a black belt. That equals your mason jar.
These individuals play a big role as teachers, but don't sustain a club (/movement). It's the lower levels who "pay the bills".
I think you can identify yourself as a zero waster if you want to, even if all you do is use your own water bottle and library but you have a desire to do more and learn more. You decide what YOUR version of the "yellow belt" is - there's no official test.
I've done a few workshops on zw and this is what I preach anyways. Do what you can with what you have, where you are.
My community does not provide composting and I do not want to set up a backyard compost because it will attract wildlife. Not all foods are available without packaging. We do not have good 2nd hand stores. I have tried thred up and was disappointed in the quality of the garment. I am overwhelmed by too many listed products and the time it takes to find something I want.
Hi Ivy, that's understandable. It's important that we have these discussions about why it might be difficult to reduce our waste, depending on our individual circumstances. Have you been able to find other ways to reduce your waste that you feel are right for you?
@@SustainablyVegan Yes. I have drastically stopped my consumption of everything. I used to think that if I could afford it, I could have it. Now I think of the environmental impact and pass on the purchase. I also have been vegan for 11 years, but I made this switch mostly due to not wanting to harm animals.
That's amazing. Thank you for taking the time to share this with us, Ivy.
What an interesting video. Thank you! I think what scares people off zero waste is the ZERO. I might be biased (my channel's name is MENOS waste, menos=less) but it can be daunting for people to aim for perfection... But I love thinking about one day being able to say I live Zero waste, a little bit at a time
Hiya, yes I do agree - had a quick look at your channel. Great video about your low buy year - good luck with it!
Yes I feel very "elite" riding the bus. People criticize everything.
👌👌👌
I hate how much food packaging waste I have, but due to a food allergy (celiac) I cannot eat any food that isn't carefully packaged to prevent cross-contamination. I really see no reason, other than the current lack of infrastructure, why companies are not planting tons of hemp and using biodegradable plastics for all of their packaging.
Hi Rainstorm, thanks so much for sharing this. There are so many reasons why people might not be able to buy unpackaged food and it's really useful to hear about your specific obstacle.
Personally I try to make less waste because of my mental health. Like all mental health stuff, it`s a priviledge to be able to do it. But honestly grocery stores give me anxiety and buying stuff in a zero waste shop makes me feel good. That`s the reason I do it. I don`t really think it makes a difference though... I think for that you have to do stuff as a group and on the streets
Hello 💙
❤️🌎🌺🌹
Couldn't we say "I'm on a zero-waste mission" as opposed to "I'm zero-waste". This way, people can't judge. Just a thought.
Hi Geri, that sounds like a really good alternative!