Welcome to the New Year 2020 and an all new decade! It doesn’t matter how you ended 2019 it matters what you do starting today! Lets be honest the mantra Refuse, Reduce Reuse, Repair, Rot is fantastic however we really need to aim higher and set goals beyond just this.
As consumers we have the power to choose. Choosing not to support companies that uses palm oil and single use plastic packaging is a vital step in this new decade in making a difference. Governments seem to be failing us and as a whole we as a community have the power to make changes by simply not purchasing items and buying less.
We live in a world where every piece of plastic still exists, unless it has been burnt and that in itself has adverse effects to the environment. Recycling is great however we are drowning in plastic and recycling companies are at a stage of being unable to cope with the demands. Rather than looking at how we can recycle switching mindsets to reducing what is bought is far better. Preventative action rather than reaction to a situation is key. No is a powerful word that will inevitably change demand and intern the supply.
How can we facilitate prevention and move towards waste- free living?
Here are some checklists to minimise the use of plastics and assist in transitioning to a waste free lifestyle. What we really need to be moving towards is waste-free living, and in order to begin this way of life, we need to stop plastic before it comes into our homes. A simple way towards being zero waste is by changing the demand and inevitably we will change the supply.
There are simple things that we all can do to make a difference and move towards a more plastic free lifestyle.
Some of the easiest ways you can start this transition are as follows:
- Refusing single use plastic bags and cutlery
- Drink from a reusable water bottle
- Bring a reusable bag with you every where you go
- Change your mindset to reusable rather than single use
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO TO REFUSE WASTE?
These are a series of action checklists that you can download to assist in ways to move away from plastic dependency and towards a cleaner, more sustainable and fulfilling lifestyle. Stick it on your fridge, put it in your purse or what ever works for you and form a habit of ticking off each subsequent change you make. Remember it is progress over perfection however YOU MUST START AND MAKE CHANGES. If you have items that are plastic then keep on reusing them until you can not reuse it anymore. This isn’t a quest for you to throw out all things plastic and buy new. NO NO NO. Reusing what you already have then making the switch to Eco and sustainable is key. Going zero waste can be done in simple steps no matter whether you are in Bali or any where in the world.
AT HOME
GENERAL EVERYDAY
A great way to not forget essentials when on route on your daily activities is to have a tote bag ready near the front of your door with important essentials like:
- Reusable water bottle
- Straw
- Coffee cup
- Cutlery
- Handkerchief or napkin
- Beeswax wrap
FREE DOWNLOAD THE ZERO WASTE BALI CHECKLIST PDF
IN THE KITCHEN
- Use natural soaps or liquid soaps
- Hessian dish wash clots
- Reusable towels
- Wooden scrubbing brushes
- Vinegar and baking soda
- Citrus enzymes
- Loofah
- Store food in reusable containers
- Replace non-stick cookware with stainless steel or cast iron
- Make your own yogurt and nut milk (it’s easier than you think)
- Compost your food waste
- Instead of plastic wrap or tin foil, wrap leftovers with plastic free reusable, antibacterial wraps, such as these beeswax wraps
- Choose a French Press over a machine that uses capsules (the grounds also make a great compost or a body scrub)
- Don’t buy plastic bottled water and before you leave the home fill up your water bottle via a gallon bottle from you own home. If living in Bali or Indonesia down load the Refill My Bottle app and find out where you can Refill your bottle for free.
FREE DOWNLOAD THE ZERO WASTE BALI CHECKLIST PDF
BATHROOM AND TOILETRIES
- Avoid cosmetics containing polypropylene or polyethylene (usually the micro-plastic exfoliating beads) Simply make your own
- Use Apple Cider Vinegar as a conditioner
- Opt for reusable stainless razor like this one
- Opt for bar soaps over plastic bottled liquid soaps or REFILL at Zero Waste Bali
- Choose a reusable face cloth as opposed to wet wipes
- Get yourself a bamboo toothbrush
- Opt for plastic-free dental floss
- Use plastic free feminine hygiene products, or take it one step further with a menstrual cup
FREE DOWNLOAD THE ZERO WASTE BALI CHECKLIST PDF
AT THE OFFICE
- Say no to plastic pens, go for pencils or a refillable fountain pen
- Leave a water bottle, eating utensils and container at the office
- Switch to paperless billing
OUT AND ABOUT
- Refuse straws and plastic lids when ordering takeaway drinks and bring your own
- Bring your own take away containers to restaurants
- Start conversations about WHY you are refusing plastic
- Re-purpose plastic containers
- Treat yourself; get ice cream in a cone, not a cup
- Give the kids waste free lunch boxes
FREE DOWNLOAD THE ZERO WASTE BALI CHECKLIST PDF
AT THE SHOPS
- Buy in bulk, shop at local farmers markets
- Bring your own containers, jars and silicone pouches and reusable produce bags
- Delve into thrift stores for clothing
- Purchase items plastic free and not in single use plastic packaging
- Go for products wrapped in cardboard, paper or even better, no packaging
- Buy fresh bread and use Produce Bags
FREE DOWNLOAD THE ZERO WASTE BALI CHECKLIST PDF
HOLIDAYS & OCCASIONS
- Ditch the plastic Christmas tree ( If you already have one then keep reusing ) make one out of sticks, wood or bamboo
- Refuse gimmicky plastic gifts and promotional goods
- Find alternative wrapping techniques and use eco-friendly paper
- Give plastic free gifts, or a different type of gift: such as experiences over things
- No glitter, unless it’s 100% biodegradable
FREE DOWNLOAD THE ZERO WASTE BALI CHECKLIST PDF
TRAVEL TIPS
- Bring your own water bottle on the plane (fill up at the fountain after security or on the plane)
- Use reusable travel size containers for personal products
- Resist the mini bar
- Old-school is cool: bring back the handkerchief in place of tissues
- Take your own soaps to hotels
- Bring your own shampoo bar rather than use the hotel amenities
- Bring your own bamboo ear buds
- Pack your own meals for the plane or bus or train
FREE DOWNLOAD THE ZERO WASTE BALI CHECKLIST PDF
SCHOOL
Start teaching the future generation our children the importance of reducing waste and begin to teach them the importance of reusable items. When they are going to kindergarten or school give them
Don’t buy CDs or DVDs; download or stream online
- Reusable bag
- Items not wrapped in plastic
- Water Bottle
- Homemade lunches
- Reusable Cutlery
FREE DOWNLOAD THE ZERO WASTE BALI CHECKLIST PDF
AT THE BEACH
The ocean is being polluted with plastic and other items and we really need to be mindful when we go to the beach with the amount of rubbish we generate. There are simple things to reduce the waste being produced and stop plastic from reaching our ocean.
- Bring an eco friendly bag
- Wet bag to put swimmers in
- Towel or Sarong
- Bring your own food and snacks
- Natural reef safe sunscreen
- Eco hat
This doesn’t need to be an immediate change, as long as you are incorporating more of these points into your lifestyle day by day, then you are moving in the right direction. Essentially, a waste less lifestyle doesn’t have to mean doing without something, it means figuring out what is important to you and then switching to waste-free alternatives.
Small changes create big changes. Once you start reducing waste it is like falling down a rabbit hole and you want to reduce even more. Start today!
FREE DOWNLOAD THE ZERO WASTE BALI CHECKLIST PDF
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