Trial and Error, some effort is better than no effort. I must say, she is proving that it is possible and to do it without changing much of your life style. To use organic materials is good but if demand ever skyrockets it might be counter productive to saving the planet.
I really like how she isn't forcing or shaming other people for not living her lifestyle because she is a vegan and doesn't use plastics. She understands that how most people live today and grew up doing is different to what she is doing. Personally if someone is showing me a new way of doing something or thinking I do not respond well to negativity. I think she is showing a very positive message and would love to strive to limit my waste!
+Lily most vegetarians, vegans, gluten allergic people, extra econfriendly people, etc. are like this. It's just that the internet an one or two bad experiences make people thinks these kind of persons are obnoxious when in reality they are not.
+Isauro López Exactly, and there are so many people out there who get offended by vegans simply because they live differently. Often vegans just try to defend themselves which is then seen as negativity
Why people hate vegans is the following, NOT ALL VEGANS. But to us, it seemed LIKE ALL vegans did this. 1. Vegan gains, 2. Vegans who just don't want to shut the fuck up and start shaming us for eating meat and began posting pictures and sharing videos...yes, the tumours from those haven't healed yet... 3. Those few vegans who just keep praising themselves as vegans. 4. The Vegans that call meat eaters as murderers, again, you don't need negativity to change someones perspective of eating meat, that will just make them pissed off. 5. Vegans who are posting about how they can live more than the average meat eater, showing off how their vegetables and fucking turnips can keep them alive, yet, we all hate life, LIFE IS CANCER. Hope you understand, because the reasons above, which I believe a small amount of vegans do this, yet OVER do it, making us think that they are just a group of hipsters who don't shut the fuck up.
Nobody needs to do exactly what this girl is doing. We just need to do a tiny tiny fraction of the work this girl is doing, and this whole world would be a better place.
Actually, there would not be much change, even if all the households in the world tried to reduce waste!! Corporations are the biggest waste producers, they need to change the way they operate, change the materials they use in packaging and make their products biodegradable or re-usable....
A few things that I would like some clarification on, if possible. :) - What about the bristles on the toothbrush? Aren't they nylon or something? - The metal utensils; are they delivered to a recycling station? - What about electronics and appliances? Those break quite often, or need replacing due to being outdated (mobile phones, for example). - Why not dry clothes on a drying rack? That would eliminate the need for dryer balls or dryer sheets and save on energy.
Lemonz1989 Hi! Check out her blog, here: www.trashisfortossers.com/ She answers many questions of your and more constantly as well as provides tips and insights on how to start yourself!
Lemonz1989 Have you tried seemly fixing broken electronics? It's not hard to do in most cases. Also for cell phones... Have you tried simply not having the newest shiniest iPhone? Let it live out it's lifespan before replacing it? Hell, why even have a phone? No one makes phone calls except for work these days and well, when work calls no one actual answers their phone because they just want you to work more. Skype is the new phone.
Meep Changeling _"Have you tried seemly fixing broken electronics? It's not hard to do in most cases."_ I do, and it is hard in most cases for me. I regularly fixed my headset, because the original soldering was poor (as was mine), and the wires kept coming loose. I kept soldering it for a few years, until it failed in another way that I couldn't fix. I just fixed the microphone on my Sony Xperia M and gave it to my mom, as I just upgraded to a used iPhone 5, where I fixed the camera. Other than that, I haven't fixed much, because I have no idea how to do it - here I'm thinking computer screen, TV, printer etc. _"Have you tried simply not having the newest shiniest iPhone?"_ Yes, I usually never have the newest electronics. I wait for the price to drop after a years or so. _"Let it live out it's lifespan before replacing it?"_ I do. Most of my phones only manage 3 years, if I'm lucky, and that's when I've bought them new. _"Hell, why even have a phone? No one makes phone calls except for work these days and well, when work calls no one actual answers their phone"_ I will lose my job if I don't answer, and I can miss important calls from my school, which could result in an expulsion, as I'm under a certain lenient policy (with regards to attendance) due to health problems. This is on the condition, that I follow every direction they give me. The school is also fully digital, so I use my phone to check my classes and classroom location, among other things. _"Skype is the new phone."_ Then I have to drag a computer everywhere I go, and no official person uses Skype.
Lemonz1989 Looks like you are already living minimally with electronics than. Looks like you are in an unusual spot for your phone, oh and I mean you use skype on a moble platform, they have an app you know. (Seriously, I dont know why they keep including a phone app with phones. Skype is free...)
Very impressive. I challenge that young lady to come to Japan and teach people about the reduction of the ridiculous amount of wrapping used for everything here. You can buy biscuits (cookies) that are each wrapped and then wrapped up as one unit and then put inside the packet/box and then covered in another layer of plastic to protect the box. It is quite ridiculous. That is only one example. I am sure that I create less plastic waste etc than the average person here, but the young lady in the video has shown us how to do it..... if only things like bulk buying and using one's own containers into which to put foodstuffs etc were possible / acceptable here, too.
staninjapan07 I thought all those Asian people Used to be Awesome at it and had Lots of knowledge about how to reduce things. Especially older generation. So thats not true then?
Tell me about it! Now even fruits are wrapped and packaged in plastic containers (two apples in this thing, it's not even tasty and natural and waaaay more expansive!). Just... for what? You can easily crochet a bag from simple twine or just make a furoshiki-bag (litteraly just folded piece of cloth...) and grab a bunch of them in lower price and higher quality. The most fun and sad thing that people buy polyethylene trash bags for smaller polyethylene bags from food. Trash bag in trash bags, combo! We really should become more mindful about that and learn how to be more "zero-waste" and "hundred-use". :D
Japanese like handiness, they use too much plastic. But they also have great recycle system and great waste treatment. So I think they can handle it. I live in Vietnam, everything people chase is buying more and more all the time. Crazy consuming country. Government and companies don't care about the environment. Some Factories even don't set up the waste treatment. Poor my country...
this is what i do and suggest peoples around me but they call me mad and tells that we are living in 21st century and we are modern so we don't need to bother on some small things like these. I should have meet this girl before. :) Doing good job, keep it up..
In the beginning I though it was fake, but later I was convinced, I totally support such lifestyle. My trash can consists of same things: paper, plastic, glass; and most of them I have to buy because that's the way (honestly, I don't want to). She's damn right!
This is great! Our family has been trying to reduce the amount of waste we produce. We have been buying from a package free bulk store and filling glass jars and using reusable bags, making our own deodorant, we've also been using bamboo tooth brushes which we really like. It's been a long transition but we are getting there :D
You guys aren't doing too bad! I've also been trying to reduce my packaging but it's really hard to change how you've lived for so long. Like putting groceries in reusable bags is a hard one to remember sometimes. I had a look at your channel and you've got some good stuff! Good on ya :)
This is really inspiring! I was just thinking today how I thought I was a pretty well aware of how I'm helping the environment by recycling and turning off lights and the water when I'm washing the dishes, stuff like that. But then in my geography and geology classes, we used this site that asked you a bunch of questions and calculate at the end how many earths you're hypothetically using. I reflected on that and realized I wasn't as much of a "helper" of this earth as I thought I was. Funny how I remembered that today and came upon this video as well.
WOW, I really have to admire that! I try my very best to either recycle everything or not use it to begin with, but I don't come anywhere close to this woman! My municipality has a really good curbside pickup program for all recyclables (no limit on how much they'll pick up on that), then a green bin for all organic materials (pick-up every 2nd week in winter, every week in summer) and a black bin for true garbage that is picked up every second week. We also have an Enviro-Centre to take all electronics, light bulbs, ink cartridges, extra yard waste that can't go in a green bin, used motor oil or gasoline, paint, and well, just about everything that can be saved from going to the landfill. I put everything organic that I can either into my green bin or into one of 7 compost bins I have in my yard for green materials. I also end up going to the Enviro-Centre to grab free mulch they offer (they grind up any branches or chunks of trees that are dropped off and grass clippings in order to boost my composters. My only hope is that more people will get on board to stop the landfill insanity. I also feel that ALL CITIES, at least in North America can get out & reclaim stuff from landfills to either recycle it or compost it, since they've already proven that nothing decomposes in a landfill; one study that was taking core samples was finding newspapers dated 1974 along with packaged meat that was still recognizable as meat! Thanks for sharing!
I want to say that I saw this video 5 years ago and it got me really interested into zero waste! Now my lifestyle changed in a more natural, zero waste, healthy one. I'm very greatfull for your work/video 💜💜💜💜
This is awesome. I'm impressed with the way she approaches everything and takes up the challenge, ultimately which has shaped up her unique lifestyle right now. Hats off and cheers to this beautiful, smart woman!
Come on everyone! Let's help Lauren recycle everything she has in her jar @ 0:42, she states that she is not sure about what to do with all of it. I think if this comment receives enough likes and everyone pitches in with a reply about how every single item shown @ 0:42 can be recycled, Lauren Singer may see this comment and be able to completely get rid of ALL her garbage. Which is not that much anyway. Let's make ZERO waste.
