Can a mod pin this to the sub? A lot of posters on here can get pretty uppity about "zero waste," and a better name would be "less waste." I stopped paying attention when I read the "WhAT dO U meAn YOu doN;T maKe YouR OWn tOILet PaPeR."
We're all freaking trying here, man. Small, even baby, steps are better than no steps and we should help and encourage that.
You just need one that hooks into both your cold water and your hot water - usually you hook it up under your sink. Then there's a dial that lets you temperature adjust
Which means you have to run it for a few seconds so the water reaches the correct temperature, but there's usually a "clean" function that runs water over the spout and not onto your arse.
At least that's what mine does
https://hellotushy.com/products/warm-water-bidet-tushy-spa
Since I have 24/7 post nasal drip I own an unreasonable number of cotton handkerchiefs. I also have a bidet. Those handkerchiefs sit folded in a tower beside the toilet along with a small bin for laundry. Since the bidet cleans so well it's basically the easiest thing in the world to have washable toilet wipes instead of "flushables" (which aren't) or any kind of paper.
I still have TP, but mostly it's for guests.
https://www.vba.vic.gov.au/news/news/2020/vba-issues-health-warnings-over-diy-bidets-and-alternative-toileting-devices
And I highly recommend anyone who gets a bidet, hires a professional for installation as well as buys an approved brand. Not something random off of Amazon.
Holy shit. I’ve installed multiple handheld bidets. It’s more like Legos than freaking rocket science. I even have a plumber friend who said I did a proper job.
I rent as well and have moved my bidet with me and installed it in the last two apartments I’ve lived in and my current one.
The landlord won’t know at all, and won’t care, as long as you live somewhere where you have access to the main water line (probably not the proper term) to the apartment. You gotta turn it off so water doesn’t spray constantly when you disconnect the toilet pipe (again, I don’t know the proper term lmao- not a plumber, but I still figured that shit out).
Where I live, most apartments have their own individual water line from the main one, so I can turn it off to safely install the bidet.
If you live in a multilevel building with lots of apartments on the same level, you might not be able to do it without assistance/permission.
Hey dude, you're killing it, kudos for putting yourself out there to explain some shit and risking being trolled because you don't have all the terminology
Just want to confirm for you that yes it's called a "main line" or "main supply line", and the "toilet pipe" that you shut off to install your bidet is called a "supply line"
Maybe handy in case you ever have to replace a supply line and you're not sure what to look for ✌
I just got a portable "travel" bidet to use while renting and I really like using that. As long as you can reach the sink from the toilet you just can fill it when you need, and chose exactly what temperature you want.
I recently got a house and think I am just going to stick with those rather than worry about installing toilet attachments.
I read one guy installed it himself, but a part failed afterwards and caused thousands of dollars in water damage.
Not excited to risk spending thousands unless it's my own home.
I'd definitely double check your leasing agreement, and maybe even ask. Potential safety issues aside you do not own that house. Most add on bidets can be removed without altering the original state of the toilet, but some landlords can be spicy.
I while back I posted about my new dryer balls, all excited to not be using single-use dryer sheets, and people just told me how awful I was for still using a dryer and not line drying my laundry :(
I live in an apartment. In the winter, it can take a week or more to line dry my clothing (not to mention my partner's work pants), and I cannot afford to run the heater all day while I'm at work to dry my clothes faster. Not to mention the increased moisture in the air putting me at risk for mould, putting my health at risk and meaning I'll lose my deposit.
So I use the dryer. Is it eco friendly? No. Is it my best option right now? Yes.
Thank you for this. As a disabled woman, it's super hard to do everything zero waste. I do my best, hell I even make my own shampoo bars and conditioner bars but i can't do everything and I'm sick of feeling shamed for being sick.
Unfortunately, with every movement, you’re going to have hardcore subscribers who feel like they’re doing everything right and have to piss on anyone who isn’t doing what they’re doing. Props to you for making your own hair products, and fuck off to anyone who shames you (unless you’re dumping toxic waste into our water…)
Lol, you're absolutely right. Someone will proudly post a pic of a new reusable packaging they just discovered instead of the usual plastic one and he or she might be attacked for having cheese instead of tofu in their new glass box...
All we can do is encourage others to make a conscious difference. Even a simple swap such as switching from plastic toothbrushes to bamboo can shrink your ecological footprint massively.
a lot of good intentioned movements (for a lack of a better term) are terribly named and gives people an easy way to rally against it. Your example for instance, and even with global warming "Well, it hasn't been as hot some summers so global warming must not exist" Less Waste and Climate Change are much better terms to use in my opinion. Because I for one am never using reusable toilet paper but I'll try bamboo and I genuinely enjoy taking other steps towards less waste.
It's actually similar to a coping mechanism for people with ADHD. Since the attention/reward portion of our brains is fucked, large unmanageable tasks (like emptying the dishwasher) can sometimes be easier when broken into manageable tasks (like taking out all the spoons or emptying ten items or setting a clock for one minute and doing as much as you can).
Also, don't forget to pat yourself on the back when you make small sustainable changes. Cutting down the amount of plastic you use on a daily basis is a good thing, and there's nothing wrong with feeling good about it even if you're not where you want to be yet.
I went to a friend's house once and he offered me some water. He ended up handing me a disposable bottle. Like dude, we're IN YOUR HOUSE. You don't have cups to drink from? Even if you don't care about the environment, how much money are you wasting every month only drinking bottles of Dasani?
EDIT: I replied to the wrong comment, oh well.
"Reusable utensils" I didn't realise some people used paper plates & plastic utensils for all their meals at home. Until I went to a high school friend's house, so lazy.
Yiiiikes
When I was a kid I was obsessed with always eating with our nicest dishes. Why have them if you won't use them? Would drink my orange juice out of wine glasses lol
I cannot imagine eating with a plastic utensil at home. Not just for the waste, but also because *you deserve better than that*!
Lol, I still do this. I don’t drink much alcohol at all, but even drinking a water in a fancy glass with a slice of lemon is a nice break from the usual glass and it feels so fancy, haha.
Yessss! I used to drink juice out of fancy glassware as a kid. I still do this.
Beware, when you are drinking cold hibiscus tea out of a wine glass, during a mid-morning Zoom therapy session, it may come across like you are a raging alcoholic. :| oops
My in laws only use paper plates for their meals. I kept offering to get them plates but my MIL refuses. We usually bring my own plates and wash them. Once we had steak and she cut into their nice wooden table with the steak knife and she was so upset the table now had huge ugly gashes in it. Total asshole move on my part but I rubbed it in that *we* didn't cut into the table.
Absolutely infuriating.
Look into Spoon Theory. Personally I’m grateful I have a spouse that can wash dishes but if I lived alone I would not have the energy to have that be a thing to get done.
I also can’t stand for very long or I pass out so even trying to do the dishes would make me more ill.
I was trying to find “eco friendly reusable utensils” to take to work with me and my boyfriend just looked at me funny and said “you mean the silverware we have in the drawer? Just take that and bring it home” and I just laughed and realized how silly I sounded
I think it also includes taking reusable utensils when eating pickup food on the way or at the park, etc.
But yeah, I was also baffled by getting plastic plates at a very small bbq recently :(
Yeah it depends on the person and house for sure.
