Listen to “The Rising Trend of Zero Waste Lifestyles”.
The zero-waste movement is an antidote to the throwaway culture and convenience economy of contemporary society. A ‘zero-waste lifestyler’ is someone who designs their life around reducing their waste consumption. They do this by avoiding acquiring things that will end up in the trash, especially disposable and non-recyclable products and packaging.
It’s tricky to know whether or not it’s possible to achieve a truly zero-waste lifestyle. Some individuals can eliminate most waste from their lives. However, let’s be realistic – no one can be 100% waste-free all of the time. Therefore, the concept of low waste looks more practical for most people.
Low waste means that whilst we’re not entirely free of creating waste, we’re taking big strides in that direction.
One thing’s for sure; the climate crisis is real. We know that the only way that we stand a chance of preserving our natural environments and wildlife habitats is by adopting low waste principles. This doesn’t mean that everyone will become zero waste overnight. But, the more that we talk about the zero waste movement – the more others will notice.
Thanks to the zero waste movement and other passionate champions of sustainability, entrepreneurs are rushing to innovate and get sustainable products on the market.
Each year, more and more sustainable products hit the market. Not all of these are perfect zero waste solutions, but entrepreneurs are beginning to think harder about their products.
The market’s idea of sustainability is slowly expanding to include waste-free packaging and greater transparency. After all, there’s a growing demand for it.
We live in a world of excess with huge, boxlike stores and 24-hour online shopping opportunities, giving members of every socioeconomic bracket the chance to drown themselves in unnecessary products. The paradox is that there isn’t any indication that any of these things make people happier; in fact, it seems that the reverse is true.
Intuitively, we know that the best stuff in life isn’t stuff at all and that relationships, experiences and meaningful work are the staples of a happy life.
Ultimately, the concept of zero waste is to reduce the amount of material we send to landfill. To achieve this, as both individuals and businesses, we can adopt the 3 ‘Rs’ of zero waste:
REDUCE – only purchase items and products that you genuinely need.
REUSE – before you throw anything away, consider any secondary purposes that it may have. Get creative!
RECYCLE – aim to responsibly recycle any materials that you cannot reuse.
What we need to do, as both consumers and businesses, is acknowledge that everyone who tries to follow a more sustainable lifestyle should be commended and supported.
From the food we eat to the goods we buy, the way we move around to the dreams and aspirations we have for a better future, we can take actions to support the cultural shifts needed to achieve sustainable development goals.