+Eugene Androshchuk I suppose I can make the first suggestion: The red and black straws in the bottom left corner @ 0:42, can be put into a plastic milk jug and recycled that way.
+Eugene Androshchuk There actually trying to make a type of worm that is able to consume plastic and then digest it. Kinda interesting you should look it up if you want to help. news.stanford.edu/pr/2015/pr-worms-digest-plastics-092915.html There also trying to find a marine version of it.
Wow, that is really interesting. I did not know mealworms could consume plastic. Then again I did not know much about them expect that they are the staple food of most domestic reptiles in the US. Do you think that mealworms would do well in a compost bin? We could then toss our plastic foam in as well. Thank you, for the find!
+Eugene Androshchuk Good idea. No more plastic stir straws. Use wooden ones instead and compost. Gummy labels are a pain, but some will compost. It might work to have a special compost bin just for the tuff papers and just experiment. Metal can be recycled. Random metal, try the dump or a recycle station that takes metal and resells it. Many do. Same deal with electronic stuff. People buy electronic garbage to mine the gold and other expensive materials out of it. Are those little packages that toxic absorbant stuff? Ugh. I would get rid of those in the HazMat bag. Like batteries and light tubes. Ribbons? Upcycle. Mylar bag? Inside out and use the reflector side to decorate something. More upcycling. I love her ideas. I'm gonna go look over her blog.
+Eugene Androshchuk - the ball chain is metal (steel), and that's recyclable (there are guys who will pick up metal curbside in my neighborhood for the copper & steel bits, even if it's not able to be put into the curbside bins collected by the city, they do it because it's not only recyclable, but it pays). and the strings that were laying next to the ball chain, i'm surprised she didn't compost those! they came with the pull-cord ball chain to extend its length, and if she cuts off the plastic ends, the string part is just plain cotton (and if not compost, they might work as candle wicks, or to tie up something that needs an ~18" string). and the pantyhose, well, she may be saving that for the day when she needs to paint, because you can use that to strain old paint (and finding used--rather than brand new--paint can remnants and mixing it up to create a paint color you like, that's a great way to keep that paint from being thrown out and saving yourself from needing to create demand for brand new fresh paint... but it'll probably need straining!) the lacinato kale tag, depending how thick that is, maybe it could be cut into a couple of guitar picks? and i'm not sure why she didn't recycle the straws. ok, that's my contribution! she may not have known what to do with those things, but she didn't send them to the landfill yet, which makes me think she's still waiting for the opportunity to reuse some of them when the time is right. so she might already have had some of these ideas anyway.
Lauren is so inspirational!!! I just started my zero waste trash jar, one month in, and feeling pretty positive about decreasing the amount of waste I create!
This was very eye opening. I think it's a great idea to try to live with zero waste. Think I'll try to do some of those things. Doubt I'll be able to do all of that since I'm lazy though.
So how does one do this with a monthly minimum wage income of $1000 a month. While renting a place and driving a car that pretty much guarantees waste production.
You could drive your car less (or not at all if you only need to travel within walking distance). Plus, walking more is good exercise! :) Also, buying in bulk is overall a lot cheaper. The foods are usually considerably less per unit, and they last longer (that is if they don't have a short expiry date). Buying things that are reusable with also save you a lot of money :)
I love it!! I want to do this now, or at least work towards it. When she brings home all her groceries in cloth bags instead of plastic ones, it looks oddly artistic. And knowing how to make your own household products like toothpaste sounds empowering. What a beautiful way to live.
This young woman is not only very inspiring, but she is so beautiful. Her skin glows with good health, and one senses a deep inner happiness. She should be lecturing on TV and showing people how to manufacture their own hygiene products. Bravo!
I'd love to do something similar. Maybe not to this extent. Like instead of buying bottles of water I recently bought a Brita water filter for drinking water. I've also been recycling cans for years. Next I want to buy canvas bags to put my groceries in. Just keep them in my car for when I need them. They'll also be sturdier than those plastic grocery bags. I've also found compostable garbage bags online. I found Laundry Detergent Squares that dissolve in the machine. No plastic container. Every little thing helps. :)
please please please put a disclaimer on using baking soda for toothpaste, that is literally one of the most destructive things you can possibly do to your teeth, holy, i can't even.
+TheJoodez - nope, not harmful. i use baking soda, plain, straight. just wet my toothbrush and dip it in, and then i scrub my teeth with it. it's water soluble, you know, so it's actually not that abrasive, and to the extent it is abrasive, it's a very mild abrasive, more like a polish. they use *pumice* when they polish your teeth during a teeth cleaning. you will find most dentists will give you the thumbs up to your use of baking soda, actually, especially when year after year you are cavity-free, stain-free, etc., and your cleanings take very little work b/c you're doing a good job on your own brushing away the plaque.
It can be destructive in using it too often. 1-2x a day is not bad. My dentist even uses it herself. But even brushing your teeth with normal toothpaste too often can be destructive.
Really cool video, thanks for the toothpaste recipe. She is inspiring and comes across as a pretty normal person who is just trying to do the right thing.
I can't imagine how much effort this took. Great job! I don't think everyone can make their own products. But we can do a few simple things - recycle plastics and paper/cardboard, start using reusable bags to buy food where you can (if most things are pre-packaged in every grocery store within a reasonable distance from your house, you can only practically do this with some produce, but every little bit helps), and compost. There are com posters that are sealable/made not to smell. Also, every city/town should have a city-wide composting program. If a city the size of San Francisco can do it, other big cities can do it too. It's probably even easier for smaller towns.
I love this! But just one thing annoys me, a lot: when did mason jars become the new drinking glass? It's everywhere and it just such an annoying trend. Are normal traditional glasses too uncool? As far as I know it's the same material so what's the point? 😑
diemcim Well think of this way, when you buy food contained in food grade mason jars why throw them out to be broken and made into new mason jars. Instead they can be reused as cups at no cost to you.
madman3891 Because most people already have cups that are better than a mason jar? Drinking out of a mason jar isn't that great, the mouth is way too wide and leads to more accidental spills.
chownful "Because most people already have cups that are better than a mason jar? " What do you mean better... Outside of specific uses for a cup like shot glasses or wine tasting cups, then there really isn't anything a cup needs to do but hold the drink. Also your rhetorical question doesn't exactly bring anything to the discussion. You still end up with mason jars that are perfectly fine to use as cups, meaning people don't necessarily need to buy cups at all; unless they're necessary for specific uses. "Drinking out of a mason jar isn't that great, the mouth is way too wide and leads to more accidental spills." I would disagree, i've used mason jars in replacement of cups for years and had no problems with them at all. You're right that some are too large to use as cups, but then again you have as many size options with the mason jars as you do with cups.
madman3891 I would think that the average adult already owns multiple cups so they don't need a mason jar on standby to use a a cup. I think for them a mason jar would be better to have on standby for something else, since they already have cups available to them. I'm just not fond of the mason jar for drinking liquids. I don't mind using it, but I feel it it not optimal for me. I also do not like the ridges that are close to the mouth. Once I found the decently priced stainless steel insulated container, I have not looked back on other cups/liquid containers. This one will last me at least 20 years hopefully.
Trash is usually the product of a more "convenient" lifestyle. If you have less free time, you're more likely to use pre-packaged products. This is a great model for those who have more time outside of work, caring for the home, children, school, etc. Time is the most precious form of waste.
Lots of respect for this girl! How many people can put so much thought into what they preach to actually go through with all these life style changes? As much as I am inspired by this though, I don't think I could ever make that much changes in my life. I would appreciate it if these environmentally friendly products were more accessible though, for example, the toothbrush and toothpaste. They don't seem like too much effort to switch to . :)
Ebay. Tons of stuff on ebay. Plus Famers markets or Co-op's. We have 2 Co-o's here & an otganic grocery store. Our farmers markets are very small compared to hers & don't provide as many options either. But searching in the area or even a couple hour drive? (Dont gotta drive that often for toothbrushes.) & TH-cam is great for homemade things. Like laundry soap & Toothpaste. Can last way longer than bought stuff.
DeathShiniGama I know these things are definitely online, lots of things are available online nowadays anyway. But I mean it would be great if it's more accessible to everyone. If people can easily get their hands on these things in most supermarkets then more people will use these ecofriendly products because I think a huge reason why people aren't trying to be more environmentally friendly is due to how much effort they think it is to do all that. :)
You gotta be the change you wish to see. Walmart for example (In only some places.) Started putting organic on their shelves because people were calling in & asking for them to sell it. Businesses only know what the consumer wants by what they buy. There is a lot more to it than just your question. Change starts with one, yourself. The time you put into it is the more money you save. Its so hard for the society mindset to change. But hey this video of one girl changing is starting a revolution. You have the same opportunity to start a mini revolution as well.