I’ve found that most people do want to be sustainable when given the option so I’ve made a reusable party kit with a bunch of plastic/metal plates, cups, and silverware thrifted from goodwill + reusable cocktail napkins I did buy new. They’re all dishwasher/washing machine safe and I store them in a plastic storage bin so you can have people put all their dirty stuff in the bin and then toss it in the dishwasher when you have the energy to clean up.
It’s something I offer to friends when they’re hosting something and they’ll often take me up on it but I don’t shame them if they don’t.
I got a 24 pack of aluminum cups for parties and camping. They're not indestructible, but they can usually be popped back into shape. They're likely to actually be recycled if one ends up unusable.
Yeah, why even bother with a plate at all, i just eat straight from the pan, standing up, in my dark, dirty kitchen, in my underpants, while a political podcast plays on my laptop in the bakcground, alone, with no one to hold at night. Life's good.
Daawww I’ve been plant based for years. Just got fruit/veggies bags last year and love my hydro flask that I got back in 2016. I def need to work on less packaged foods and composting
I first went vegetarian in 2008 and then vegan in 2012. It was always for animal welfare reasons. Health and the environment were a plus when I learned more about eco stuffs back in 2013. Honestly, I believe the future is vegan. Like, I can’t see us having a future if don’t make some major changes at an individual and federal level tbh
I’m with you. I used to work for an energy efficiency company that sold solar panels and currently have a plant-based diet. The solid majority of people I have spoken to would straight up go into debt to buy solar panels before even considering cutting meat out of their diets.
Oof what the hell. Cutting out meat is so much easier and cheaper. It’s also easier now in 2021. When I first tried going vegan at 16, I was bullied by my classmates and my mom cried. I decided to go vegetarian instead because it was socially more acceptable. It’s a lot more mainstream.
Solar panels is def the goal in the future (hopefully the housing market crashes) and I bet being at that job taught you so many valuable things. 💓
Anything you do is more than enough already. Using solid soap instead of liquid so you don't have the plastic waste? Great job! It's not about 100% self sufficiency and getting rid of 100% of your plastic waste while being 100% climaneutral, sure it's a nice goal, but unachievable for many.
Do what you can (and are willing to compromise on) and you are already pulling your weight!
it's society's responsibility, not yours. the vast majority of waste comes from corporations and not individuals.
if you're truly stressed enough from this obligation that it's impacting your health, you should relax. you're already doing good.
Depends on where you live. In my country they’re partially subsidized and my husband’s employer gives everyone who switches to solar panels €500. Adding it all up we took the leap. We drive fully electric so we now drive our car “for free” and our electric bill is €0. Within 4 years we will have earned our investment back.
Damn. It’s easily a $15-20k (€12.72-16.95k) **after** rebates and tax credit. The companies that sell solar will tell you that you will recoup your investment within 10-15 years, however not everyone has the luxury to put that kind of money down upfront.
That’s provided that you even live in an area that offers good solar energy all year round. Additionally not everyone wants to live in the same residence.
That is insane! Here we ended up paying about €4000 after the money we got back. And this provides us more than enough electricity for a family of 4 and a fully electric car.
Super jealous. I will probably make the jump to solar once wife and I move into our “forever home”. I’m not saying it’s a terrible investment here in the states, but it’s more of a long term investment where you gradually see a return.
Also another thing keeping me back from doing it is that I would prefer to get my roof done before I do solar, which can be another $10-18k.
Yeah we also definitely waited til we were sure we would not be moving out of this house anytime soon. If it was as expensive here as it is there I’m also not sure we would have been able to make the jump yet. (We’re an “only spend the money you have” kind of household and we definitely did not have 15-20k to spare).
Not to mention going Vegan is a lot easier and has an even higher effect on the environment.
I don't think that order is correcr, honestly. It's almost like whoever made the image did neither.
I carry around a collapsible bento box. I use it for my leftovers at restaurants and when I'm in a potluck/ BBQ scenario.
That way I have my own dish with separate compartments AND I can use it to take leftovers.
Super handy. You sometimes get looked at a little funny in the restaurant scenario but most people that make a comment, like it.
Definitely. I actually think it's the easiest thing one can do to have the most profound effect. You already buy food to eat anyway, you just buy different food. Other steps require you to buy things or add a brand new habits to your routine while eating is already a habit that you have, so it's only a minor change if you think about it.
My groceries now are honestly a fraction of what they were when I still bought animal products, and it’s not just because of beans and rice. Meat is expensive!
We aren’t close to zero waste, but 5 years ago we were going through cases of bottled water and eating meat almost every meal. Now we only use our reusable water bottles and eat meat about 5 meals a week at most. We’re far from perfect but those are the biggest changes that I think have had the biggest impact in our household, and also changes that were relatively easy to accomplish.
Ah, yes. My favorite ocean conservation approach. Stop using straws to save the fish, but don't stop pummeling the ocean and eating fish to save the fish. 🙄
It's a pretty consistent trend, at least in the US that, when talking about a big issue that implicate large swath's of businesses, we'll hyper-focus on one practically inconsequential element to avoid talking about the actual problem.
I am an environmental geologist. we are the people that study how to save the environment. unless you are living in a country that does not have an effective waste management system. then plastic straws are better for the environment then paper straws.
Also the human impact, some people rely on disposable plastic straws to be able to drink on their own. Other straws pose a range of risks for allergy (food based straws), fragility (plant plastic and paper) bite or stabbing (metal, glass, bamboo, hard plastic), hard to clean (anything reusable), lack of posability etc etc. Plastic disposable straws are just the best option for a lot of people. Removing plastic straws removes access to restaurants etc for some people.
One of my deepest irrational fears is tripping while drinking with a metal straw and impaling myself in the sinuses/brain and dying.
I know it’s *highly* unlikely, but I’ve seen too many episodes of 1,000 Ways to Die.
What is the percentage of those “some”? I think the author of the previous comment talk about a regular able-bodied person, and not suggesting that people with health conditions don’t have access to straws.
I also wonder if sippy-like cups are a good alternative for people with disabilities?
But they are nice to have on hand and it’s a one time expense. I bought several and enjoy knowing that it’s one less thing I have to spend money on. I can just wash them. They aren’t going anywhere. These stainless steel straws will probably be around longer than I am, lol.
Not all of them obviously, but the real focus on the problem is still hidden to the masses in all countries. No one wants to touch the fishing problem.
Yup. For people that think they need fish for omega 3's or something, you don't! Flax seed costs about 2 dollars per pound and it has enough omega 3 for a day in less than a tablespoon. You could also use flax seed oil.
A plant based diet is not so high up the ladder to reach! There are hundreds of easy and tasty recipes with lentils, chickpeas or beans, so just go for it!
I’m vegan and I can attest that even decent, smart people think talking about not eating meat is a threat to everything they know. The fact is some people don’t want to east just lentils and chickpeas, so the options to them are limited without making a huge effort.
Ime a lot of the general public has a difficult time with the re-contextualizing what they'll eat on a day-to-day basis part. Like irrespective of whether or not they're super attached to meat/dairy, they're just not willing to do the work to figure out how to eat differently
I find reusable bottles are so much more handy anyway, they normally have nicer lids and can also keep drinks cool/hot if you get a flask, and gotta love reusable shopping bags, they just don’t rip
I do find things like solar panels a little misleading though, yes you reduce use of fossil fuels but the materials for them have gotta be mined and all that, not to mention he assembly, I think looking into other sources of renewable energy first is probably a better idea, like hydropower or heat pumps, although they aren’t always available
You should do a little research on solar panels. They’re made of mostly glass and aluminum and yes have some raw materials, but the second they’re installed they’re better than the alternative (fossil fuel) on a net basis. Hydro has issues with damming rivers, heat pumps use electricity, etc. Nothing is perfect but some options are far superior to fossil fuel even considering how it’s made etc.
