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zero-waste beginnings :: where to start

1/4/2018

4 Comments

 
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The new year is a great time to make a commitment to moving toward zero-waste! It's also a great time to renew our efforts, if we're already on this journey. I love fresh starts + am excited to make even further progress!

This is not rocket science. If we want to move toward zero-waste, we have to address our own waste. We need to look at our own trash. Reading about zero-waste online can be so inspiring, but it can also make us feel like there is a list of things we need in order to get started. Nope. We just need to go through our own trash.

There are a few ways to go about this...take inventory + address one...a few...or all of what's in there. Consider:
-Do I need to purchase this? First things first...often doing without is healthiest, cheapest, + knocks the waste out in one step. Now there are three reasons to stop buying french fries from the drive through.  ;)
-Freebies are often just garbage in disguise. Don't accept them. The charity shop doesn't want that key chain with your bank logo on it either. Accepting the goody bag just signals the "generous" party to make more.
-Brainstorm alternatives. Too many disposable coffee cups? Get in the habit of making coffee at home. Too many granola bar wrappers? Grab some bulk nuts + a clementine. Feta cheese wrapper? Try scooping some from the salad bar into a container from home or using a different cheese that can be put into your container at the cheese counter.
-Reconsider...could I do without? Because this always produces the least waste.  :) Rather than coming up with less wasteful alternatives for nail polish, nail polish remover + cotton balls, consider loving naked, natural nails.

Simply begin. Don't get hung up on the things that seem impossible...get going on the things that can be changed more easily. Celebrate along the way! Think about how making one or two or three habit shifts right now have a cumulative effect over a month or a year or a lifetime! 

And then look through the trash again. And make another change.

What's in your trash?

Love,
Jane
4 Comments
Kelsey
1/4/2018 11:47:29 am

Jane, I've been reading your blog for some time, and wanted to say thank you for writing from your careful (yet joyful!) perspective of stewardship in all things. You've inspired me to make more changes, and keep going with the ones we've adopted so far. My little ones (2 and 5) are always watching, and I owe it to them.

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Jane link
1/5/2018 10:51:55 am

Thank you so much for this! It brought tears to my eyes. Our children can be our greatest motivators, cheerleaders, + companions. I'm so glad that the joyfulness comes across, + I'm so happy to have friends on this journey! :)

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Kari
1/4/2018 12:09:44 pm

These are the kinds of simple ideas that are so important. We will never change our own, or others', behaviour if we make it complicated. People are creatures of habit and the less dedicated (meaning most people in this world) are only going to change if the new way is as easy as the old way.

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Jane link
1/5/2018 10:53:12 am

Agreed! And I don't think that it has to be complicated. :)

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