DeathShiniGama that is true, but my point is that most people won't do that, and so the best way to increase eco-friendly product's usage is if people can easily get out hands on them. That's just my opinion though xD
Yea :o But.. companies don't know to sell them originally. They wont put products that don't sell on the shelves. I mean with our environmental crisis we're in currently. Many people still buy Hummers rather than electric cars. Plus more people than you realize aren't as open to this type of lifestyle. : / I do understand your point. But companies have to see the problem before they try to introduce an alternative ( & Most don't) v__v) Its a sad cycle.
What an amazing step forward. This is wonderful and I hope she inspires as many people as she meets. I'm truly inspired by her and aspire to live with zero waste in my own life. I hope that one day we all live with zero waste. Please make more videos highlighting a sustainable future so we can finally all live in harmony with nature as we should.
I live out in the boonies in western Maine. About once a week we burn all our trash in the fire pit. Not sure if that's great for the environment but it eliminates me from driving to the dump to leave my garbage there.
Rejjie Snow But on the other hand I save from driving 18 miles round trip to the dump. So that's less gas used, less tire rubber that gets worn down and less pollution produced by my car. Which is worse?
Worldwide Darts Some places will actually pay you for any tin or plastic you have. I do it all the time when I run out of cash, it helps me get by until the next check. Just save up any metals and plastics and take it down to the recycling center, it will at least pay for the gas. Compost anything else that you can. Plant trees and stuff on your property. Apple trees take a while to grow, but it will eventually produce oxygen and apples!
Worldwide Darts The emissions put out by your car really aren't that much. It's certainly a lot lower than people make it out to be. You can drive around all day long, and still put out less harmful gasses than a single cow's farts in that same day. (Being completely serious) And your tires don't get worn down that fast. If they do then you probably shouldn't have a license, because you're doing some serious tire spins, and sudden skid stops. Like Allan said; compost, and take a monthly trip instead.
i thought her hair looked kind of greasy. that was the only thing that i was like ... uh, yeah, i'm not sold on making my own shampoo after this video. (her lifestyle is amazing before someone thinks i'm knocking her. i think she's admirable. the comment was in regard to shampoo and throughout the video, with the assumption she made her own, i thought her hair looked greasy. that is all.)
You should try it! We're all taking the #ZeroWaste challenge, Tuesday, April 14th - do it with us - seekernetwork.com/seeker-blog/what-is-the-zero-waste-challenge/
She's the physical manifestation of the age old question: What would you do for a beautiful woman? She's incredibly gorgeous but to date her you'll have to change everything about your lifestyle. Would you?
It actually seems cool to live like this, you feel good cause you know you are contributing to a better tomorrow. I wouldn't mind, although it would take some getting used to, still definitely enthusiastic to try.
hm doubt it. she speaks about her ex and how he was more eco friendly than she was once upon a time. you learn to cooperate with others, especially in relationships. she also talks a lot about how she never expects others to live the way she does. & have you ever thought about how incredibly awkward it is for women when the man wants to change everything for a woman? i've had this instance before, when a guy was interested in me but i couldn't help get other the fact that he wasn't vegan like i am... it just clashes with my beliefs so hard. i tried to overlook it, but i just... couldn't. :\ and he was willing to give up animal products for me, but i had to turn him down. i can't force someone into a lifestyle they don't believe in. (there were other issues with him- regarding his personality and behaviour tbh.) i feel selfish but i want someone who has the same ideals as i do.
I personally am pretty darn close to zero waste, and I haven't pressured my boyfriend to change his own lifestyle at all. He still uses plastic packaging, paper plates, etc. quite a bit. However, he has become increasingly interested in the changes I make and has even implemented a few himself. Ultimately, I don't think forcing or coercing someone to do X, Y, or Z ever has a positive outcome. Only resentment. True progress happens when someone chooses to make that choice themselves.
As I am trying to reduce my waste as much as possible, one thing I have done is go through my room to see what I still have, such as shower products and candles (because I just love candles!) and use what I already have. Recycling has become another thing that I have been doing.
sooo she NEVER goes out to eat?? what about that waste? how does she handle that? no straw? no napkin? no plate? brings home scraps to compost? or just doesn't go out at all?
+Amanda D I assume it would be the same as people who bring their own coffee mugs to get filled at coffee shops. Bringing your own containers is actually more common than you'd think. It would also depend on where you're eating too. Like a lot of restaurants use ceramic plates. You can always ask for your drink not to have a straw. If you're talking more about fast food places I assume you could bring your own plate/lunch box and cup/water bottle/coffee mug. If she has scraps theres no reason why she couldn't keep them in her lunch container and throw them in the compost when she gets home. I think there's a lot of ways to get around those little things but I do think it takes commitment and also you'd have to get over the weird looks people would give you lol.
+Amanda D Oh! I just looked on her website and she actually answers that in her frequently asked section. It's pretty much what I said though lol. She brings her own cutlery and a cloth napkin and container.
***** wouldnt she been really ... fluffly ... if she are EVERYTHING she ordered when it was served to her? I mean if she brings some home, I could see that. But I think someone else said she brings her own container, which makes sense.
PassiFlora96 She uses her own reusable glass jars, instead of buying bottles or cans over and over; even though those materials are recyclable, she is still using much less.
Seeker Stories Yeah, but she could still have CUPS to pour it into from the container they showed her getting filled instead of making everyone drink from mason jars.
+Margo Gadet YES! It's so awesome. I recently found that my local co op has honey, vanilla extract, and cooking oils in bulk. It's great that I can bring my reusable bottles. :) Thanks for the feedback.
+Mr. Gabe I've heard of people using cloths for that as well. So like really soft towels that get put into a basket, and then washed later, or something like that.
Miguel Casas Arrojo, I don't understand how you could be a vegetarian, I could not live with out meat, please explain how, you couldn't eat tacos you couldn't eat hotdogs, pizza ect, and what do you eat on Thanksgiving?
So, if you want to eat a taco, just put fake mince in it (Made from plasnts and tastes almost the same), for pizza, just use vegan cheese, (pretty good), and for thanksgiving, just son´t eat turkey, or eat vegan turkey if you really want to. It´s that simple. Hope it helped.
Appreciated great approach .. I am trying the same way from last few years but she is amazing ....hats off playing her role to save the planet earth....😎😎😎
Daniel J. De Jesús Fluoride really just needs to be used if you are starting to have cavities. I mean fluoride toothpaste isn't really necessary for everyday use if you brush your teeth often and sometimes don't eat or drink things that damage your teeth. Most people also have annual dental check ups and if there is even a tiny little cavity they put fluoride in you.
+Daniel J. De Jesús No, it doesn't. Coconut oil does the same thing the fluoride does & it doesn't poison your system if ingested. Baking soda is an abrasive & menthol fights bad breath.
I really like the idea for the zero waste girl because it can save the world and help to decrease the rubbish. On the other hand, also make a good model to teach the students. Also, we can learn from her.
eduardo maria She uses a reusable menstrual cup :) It is a hypoallergenic, washable silicon cup that collects blood during the menses. You empty the contents into the toilet after use, wash it out in the sink with a bit of soap, and continue to use it until your flow stops. Very nice on the environment and also your pocket book - plus, in my experience, it's much more comfortable and you never run the risk of ruining your clothes! If the cup gets "full", it does not leak like a tampon, it simply holds back the flow until you have time to empty it, clean it and reinsert it.
TigressofDDR Ok but I have a stupid question: In public bathrooms it is slightly hard to take it out, leave your stall and go wash your menstrual cup in the sink? So, anyone who uses menstrual cups (you?), can you enlighten me on a solution for that? My body can't handle tampons and I have to admit that pads aren't comfortable so I am open for new things but that part just seems like a problem to me.
+msvelvetlovepocket You can leave cups in way longer than you can tampons. 10-14Hrs...I think. Not entirely sure. But Ive used them for years and never emptied mine in a public bathroom with stalls. I mean, technically you could but cleaning up would be a very akward hassle. So the takeaway is: longer allotted insertion time = more choices in when and where you empty your cup.
+David Galvin Not producing it in the first place is much more eco-friendly. Also it would have saved hundreds of thousands if not millions of lives in the wars for oil...
What about Bea Johnson? Didn't she inspire Lauren Singer to go zero waste?? Thought Bea was the mother of Zero waste. Great Channel by the way!!! Really like it that you spread awareness to the public relating to Waste and Saving the Environment!
lol the place I used to work at used to make around 3 bags per meal each weighing around 15 pounds each bag worth of food, now there's 3 meals per day (breakfast,Lunch,Dinner) 9 bags of food thrown away to the trash eachday for everyday. . . . . 135Pounds worth of food per day.....49kpounds per year. . . . Kudos to you !
OK so I'm definitely not doing what she's doing at this moment, but, for the sake of time and convenience, I usually buy and make my food in bulk and mix-and-match them into lunchboxes that I freeze for the rest of the week. Definitely saves a ton of water that way. Also easier to do portion-control so I don't eat more than I have to, and I only had to do the majority of my dishes once (barring cleaning the lunchboxes after each use).