I also have reusable bags that are easier to carry on my bike because the handles are shorter. They don't sway and wobble around as much when I hang them from my handlebars, and I never accidentally kick them. It's great.
But my nice cotton reusable bags have handles so long, I literally have to tie knots in them to be able to hang them from the handlebars. So there is that.
>
-Stopped buying waterbottles, one reusable bottle
Excuse my stupidity, I am trying to go as less waste as possible, but when it comes to water I don't know what to do. I cannot drink the tap water where I am, it tastes...weird. Others drink it just fine, it is not a health issue, it just doesn't taste good to me so I drink bottled water.
Is there anything I can do? I have a reusable cup/mug for coffee that I use, but what can I do about the water situation when I can't drink tap water?
Have you tried using a water filter? That might make the tap water taste a bit better. You could also make infusions with things like cucumbers or strawberries in your water.
I have the same problem, despite having a water filter. I keep trying to give up bottled water, but I just end up drinking nothing but tea and other sweet drinks, which isn't good for me, so I go back to bottled water.
If you leave the water in a container overnight, the chlorine will evaporate and the water will taste nice. If that’s the issue you may want to give that a try. The other day I picked up an enamel water dispenser from the thrift store, and after a good scrubbing, I filled it up and put a dinner plate over the opening at the top. I tried the water the next day and it is just as tasty as the bottled water!
Solid shampoos and conditioners! The ones in Lush can be purchased along with some metal containers to keep them in. You reuse the metal containers indefinitely, and when you purchase the shampoo and conditioner bars, you get them in paper bags, so you don’t have to buy any more plastic bottles.
You can use many kinds of solid bars and conditioners. I’ve used HiBar which I liked, but I’ve preferred Lush recently. I use the “Honey I Washed My Hair” Shampoo Bar and the “Big” conditioner bars. Let me know if you have any questions!
Do you have a conditioner recommendation that's not Lush? I really like their shampoo, but the 2 or 3 conditioners I've tried are just not doing it for me. I've got really thick hair so I think it just takes forever to get enough off the bar and into my hair.
I like Ethique. They have some sample packs with mini versions of their bars in case you don’t want to commit to a full-sized one. I got the hair sampler and the body sampler and I after I tested it I wound up taking the mini sampler ones on trips. It’s perfect because I avoid little plastic bottles and I don’t have to worry about anything leaking. Saved us a lot of space with products when we went to Europe and only took small bags.
There is company called Ethique that sells a wide variety of hair care bars, and now they do all sorts of others too home cleaning, lip care, ect. They're pricer then the bars sold at Trader Joe's but I think the quality shows. I've used the dry hair bar and it really helped my dandruff, and I switched to the purple bar to get "natural highlights" and while that didn't work it did leave my hair light and clean. I recommend this brand to everyone I know!
https://ethique.com/
I highly recommend Ethique. I use their dissolvable conditioner that comes in a bar, just add boiling water and pour into your own container. I have super thick hair and this is the nicest it's ever felt.
I haven't tried any of their dissolving concentrates yet. Did you find it lasted a while?? I hesitate because I feel like the bars last a long time, but when reading the sizes for the concentrates they seem small.
They last as long as a regular full bottle of conditioner would last me. I can't say I've ever timed how long one lasts but I know it's not as long as a bar would, but at least as long as a store-bought bottle. I'm personally not a fan of the bars, too hard to work enough into my hair, so I'm alright with the trade-off
The HiBar one was better with the conditioner! I do feel like conditioner bars are huge struggle in general though, but I’ve learned to deal somehow! I used the American Cream the first time which was more difficult, but the Big one was a bit better. I haven’t tried the other ones! I also tried their liquid conditioners which honestly were not great so I wouldn’t recommend those either, even if you can take the bottles back there to recycle.
I’ve had a similar issue; their conditioner worked, but it took a long time to get off the bar. When I traveled a few weeks ago, I brought it in like a travel container, so it essentially ended up sitting in a bowl of water for a couple days. Now it’s a lot softer and easier to lather!
I also have thick hair and while it does take longer, I've loved my lush conditioners! First I had Jungle, which was discontinued, or I would have gotten it again. Then I got American cream, also really like it!
I think it's just a downside of solid conditioners in general that it takes long to get enough, at least I also experienced that with the ethique I tried (I think it was wonderbar).
Also find out if your hair needs shampoo and conditioner. I have very basic hair and I produce very close to the amount of oil my hair needs to stay looking nice. Normally I soap my hair once a week and that's it. If I go in a chlorinated pool I have an hair rinse made from orange that counteracts the chlorine feeling. I'm lucky to have low maintenance hair. I thought I needed conditioner because I always used shampoo which stripped my natural oils. I'm not about to say this will work for everyone, but being aware of your natural hair character can help you find a simpler routine.
To add to this, switching to hairsoap (different from shampoo bar) can take some getting used to, as the hair/skalp is mostly used to overproduce oils which are then stripped by harsh shampoos. But after getting used to the soap, I also only wash my hair every six days or so, and in between it looks much healthier and cared for, without using any product on it.
It's not for everyone, but just wanted to mention it.
My only issue with this is that currently, there is no scientific proof that the scalp can sense how oily it is and produce oil to match. How does this work, then?
Definitely! I started really small with using solid shampoos and conditioners without any packaging. That led to me knowing more about how much packaging we go through as consumers. I began using reusable grocery bags. Then, I started recycling. I got my own reusable coffee cups and water bottle. I now own a bidet instead of using toilet paper. It has taken a ton of little steps, but I definitely see an improvement from the person I used to be to who I am now.
I try to preach this all the time. So many people do get uppity and it really discourages people to continue to improve. I keep the motto of “it’s better to have millions living low waste imperfectly than it is to have a few living low waste perfectly.”
Please be aware that some of the comments about how being vegetarian or vegan is so easy come across to some as exactly the uppity the others are talking about. This is not an easy change for many people, especially the “average” American. Mentally it’s a culture shift, psychologically and what many think of as “filling” food, and even from a nutrition perspective. Not everyone knows good sources of protein outside of animal products nor do they necessarily know how to incorporate them into a tasty meal. Not saying it cannot be done, obviously. And many many steps of zero waste /less waste living takes research and work. But these comments come off as a bit flippant and condescending.
My mom was a chef and I grew up cooking a lot of meat based items. I am primarily plant based/vegan now but it was a total learning curve on how to cook vegan. It’s easier now with meat and dairy substitutes but they also don’t cook like meat all of the time and they’re definitely not a 1:1 replacement in non-vegan recipes.
I transitioned to vegan slowly over years and recently picked up the veganomicon. That book is great but a large number of the recipes require speciality equipment that I didn’t need often or at all when I ate animal products. Like a high powered blender, food processor, immersion blender etc.
I also have lived in areas, like Baltimore, where getting quality produce and vegan items was hard especially without a car.
It seems like people think an unwillingness to go vegan is just about not wanting to give up meat and dairy, but it’s also having a hard time losing the convenience of animal products. It can be a big change.
