How to Achieve a Zero Waste Lifestyle – Q&A With the Experts

Starting to achieve a more sustainable lifestyle is of great importance nowadays, especially considering all the environmental problems that we are facing due to the lack of consciousness regarding the impact that our habits have on our planet’s health.

There is an imperative need to change the way that we live, even the smallest actions have a great impact on our carbon footprints. It can be hard to know where to start when it comes to a more sustainable lifestyle, so porch.com asked the experts!

Q: Which actions can we take to go plastic-free at home?

A: Plastic has become a constant element in our lives and it’s everywhere. Over 500 million tonnes of plastic are produced worldwide, and in 2020, we generated 900% more plastic than in 1980. This means that by 2050, the oceans could potentially contain more plastic than fish! It is up to us to try and change that.

At TreeEra, we understand that becoming completely eco-friendly and sustainable can seem intimidating at first, but small steps can have a huge impact! Here are 5 ways you can start to reduce plastic in your home:

Replace your plastic Tupperware with glass containers or invest in reusable beeswax food wraps (checkout abeego).
Invest in reusable cloth bags to take with you to the grocery store.
Buy your food in bulk and purchase fewer packaged products.
Carry metal or silicone reusable straws with you to use at restaurants.
Instead of buying single-use water bottles, invest in a reusable water bottle you can refill throughout the day.

TreeEra wants to help individuals and businesses reduce their carbon footprint by community-funding the planting of trees. Aside from tree planting, TreeEra believes that reducing your everyday plastic use is an easy and efficient way to take action against climate change.

– TreeEra

Q: What is the zero-waste movement and why is it important for more people to adopt this lifestyle?

A: Zero-waste is about eliminating waste and overconsumption. It is about stopping the production and consumption of single-use products that end up as waste. With climate change being our biggest issue, adopting a zero-waste lifestyle is probably one of the most important steps we can all take to minimize our impact on the environment. Most of the damage to the planet happens in the extraction and production phase so using the waste hierarchy is critical. The top-level of that is prevention: don’t create waste in the first place. If we are going to move towards zero-waste, we need to start today. To achieve zero-waste, we need a clear target. We need local and central governments to work together to set a date and a target goal of zero. Our motto in the movement is: If we cannot reuse it, if we cannot recycle it, if we cannot compost it, we simply shouldn’t be making it.

– Zero Waste Network Aotearoa