+chownful Menstrual cups are becoming quite popular. They aren't mainstream yet, because many women haven't heard about them. They are actually safer too. There is less risk for toxic shock syndrome with menstrual cups verses tampons. Here's the website: divacup.com/
+chownful also not everyone is comfortable with putting items inside of themselves. I know a woman who has never used a tampon. she is 50 yrs old. in addition the thought of taking it out of yourself with blood inside of it is ALSO not something many people would like to experience. it;s really just a personal preference.
NemesisJake Haha xD oh dear. The toilet paper is not recycled from past toilet paper. It means the toilet paper comes from other recycled paper sources.
there are many things where recycling doesn't actually help much (and in some cases actually hurts more) however, metal is always worthwhile to recycle Glass pretty much makes no difference (nature pretty much treats it like a rock) Recycling paper wont really help save trees (we actually have more trees than in the past because so much more were planted to keep up with demands) However, compost is always good for a garden, and if you can simply not produce waste then that's better than recycling Plastic is a bit of an odd-ball.... For regular plastic, it's just best to stay away from it and not use it in the first place, however, landfills have PLENTY of room for more junk. (I looked at one stat that said that if we made a 30mile x 30mile landfill then it would have enough space for a thousand years of trash) in any case, producing less waste is the best option, avoid tossing out plastic because that's just plain careless, compost organics and paper products, glass is pretty much ok to toss, but that's just a waste, ALWAYS recycle metal. (just take metal to a scrapyard, they will pay you money for it! why else do you think people collect cans?)
Tyler Carberry pollution was besides the point, besides, I'm not saying I'm anti-recycling or whatever. I'm just trying to put some stuff out there, like avoiding plastic whenever possible and always recycle metal. You should compost organics and paper products. You should take metals to the scarp yard where you'll get money and it'll get used again
anyone following the zero waste lifestyle KNOWS it's not truly zero waste; it's as little as possible, reducing as much as you can. just bc it is not truly zero does not mean we shouldn't try to reduce what crap we can. there is no reason the rest of the world cannot live in this type of manner. xo
She's such an inspiration to people! I know I would make it through a week of doing that, but I think we should all at least reduce you waste by a small bit
While these are all great ideas, this distracts from the most important contributer of waste: commercial business. It's foolish to think me, a lower class wage worker, being less wasteful will help here. We cannot save the world because we're not the ones doing the damage. For people like me to have an affect we've got to convince the ones with power to change.
thewingedcroc there are a lot of people like us, with little political power. And the middle class is also one of the contributors to enviormental waste problems. 40% of waste is on us actually. So if there was 40% less trash, or at least 30% less, would you still be saying we have no impact? We are the change
If you are not going to help then don't become an obstacle for the rest of us. We do make an impact because we also produce trash. As the other comment said, we produce 40% of it, so by changing our lifestyle we can reduced or eliminate that 40% of trash.
Seeker Stories I think that there are some great ideas on how to minimize garbage in this video, but I'd be careful about the toothpaste. Part of brushing your teeth is getting the food particles out so that bacteria in your mouth don't have much to feed on and destroy your teeth and another is to provide a layer of chemical protection to protect your teeth from further damage (from acidic drinks like coffee and soda). I don't believe that baking soda does this; it doesn't contain fluoride. Your teeth may be white, but may be easily damaged by drinks such as those listed above. A structural weld may look great, but may not be able to tolerate pressure. Please be careful.
Nick Cobb Not just that, but it does nothing to protect the teeth from a) bacteria (they come back so fast wiping them out once is not good enough) and b) does nothing to protect from harmful acids such as caffeine/soda.
Sarah Szabo fluoride is actually toxic and not necessary for oral health (google it) this is why many companies make fluoride free toothpaste. I haven't used fluoride in years and I haven't had any cavities.
![ILLSLICK - KILLSHOT REMIX [FULL VERSION]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RIK8RrqIAzE/mqdefault.jpg)
Whether you agree with her or not, she deserves credit for trying her best to practice what she preaches.
+Melanie Harper Doesn't matter if you agree or not either. This is her way of dealing with things, and not just talking about them. I like her.
Exactly. :)
+Melanie Harper ^Yes! I agree with this.
Indeed.
Trial and Error, some effort is better than no effort. I must say, she is proving that it is possible and to do it without changing much of your life style.
To use organic materials is good but if demand ever skyrockets it might be counter productive to saving the planet.
I really like how she isn't forcing or shaming other people for not living her lifestyle because she is a vegan and doesn't use plastics. She understands that how most people live today and grew up doing is different to what she is doing. Personally if someone is showing me a new way of doing something or thinking I do not respond well to negativity. I think she is showing a very positive message and would love to strive to limit my waste!
+Lily most vegetarians, vegans, gluten allergic people, extra econfriendly people, etc. are like this. It's just that the internet an one or two bad experiences make people thinks these kind of persons are obnoxious when in reality they are not.
She bought eggs, so...
+Isauro López Exactly, and there are so many people out there who get offended by vegans simply because they live differently. Often vegans just try to defend themselves which is then seen as negativity
Why people hate vegans is the following, NOT ALL VEGANS. But to us, it seemed LIKE ALL vegans did this.
1. Vegan gains,
2. Vegans who just don't want to shut the fuck up and start shaming us for eating meat and began posting pictures and sharing videos...yes, the tumours from those haven't healed yet...
3. Those few vegans who just keep praising themselves as vegans.
4. The Vegans that call meat eaters as murderers, again, you don't need negativity to change someones perspective of eating meat, that will just make them pissed off.
5. Vegans who are posting about how they can live more than the average meat eater, showing off how their vegetables and fucking turnips can keep them alive, yet, we all hate life, LIFE IS CANCER.
Hope you understand, because the reasons above, which I believe a small amount of vegans do this, yet OVER do it, making us think that they are just a group of hipsters who don't shut the fuck up.
The human heart needs certain fats in order to function, you can only get them from meat. How do they want me to believe they can live longer? :P
Nobody needs to do exactly what this girl is doing. We just need to do a tiny tiny fraction of the work this girl is doing, and this whole world would be a better place.
Yup! England like stopped loads of plastic bags from being wasted by, by law, making them 5p to buy. I still don't think it's enough though.
Actually, there would not be much change, even if all the households in the world tried to reduce waste!!
Corporations are the biggest waste producers, they need to change the way they operate, change the materials they use in packaging and make their products biodegradable or re-usable....
they do that for money, obvioulsy
Woo Cheol Shin yes i agree
lol
this girl deserves an award
Vinz Losaria the trophy should be recyclable tho
It'll be a mason jar.
+Arsyiza 25 A paper trophy? Yeah paper is recyclable and decomposes... So :)
+Arsyiza 25 A paper trophy? Yeah paper is recyclable and decomposes... So :)
The Un Und Unly, no cuz she wasn't the first or the last one to do it.
A few things that I would like some clarification on, if possible. :)
- What about the bristles on the toothbrush? Aren't they nylon or something?
- The metal utensils; are they delivered to a recycling station?
- What about electronics and appliances? Those break quite often, or need replacing due to being outdated (mobile phones, for example).
- Why not dry clothes on a drying rack? That would eliminate the need for dryer balls or dryer sheets and save on energy.
Lemonz1989 Hi! Check out her blog, here: www.trashisfortossers.com/
She answers many questions of your and more constantly as well as provides tips and insights on how to start yourself!
Seeker Stories Thanks! :)
Lemonz1989 Have you tried seemly fixing broken electronics? It's not hard to do in most cases. Also for cell phones... Have you tried simply not having the newest shiniest iPhone? Let it live out it's lifespan before replacing it? Hell, why even have a phone? No one makes phone calls except for work these days and well, when work calls no one actual answers their phone because they just want you to work more. Skype is the new phone.
Meep Changeling
_"Have you tried seemly fixing broken electronics? It's not hard to do in most cases."_
I do, and it is hard in most cases for me. I regularly fixed my headset, because the original soldering was poor (as was mine), and the wires kept coming loose. I kept soldering it for a few years, until it failed in another way that I couldn't fix. I just fixed the microphone on my Sony Xperia M and gave it to my mom, as I just upgraded to a used iPhone 5, where I fixed the camera. Other than that, I haven't fixed much, because I have no idea how to do it - here I'm thinking computer screen, TV, printer etc.
_"Have you tried simply not having the newest shiniest iPhone?"_
Yes, I usually never have the newest electronics. I wait for the price to drop after a years or so.
_"Let it live out it's lifespan before replacing it?"_
I do. Most of my phones only manage 3 years, if I'm lucky, and that's when I've bought them new.