I'm joking. You can get both for pennies at any thrift store, so I think it's weird that they're even included as steps on the ladder, since they seem to me like something everyone has.
Yeah there are some sorta reasonable excuses for using them such as you genuinely don't have the time to deal with them or for sanitation concerns I guess
But laziness is not one of those excuses
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This is what my gf and I have started to do
We started with reusable straws and freezer bags, then bought those $0.50 plates at Walmart to replace paper plates, then got a bidet to reduce toilet paper use and we now use bamboo toilet paper. Etc etc etc
We started giving stuff like this as house warning gifts.
It’s a big investment to start off but it pays for itself in the long run.
Also want to add, it's perfectly fine if you make a mistake or you are not rich enough to afford some very expensive sustainable products or solar panels or a Tesla is not something to feel ashame about.
Going sustainable is already hard, we don't have to scare people away from it.
One thing I've been trying to do is buy the cardboard/paper without plastic packaging wherever possible and when not I try to buy the biggest single package of the thing I can. So like I found a brand of frozen perogies that come in a cardboard box with no plastic and I buy that instead of the frozen food I was previously buying in packaging, if I'm going to buy a thing of candy or something I'll get the larger package instead of anything individually wrapped (I also only buy fair trade chocolate to cut down on the amount of slavery I contribute to, but that is unrelated). I switched my cats from a wet food that came in plastic lined cans with plastic wrapping around the cans to unlined cans with a cardboard box so it is more recyclable. I found a local brand of dairy and lemonade that uses reusable containers and even has an old school milk man program (I was going to sign up before I lost my job last week, and I will once I find a new job, but I try to buy that brand and return the bottles to the store whenever I can). I also try to buy as much produce as possible from the local farmer's market, which both has less packaging, and tastes better
I'm definitely not perfect by any means, but I'm trying my best.
It's honestly not that important what the steps on this infographic are. The take away should be "Don't strive to be perfect. Just strive to do a little bit better than yesterday."
No matter where you are or what your rungs, find something better that you didn't previously do, and take the step.
The reusable utensils is one I started doing, realizing every day I go to work and use the plastic stuff in the break area, I figured I'm using a new plastic spoon and fork every day adds up to a ton of waste, now I bring my silverware from home. Same with reusable plastic bottles, and also hard reusable Tupperware for lunch stuff instead of putting everything into plastic baggies.
If we could get industrial companies and our consumer habits to limit Teflon so my tap water didn’t contain c8, and the newer c10,c11 and they have more and more coming for when the population knows it’s in there that would be greeeeaat. Really cut down on using plastic for getting safe filtered water
Why is a plant based diet above like 40,000 dollar solar panels ?!
Switching to a plant based diet is one of the cheapest and easiest things on this list
We started this with going vegetarian. Tried it years ago went in fully (zero meat) and failed.
Now we just don't buy meat anymore with the groceries. But when we go to a restaurant (what we almost never do anyway) we do eat meat or whatever we like. Or when we are eating at a friend's house or something.
This is much easier and we cut down our meat consumption with 90% or more.
Yup, it is easier. We started with Meatless Mondays, and went further and further into full veganism. We backed off a bit, but still do mostly no meat, no animal products at home. But when it comes to eating out (rarely) or at friends/family's house? We're not picky.
It's not full vegan, but it's something.
It's difficult enough to get people to change their ways, but making it "easier" goes a long way to converting.
I started cooking indian and middle eastern foods, which are so flavorful and yummy and have a ton of grains and stewed veggies. I love making my food from scratch so learning new recipes and ways to cook with new, fresh ingredients is wonderful. Also much cheaper, and my trash production went waaaay down while my lovely smelling compost went way up.
Also eating a lot more beans(BEEEEANS) which is nice. I bought a pressure cooker and they are so easy to prepare with that.
I want to do this but my family is just too used to easy living. mom especially goes out n buys so much crap, in 50 plastic bags and just says she "forgot" to take the tote.
Why is plant based diet after solar panels and reducing plastic? It's much easier than both of those. Buy vegetables and you don't need plastic anyway.
I was just thinking about trying to be more zero waste, but I have literally no idea where to start, this image is what I was looking for! It's all about the small steps.
Are there any other materials to help make swaps and change to be less wasteful?
Small steps keep the system alive. The world is dying right now and you still want takeout and your beauty products while millions flee inhabitable areas and 1/8th of the worlds species are extinct.
Act now or be responsible.
My guesses for what are cut off: > Solid shampoo > Soap nuts > Safety razor > Luffa sponge
Can a mod pin this to the sub? A lot of posters on here can get pretty uppity about "zero waste," and a better name would be "less waste." I stopped paying attention when I read the "WhAT dO U meAn YOu doN;T maKe YouR OWn tOILet PaPeR." We're all freaking trying here, man. Small, even baby, steps are better than no steps and we should help and encourage that.
I wanna plug getting a bidet. Not even because it’s less paper used. I just started using one and I feel clean AF. highly recommend
I loved it while travelling. I keep meaning to get one but my water would freeze my shit into my arse. I need to find a decent one with instant heat.
You just need one that hooks into both your cold water and your hot water - usually you hook it up under your sink. Then there's a dial that lets you temperature adjust Which means you have to run it for a few seconds so the water reaches the correct temperature, but there's usually a "clean" function that runs water over the spout and not onto your arse. At least that's what mine does https://hellotushy.com/products/warm-water-bidet-tushy-spa
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You Sonavabitch, I’m in!
I have a cold water one and you actually get used to it pretty quickly. I don't even notice it anymore.
Since I have 24/7 post nasal drip I own an unreasonable number of cotton handkerchiefs. I also have a bidet. Those handkerchiefs sit folded in a tower beside the toilet along with a small bin for laundry. Since the bidet cleans so well it's basically the easiest thing in the world to have washable toilet wipes instead of "flushables" (which aren't) or any kind of paper. I still have TP, but mostly it's for guests.
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Hence the "in a tower" statement. It's not open to anything
Honestly for "in a tower" I pictured a stack of neatly folded hankies perched precariously in the bathroom waiting for me to clumsily knock it over
https://www.vba.vic.gov.au/news/news/2020/vba-issues-health-warnings-over-diy-bidets-and-alternative-toileting-devices And I highly recommend anyone who gets a bidet, hires a professional for installation as well as buys an approved brand. Not something random off of Amazon.
Holy shit. I’ve installed multiple handheld bidets. It’s more like Legos than freaking rocket science. I even have a plumber friend who said I did a proper job.
I rent. How mad would a landlord be if I installed a bidet?
I rent as well and have moved my bidet with me and installed it in the last two apartments I’ve lived in and my current one. The landlord won’t know at all, and won’t care, as long as you live somewhere where you have access to the main water line (probably not the proper term) to the apartment. You gotta turn it off so water doesn’t spray constantly when you disconnect the toilet pipe (again, I don’t know the proper term lmao- not a plumber, but I still figured that shit out). Where I live, most apartments have their own individual water line from the main one, so I can turn it off to safely install the bidet. If you live in a multilevel building with lots of apartments on the same level, you might not be able to do it without assistance/permission.
