5 Zero Waste Hacks That Are Cheap And Kind To Our Planet

It is no secret that zero waste "influencers" on Instagram make living this sustainable lifestyle seem easy and luxurious. I will take this moment to tell you that being zero waste looks nothing like it does on Instagram for the majority of us who make average yearly wages. The issue with making the zero waste lifestyle look luxurious is the fact that individuals who want to make this change find it extremely difficult when they are pressured to buy all new products to eliminate every item of plastic in their household instead of using what they have until it is worn out or gone. I did this at the beginning and it did have a heavy impact on my wallet but I wanted to be like these zero waste influencers that were making huge sacrifices to appear as the perfect zero waste environmentalist. I put my comfortability on the back burner and practically threw my wallet out the window for an aesthetic. Since going zero waste, I have lived and learnt and I would say that I have the experience to give you my tips to make your sustainable transition a lot easier.

~ 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 I think that this one is pretty obvious but you will save money and the environment by not buying single use plastic water bottles! Bringing your own water bottle (even if it is made of plastic). It is a lot better than buying a one time use plastic water bottle because filling your own water bottle is free and reduces your plastic intake. Many people think that it is okay for them to buy these single use plastic bottles because they get recycled but only 5% of recycled materials actually get properly recycled so the probability of your single use plastic water bottle being recycled properly is actually very low. ~ 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚 The average person spends around three to five dollars on coffee everyday. That is a lot of money and single use coffee cups a year. I found that going to a local thrift store that held home goods was very helpful. You can buy an espresso machine like a Nespresso for a little over 20 dollars and find fair trade coffee in your area. You end up saving three to five dollars everyday and saving the planet at the same time while still enjoying the pleasure of your daily caffeine boost. ~𝐓𝐫𝐲 𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐮𝐩 I will admit that this was the last thing I checked off of my sustainability list. I was terrified of menstrual cups but I have a new found love for them. Not only do you save so much money by not buying tampons and pads, you also realize how much more ideal a menstrual cup is. It holds much more blood for a longer period of time and feels SO comfortable. A menstrual cup is a small silicone cup that you can insert into your vagina and leave in for up to twelve hours while you are on your period. There are so many different chemicals in pads and tampons that are so unhealthy for your body and the menstrual cup is just so basic, clean and good for our planet!! ~𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 This is something that I am still working on but now that the weather is getting nicer, I am trying to walk to work more often. I typically start early in the morning around 7am so it can be a very nice way to wake up and take some time to wind down before starting a long shift at work. Save some gas money and reduce emissions by trying to bike or walk to your local errands or workplace. Make it your time to recharge with a fun podcast or just stop to smell the roses on your way to your destination. ~ 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐛𝐮𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 One of my easiest ways to go zero waste is making my own all-purpose cleaning spray. All you need to do is fill a glass bottle (or old plastic bottle) with 1 part white vinegar and 4 parts water with a few drops of essential oil to make it smell extra pretty and replace chemical-filled cleaners used for windows, counters and other household messes.   You will cut down on the amount of money you spend on oddly specific cleaners because this hack is an all in one and you will eliminate the plastic bottles that these cleaners are always packaged in. I really hope that these hacks make it easier for you to begin your zero waste journey and gives you a realistic view of what a true zero waste lifestyle looks like! Until next time! Lilian XO