_"Hell, why even have a phone? No one makes phone calls except for work these days and well, when work calls no one actual answers their phone"_
I will lose my job if I don't answer, and I can miss important calls from my school, which could result in an expulsion, as I'm under a certain lenient policy (with regards to attendance) due to health problems. This is on the condition, that I follow every direction they give me.
The school is also fully digital, so I use my phone to check my classes and classroom location, among other things.
_"Skype is the new phone."_
Then I have to drag a computer everywhere I go, and no official person uses Skype.
Lemonz1989 Looks like you are already living minimally with electronics than. Looks like you are in an unusual spot for your phone, oh and I mean you use skype on a moble platform, they have an app you know. (Seriously, I dont know why they keep including a phone app with phones. Skype is free...)
i've fallen in love
same
+Vegan Gains
you just help her more reducing waste, good boy
Creep.
Very impressive.
I challenge that young lady to come to Japan and teach people about the reduction of the ridiculous amount of wrapping used for everything here.
You can buy biscuits (cookies) that are each wrapped and then wrapped up as one unit and then put inside the packet/box and then covered in another layer of plastic to protect the box. It is quite ridiculous. That is only one example.
I am sure that I create less plastic waste etc than the average person here, but the young lady in the video has shown us how to do it..... if only things like bulk buying and using one's own containers into which to put foodstuffs etc were possible / acceptable here, too.
staninjapan07
I thought all those Asian people Used to be Awesome at it and had Lots of knowledge about how to reduce things. Especially older generation.
So thats not true then?
I know what you mean. Asian products in the United States are packaged the same way.
Tell me about it! Now even fruits are wrapped and packaged in plastic containers (two apples in this thing, it's not even tasty and natural and waaaay more expansive!). Just... for what?
You can easily crochet a bag from simple twine or just make a furoshiki-bag (litteraly just folded piece of cloth...) and grab a bunch of them in lower price and higher quality.
The most fun and sad thing that people buy polyethylene trash bags for smaller polyethylene bags from food. Trash bag in trash bags, combo!
We really should become more mindful about that and learn how to be more "zero-waste" and "hundred-use". :D
And I just watched a video about Japan's green village
Wow
Japanese like handiness, they use too much plastic. But they also have great recycle system and great waste treatment. So I think they can handle it.
I live in Vietnam, everything people chase is buying more and more all the time. Crazy consuming country. Government and companies don't care about the environment. Some Factories even don't set up the waste treatment. Poor my country...
That's incredible!
smart, killer smile, soft voice, killer body, environmentally aware. god, talk about love at first sight
rickiex until she mentions menstrual cup.
Bodiablo how could that be a bad effect to her? She can't control her period...
Bodiablo if you think that about women you definitely don't deserve a women's respect smh
wow really, my reaction was the opposite as it what a flake.
She's the whole package... It's almost too much for me
Edit: I realized I just said package. Blew my chances with her I guess.
this is what i do and suggest peoples around me but they call me mad and tells that we are living in 21st century and we are modern so we don't need to bother on some small things like these. I should have meet this girl before. :) Doing good job, keep it up..
In the beginning I though it was fake, but later I was convinced, I totally support such lifestyle. My trash can consists of same things: paper, plastic, glass; and most of them I have to buy because that's the way (honestly, I don't want to). She's damn right!
i just started my journey a few weeks ago and i've reduced my trash greatly! it's awesome, i feel amazing knowing how i'm helping the planet. : )
I don't know about your community, but mine offers free recycling for paper, plastic and glass. Maybe yours does too! : )
This is great! Our family has been trying to reduce the amount of waste we produce. We have been buying from a package free bulk store and filling glass jars and using reusable bags, making our own deodorant, we've also been using bamboo tooth brushes which we really like. It's been a long transition but we are getting there :D
You guys aren't doing too bad! I've also been trying to reduce my packaging but it's really hard to change how you've lived for so long. Like putting groceries in reusable bags is a hard one to remember sometimes. I had a look at your channel and you've got some good stuff! Good on ya :)
lol for u its a video about recycling, and for me its homework from english
This is really inspiring! I was just thinking today how I thought I was a pretty well aware of how I'm helping the environment by recycling and turning off lights and the water when I'm washing the dishes, stuff like that. But then in my geography and geology classes, we used this site that asked you a bunch of questions and calculate at the end how many earths you're hypothetically using. I reflected on that and realized I wasn't as much of a "helper" of this earth as I thought I was. Funny how I remembered that today and came upon this video as well.
WOW, I really have to admire that! I try my very best to either recycle everything or not use it to begin with, but I don't come anywhere close to this woman! My municipality has a really good curbside pickup program for all recyclables (no limit on how much they'll pick up on that), then a green bin for all organic materials (pick-up every 2nd week in winter, every week in summer) and a black bin for true garbage that is picked up every second week. We also have an Enviro-Centre to take all electronics, light bulbs, ink cartridges, extra yard waste that can't go in a green bin, used motor oil or gasoline, paint, and well, just about everything that can be saved from going to the landfill. I put everything organic that I can either into my green bin or into one of 7 compost bins I have in my yard for green materials. I also end up going to the Enviro-Centre to grab free mulch they offer (they grind up any branches or chunks of trees that are dropped off and grass clippings in order to boost my composters.
My only hope is that more people will get on board to stop the landfill insanity. I also feel that ALL CITIES, at least in North America can get out & reclaim stuff from landfills to either recycle it or compost it, since they've already proven that nothing decomposes in a landfill; one study that was taking core samples was finding newspapers dated 1974 along with packaged meat that was still recognizable as meat!
Thanks for sharing!
gah i feel bad about myself
+Jessy McAdams Don't feel bad. Start by making changes gradually :} That's how Lauren did it! That's how I'm doing it too.
idc
Good on Lauren Singer.Thanks for the video.
I was actually inspired by her to also go zero-waste. Due to circumstances, I can't be fully waste-free yet, but I'm taking baby steps :)
I want to say that I saw this video 5 years ago and it got me really interested into zero waste!
Now my lifestyle changed in a more natural, zero waste, healthy one. I'm very greatfull for your work/video 💜💜💜💜
I imagine if everyone lived this way it would turn the current service industry on its head.
“I just live my lifestyle put it out there and see what happens.” I love that.
This is soooo cool. It has really inspired me, but what about toilet paper?
Zac Cherry She answers questions including yours on her blog www.trashisfortossers.com/
Zac Cherry she uses the shells
Eat it
LOL
a videt i guess.
This is awesome. I'm impressed with the way she approaches everything and takes up the challenge, ultimately which has shaped up her unique lifestyle right now. Hats off and cheers to this beautiful, smart woman!
Come on everyone! Let's help Lauren recycle everything she has in her jar @ 0:42, she states that she is not sure about what to do with all of it.
I think if this comment receives enough likes and everyone pitches in with a reply about how every single item shown @ 0:42 can be recycled, Lauren Singer may see this comment and be able to completely get rid of ALL her garbage. Which is not that much anyway. Let's make ZERO waste.
+Eugene Androshchuk
I suppose I can make the first suggestion:
The red and black straws in the bottom left corner @ 0:42, can be put into a plastic milk jug and recycled that way.
+Eugene Androshchuk There actually trying to make a type of worm that is able to consume plastic and then digest it.
Kinda interesting you should look it up if you want to help.
news.stanford.edu/pr/2015/pr-worms-digest-plastics-092915.html
There also trying to find a marine version of it.
Wow, that is really interesting. I did not know mealworms could consume plastic. Then again I did not know much about them expect that they are the staple food of most domestic reptiles in the US. Do you think that mealworms would do well in a compost bin? We could then toss our plastic foam in as well. Thank you, for the find!
+Eugene Androshchuk
Good idea.
No more plastic stir straws. Use wooden ones instead and compost.
Gummy labels are a pain, but some will compost. It might work to have a special compost bin just for the tuff papers and just experiment.
Metal can be recycled. Random metal, try the dump or a recycle station that takes metal and resells it. Many do. Same deal with electronic stuff. People buy electronic garbage to mine the gold and other expensive materials out of it.
Are those little packages that toxic absorbant stuff? Ugh. I would get rid of those in the HazMat bag. Like batteries and light tubes.
Ribbons? Upcycle.
Mylar bag? Inside out and use the reflector side to decorate something. More upcycling.
I love her ideas. I'm gonna go look over her blog.
+Eugene Androshchuk - the ball chain is metal (steel), and that's recyclable (there are guys who will pick up metal curbside in my neighborhood for the copper & steel bits, even if it's not able to be put into the curbside bins collected by the city, they do it because it's not only recyclable, but it pays). and the strings that were laying next to the ball chain, i'm surprised she didn't compost those! they came with the pull-cord ball chain to extend its length, and if she cuts off the plastic ends, the string part is just plain cotton (and if not compost, they might work as candle wicks, or to tie up something that needs an ~18" string). and the pantyhose, well, she may be saving that for the day when she needs to paint, because you can use that to strain old paint (and finding used--rather than brand new--paint can remnants and mixing it up to create a paint color you like, that's a great way to keep that paint from being thrown out and saving yourself from needing to create demand for brand new fresh paint... but it'll probably need straining!) the lacinato kale tag, depending how thick that is, maybe it could be cut into a couple of guitar picks? and i'm not sure why she didn't recycle the straws. ok, that's my contribution! she may not have known what to do with those things, but she didn't send them to the landfill yet, which makes me think she's still waiting for the opportunity to reuse some of them when the time is right. so she might already have had some of these ideas anyway.
