letsenvironmentalissues-blog

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ZERO WASTE TECHNOLOGY: 

One more final tip on once again another step you can take towards zero waste. Solar panels are a huge step in saving energy bills for yourself and how cool would it be to create your own energy anyways? This is done in many other forms other than solar panels, including; wind from small-scale wind turbines, ground, air, biomass, and hydroelectricity. There are people who live next to rivers and creating a mini hydropower electricity plant. .. Another topic on technology would be the simpleness of just looking into what your phone case is made out of and where you can take it when you are done with it. Making sure the materials won’t take decades to decompose is very important! On top of that, add into the equation that all the chemicals in the case will be in your hand daily. (ew!) Just being aware of what you use, dispose and touch daily is the key to understanding the importance of these types to entire different life plan.

and remember.. “Zero Waste poses a fundamental challenge to 'business as usual.' It has the potential to motivate people to change their life styles, demand new products, and insist that corporations and governments behave in new ways. This is a very exciting development,” said Peter Montague, editor of Rachel's Environment & Health Weekly. 

Citations:

http://www.grrn.org/page/what-zero-waste

https://www.hurdalecovillage.no/galleri/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/110408628345042197/

https://qz.com/492264/this-is-what-it-takes-to-produce-your-own-electricity-from-a-river/

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Let’s talk about how we go on a camping trip with all reusable zero waste options. WOOHOO!! Kathryn tells us all about her zero waste camping trips and what she decides to bring with her. Some of her big points included; 8 person tent, queen size air mattress, hammock, folding chairs, cooler, stovetop, lanterns, 2 gallon water jug, and toiletries. She explained that she had never been camping before and that she borrowed a lot of items from friends before buying them on her own so she would know if she would go on more camping trips in the future. (Great use of money and that way you get to thank you community back!) She figured out that she did indeed love camping and can now buy items for camping with knowing they will not be wasted. In my own experience I have always brought a sleeping bag instead of blankets or sheets because it is the warmest and easiest to roll up tightly into a compacted bag. I also have never brought an air matress but instead camping mat that is smaller and easy to blow up. You can also buy blow up sleeping pillows that are light and easy to carry on long hikes out to campsites as well. The stove from Coleman is great- I have that one as well for pancakes or eggs in the morning it is wonderful!! There are lanterns Coleman makes as well that are propane fueled tanks. That way you aren’t using batteries. It is quite easy to keep your garbage while camping to a minimum since you aren’t buying or filtering through as many objects.

Citations:

https://www.goingzerowaste.com/blog/zero-waste-camping

https://www.flickr.com/photos/28057482@N05/9707659252/

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“I would recommend reusing anything you already have instead of going out and buying new supplies,” says Tayler Nicole. I looked deeper into what products you should buy instead of the plastic new supplies in stores most often. I found a list of 8 sustainable companies just for you;

“It’s back-to-school season, so here are some eco-friendly must-haves for students of all ages that help the planet and give back! 1. Stone and Cloth Backpack: Whether it’s a laptop and notebook for the café, or sweatshirts and snacks for a picnic, the extra vertical volume in the RollTop will fit your things nicely. Made in the USA and shipped to your door at an honest price. Your purchase provides 25 hours of classroom learning for a student.2. ECOlunchbox: Go back to school plastic-free with our ECOlunchbox Oval, a durable, reusable, toxin-free, lunch container set.3. Peacock Pen by Seltzer: The Seven Year Pen can write 1.7 meters a day for seven years. Made in Switzerland, it’s got a long-life tip and high quality parts. 4. Sprout Pencils: Pencils that turn into plants?! At Sprout we wanted to face the whole throw-away culture, starting with the most basic of our everyday utencils: What if instead of throwing your pencil stubs away you could plant them and have them grow into something delicious, beautiful, and fun.5. Poo Poo Paper: Products are handcrafted, natural, tree-free, recycled, upcycled, odorless (of course), functional, memorable, unique paper and stationery products made from poo.6. Vapur Water Bottle: Eco-responsible, light weight, and durable water bottle perfect for the collage or grad school student. Through Drops of Hope, Vapur annually donates thousands of bottles to charitable groups all over the world.7. Snack Happens Bag: Reusable, machine washable bags for snacks, sandwiches, fruit, school lunches and more.  FDA approved, BPA Free, Lead Free, PVC Free.8. Lunch box: This lunch box comes in a few different styles. PVC-free, phthalate-free lead safe, and removable liner for easy cleaning.    Blessings,The Faithbox Team” - Thanks to The Faithbox Team!!

There are a lot of easy bamboo substitutes in this section of re-organizing your life as well!! We have seen many bamboo substitutes for reasons I have already explained but who would’ve thought a notebook could be made out of bamboo??

