Purpose of Zero Waste

Did you know that, according to the World Economic Forum, 146 million tons of waste end up in landfills in the United States each year? And this is just a statistic from one country. Knowing this, we can only imagine how much waste ends up in landfills globally. Adopting a zero-waste lifestyle may seem difficult in an era of consumerism and widespread waste. However, this lifestyle encourages minimizing waste as much as possible by following the 5R’s rule: refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, and rot. The main question is, how can we incorporate these principles step by step into our daily lives? 

Small steps towards Zero Waste

`It is always hard to adapt to new habits. For example, when people start working out, even professional trainers encourage them to start with the basics—using small amounts of weight and running short distances. The same approach applies when seeking a zero-waste lifestyle. Of course, it’s possible to drastically change everything at once, but the likelihood of maintaining those changes over the long term is very small.

Plastic/Paper waste 

Many countries have a huge problem with plastic waste. Did you know that every year, 8 million tons of plastic waste end up in the oceans, mostly from coastal areas? This problem arises from consumerism, unnecessary shopping, and poor daily habits. The most plastic-polluted country is the Philippines, and nearby, about 35% of all ocean plastic accumulates. When the Earth is so polluted, it’s hard to believe that plastic was originally invented to reduce waste, such as paper waste.

Refusing disposable cups

Coffee shops are popular all around the world, and we understand that some coffee drinks are hard to make or take too much time. But it’s usually just 5 minutes of pleasure to drink coffee, and then we throw away the cup. Some cups used by shops aren’t even made from reusable plastic.

Start drinking coffee at home instead of going out and buying it in a plastic or paper cup that later ends up in the trash. If you do buy coffee outside, at least bring your own reusable cup—some coffee shops even offer discounts for customers who bring personal takeaway cups.

Digital receipts/tickets/cards

Every time we go to supermarkets, we get paper receipts for our purchases. Sadly, many of them later become trash around the same supermarket. Most of the time, we don’t even look at them twice. There are also many places where paper tickets are used once and discarded, such as public transport, museums, or festival wristbands.

Many of these tickets could easily be replaced by digital ones. For example, many supermarket chains now have apps where you can choose digital receipts instead of paper. Before going to museums, it’s often possible to buy tickets online, and it’s sometimes cheaper than buying them at the entrance. 

Shopping behaviour 

Also, remember to take a reusable grocery bag when shopping, rather than buying a new one each time. Always look for alternatives to plastic. For vegetables and fruits, reusable small bags (or none at all) can be used. For other products, consider bringing your own glass containers, which can be used in some supermarkets or farmers’ markets.

Food waste

Plan your shopping trips! Planning ahead reduces waste, saves food, and although it takes a bit more time to prepare, it ultimately benefits both your wallet and the environment. If you like eating out at restaurants, order smaller portions if you’re unsure whether you’ll finish everything. If you have leftovers, ask the waiter for a box to take them home (many restaurants now offer this for an extra charge). According to the World Food Programme, 9 million people die every year from hunger. This is a huge number, and it’s increasing every year. There’s a prediction that by 2058, there will be 10 billion people on Earth, as shown in the graph below from ‘Our World in Data.’ The population is growing, but the land suitable for agriculture is shrinking. The future predictions aren’t optimistic, with more people expected to die from hunger.

Daily habits

Reducing paper waste is much easier than some people might think. Many changes rely on daily habits, which, over time, can change not only behavior but also support the goal of seeking zero waste.

The simplest actions—recycling not just paper, but also glass, general waste, and metal—help reprocess waste and use it for manufacturing new products. This practice also applies to clothes and electronics.

Simple steps like using both sides of paper for notebooks and using paper clips instead of staples are part of the longer journey. Be digital! Many notes can be taken on a computer rather than on paper. You can use Notes on your phone, Word, Google Drive, Notepad, or OneNote. Also, avoid using disposable paper dinnerware, opting for materials that can be reused.

Seek zero waste every day

In ecology and other important matters, it’s crucial to spread the word. Encourage your friends and family to limit their waste and adopt green practices. Share interesting articles and events about this topic, and don’t be afraid to discuss it openly!

By german eco-mmunity activators Team