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Love the Earth, Make Less Waste

 

Created for those seeking to live a mindful and sustainable life, Simply Zero was built on the fundamental idea that each one of us has the capability of creating positive change in this world through the choices we make and the dollars we spend. It is our mission to pave the future of zero waste and low impact living through education, community activism, and conscious consumerism.

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FOLLOW ALONG

how do you grocery shop? zero waste edition. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ take a glimpse into any average trash bin and you're sure to find an array of waste stemming from the food and drinks we consume — packaging, single-use bags and often the food itself (but we'll save that for a later post). our groceries are some of the biggest contributors to the waste we as individuals bring into our homes. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ so how can we be proactive and reduce our grocery-related waste? like zero waste life on-the-go, grocery shopping is all about being prepared. knowing what you plan to eat each week and going to the shop with a set list — and the tools to bring each item home waste-free — can be a HUGE help. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ so here are some things we have in our zero waste grocery kit (swipe for visuals): ➖various sized tote bags: for bringing groceries home and for produce ➖mason jars: for bulk dry and liquid goods ➖various sized cotton bags: for bulk dry goods and produce ➖glass bottle: for bulk liquids (oils, vinegars, etc.) ➖various sized mesh bags: for large bulk goods (dried fruit, etc.) ➖brown paper bags: budget friendly option for bulk foods that can be composted or recycled when useless) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ all this being said, it's important to remember that sometimes we won’t have access to a waste-free option (either tangibly or for budget reasons) and that's ok. our responsibility is to do what we can with the resources we have available and, if we have the time and ability, encourage the makers of our favorite products to consider more environmentally friendly packaging options ✨ #simplyfortheplanet
budget → investment ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ one thing we hear all too often is: "going zero waste is so expensive." while we chuckle a bit inside every time we hear it, we get it. from what we're marketed and shown in our feeds each day it does appear to be an expensive lifestyle. but it doesn't have to be. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ most of the time, we've got exactly what we need to reduce our waste sitting right there at home in our drawers and cabinets. it might not be as "gram-worthy" but it's probably functional and serves the exact purpose this lifestyle preaches: use what you have to send as little trash to the landfill as possible. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ all this being said, we know that something shiny and new can also be the impetus for really making a behavior change — ever notice how a new workout outfit can have you feeling excited to go for that run again? — so we decided to share both options to help you make a best choice wherever you're at, this time for zero waste on-the-go cutlery (swipe for the visual): ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ budget (left): cutlery you have at home. put them in a cloth baggie or wrap them in a cloth napkin and you're on your way. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ investment (right): bamboo utensil set. comes in a recycled carrier, is lightweight and dishwasher friendly! and the chopsticks are probably our fav part! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ two options, both zero waste. it's a win-win! #simplyfortheplanet
don't be afraid to make the ask...⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ "for here, please"⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ "no straw, please"⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ "can you wrap my sandwich in this beeswrap?"⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ "can you pack my order in this tiffin?"⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ "can you put my latte in this jar?"⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ it might be a little awkward and uncomfortable at first, but more often than not you'll get a resounding, "okay, cool", "sure, i don't see why not" — especially if the shop is local. better yet, your ask might even spark further conversation:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ "tell us more about this!"⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ "are you doing this for the environment?"⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ "oh my, we need more people in the world doing things like this"⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ "you're doing an amazing thing, this one's on us."⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ this movement is about SO much more than making a few swaps, it's about community, leading by example and inspiring those we cross paths with through our actions. so friends, bring your reusables and make your ask — you might just leave the interaction a little more inspired than when you started it ✨ #simplyfortheplanet
want to know the one thing i look for in every new zero waste item i purchase?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ multi-functionality.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ why? because if i'm going to invest my hard-earned dollars into something new, i want it to serve me (and the planet) in more ways than one. also, having just ONE thing that serves a LOT of purposes frees up space not only in my bag, but my mind, too.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ let's take my keep cup for example. this is one of the first items i ever bought and it serves me in ALL of these ways:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ✖️ it holds my breakfast or snacks⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ✖️ it holds my morning latte⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ✖️ i use it for water, wine and/or beer at events⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ✖️ i bring home leftovers in it⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ✖️ i hold my compost in it while i'm away from home⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ for me, the $26 was worth it for all of these reasons. but let's face it, my reused peanut butter jar also does all of the same things. and i love them both the same.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ do you use your zero waste items in more than one way? #simplyfortheplanet
i have to be honest, i was never a huge fan of bottled water even before make the choice to go zero waste. i could never fathom paying for something that 1) seemed wasteful and 2) came safely and free from the tap. that being said, i also didn't leave my house each day prepared for drinking water...or anything for that matter. which meant that if/when my thirst finally hit me, i went reaching for the nearest single-use option (and my wallet).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ the problem with that? i was contributing to the 100 million+ plastic bottles being used and tossed around the world each day. sure, i felt okay about my choice given that i would go home and put the bottle into my recycling bin. but i had no idea that only 9% of plastic here in the US actually winds up getting recycled.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ when i made the choice to go zero waste, ensuring that i always carried a reusable drinking vessel was one of the first habits i tackled. and i say a reusable drinking vessel because opting away from single-use plastic bottles doesn't require investing in a fancy insulated bottle (although they are quite nice on a hot day). ANY reusable drinking vessel will suffice. mason jar, nalgene bottle, drinking glass from home, coffee mug, glass bottle...and yea, reusable plastic bottles count, too.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ what's your favorite way to hydrate on the go? #simplyfortheplanet
but also, we get it. refusing can be hard.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ especially considering that an average person with internet access sees approximately 5,000 ads a day (most of which are targeted). meaning that 5,000 times a day we are tempted towards a product or service that we like and want, but more often than not, probably don't need.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ within the philosophy of zero waste, refusing what we do not need — the first of the 5r's (refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, rot) — is one of the single most effective ways we as individuals can minimize our impact. want to create less trash? easy: consume less. but like with most things, refusing is a practice that is a little easier said than done.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ sure, we can withhold our innermost desire to buy more stuff. we can rent, borrow and buy secondhand all to subside demand for new products. but what about all of the indirect stuff that comes into our life and homes? the receipts, the straws, the freebies at work, the junk mail, the gifts from loved ones...seriously, the amount of opportunities we have to consume from the minute we step out the door to the minute we get home is endless and has us wanting to wear a big ol' t-shirt that says, NO THANKS.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ so what can you do?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ➖seriously...just say "no, thanks" to single-use plastics, hotel room toiletries, food samples, party favors, flyers, swag bags, etc.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ➖equip yourself with reusables so saying "no, thanks" comes easier (for ideas see the second to last post before this)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ➖shift away from unsustainable practices. school field trip requiring your child to bring a "disposable paper bag lunch"? question it and provide alternative solutions.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ at the end of the day, we have to remember that we're all human. trash WILL enter our lives and sometimes it's the shiny new something that makes us happy. we're just here to remind you to consume a little more simply and mindfully ✨ #simplyfortheplanet