Zero waste living is all about using what we have till its end life and not wasting any resources. I have written down 10 free zero-waste swaps for beginners below. This Ultimate List of Free-ish Zero Waste changes will set you on track to cut your trash by an exceptional amount and save you a lot of money, too!
You have the free option for every swap mentioned. Additionally, we Indians have been following so many zero-waste habits since the start without even being conscious of it or giving it any term. So, here we go-
1. Water
Stop buying plastic-packed water bottles and carry your own. It will help you stay hydrated wherever you are and save you a lot of money on that packed water.
Water is a basic human right and should be free. Don’t support that industry with your money because water companies don’t create water, but plastic bottles.
Important Tip- Don’t go and buy a new bottle when you can wash and reuse that glass ketchup bottle as I do.
Have you already got an empty alcohol bottle? Or collect them on your way to trekking or along roadsides. Give a chance to that steel bottle you already have at home, and if not a bottle, why not use a jar?
There’s no one to stop you or judge you, and you shouldn’t care. Do what serves the purpose before buying a new one for a trend.
2. Tissue papers
Say goodbye to all the paper products like kitchen towels, napkins, tissues, paper rolls, etc. The best money-saving decision you will ever make.
Although I don’t have to say, In India, we don’t normally use paper towels for cleaning our kitchen. We make a set of cloth rags from old clothes and keep reusing them.
For us, it is such a waste of money and paper. Another example is we love using water instead of toilet paper rolls for keeping our butt clean.
Tip – Also, you can keep a handkerchief with you when you go out. It is more hygienic and classy compared to tissue paper.
3. Plastic Bags
The most important switch to make is plastic bags.
How to make this zero-waste swap for free?
- Step 1 -You might have old clothes or waste fabric at home. If not, find a nearby boutique or tailor and get a good amount of waste fabric for free. Thick fabrics are recommended.
- Step 2 – Stitch some cloth bags average sized 30 by 35 cm with a nice long handle to carry comfortably.
How to make this change effortless and convenient?
keep 4-5 bags each in your car, in your two-wheeler storage, in your purse, and right beside the door so that you see them before going out.
That way, you always have a bag somewhere, where ever you go to buy groceries or anything. And when you get home, empty the bags and collect them in one place and repeat.
Tip – Same goes with your produce bags for buying loose pulses and grocery items.
4. Shop less
If you are starting your Zero-Waste journey, the zero-waste change you can adopt is to start being more aware of your consumption and of the daily choices you make.
As simple as it may sound, it is a difficult journey and can’t be done overnight. For some, It can take days, months, or even years depending on how trapped one is in this capitalist game.
It is completely okay to take your own time to break down old bad habits, unlearn and re-learn. Honestly, for me, it is a lifelong process to keep getting better at it.
How to make it easier?
Start asking yourself these questions before buying anything new-
- Do I need this, or do I want it?
- Will it make me happy or spark joy every time I use it?
- Does it fit quality over quantity?
- Do I have something similar?
- Can I borrow or buy it second-hand?
- Will I use it to its end life?
- Is this an impulse decision?
5. Straws
It is the easiest swap of all that doesn’t require anyone to go out of their way. You have to learn to remember and tell them, “No straw in my drink, please”! when you are out.
When you order a drink, they will 100% give you a straw in it. So, practice saying no, and you will get comfortable with it over time.
Other than that, you do not necessarily need a straw; You can always use your lips. However, if you feel comfortable drinking with straw only, there are many re-usable options I recommend –
- Bamboo Straws
- Steel straws
- Copper straws
- Silicone Straws
6. Junk mail
What is junk mail?
Junk mail is all that paper trash you receive that you did not subscribe to, need, or expect.
This includes those glossy catalogues, credit card offers, advertising circulars, donation requests, coupons, cable and Internet services, and sometimes bills and statements that you can request companies to send as e-mails instead.
Why should you break up with it?
Junk mail is so annoying, and most of it ends up in our landfills unopened. It is a waste of time to deal with all the unnecessary trash entering your house.
It will require a little bit of your time and effort to break up from it and save months of your time dealing with it.
how do you do it?
- Get your name off the list – as soon as you receive the mail.
- Call the sender or email- the best method so far. It is time-consuming but try to have patience and work towards an empty mailbox.
7. Zero Waste Natural cleaner
Why should you avoid chemical cleaners?
The harmful chemicals added in cleaning products usually found in the market are highly toxic to our health, the environment and other animals. All these chemicals pollute our oceans and kill marine life.
What is the solution?
This one zero waste multi-purpose cleaner can clean your entire home, whether it’s your kitchen countertop, tiles, floor, washing dishes, sinks or anything. The good part- is you can make this out of something you usually would have thrown away- citrus peels. It is none other than Bio- Enzymes.
And believe me, when I say this, BE is the best cleaner you’ll ever have or make. It is suitable for indoor air quality; the microbes present in it keep cleaning your surfaces even after you are done cleaning.
8. Oral care
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Did you know? About 1.5 billion toothpaste tubes are thrown into a landfill worldwide each year. 1 billion toothbrushes are thrown away annually in the United States. And I can’t imagine how much India is contributing to that. Crazy isn’t it? It’s time for you to say goodbye to plastics in your oral care routine.
Seriously, you are eating microplastics and chemicals the moment you put that paste and plastic brush in your mouth.
Microplastics are specifically added to your usual market toothpaste as abrasive particles, scrubbing, emulsifying or filling agents -with devastating consequences to our health and environment.
They are made of polyethene but can be of other petrochemical plastics such as polypropylene and polystyrene.
There are many toothpaste recipes found online that are made using ingredients from your kitchen.
What are the alternatives for oral care?
- DIY zero waste natural Toothpaste
- Natural Toothpowder
- Daatun sticks (works for me for weekly use along with DIY toothpaste)
- Dent tabs (not free but best for travelling)
- Stainless Steel Tongue Cleaner
- Bamboo Toothbrush
9. Cook Your Food at Home
I know it’s not easy but it is worth it. I bet cooking our food at home saves so much money and is much healthier.
- Always plan out your meals before.
- Think twice before eating out and if you do, carry your containers for takeaways.
- Re-purpose and re-make recipes from your leftovers.
10. Cutlery
Here we have another easy zero waste change. Who doesn’t have sets of steel cutlery at home? We don’t need to buy fancy wooden or zero-waste cutlery kit packs.
How to make your free zero-waste cutlery kit?
Take a pair of spoons and forks from your existing cutlery sets at home and get any old box, pouch or container that fits exactly the size of them. Voila! You have your go-to Zero-Waste cutlery kit ready for free.
Which of these Zero waste changes would you try? Let me know in the comments below!
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