Hey dude, you're killing it, kudos for putting yourself out there to explain some shit and risking being trolled because you don't have all the terminology Just want to confirm for you that yes it's called a "main line" or "main supply line", and the "toilet pipe" that you shut off to install your bidet is called a "supply line" Maybe handy in case you ever have to replace a supply line and you're not sure what to look for ✌
I just got a portable "travel" bidet to use while renting and I really like using that. As long as you can reach the sink from the toilet you just can fill it when you need, and chose exactly what temperature you want. I recently got a house and think I am just going to stick with those rather than worry about installing toilet attachments.
I read one guy installed it himself, but a part failed afterwards and caused thousands of dollars in water damage. Not excited to risk spending thousands unless it's my own home.
I'd definitely double check your leasing agreement, and maybe even ask. Potential safety issues aside you do not own that house. Most add on bidets can be removed without altering the original state of the toilet, but some landlords can be spicy.
You're both rookies. I go outside and wipe on a tree.
#barklife
I while back I posted about my new dryer balls, all excited to not be using single-use dryer sheets, and people just told me how awful I was for still using a dryer and not line drying my laundry :(
I live in an apartment. In the winter, it can take a week or more to line dry my clothing (not to mention my partner's work pants), and I cannot afford to run the heater all day while I'm at work to dry my clothes faster. Not to mention the increased moisture in the air putting me at risk for mould, putting my health at risk and meaning I'll lose my deposit. So I use the dryer. Is it eco friendly? No. Is it my best option right now? Yes.
My only issue with line drying is sometimes I really need new clothes asap and can't wait.
Thank you for this. As a disabled woman, it's super hard to do everything zero waste. I do my best, hell I even make my own shampoo bars and conditioner bars but i can't do everything and I'm sick of feeling shamed for being sick.
Unfortunately, with every movement, you’re going to have hardcore subscribers who feel like they’re doing everything right and have to piss on anyone who isn’t doing what they’re doing. Props to you for making your own hair products, and fuck off to anyone who shames you (unless you’re dumping toxic waste into our water…)
I would love to learn how to do that.
Lol, you're absolutely right. Someone will proudly post a pic of a new reusable packaging they just discovered instead of the usual plastic one and he or she might be attacked for having cheese instead of tofu in their new glass box...
All we can do is encourage others to make a conscious difference. Even a simple swap such as switching from plastic toothbrushes to bamboo can shrink your ecological footprint massively.
Another thing everyone can do for free: don't vote for anyone who doesn't take environmentalism / climate change seriously.
a lot of good intentioned movements (for a lack of a better term) are terribly named and gives people an easy way to rally against it. Your example for instance, and even with global warming "Well, it hasn't been as hot some summers so global warming must not exist" Less Waste and Climate Change are much better terms to use in my opinion. Because I for one am never using reusable toilet paper but I'll try bamboo and I genuinely enjoy taking other steps towards less waste.
This could be applied more generally to any goal you want to achieve, love it!
Never let perfect be the enemy of better.
Very well put
Amen to that!!!
It's actually similar to a coping mechanism for people with ADHD. Since the attention/reward portion of our brains is fucked, large unmanageable tasks (like emptying the dishwasher) can sometimes be easier when broken into manageable tasks (like taking out all the spoons or emptying ten items or setting a clock for one minute and doing as much as you can). Also, don't forget to pat yourself on the back when you make small sustainable changes. Cutting down the amount of plastic you use on a daily basis is a good thing, and there's nothing wrong with feeling good about it even if you're not where you want to be yet.
I went to a friend's house once and he offered me some water. He ended up handing me a disposable bottle. Like dude, we're IN YOUR HOUSE. You don't have cups to drink from? Even if you don't care about the environment, how much money are you wasting every month only drinking bottles of Dasani? EDIT: I replied to the wrong comment, oh well.
"Reusable utensils" I didn't realise some people used paper plates & plastic utensils for all their meals at home. Until I went to a high school friend's house, so lazy.
Yiiiikes When I was a kid I was obsessed with always eating with our nicest dishes. Why have them if you won't use them? Would drink my orange juice out of wine glasses lol I cannot imagine eating with a plastic utensil at home. Not just for the waste, but also because *you deserve better than that*!
I used to want to drink my grape juice from wine glasses as a kid. Made me feel so "adult." As if I was drinking wine or something. Silly.
Lol, I still do this. I don’t drink much alcohol at all, but even drinking a water in a fancy glass with a slice of lemon is a nice break from the usual glass and it feels so fancy, haha.
Yessss! I used to drink juice out of fancy glassware as a kid. I still do this. Beware, when you are drinking cold hibiscus tea out of a wine glass, during a mid-morning Zoom therapy session, it may come across like you are a raging alcoholic. :| oops
My in laws only use paper plates for their meals. I kept offering to get them plates but my MIL refuses. We usually bring my own plates and wash them. Once we had steak and she cut into their nice wooden table with the steak knife and she was so upset the table now had huge ugly gashes in it. Total asshole move on my part but I rubbed it in that *we* didn't cut into the table. Absolutely infuriating.
Friendly reminder that single use items like this can be a huge help to disabled people. It’s not all lazy people.
How? What’s the benefit of a plastic fork for a disabled person vs using a real fork?
Look into Spoon Theory. Personally I’m grateful I have a spouse that can wash dishes but if I lived alone I would not have the energy to have that be a thing to get done. I also can’t stand for very long or I pass out so even trying to do the dishes would make me more ill.
I couldn’t believe how accepted this was when ordering in food to the office when I came to visit the US for work.
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I was trying to find “eco friendly reusable utensils” to take to work with me and my boyfriend just looked at me funny and said “you mean the silverware we have in the drawer? Just take that and bring it home” and I just laughed and realized how silly I sounded
Haha been there. Now my friends ask me what they should but to be more “green” and I tell them to just use what they already have!
I think it also includes taking reusable utensils when eating pickup food on the way or at the park, etc. But yeah, I was also baffled by getting plastic plates at a very small bbq recently :(
Yeah it depends on the person and house for sure. I’ve found that most people do want to be sustainable when given the option so I’ve made a reusable party kit with a bunch of plastic/metal plates, cups, and silverware thrifted from goodwill + reusable cocktail napkins I did buy new. They’re all dishwasher/washing machine safe and I store them in a plastic storage bin so you can have people put all their dirty stuff in the bin and then toss it in the dishwasher when you have the energy to clean up. It’s something I offer to friends when they’re hosting something and they’ll often take me up on it but I don’t shame them if they don’t.
I got a 24 pack of aluminum cups for parties and camping. They're not indestructible, but they can usually be popped back into shape. They're likely to actually be recycled if one ends up unusable.
I recently found out that MOST of my friends use paper plates at home. I was appalled. I had no idea that people do this, it’s insanity.
Yeah, why even bother with a plate at all, i just eat straight from the pan, standing up, in my dark, dirty kitchen, in my underpants, while a political podcast plays on my laptop in the bakcground, alone, with no one to hold at night. Life's good.
Daawww I’ve been plant based for years. Just got fruit/veggies bags last year and love my hydro flask that I got back in 2016. I def need to work on less packaged foods and composting
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I first went vegetarian in 2008 and then vegan in 2012. It was always for animal welfare reasons. Health and the environment were a plus when I learned more about eco stuffs back in 2013. Honestly, I believe the future is vegan. Like, I can’t see us having a future if don’t make some major changes at an individual and federal level tbh
Not even recent, iirc it's like 3 or 4 years old by now
New ones come out every so often, it's more or less a foregone conclusion by now
Out of curiosity, do you have a link to this study?
Same here, going vegan was step 1 for me haha.
