Photography by Sophie April Photography
Moving to a zero waste lifestyle is as easy as taking one small step
We all want to do a bit more to look after our planet but it can feel a little overwhelming. Perhaps you don’t know where to begin or maybe you’ve already made some eco changes and want to do a bit more. Possibly you’re an eco queen already, looking for the next switch to really make a difference. Wherever you are on your eco journey, there’s a switch that’s achievable for you. Why not pick one of the ideas below this month? Your local zero waste store should have a good stock of buys to help.
First step switches
You might think everyone must be on top of the basic eco measures we should all be taking now but it’s easy to overlook the obvious. If you don’t have one yet, how about a really good water bottle and reusable coffee cup so you never again have to throw one in the bin?
We like: Circular and Co. 12oz Reusable Coffee Cup, £15.95
Switches to level up your eco game
Swapping wipes and kitchen towel for reusable cloths is an instant way to reduce your landfill. While you’re in the kitchen drawer, how about switching from cling film to reusable beeswax wipes?
We like: Queen Bee Wraps Beeswax wrap variety pack, £15
Ready for the next stage switches
One area that’s often forgotten when considering eco changes at home is the bathroom. Next time you finish your shampoo or shower gel, instead of replacing it, consider a refillable bottle, which you can take back to the store and refill rather than buying a new one. You could even think about solid shampoo bars (like soap) rather than liquid shampoo, so you don’t need a bottle at all!
We like: Lush Honey I Washed My Hair Shampoo Bar, £9
Next level eco switches
If you reckon you’ve covered most of the basics, try looking at areas of your life you might have overlooked. How about lunches out? Getting together a zero-waste lunch kit to keep in your bag means you’ll never have to put a plastic sandwich packet or fork in the bin. A sandwich bag, set of reusable cutlery and food flask means that even if you don’t make your lunch at home, you can get a cafe to serve your lunch straight into your reusable packaging.
We like: Keep Leaf Reusable Sandwich Wrap, £7.95
Eco Queen switch-ups
Ready to really make a change for the better? How about going packaging free for your entire weekly shop? Zero waste stores are popping up everywhere now, offering food without the plastic. This takes a fair bit of organisation and a little investment at first, but then you’ll be able to shop straight into your own reusable packaging and never find your bin full up after unpacking the weekly shop again.
We like: Wild & Stone Reusable Mesh bags, £10.95 for 5
If you’re keen to know more about zero waste stores, don’t miss our ‘My Living’ feature on them in our November issue, where we meet two owners of zero waste shopes, including the lovely
Zero Waste Pantry in Wrington, Somerset, pictured above.
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