Lauren is so inspirational!!! I just started my zero waste trash jar, one month in, and feeling pretty positive about decreasing the amount of waste I create!
This is the way of life to aim for.
Thanks for posting this vid!
Definitely is! Ease into the lifestyle with us by taking our #ZeroWaste challenge: seekernetwork.com/seeker-blog/what-is-the-zero-waste-challenge/
Very inspiring. I will research more of this.
Amazing. She´s an inspiration. I always wanted to try this.
try it so
I came across this video because I was interested in minimizing waste and now I'm feeling more inspired about this lifestyle!
Awesome job Lauren!
YES YES YES! Your off the grid series is my absolute favorite, please keep showing us videos like this!
This was very eye opening. I think it's a great idea to try to live with zero waste. Think I'll try to do some of those things. Doubt I'll be able to do all of that since I'm lazy though.
That's so amazing. Her way to think in about change the world starting with change herself deserves a lot of credit.
So how does one do this with a monthly minimum wage income of $1000 a month. While renting a place and driving a car that pretty much guarantees waste production.
You could drive your car less (or not at all if you only need to travel within walking distance). Plus, walking more is good exercise! :) Also, buying in bulk is overall a lot cheaper. The foods are usually considerably less per unit, and they last longer (that is if they don't have a short expiry date). Buying things that are reusable with also save you a lot of money :)
I love it!! I want to do this now, or at least work towards it. When she brings home all her groceries in cloth bags instead of plastic ones, it looks oddly artistic. And knowing how to make your own household products like toothpaste sounds empowering. What a beautiful way to live.
this is so inspiring. this is the kind of life i wanna live.
This young woman is not only very inspiring, but she is so beautiful. Her skin glows with good health, and one senses a deep inner happiness. She should be lecturing on TV and showing people how to manufacture their own hygiene products. Bravo!
She's brilliant, can I marry her? Environmentally friendly FTW!
I'd love to do something similar. Maybe not to this extent. Like instead of buying bottles of water I recently bought a Brita water filter for drinking water. I've also been recycling cans for years. Next I want to buy canvas bags to put my groceries in. Just keep them in my car for when I need them. They'll also be sturdier than those plastic grocery bags. I've also found compostable garbage bags online. I found Laundry Detergent Squares that dissolve in the machine. No plastic container. Every little thing helps. :)
So glad I found this channel!
very great video and it was nice to give so simple advice that can make the biggest of differences. :)
please please please put a disclaimer on using baking soda for toothpaste, that is literally one of the most destructive things you can possibly do to your teeth, holy, i can't even.
+TheJoodez I thought the same....just use the coconut oil and flavored oil
+TheJoodez - nope, not harmful. i use baking soda, plain, straight. just wet my toothbrush and dip it in, and then i scrub my teeth with it. it's water soluble, you know, so it's actually not that abrasive, and to the extent it is abrasive, it's a very mild abrasive, more like a polish. they use *pumice* when they polish your teeth during a teeth cleaning. you will find most dentists will give you the thumbs up to your use of baking soda, actually, especially when year after year you are cavity-free, stain-free, etc., and your cleanings take very little work b/c you're doing a good job on your own brushing away the plaque.
sugarego tastes like a mouthful of seawater though (grimaces)
Amanda D - yes, so very true, it definitely took some getting used to ;)
It can be destructive in using it too often. 1-2x a day is not bad. My dentist even uses it herself. But even brushing your teeth with normal toothpaste too often can be destructive.
Great idea and good work!!
Really cool video, thanks for the toothpaste recipe. She is inspiring and comes across as a pretty normal person who is just trying to do the right thing.
I can't imagine how much effort this took. Great job!
I don't think everyone can make their own products. But we can do a few simple things - recycle plastics and paper/cardboard, start using reusable bags to buy food where you can (if most things are pre-packaged in every grocery store within a reasonable distance from your house, you can only practically do this with some produce, but every little bit helps), and compost. There are com posters that are sealable/made not to smell.
Also, every city/town should have a city-wide composting program. If a city the size of San Francisco can do it, other big cities can do it too. It's probably even easier for smaller towns.
what about medizine? the pill? condoms?
and every household machine which is broken.
Wow.. thank you for this information..
I love this! But just one thing annoys me, a lot: when did mason jars become the new drinking glass? It's everywhere and it just such an annoying trend. Are normal traditional glasses too uncool? As far as I know it's the same material so what's the point? 😑
diemcim About 2 years ago I'd say..they are a hipster trend but the fact you can seal them with a lid makes them handy for multi-purposing.
diemcim Well think of this way, when you buy food contained in food grade mason jars why throw them out to be broken and made into new mason jars. Instead they can be reused as cups at no cost to you.
madman3891 Because most people already have cups that are better than a mason jar? Drinking out of a mason jar isn't that great, the mouth is way too wide and leads to more accidental spills.
chownful "Because most people already have cups that are better than a mason jar? " What do you mean better... Outside of specific uses for a cup like shot glasses or wine tasting cups, then there really isn't anything a cup needs to do but hold the drink.
Also your rhetorical question doesn't exactly bring anything to the discussion. You still end up with mason jars that are perfectly fine to use as cups, meaning people don't necessarily need to buy cups at all; unless they're necessary for specific uses.
"Drinking out of a mason jar isn't that great, the mouth is way too wide and leads to more accidental spills." I would disagree, i've used mason jars in replacement of cups for years and had no problems with them at all. You're right that some are too large to use as cups, but then again you have as many size options with the mason jars as you do with cups.
madman3891 I would think that the average adult already owns multiple cups so they don't need a mason jar on standby to use a a cup. I think for them a mason jar would be better to have on standby for something else, since they already have cups available to them.
I'm just not fond of the mason jar for drinking liquids. I don't mind using it, but I feel it it not optimal for me. I also do not like the ridges that are close to the mouth. Once I found the decently priced stainless steel insulated container, I have not looked back on other cups/liquid containers. This one will last me at least 20 years hopefully.
Trash is usually the product of a more "convenient" lifestyle. If you have less free time, you're more likely to use pre-packaged products. This is a great model for those who have more time outside of work, caring for the home, children, school, etc. Time is the most precious form of waste.
Lots of respect for this girl! How many people can put so much thought into what they preach to actually go through with all these life style changes? As much as I am inspired by this though, I don't think I could ever make that much changes in my life. I would appreciate it if these environmentally friendly products were more accessible though, for example, the toothbrush and toothpaste. They don't seem like too much effort to switch to . :)
Ebay. Tons of stuff on ebay. Plus Famers markets or Co-op's. We have 2 Co-o's here & an otganic grocery store. Our farmers markets are very small compared to hers & don't provide as many options either. But searching in the area or even a couple hour drive? (Dont gotta drive that often for toothbrushes.) & TH-cam is great for homemade things. Like laundry soap & Toothpaste. Can last way longer than bought stuff.
DeathShiniGama I know these things are definitely online, lots of things are available online nowadays anyway. But I mean it would be great if it's more accessible to everyone. If people can easily get their hands on these things in most supermarkets then more people will use these ecofriendly products because I think a huge reason why people aren't trying to be more environmentally friendly is due to how much effort they think it is to do all that. :)
You gotta be the change you wish to see.
Walmart for example (In only some places.) Started putting organic on their shelves because people were calling in & asking for them to sell it. Businesses only know what the consumer wants by what they buy. There is a lot more to it than just your question. Change starts with one, yourself. The time you put into it is the more money you save. Its so hard for the society mindset to change. But hey this video of one girl changing is starting a revolution. You have the same opportunity to start a mini revolution as well.
DeathShiniGama that is true, but my point is that most people won't do that, and so the best way to increase eco-friendly product's usage is if people can easily get out hands on them. That's just my opinion though xD
Yea :o But.. companies don't know to sell them originally. They wont put products that don't sell on the shelves.
I mean with our environmental crisis we're in currently. Many people still buy Hummers rather than electric cars. Plus more people than you realize aren't as open to this type of lifestyle. : /
I do understand your point. But companies have to see the problem before they try to introduce an alternative ( & Most don't) v__v)
Its a sad cycle.
What an amazing step forward. This is wonderful and I hope she inspires as many people as she meets. I'm truly inspired by her and aspire to live with zero waste in my own life. I hope that one day we all live with zero waste. Please make more videos highlighting a sustainable future so we can finally all live in harmony with nature as we should.
What about condoms? (serious) Didn't see any in the trash jar.