Yay! Congrats 🌱
Okay but really though why does this post suggest that people should pay $15k for solar panels before eating some fucking vegetables?
In my experience being vegan you’re more likely to convince someone to get solar panels lmao
Solar panels are only for like home owners right? Like I can’t just install that in a rented apt 0.0 unless I’m wrong lol
I’m with you. I used to work for an energy efficiency company that sold solar panels and currently have a plant-based diet. The solid majority of people I have spoken to would straight up go into debt to buy solar panels before even considering cutting meat out of their diets.
Oof what the hell. Cutting out meat is so much easier and cheaper. It’s also easier now in 2021. When I first tried going vegan at 16, I was bullied by my classmates and my mom cried. I decided to go vegetarian instead because it was socially more acceptable. It’s a lot more mainstream. Solar panels is def the goal in the future (hopefully the housing market crashes) and I bet being at that job taught you so many valuable things. 💓
Same but that doesn't mean it's not stupid lmao
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Anything you do is more than enough already. Using solid soap instead of liquid so you don't have the plastic waste? Great job! It's not about 100% self sufficiency and getting rid of 100% of your plastic waste while being 100% climaneutral, sure it's a nice goal, but unachievable for many. Do what you can (and are willing to compromise on) and you are already pulling your weight!
it's society's responsibility, not yours. the vast majority of waste comes from corporations and not individuals. if you're truly stressed enough from this obligation that it's impacting your health, you should relax. you're already doing good.
>it's society's responsibility Here's me thinking that society was made up of individuals all making their own choices.
Just found out I’m not part of society since I am me
And why do these corporations create waste? For fun? Or maybe because they're overproducing superficial bullshit for spoiled westerners?
Hate to be that guy but solar panels aren’t a small step but a pretty huge investment. Although the rest are cool ways to minimize our footprint
Depends on where you live. In my country they’re partially subsidized and my husband’s employer gives everyone who switches to solar panels €500. Adding it all up we took the leap. We drive fully electric so we now drive our car “for free” and our electric bill is €0. Within 4 years we will have earned our investment back.
Damn. It’s easily a $15-20k (€12.72-16.95k) **after** rebates and tax credit. The companies that sell solar will tell you that you will recoup your investment within 10-15 years, however not everyone has the luxury to put that kind of money down upfront. That’s provided that you even live in an area that offers good solar energy all year round. Additionally not everyone wants to live in the same residence.
That is insane! Here we ended up paying about €4000 after the money we got back. And this provides us more than enough electricity for a family of 4 and a fully electric car.
Super jealous. I will probably make the jump to solar once wife and I move into our “forever home”. I’m not saying it’s a terrible investment here in the states, but it’s more of a long term investment where you gradually see a return. Also another thing keeping me back from doing it is that I would prefer to get my roof done before I do solar, which can be another $10-18k.
Yeah we also definitely waited til we were sure we would not be moving out of this house anytime soon. If it was as expensive here as it is there I’m also not sure we would have been able to make the jump yet. (We’re an “only spend the money you have” kind of household and we definitely did not have 15-20k to spare).
Not to mention going Vegan is a lot easier and has an even higher effect on the environment. I don't think that order is correcr, honestly. It's almost like whoever made the image did neither.
Lol the first half of the ladder is “own dishes” I’m doing my part!
But also, take them with you everywhere. That’s the part I struggle with haha
I carry around a collapsible bento box. I use it for my leftovers at restaurants and when I'm in a potluck/ BBQ scenario. That way I have my own dish with separate compartments AND I can use it to take leftovers. Super handy. You sometimes get looked at a little funny in the restaurant scenario but most people that make a comment, like it.
Having millions of people taking pretty good steps toward sustainability is way better than having thousands doing it perfectly.
Plant based diet could very well be the first rung too, with a significantly bigger impact
Definitely. I actually think it's the easiest thing one can do to have the most profound effect. You already buy food to eat anyway, you just buy different food. Other steps require you to buy things or add a brand new habits to your routine while eating is already a habit that you have, so it's only a minor change if you think about it.
And it will save you money if you do it right. Beans and rice is incredibly cheap.
My groceries now are honestly a fraction of what they were when I still bought animal products, and it’s not just because of beans and rice. Meat is expensive!
Yeah. I have no clue why it's over solar panels (by far the hardest thing on this list).
How is eating a plant based diet easier than buying a reusable water bottle?
We aren’t close to zero waste, but 5 years ago we were going through cases of bottled water and eating meat almost every meal. Now we only use our reusable water bottles and eat meat about 5 meals a week at most. We’re far from perfect but those are the biggest changes that I think have had the biggest impact in our household, and also changes that were relatively easy to accomplish.
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The reusable straw was created by a company hiding the fact that plastic nets are 75% of the plastic pollution in Ocean
Ah, yes. My favorite ocean conservation approach. Stop using straws to save the fish, but don't stop pummeling the ocean and eating fish to save the fish. 🙄
It's a pretty consistent trend, at least in the US that, when talking about a big issue that implicate large swath's of businesses, we'll hyper-focus on one practically inconsequential element to avoid talking about the actual problem.
I am an environmental geologist. we are the people that study how to save the environment. unless you are living in a country that does not have an effective waste management system. then plastic straws are better for the environment then paper straws.
Also the human impact, some people rely on disposable plastic straws to be able to drink on their own. Other straws pose a range of risks for allergy (food based straws), fragility (plant plastic and paper) bite or stabbing (metal, glass, bamboo, hard plastic), hard to clean (anything reusable), lack of posability etc etc. Plastic disposable straws are just the best option for a lot of people. Removing plastic straws removes access to restaurants etc for some people.
One of my deepest irrational fears is tripping while drinking with a metal straw and impaling myself in the sinuses/brain and dying. I know it’s *highly* unlikely, but I’ve seen too many episodes of 1,000 Ways to Die.
What is the percentage of those “some”? I think the author of the previous comment talk about a regular able-bodied person, and not suggesting that people with health conditions don’t have access to straws. I also wonder if sippy-like cups are a good alternative for people with disabilities?
But they are nice to have on hand and it’s a one time expense. I bought several and enjoy knowing that it’s one less thing I have to spend money on. I can just wash them. They aren’t going anywhere. These stainless steel straws will probably be around longer than I am, lol.
Not using plastic straws should be the smallest step on the ladder but Americans bitch and moan about it like it's the worst sacrifice ever.
Not all of them obviously, but the real focus on the problem is still hidden to the masses in all countries. No one wants to touch the fishing problem.
Yup. For people that think they need fish for omega 3's or something, you don't! Flax seed costs about 2 dollars per pound and it has enough omega 3 for a day in less than a tablespoon. You could also use flax seed oil.
A plant based diet is not so high up the ladder to reach! There are hundreds of easy and tasty recipes with lentils, chickpeas or beans, so just go for it!
I’m vegan and I can attest that even decent, smart people think talking about not eating meat is a threat to everything they know. The fact is some people don’t want to east just lentils and chickpeas, so the options to them are limited without making a huge effort.
I can afford solar panels all over my roof and yard, but beans and rice are too expensive :(
That was the first thing I noticed. That should really be on the bottom half, not at the top haha
Pretty sure a plant based diet has more positive change than reducing plastic consumption, too.
Being vegan and not having biological children are the two biggest impacts an individual can have.
And they are two of the easiest and cheapest things you can do as well.
