What if Zero Waste feels like too much?
Don’t worry!
We’ve put together a list of 15 swaps you can make to reduce waste easily.
Ever thought about going zero waste, but felt like this was too much of a dramatic leap?
Don’t worry, it is possible to minimise your waste and consumption by taking a few simple steps. Below are a few ideas to get you on track towards a more sustainable lifestyle. Many of these suggestions are very simple to implement and only require a little bit of forward planning and organisation. In the process you may even inspire your friends and family to get on board too.
Out and About Swaps
1. Straw swap
Swap your single use plastic straw with a bamboo, glass or steel option to avoid plastic waste. If the restaurant doesn’t have an alternative to plastic, avoid the straw all together.
2. Bag Swap
An organic cotton or recycled material bag is better in the long term than using single use plastic bags.
3. Supermarket Swap
Swap your supermarket shopping for shopping at the local market. Normally local markets do no wrap fruit and vegetables in packaging and sell produce that is locally grown.
4. Ethical Product Swap
Check if the chocolate, coffee and sugar products you buy are ethically sourced and produced. The countries where these products are produced may involve child labour or slavery-like working conditions, unless otherwise specified. Look for ‘modern slavery free’ labels and ‘fair trade’.
Food and Eating Swaps
5. Plate Swap
Instead of using plastic plates, a better alternative may be bamboo plates or recycled paper plates.
6. Cup Swap
Rather than using plastic cups, your picnic guest can bring their own reusable cup.
7. Take-away Container Swap
Many take away shops are asking their customers to swap the single use plastic take away container with a ‘bring your own container’ approach.
8. Meat Swap
Swap the meat on the BBQ with some portobello mushrooms, soya sausages, or vegetable kebabs. Better for the environment and your health.
Lifestyle
9. House Swap
The Tiny Home movement if challenging mass consumption by offering a more simplistic way of life. Often made from recycled materials, Tiny Homes require less materials up front, use less electricity and produce less waste.
10. Electricity Swap
There is a lot of embedded waste and pollution in coal energy production. If you haven’t already made the switch to green energy, why not make it today.
11. Car Swap
Why not swap your car journey for the bus, train, walking or riding a bike.
12. Toilet paper Swap
Swap your normal toilet paper for recycled paper from sustainable forests.
Fashion and Accessories Swaps
13. Clothes Swap
Rather than throwing out your clothes, or buying new ones, why not swap your clothes with friends? Everyone gets a new wardrobe that doesn’t cost anything, avoids waste and minimises consumption.
Want to run your own clothing swap? Here’s everything you need to know
14. Shoe Swap
The same as clothes swap, but with shoes!
15. Shop Swap
Swap buying new clothes for shopping second hand. Charity shops often support local causes, so your dollars will support a good cause while minimising overall consumption.
It’s so accessible to reduce waste easily these days. It doesn’t even have to cost a lot of money. By deciding to implement any of these great zero waste swaps, you’ll be having a positive impact on the world.