WhiskeyLT True lovers don't use them
Great question! Lauren discusses this issue in this blog post: www.trashisfortossers.com/2014/09/turn-me-on.html
WhiskeyLT Lamb Skin condoms XD
WhiskeyLT Just pull out, it worked for my parents. Er.. wait..
WhiskeyLT eat 'em
I want to achieve this. Not only would I be helping the environment but I won't have to worry about missing trash day ever again.
I live out in the boonies in western Maine. About once a week we burn all our trash in the fire pit. Not sure if that's great for the environment but it eliminates me from driving to the dump to leave my garbage there.
Worldwide Darts This man's a genius!
Depending on what you're burning, it could be very bad for the O-zone like burning cardboard for instance
Rejjie Snow But on the other hand I save from driving 18 miles round trip to the dump. So that's less gas used, less tire rubber that gets worn down and less pollution produced by my car. Which is worse?
Worldwide Darts Some places will actually pay you for any tin or plastic you have. I do it all the time when I run out of cash, it helps me get by until the next check. Just save up any metals and plastics and take it down to the recycling center, it will at least pay for the gas. Compost anything else that you can. Plant trees and stuff on your property. Apple trees take a while to grow, but it will eventually produce oxygen and apples!
Worldwide Darts The emissions put out by your car really aren't that much. It's certainly a lot lower than people make it out to be. You can drive around all day long, and still put out less harmful gasses than a single cow's farts in that same day. (Being completely serious)
And your tires don't get worn down that fast. If they do then you probably shouldn't have a license, because you're doing some serious tire spins, and sudden skid stops.
Like Allan said; compost, and take a monthly trip instead.
Thank you for this wonderful channel with beautiful people full of inspiration and compassion :)
What about shampoo? Can homemade shampoo be effective?
+Only4Russian Yes
+Only4Russian Of course! People survived long before companies started making mass produced shampoo...
You can buy Reetha (natural soap fruit) and shikakai both are natural ayurvedic
i thought her hair looked kind of greasy. that was the only thing that i was like ... uh, yeah, i'm not sold on making my own shampoo after this video.
(her lifestyle is amazing before someone thinks i'm knocking her. i think she's admirable. the comment was in regard to shampoo and throughout the video, with the assumption she made her own, i thought her hair looked greasy. that is all.)
Homemade shampoo, shampoo bars (like bars of soap), or buying from bulk bins
Hats off to her patience.
may God bless her😊.
really interesting had no idea you could be that frugal about it
You should try it! We're all taking the #ZeroWaste challenge, Tuesday, April 14th - do it with us - seekernetwork.com/seeker-blog/what-is-the-zero-waste-challenge/
Proud of You. Heart Salute
Amazing need true dedication for this
"Gift wrap?"
"Why...?"
XD
Your toothpaste needs fluoride. It's science. Go look it up in a real journal.
someone who walk the talk X biggest hug and gratitude :-D
She's the physical manifestation of the age old question: What would you do for a beautiful woman? She's incredibly gorgeous but to date her you'll have to change everything about your lifestyle. Would you?
gladly mate, she is awsome.
I'm a straight female and I'd change my lifestyle without hesitation.
It actually seems cool to live like this, you feel good cause you know you are contributing to a better tomorrow. I wouldn't mind, although it would take some getting used to, still definitely enthusiastic to try.
hm doubt it. she speaks about her ex and how he was more eco friendly than she was once upon a time. you learn to cooperate with others, especially in relationships. she also talks a lot about how she never expects others to live the way she does. & have you ever thought about how incredibly awkward it is for women when the man wants to change everything for a woman? i've had this instance before, when a guy was interested in me but i couldn't help get other the fact that he wasn't vegan like i am... it just clashes with my beliefs so hard. i tried to overlook it, but i just... couldn't. :\ and he was willing to give up animal products for me, but i had to turn him down. i can't force someone into a lifestyle they don't believe in. (there were other issues with him- regarding his personality and behaviour tbh.) i feel selfish but i want someone who has the same ideals as i do.
I personally am pretty darn close to zero waste, and I haven't pressured my boyfriend to change his own lifestyle at all. He still uses plastic packaging, paper plates, etc. quite a bit. However, he has become increasingly interested in the changes I make and has even implemented a few himself. Ultimately, I don't think forcing or coercing someone to do X, Y, or Z ever has a positive outcome. Only resentment. True progress happens when someone chooses to make that choice themselves.
As I am trying to reduce my waste as much as possible, one thing I have done is go through my room to see what I still have, such as shower products and candles (because I just love candles!) and use what I already have. Recycling has become another thing that I have been doing.
sooo she NEVER goes out to eat?? what about that waste? how does she handle that? no straw? no napkin? no plate? brings home scraps to compost? or just doesn't go out at all?
+Amanda D I assume it would be the same as people who bring their own coffee mugs to get filled at coffee shops. Bringing your own containers is actually more common than you'd think. It would also depend on where you're eating too. Like a lot of restaurants use ceramic plates. You can always ask for your drink not to have a straw. If you're talking more about fast food places I assume you could bring your own plate/lunch box and cup/water bottle/coffee mug. If she has scraps theres no reason why she couldn't keep them in her lunch container and throw them in the compost when she gets home. I think there's a lot of ways to get around those little things but I do think it takes commitment and also you'd have to get over the weird looks people would give you lol.
+Amanda D Oh! I just looked on her website and she actually answers that in her frequently asked section. It's pretty much what I said though lol. She brings her own cutlery and a cloth napkin and container.
Bonnie Jean thank yo u
+Amanda D No straw, no disposable napkin, no disposable plate, and eats all the food she orders. Like a model citizen ;)
***** wouldnt she been really ... fluffly ... if she are EVERYTHING she ordered when it was served to her? I mean if she brings some home, I could see that. But I think someone else said she brings her own container, which makes sense.
That smile on Lauren's face at the end of the video, it feels awesome.
That's great, but why do they drink beer in jars...? :D Did I miss something?
PassiFlora96 She uses her own reusable glass jars, instead of buying bottles or cans over and over; even though those materials are recyclable, she is still using much less.
Seeker Stories Yeah, but she could still have CUPS to pour it into from the container they showed her getting filled instead of making everyone drink from mason jars.
theyre probably jars previously used for something else (jam, candles ..) that she now reuses for drinking glasses.
A lot of people used jars. It's just a design choice for most people. She probably uses them for other things though.
+PassiFlora96 Easier to get shitfaced.
Every human being should adopt this practice. Day end with zero waste.
I would love to buy cooking oils in bulk, but where?! Anyone know?!
Jackie Hoang You can always heck out her blog trashisfortossers.com for tips as well!
Jackie Hoang Whole foods has some :)
Jackie Hoang costco
+Jackie Hoang INDIA
+Margo Gadet YES! It's so awesome. I recently found that my local co op has honey, vanilla extract, and cooking oils in bulk. It's great that I can bring my reusable bottles. :) Thanks for the feedback.
Love this! Will be sharing it with my students next week :)
um... toilet paper???
hands
Riccardo Dolce
I rather kill the planet with my trashy before I do that!!! hahaha
+Mr. Gabe I've heard of people using cloths for that as well. So like really soft towels that get put into a basket, and then washed later, or something like that.
+Mr. Gabe Water maybe! like some toilets in Europe I believe?
+Mr. Gabe "family cloth". It is flannel cloths that are about 6 inches square and you wash them. Like they used to do cloth diapers.
"I feel like it´s really important to live your values"
I fully agree, and if you say you love animals, you shoulnd´t eat them
Miguel Casas Arrojo, I don't understand how you could be a vegetarian, I could not live with out meat, please explain how, you couldn't eat tacos you couldn't eat hotdogs, pizza ect, and what do you eat on Thanksgiving?
So, if you want to eat a taco, just put fake mince in it (Made from plasnts and tastes almost the same), for pizza, just use vegan cheese, (pretty good), and for thanksgiving, just son´t eat turkey, or eat vegan turkey if you really want to.
It´s that simple. Hope it helped.
the trick is "making your own." people r lazy
ikr
Appreciated great approach
.. I am trying the same way from last few years but she is amazing ....hats off playing her role to save the planet earth....😎😎😎
Wasn't Laura the journalist who was trapped in North Korea?
Yes. We're very happy to have her on Seeker now.
adrian antonio King Kong imp - The greatest!
Adrian Antonio they sent her back after they found out that north korea didnt have any trash as food is scarce
yes she deserves a award, she can teach many of us, coz we have been condition to use up the plants resource
The toothpaste still needs fluoride in order to protect your teeth properly. The rest is perfect.
Daniel J. De Jesús Fluoride protecting your teeth is a joke. Does more harm than good.
eyedktr11 Please refer to the scientific evidence.
Daniel J. De Jesús Fluoride really just needs to be used if you are starting to have cavities. I mean fluoride toothpaste isn't really necessary for everyday use if you brush your teeth often and sometimes don't eat or drink things that damage your teeth. Most people also have annual dental check ups and if there is even a tiny little cavity they put fluoride in you.