Citation:

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1680&bih=884&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=4BUDWqzJA9jYjwOQzKCgDw&q=zero+waste+school+supplies&oq=zero+waste+school+supplies&gs_l=psy-ab.1.0.0.858259.863186.0.866381.26.25.0.0.0.0.629.3881.0j11j5j1j0j1.18.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..8.18.3878...0i67k1j0i30k1j0i24k1j0i8i30k1.0.PRPaUMDT2U8#imgrc=O2GQZbM-mWuAUM:

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Buying furniture for your house as a zero waster can feel daunting but there are actually so many reliable companies out there you didn’t expect to already carry all natural products already. One that caught me by suprise was Cisco. “You wouldn’t necessarily know it right away, but all of the furniture and home goods available at Cisco are made with natural materials and friendly to the environment. Cisco’s offerings include every manner of home goods, as well as specialty products, like John Derian’s debut furniture collection, which falls under Cisco’s eco-rigorous stipulations,” says Dana Covit. She wrote a blog on “11 Eco-Friendly Home Brands That Are Actually Chic” because it can be hard to narrow down to the style you are looking for on such a widespread search. And yes like anything else it is always a wonderful idea to buy at a secondhand store or even reclaimed! “If you’re looking for a gorgeous wooden furniture piece for your home, Environment Furniture ought to be your go-to: The company makes a gorgeous assortment of unique furniture (bed frames, tables, benches, and lots more) from reclaimed, recycled, and sustainably harvested woods,” says Covit. During researching for zero waste furniture I found lots of redesigned or reused materials to make new leather chairs or wood tables especially because of those 2 materials being some long pieces to decompose, why not use them again right? Keeping chemicals and unknown substances out of the process of making items you buy, like your pillows you sleep on every night for example, makes the air you breathe in your home a little less unknown. :)

Citations:

http://www.mydomaine.com/eco-friendly-home-decor-brands/

https://www.google.com/search?q=zero+waste+furniture&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiogJCBma_XAhVDw2MKHcM7C3YQsAQIKw&biw=1680&bih=884#imgrc=8cgUmaM4nObbjM:

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KIDS TOYS .... plastic .... wait??? Wood legos is actually an item created and sold you say? Well according to IBS Girls, “With online shopping, the option to buy toys for our little ones is just a few clicks away… and the number of toys out there is ENDLESS. Truly. With so many options available, we decided to start pursuing more natural toys for our babies and toddlers and start phasing out plastic toys. That’s not to say our toddler’s Elsa doll collection is going anywhere! But as moms we want to be conscious of what our babes are putting in their mouth and playing with, as well as our plastic consumption – which is well, a whole other topic  Below are some of our favorite options for other mamas seeing plastic alternative toys!” The examples she shows is a wooden gym, knitted sheep mobile, wood and fabric rattles, interactive blocks and puzzles, and wooden musical toys like xylophones, etc. All of these toys are made out of materials that are recyclable and of course, not plastic. :) The endless supply and amounts of zero waste toys out there on the internet are abundant. Small companies have never had the ability to sell to people half way across the world as easy as today. Definitely something to check out!

Citation:

Our favorite Non-Plastic Toys for Kids

WRITTEN BY: IBT GIRLS  http://www.inspiredbythis.com/grow/favorite-non-plastic-toys-kids/

https://www.treehugger.com/sustainable-product-design/wood-legos-mokurukku.html

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/23151385568403273/

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Cleaning products can be fun things to look into when it comes to zero waste. Who wouldn’t enjoy a cool looking wood reusable dish cleaner? Honestly was completely shocked to find so much out there that people can switch to in this area of their life. These quick and easy changes with amazon purchases can diminish your carbon footprint by more than you would think. Shelbi says that she likes to use the app from the Environmental Working Group called EWG’s Healthy Living. The app will tell you how eco-friendly the products you are looking at the store is just by scanning the barcode or looking it up. The brushes and wands are all made out of bamboo because they are recyclable and bamboo is also used to mask and reduce smells. She states under her video different cleaning supplies to buy and make listed here; 

“DISH CLEANING SUPPLIES: 

 Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds Soap - http://amzn.to/2xResUZ 

Small Hand Held Dish Brush - http://amzn.to/2gs8z98 

Removable Head Brush - http://amzn.to/2xPfEmS 

Brush heads - http://amzn.to/2yy5Tgo 

Bottle Brush - http://amzn.to/2zlh4GD 

 ALL SURFACE SPRAY: 

Glass Spray Bottles - http://amzn.to/2gPeqSS ***Orange & Vinegar Cleaner Recipe: - Save the rind of about 3-4 oranges - Put empty rinds into a quart jar. - Cover with white vinegar. - Allow to sit for about 2 weeks, either in a cabinet or on the counter. Shake when you think of it. - Strain the liquid into a reusable spray bottle like this http://amzn.to/2j5uTpt * Use to clean almost any surface”

Citations:

https://www.youtube.com/user/Shelbizleee/about

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2YbUB4kTMY&t=26s

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CPGZ87G/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&th=1&linkCode=sl1&tag=shelbizleee-20&linkId=1fb8fe9c3bc7dfe03e77f1984c327c2d