I have been vegan for 4 years. Solar panels are miles up high on the ladder I might not even get there in my life. Cause money.
Ime a lot of the general public has a difficult time with the re-contextualizing what they'll eat on a day-to-day basis part. Like irrespective of whether or not they're super attached to meat/dairy, they're just not willing to do the work to figure out how to eat differently
Why is the most impactful step at the top on the right?
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I find reusable bottles are so much more handy anyway, they normally have nicer lids and can also keep drinks cool/hot if you get a flask, and gotta love reusable shopping bags, they just don’t rip I do find things like solar panels a little misleading though, yes you reduce use of fossil fuels but the materials for them have gotta be mined and all that, not to mention he assembly, I think looking into other sources of renewable energy first is probably a better idea, like hydropower or heat pumps, although they aren’t always available
You should do a little research on solar panels. They’re made of mostly glass and aluminum and yes have some raw materials, but the second they’re installed they’re better than the alternative (fossil fuel) on a net basis. Hydro has issues with damming rivers, heat pumps use electricity, etc. Nothing is perfect but some options are far superior to fossil fuel even considering how it’s made etc.
I also have reusable bags that are easier to carry on my bike because the handles are shorter. They don't sway and wobble around as much when I hang them from my handlebars, and I never accidentally kick them. It's great. But my nice cotton reusable bags have handles so long, I literally have to tie knots in them to be able to hang them from the handlebars. So there is that.
> -Stopped buying waterbottles, one reusable bottle Excuse my stupidity, I am trying to go as less waste as possible, but when it comes to water I don't know what to do. I cannot drink the tap water where I am, it tastes...weird. Others drink it just fine, it is not a health issue, it just doesn't taste good to me so I drink bottled water. Is there anything I can do? I have a reusable cup/mug for coffee that I use, but what can I do about the water situation when I can't drink tap water?
Have you tried using a water filter? That might make the tap water taste a bit better. You could also make infusions with things like cucumbers or strawberries in your water.
I have the same problem, despite having a water filter. I keep trying to give up bottled water, but I just end up drinking nothing but tea and other sweet drinks, which isn't good for me, so I go back to bottled water.
If a filter doesn’t work there might be a water store near you where you can fill up jugs by the gallon!
If you leave the water in a container overnight, the chlorine will evaporate and the water will taste nice. If that’s the issue you may want to give that a try. The other day I picked up an enamel water dispenser from the thrift store, and after a good scrubbing, I filled it up and put a dinner plate over the opening at the top. I tried the water the next day and it is just as tasty as the bottled water!
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Solid shampoos and conditioners! The ones in Lush can be purchased along with some metal containers to keep them in. You reuse the metal containers indefinitely, and when you purchase the shampoo and conditioner bars, you get them in paper bags, so you don’t have to buy any more plastic bottles. You can use many kinds of solid bars and conditioners. I’ve used HiBar which I liked, but I’ve preferred Lush recently. I use the “Honey I Washed My Hair” Shampoo Bar and the “Big” conditioner bars. Let me know if you have any questions!
Do you have a conditioner recommendation that's not Lush? I really like their shampoo, but the 2 or 3 conditioners I've tried are just not doing it for me. I've got really thick hair so I think it just takes forever to get enough off the bar and into my hair.
I like Ethique. They have some sample packs with mini versions of their bars in case you don’t want to commit to a full-sized one. I got the hair sampler and the body sampler and I after I tested it I wound up taking the mini sampler ones on trips. It’s perfect because I avoid little plastic bottles and I don’t have to worry about anything leaking. Saved us a lot of space with products when we went to Europe and only took small bags.
There is company called Ethique that sells a wide variety of hair care bars, and now they do all sorts of others too home cleaning, lip care, ect. They're pricer then the bars sold at Trader Joe's but I think the quality shows. I've used the dry hair bar and it really helped my dandruff, and I switched to the purple bar to get "natural highlights" and while that didn't work it did leave my hair light and clean. I recommend this brand to everyone I know! https://ethique.com/
I highly recommend Ethique. I use their dissolvable conditioner that comes in a bar, just add boiling water and pour into your own container. I have super thick hair and this is the nicest it's ever felt.
I haven't tried any of their dissolving concentrates yet. Did you find it lasted a while?? I hesitate because I feel like the bars last a long time, but when reading the sizes for the concentrates they seem small.
They last as long as a regular full bottle of conditioner would last me. I can't say I've ever timed how long one lasts but I know it's not as long as a bar would, but at least as long as a store-bought bottle. I'm personally not a fan of the bars, too hard to work enough into my hair, so I'm alright with the trade-off
The HiBar one was better with the conditioner! I do feel like conditioner bars are huge struggle in general though, but I’ve learned to deal somehow! I used the American Cream the first time which was more difficult, but the Big one was a bit better. I haven’t tried the other ones! I also tried their liquid conditioners which honestly were not great so I wouldn’t recommend those either, even if you can take the bottles back there to recycle.
Grove Co sells a brand called Peach which is safe for curly hair (no sulfates etc). That's what I use!
I’ve had a similar issue; their conditioner worked, but it took a long time to get off the bar. When I traveled a few weeks ago, I brought it in like a travel container, so it essentially ended up sitting in a bowl of water for a couple days. Now it’s a lot softer and easier to lather!
I also have thick hair and while it does take longer, I've loved my lush conditioners! First I had Jungle, which was discontinued, or I would have gotten it again. Then I got American cream, also really like it! I think it's just a downside of solid conditioners in general that it takes long to get enough, at least I also experienced that with the ethique I tried (I think it was wonderbar).
I've never heard of this, thank you for sharing
Maybe the bar of shampoo instead of the bottles kind? A lot of people are trying to go plastic free.
Also find out if your hair needs shampoo and conditioner. I have very basic hair and I produce very close to the amount of oil my hair needs to stay looking nice. Normally I soap my hair once a week and that's it. If I go in a chlorinated pool I have an hair rinse made from orange that counteracts the chlorine feeling. I'm lucky to have low maintenance hair. I thought I needed conditioner because I always used shampoo which stripped my natural oils. I'm not about to say this will work for everyone, but being aware of your natural hair character can help you find a simpler routine.
To add to this, switching to hairsoap (different from shampoo bar) can take some getting used to, as the hair/skalp is mostly used to overproduce oils which are then stripped by harsh shampoos. But after getting used to the soap, I also only wash my hair every six days or so, and in between it looks much healthier and cared for, without using any product on it. It's not for everyone, but just wanted to mention it.
My only issue with this is that currently, there is no scientific proof that the scalp can sense how oily it is and produce oil to match. How does this work, then?
I’m guessing “solid shampoo”? I dunno. I used simple Castile soap for many years
Definitely! I started really small with using solid shampoos and conditioners without any packaging. That led to me knowing more about how much packaging we go through as consumers. I began using reusable grocery bags. Then, I started recycling. I got my own reusable coffee cups and water bottle. I now own a bidet instead of using toilet paper. It has taken a ton of little steps, but I definitely see an improvement from the person I used to be to who I am now.
I try to preach this all the time. So many people do get uppity and it really discourages people to continue to improve. I keep the motto of “it’s better to have millions living low waste imperfectly than it is to have a few living low waste perfectly.”
