Free Zero Waste Staples!!!

Zero Waste is usually represented by brand new mason jars, safety razors, glass containers, cotton handkerchiefs, and trendy produce bags. All of this stuff is usually crazy expensive and can cause a ton of people to feel discouraged about diving into the lifestyle. The important thing to know is that you don’t have to own anything of these things to actually be zero waste. Zero waste is a mindset and a lifestyle. If all you do is carry around a reusable water bottle or pick up plastic at the beach, you are still just as zero waste as the person who has the perfect instagram feed.

When I started my zero waste lifestyle, I realized that I already had a bunch of the essential items that I needed. Sure, known of these items look super trendy on IG; but I think functionality is more important than esthetics, especially when it comes to the environment. It still costs a ton more resources to produce new products that if we just used what we already own.

Old Sauce and Spice Jars

I always roll my eyes at the IG feeds that are perfectly curated with mason jars that are bought on Amazon. Don’t you know that it is a lot more damaging to the planet for you to purchase a new mason jar than to wash out an old tomatoe sauce jar?! Sure they aren’t as esthetically pleasing, but they are free with your purchase and work exactly the same. Just wash the old sauce out and use lemon juice and vinegar to get the sticker off. You have a perfectly good jar to hold your bulk items in. Save your time, money, and resources and just reuse what you already have! I also give these to other people who are looking for more glass jars but don’t purchase tomato sauce and other items that come in glass jars that often.

Use the Bags that You Are Given at Parties and Events

So many zero waste bloggers talk about these amazing white organic cotton produce bags. Not only are these produce bags super expensive, usually the influencers and bloggers are gifted them from the companies. Why would I purchase a new organic produce bag for 20 bucks when I own a bunch of small grocery bags that can do the same thing? Yes, some of them are plastic, but hey I helping them from ending up in our oceans and the landfill. Just like the old tomato sauce jars, its twice as damaging to the planet for us to grow the organic cotton and then turn it into produce bags, when we can use what we already own. Think about the planet and your wallet before you consider doing something because people are telling you to do so.

Plastic Containers

I find it hard to believe that people don’t have perfectly good plastic containers that they can hold take out food and leftovers. Many zero wasters tell their followers to donate their old containers and then replace them with more sustainable options like glass and rubber. However, the majority of those containers will probably never get purchased from your local thrift store or Goodwill. So unless you're dropping them off at a homeless shelter- which many don’t accept plastic containers- I think it’s better to just use those containers until they break. Once they begin to break or can’t be used anymore, than you can begin replacing them with better alternatives. If you are worried about the plastic chemicals leaching into your food, just don’t put the plastic container in the microwave or put hot food items in it.

Old Rags and Towels Make Perfect Natural Alternatives to Paper Towels!

Forget about purchasing organic cotton napkins and handkerchiefs- use what you already own! I have a bunch of old towels and rags that I have specially for cleaning up messes. They work just as well as paper towels and I just chuck them into the laundry to be washed and used again! I am not sure what nutshell invented paper towels and why they are such a large part of our society today. When you stop using them, you release that they aren’t necessary at all. Our grandparents and our parents all grew up using old rags to clean the counter and floor with. If it was good enough for them, it’s good enough for me! I have also turned a few of my old tee shirts into rags to clean messes with so I can give them a new life!

Bring Your Metal Utensils With You Wherever You Go

Many zero waste bloggers, like myself, constantly carry around bamboo utensils that are lightweight and great for travel- especially when you are going on a plane. As your metal utensils may send off a red flag at TSA. If you are going to the office, out to eat, a friends house, or anywhere else where the TSA won't be, take your metal utensils wrapped around a cloth napkin! This will help you reduce your waste whilst on the go, stop you from having to use single use plastic utensils, and better yet, will make you feel better about investing a little extra money on a special meal for yourself. You already own a bunch of metal utensils in your house- so why not take a few with you on the go!