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The mail that collects on people’s kitchen counters is a waste we may entirely see past. I found a website that says there is 5 easy steps to stopping junk mail. When you think about it the junk mail that continues to pile up is unnecessary advertising for items you definitely don’t need as a zero waster. When you aren’t purchasing as much as you used to- you don’t need as many catalogs bombarding your life. The five tips Eco Cycle gives you are these; “The #1, Must-Practice Tip: Use the magic words "Please do not rent, sell, or trade my name or address. Tip # 2: Get on “in house” credit card lists. Tip # 3: Prevent charity solicitations. Tip # 4: Watch out for contests and free offers. Tip # 5: 1-800-NO THANKS.” All of these will switch you over to getting catalog advertisement emails, paying bills online, reading books on apps, getting direct deposit for paycheck, and so much more. Choosing to do these things on the computer makes a huge impact on your carbon footprint. “An email with a “long and tiresome attachment” can have a carbon footprint of 50g CO2e. Berners-Lee estimates that a typical year of incoming mail adds 300 pounds of emissions to a person's carbon footprint, or the equivalent of “driving 200 miles in an average car,” says Washington Post.

citation - http://www.ecocycle.org/junkmail

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/01/25/how-bad-is-email-for-the-environment/?utm_term=.1e1475767f7d

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So at this point you are probably wondering what a zero waster’s closet looks like. What I have read and heard from people is that they try and only keep what they absolutely need to get through different days of the week. They typically have around 2-5 pairs of pants that can be used in many different scenario styles. They have a coat or 2, a couple pairs of shoes, some tops (that can look different when layered or not), and they keep their accessories to an absolute minimum. According to Bea Johnson she says, “I stick to minimal closets: My boys, for example, have a set of 4 pants, 8 shirts, and a dressy outfit for each season. I’ll spare you my wardrobe list.I keep a minimal shoe closet: I have paired it down to just 6 pairs of shoes: slippers, boots, ballet, medium heel, high heel sandal, and sandals. For the kids, I buy athletic shoes second hand, and when worn out I take them to Nike “Reuse a Shoe” program. (At the rate that my little one goes through sneakers, we wait to fill a bin before taking them in). They also own a pair of dress shoes, flip-flops and slippers.” Although Bea did not used to be Zero Waste, she is now and continually downsizing she explains. It would be different if she had been living that lifestyle for her whole life. She does explain when she does go out to purchase clothing she prefers to go to second hand stores so that the clothes don’t go to waste and they typically have less packaging that way as well. Bea also adds that “If I do get a new piece, I make sure that it is good quality, and only carries minimal tags (I leave the shoe box at the store)..”. Some zero wasters believe that any waste they create is their waste so leaving the box at the store would consider that to still be creating waste and the same as bringing it home, but clearly Bea Johnson does not live by that theology. 

Citation:

picture- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/381328293431928685/

quote- https://zerowastehome.com/2010/04/zero-waste-close/

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Photo from: https://www.goingzerowaste.com/blog/15-simple-swaps-for-a-zero-waste-bathroom

Zero Waste in the bathroom entails so much more than anyone would think. First of all starting off with your razor. You can not use plastic razors because you can not dispose of the different blades. The stainless steal blades last a lot longer and they are recyclable. Then the toilet paper would not be able to be flushed down the toilet, you would have to use toilet wipes that were reusable or washable. This may seen weird to many but the changes you make for zero waste are to the extreme so you can help the world to the extreme. Women have to use reusable feminine products. Your shampoo and conditioner could either be homemade or either boughten at a co-op where you can fill a reusable jar and weight the tare to purchase and use without buying any packaging. Tooth brushes have to be compostable options instead of plastic ones (of course) so the best option for that is bamboo handles. Toothpaste include homemade recipes or Tom’s of Maine products including toothpaste and deodorant are almost completely recyclable products. (Kathryn says her husband uses Tom’s of Maine toothpaste because he does not like the toothpowder that she makes for herself.) Like I said Tom’s of Maine makes a deodorant which the container is made out of recyclable products. You can also use your own deodorant.

Cited websites:

https://www.goingzerowaste.com/blog/how-to-compromise?rq=compromise

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Photo from: http://zerowastebloggersnetwork.com/10-ways-start-living-zero-waste/ 

Zero Waste in the kitchen entails getting rid of your daily go to’s including paper towels, napkins, food packaging, egg cardboard carton containers, paper lunch bags, and any other non recyclable products. This means that all of your paper products would have to be changed to reusable towels or rags that you could wash, to then be able to use again. The thought process of your daily life would change dramatically. Instead of getting hungry after class and going to get Chipotle you would have had to already have a meal prepped and brought with you in your reusable lunch bag with you. For another example if you were going to class in the morning and had extra time to get coffee you would have to have brought a mug with you that was non paper products and would have to have it with you for the rest of the day. There would be no way of throwing away these items - even if it wasn’t in YOUR garbage, it is still YOUR waste and YOUR carbon footprint. Even making your lunch to bring with you to work you would have to use a reusable sandwich bags because you can not throw away plastic sandwich bags. The kitchen products alone you can see would be a dramatic change in your daily life to get used to just by tracking what you are throwing away.

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This zero-waste woman fit 3 years of her trash into one mason jar!