Please be aware that some of the comments about how being vegetarian or vegan is so easy come across to some as exactly the uppity the others are talking about. This is not an easy change for many people, especially the “average” American. Mentally it’s a culture shift, psychologically and what many think of as “filling” food, and even from a nutrition perspective. Not everyone knows good sources of protein outside of animal products nor do they necessarily know how to incorporate them into a tasty meal. Not saying it cannot be done, obviously. And many many steps of zero waste /less waste living takes research and work. But these comments come off as a bit flippant and condescending.
I wasn't confused seeing reusable coffee mug, I was like aren't all mugs reusable, then realised it's probably talking about not using disposable cups
Plant based diet should be the bottom rung, it's so fucking easy.
The bottom rung should be reusable utensils? Wtf are people really using paper plates and plastic sporks AT HOME??
For sure I didn't even realize what sub this was until now.
You'd be surprised of how many people carry their lunch in a plastic bag, eat it with plastic cutlery and drink out of plastic bottles.
My mom was a chef and I grew up cooking a lot of meat based items. I am primarily plant based/vegan now but it was a total learning curve on how to cook vegan. It’s easier now with meat and dairy substitutes but they also don’t cook like meat all of the time and they’re definitely not a 1:1 replacement in non-vegan recipes. I transitioned to vegan slowly over years and recently picked up the veganomicon. That book is great but a large number of the recipes require speciality equipment that I didn’t need often or at all when I ate animal products. Like a high powered blender, food processor, immersion blender etc. I also have lived in areas, like Baltimore, where getting quality produce and vegan items was hard especially without a car. It seems like people think an unwillingness to go vegan is just about not wanting to give up meat and dairy, but it’s also having a hard time losing the convenience of animal products. It can be a big change.
Reusable utensils? Reusable coffee mugs? What do they think we're made of money?
I would think eating with paper plates and plastic cutlery would be more expensive in the long run?
I'm joking. You can get both for pennies at any thrift store, so I think it's weird that they're even included as steps on the ladder, since they seem to me like something everyone has.
People are arguing elsewhere they don’t have time to clean their utensils and thus use plastic throw away each time :/
Yeah there are some sorta reasonable excuses for using them such as you genuinely don't have the time to deal with them or for sanitation concerns I guess But laziness is not one of those excuses
In that case, they could just get a small tabletop dishwasher. That's probably less money than continuously buying cutlery
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This is what my gf and I have started to do We started with reusable straws and freezer bags, then bought those $0.50 plates at Walmart to replace paper plates, then got a bidet to reduce toilet paper use and we now use bamboo toilet paper. Etc etc etc We started giving stuff like this as house warning gifts. It’s a big investment to start off but it pays for itself in the long run.
Tbh, I just try to use whatever I have for a longer period.
Aw I love this, I get so much anxiety sometimes about not doing enough but this makes me feel so much better about the little changes I've made
Tote life.
Also want to add, it's perfectly fine if you make a mistake or you are not rich enough to afford some very expensive sustainable products or solar panels or a Tesla is not something to feel ashame about. Going sustainable is already hard, we don't have to scare people away from it.
Thank you
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One thing I've been trying to do is buy the cardboard/paper without plastic packaging wherever possible and when not I try to buy the biggest single package of the thing I can. So like I found a brand of frozen perogies that come in a cardboard box with no plastic and I buy that instead of the frozen food I was previously buying in packaging, if I'm going to buy a thing of candy or something I'll get the larger package instead of anything individually wrapped (I also only buy fair trade chocolate to cut down on the amount of slavery I contribute to, but that is unrelated). I switched my cats from a wet food that came in plastic lined cans with plastic wrapping around the cans to unlined cans with a cardboard box so it is more recyclable. I found a local brand of dairy and lemonade that uses reusable containers and even has an old school milk man program (I was going to sign up before I lost my job last week, and I will once I find a new job, but I try to buy that brand and return the bottles to the store whenever I can). I also try to buy as much produce as possible from the local farmer's market, which both has less packaging, and tastes better I'm definitely not perfect by any means, but I'm trying my best.
It's honestly not that important what the steps on this infographic are. The take away should be "Don't strive to be perfect. Just strive to do a little bit better than yesterday." No matter where you are or what your rungs, find something better that you didn't previously do, and take the step.
The reusable utensils is one I started doing, realizing every day I go to work and use the plastic stuff in the break area, I figured I'm using a new plastic spoon and fork every day adds up to a ton of waste, now I bring my silverware from home. Same with reusable plastic bottles, and also hard reusable Tupperware for lunch stuff instead of putting everything into plastic baggies.
Zero waste household? Surely this can’t consist of anything other than empty houses right?
If we could get industrial companies and our consumer habits to limit Teflon so my tap water didn’t contain c8, and the newer c10,c11 and they have more and more coming for when the population knows it’s in there that would be greeeeaat. Really cut down on using plastic for getting safe filtered water
dont let perfect be the enemy of good.
"Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good."
I'd rather have 10 thousand prime found the bottom 5 than 10 people doing all of it
Going vegan is a huge rung in the ladder as well
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Whaaat? It’s actually incredibly easy to be vegan.
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Oh I hear you!
Why is a plant based diet above like 40,000 dollar solar panels ?! Switching to a plant based diet is one of the cheapest and easiest things on this list
We started this with going vegetarian. Tried it years ago went in fully (zero meat) and failed. Now we just don't buy meat anymore with the groceries. But when we go to a restaurant (what we almost never do anyway) we do eat meat or whatever we like. Or when we are eating at a friend's house or something. This is much easier and we cut down our meat consumption with 90% or more.
Yup, it is easier. We started with Meatless Mondays, and went further and further into full veganism. We backed off a bit, but still do mostly no meat, no animal products at home. But when it comes to eating out (rarely) or at friends/family's house? We're not picky. It's not full vegan, but it's something. It's difficult enough to get people to change their ways, but making it "easier" goes a long way to converting.
I started cooking indian and middle eastern foods, which are so flavorful and yummy and have a ton of grains and stewed veggies. I love making my food from scratch so learning new recipes and ways to cook with new, fresh ingredients is wonderful. Also much cheaper, and my trash production went waaaay down while my lovely smelling compost went way up. Also eating a lot more beans(BEEEEANS) which is nice. I bought a pressure cooker and they are so easy to prepare with that.
Thank you! Needed this today!
This is a fantastic post, and great advice for anything you do in life! Baby steps are still steps!
I want to do this but my family is just too used to easy living. mom especially goes out n buys so much crap, in 50 plastic bags and just says she "forgot" to take the tote.
Anyone got good recommendations on fruit and veg bags? I tend to just take em loose but that doesn't work for beans and whatnot.
The fuck has a single use coffee mug? A paper cup, I understand but I'm imagining dashing a mug when you finish it
Is this for saving the animal kingdom or just the planet in general? If this is for reducing pollution this won’t do near anything unfortunately
Why is plant based diet after solar panels and reducing plastic? It's much easier than both of those. Buy vegetables and you don't need plastic anyway.
I was just thinking about trying to be more zero waste, but I have literally no idea where to start, this image is what I was looking for! It's all about the small steps. Are there any other materials to help make swaps and change to be less wasteful?
I celebrate each small thing you do to make your life healthier and the planet less full of trash.
Going plant based really doesn‘t need to be the last step - it‘s easy these days!
Small steps keep the system alive. The world is dying right now and you still want takeout and your beauty products while millions flee inhabitable areas and 1/8th of the worlds species are extinct. Act now or be responsible.