Zero Waste

Every year, we produce 2,12 billion tons of waste and 10% of this waste is plastic. Even some products that are biodegradable have a huge life span, for instances some wool socks can last for up to five years; a glass bottle can last 1 million years and a plastic bag, of course, can last forever. This happens partly because 99% of the things we buy is trashed within six months. Not so many years ago, when we had some hole in a sock, we or our mother or grandmother would sew the sock and it would last a little bit longer. We could even get help by women that were professional tights sewers. Today, if we have a hole in one sock we trash the pair of socks.

So how can we change to a Zero waste life?

Well, first we can stop being compulsive consumers. Buy less and be aware of what to buy. Re-use. This is very important as it will make a lot of difference amongst other things in your daily waste and it will have a huge impact on your family budget. Last but not least, recycle. Do your part, teach others. Before buying something, think. See if is something that you absolutely need. Then see if is something that you can do at home instead of buying. For instances you can make your own skincare at home. You will spend less money, use less packaging and you will know for sure what are the ingredients and how they are being manipulated. If you don’t have the time to make your own skincare, you can buy fairtrade and bulk products, you can change to solid shampoo and conditioner (Lush for instance), to soap bars instead of plastic bottles and you can even change to bamboo toothbrushes instead of the plastic ones that will last 3 months in your bathroom and forever in a dumpster (read more here).

Do your part, teach others.

Before buying something, think. See if is something that you absolutely need.

These are just baby steps towards change. But “that’s one small step form man; one giant leap for mankind” as Neil Armstrong said. We, at Garbags, are doing it and we will be sharing some suggestions and ideas along the way.