+Daniel J. De Jesús No, it doesn't. Coconut oil does the same thing the fluoride does & it doesn't poison your system if ingested. Baking soda is an abrasive & menthol fights bad breath.
+skyline baking soda is really bad for your teeth.
I really like the idea for the zero waste girl because it can save the world and help to decrease the rubbish. On the other hand, also make a good model to teach the students. Also, we can learn from her.
what about her pads/tampons?? she recycles them too???? O_O
eduardo maria She uses a reusable menstrual cup :) It is a hypoallergenic, washable silicon cup that collects blood during the menses. You empty the contents into the toilet after use, wash it out in the sink with a bit of soap, and continue to use it until your flow stops. Very nice on the environment and also your pocket book - plus, in my experience, it's much more comfortable and you never run the risk of ruining your clothes! If the cup gets "full", it does not leak like a tampon, it simply holds back the flow until you have time to empty it, clean it and reinsert it.
TigressofDDR EW. Neat!
TigressofDDR Ok but I have a stupid question: In public bathrooms it is slightly hard to take it out, leave your stall and go wash your menstrual cup in the sink? So, anyone who uses menstrual cups (you?), can you enlighten me on a solution for that? My body can't handle tampons and I have to admit that pads aren't comfortable so I am open for new things but that part just seems like a problem to me.
+msvelvetlovepocket You can leave cups in way longer than you can tampons. 10-14Hrs...I think. Not entirely sure. But Ive used them for years and never emptied mine in a public bathroom with stalls. I mean, technically you could but cleaning up would be a very akward hassle. So the takeaway is: longer allotted insertion time = more choices in when and where you empty your cup.
thanx so much. such inspiration!!! totally love what you do^0^
Has this girl seriously never heard of municipal recycling?? You can recycle almost all of the plastic you purchase.
David Galvin yea she said the trash jar is only for things she can't recycle or compost
Ohhhhh. My bad.
David Galvin Also she tries to avoid plastic because it takes forever to biodegrade and leeches chemicals.
David Galvin actually plastic degrades each time it is recycled so you can only recycle it up to a point..unlike glass which can always be recycled.
+David Galvin Not producing it in the first place is much more eco-friendly. Also it would have saved hundreds of thousands if not millions of lives in the wars for oil...
What about Bea Johnson? Didn't she inspire Lauren Singer to go zero waste?? Thought Bea was the mother of Zero waste.
Great Channel by the way!!! Really like it that you spread awareness to the public relating to Waste and Saving the Environment!
what about cookies and candy.... :(
Wouter Schip Bake your own!
lol the place I used to work at used to make around 3 bags per meal each weighing around 15 pounds each bag worth of food, now there's 3 meals per day (breakfast,Lunch,Dinner) 9 bags of food thrown away to the trash eachday for everyday. . . . . 135Pounds worth of food per day.....49kpounds per year. . . . Kudos to you !
wat about condoms
pull out
she mentioned in another video that she does produce condoms but she does not keep it with the other trash bc of hygiene reasons
+Carola Schlgr which other video ?? would you share the url ? thanks
OK so I'm definitely not doing what she's doing at this moment, but, for the sake of time and convenience, I usually buy and make my food in bulk and mix-and-match them into lunchboxes that I freeze for the rest of the week.
Definitely saves a ton of water that way. Also easier to do portion-control so I don't eat more than I have to, and I only had to do the majority of my dishes once (barring cleaning the lunchboxes after each use).
...how does a menstrual cup work? does she really suction it on and leave it there throughout the day O_O
+Sofia F how does the blood stay in the funnel like device? it just kinda looked like a funnel, but thank you for teaching me about it!
+chownful the piece at the bottom isn't a funnel, it's just something to grab onto when you take it out, there's no hole in it.
+Gabrielle Anderson Cool, thanks for the info. Why isn't it used by more women if it is re-usable? Is it uncomfortable compared to tampon/pads?
+chownful Menstrual cups are becoming quite popular. They aren't mainstream yet, because many women haven't heard about them. They are actually safer too. There is less risk for toxic shock syndrome with menstrual cups verses tampons. Here's the website: divacup.com/
+chownful also not everyone is comfortable with putting items inside of themselves. I know a woman who has never used a tampon. she is 50 yrs old. in addition the thought of taking it out of yourself with blood inside of it is ALSO not something many people would like to experience. it;s really just a personal preference.
I love everything she's doing.
Oh crab. What does she use for toilet paper
+jon alonzo 100% recycled toilet paper.
+- Waterbearer95 EWWWW
NemesisJake Haha xD oh dear. The toilet paper is not recycled from past toilet paper. It means the toilet paper comes from other recycled paper sources.
I would love for her to come in my house and teach me her ways of living! Because having almost zero waste is real life goals!♻️❤️
She is beautiful haha, but not like I need to point that out.
great story. God bless zero waste girl. Less garbage, saving earth, saving nature. it's eveyone's duty.
.....How about condoms??????
she doesn't use them #allnatural
Just punch the womb really hard
she talks about this in a video of hers. she buys sustainably, but it is undoubtedly one of the items that she produces trash with.
Yeah she said that was one of the few things she actually does waste
That's what stairs are for.
there are many things where recycling doesn't actually help much (and in some cases actually hurts more)
however, metal is always worthwhile to recycle
Glass pretty much makes no difference (nature pretty much treats it like a rock)
Recycling paper wont really help save trees (we actually have more trees than in the past because so much more were planted to keep up with demands) However, compost is always good for a garden, and if you can simply not produce waste then that's better than recycling
Plastic is a bit of an odd-ball.... For regular plastic, it's just best to stay away from it and not use it in the first place, however, landfills have PLENTY of room for more junk. (I looked at one stat that said that if we made a 30mile x 30mile landfill then it would have enough space for a thousand years of trash)
in any case, producing less waste is the best option, avoid tossing out plastic because that's just plain careless, compost organics and paper products, glass is pretty much ok to toss, but that's just a waste, ALWAYS recycle metal. (just take metal to a scrapyard, they will pay you money for it! why else do you think people collect cans?)
Tyler Carberry pollution was besides the point, besides, I'm not saying I'm anti-recycling or whatever. I'm just trying to put some stuff out there, like avoiding plastic whenever possible and always recycle metal.
You should compost organics and paper products. You should take metals to the scarp yard where you'll get money and it'll get used again
All you have to do is don't think anything's trash.
Also the title is a lie.
She's literally said she's produces a little amount of waste that still not producing zero waste.
anyone following the zero waste lifestyle KNOWS it's not truly zero waste; it's as little as possible, reducing as much as you can. just bc it is not truly zero does not mean we shouldn't try to reduce what crap we can. there is no reason the rest of the world cannot live in this type of manner. xo
She's such an inspiration to people! I know I would make it through a week of doing that, but I think we should all at least reduce you waste by a small bit
Good on her, now what about the other hundreds of millions of Americans that don't give a fuck!
ste bostock let's make them give a fuck
Wow, that's a very simple but a great effort.
Thanks for bringing this story in my life.
While these are all great ideas, this distracts from the most important contributer of waste: commercial business. It's foolish to think me, a lower class wage worker, being less wasteful will help here. We cannot save the world because we're not the ones doing the damage. For people like me to have an affect we've got to convince the ones with power to change.
thewingedcroc there are a lot of people like us, with little political power. And the middle class is also one of the contributors to enviormental waste problems. 40% of waste is on us actually. So if there was 40% less trash, or at least 30% less, would you still be saying we have no impact? We are the change
If you are not going to help then don't become an obstacle for the rest of us.
We do make an impact because we also produce trash. As the other comment said, we produce 40% of it, so by changing our lifestyle we can reduced or eliminate that 40% of trash.
Seeker Stories I think that there are some great ideas on how to minimize garbage in this video, but I'd be careful about the toothpaste. Part of brushing your teeth is getting the food particles out so that bacteria in your mouth don't have much to feed on and destroy your teeth and another is to provide a layer of chemical protection to protect your teeth from further damage (from acidic drinks like coffee and soda). I don't believe that baking soda does this; it doesn't contain fluoride. Your teeth may be white, but may be easily damaged by drinks such as those listed above. A structural weld may look great, but may not be able to tolerate pressure. Please be careful.
There is fluoride in most water so you don't really have to worry about it.
Brad Wade as long as people are smart enough to drink tap water and not waste money on bottled water
Sarah Szabo Coconut oil is anti-bacterial.
Nick Cobb
Not just that, but it does nothing to protect the teeth from a) bacteria (they come back so fast wiping them out once is not good enough) and b) does nothing to protect from harmful acids such as caffeine/soda.
Sarah Szabo fluoride is actually toxic and not necessary for oral health (google it) this is why many companies make fluoride free toothpaste. I haven't used fluoride in years and I haven't had any cavities.