This year I’ve signed up for Zero Waste Week online and one of the things to do after filling in your details is a commitment.
“What do you pledge to do for Zero Waste Week?”
My promise for this week is as follows. I pledge to find more sustainable swaps to help reduce the waste I produce and the impact on our planet. I also want to hold myself accountable every time I place an item in the waste bin rather than the recycling box.
Zero Waste Week was launched in 2008, running specifically for one week in September however it continues all year long with newsletters, blogs, and an online community.
It’s an award-winning campaign to raise awareness of the environmental impact of waste on our planet. The aim is to encourage others to join in and reduce the amount of waste they send to landfills as individuals, businesses, or organizations.
To sign up, or for more information on the campaign, click here.
This year Zero Waste Week is 6th – 10th September. I have been researching which simple alternatives I can use to achieve a week with as little as possible waste which will also be sustainable throughout the years to come.
So far, I have found the following.
None of these were particularly expensive swaps, the toothpaste was about the same price as a regular tube of Colgate, but I made them consciously, I didn’t pick up the normal toothpaste on the shelf, I sought out an alternative. I would love it one day if buying recyclable options were the norm or the only option, rather than searching through the plastic. I am intrigued by what small changes I can make which can make such a massive difference and my yearly goals are to swap at least 3 things each year if possible. Wish me luck!
Last year I made some changes which have already helped reduce the amount of plastic in my home considerably. I now use SMOL laundry capsules, Who Gives a Crap Toilet Paper, and have bags for putting fruit/vegetables in when shopping, etc. I have been trying to change my buying habits for years now, but it’s harder than you think as so many products, especially for children are made with or packaged in unnecessary plastic still.
I was brought up in a household where we kept things in the hope that they may “come in useful one day” and my adult life has continued in that way. I hate waste!
By keeping wrapping paper I can re-use, cardboard boxes, bubble wrap, jiffy bags, and several other things that haven’t quite outlived their purpose yet (in my opinion), I feel less wasteful. And my son, Edward, is the same. He loves reusing a cardboard box as a den, drawing on the back of envelopes, and helping me sort out the recycling. He is fascinated by the way it all works and loves seeing the recycling truck drive up our street.
I believe the key to Zero Waste being successful is teaching the next generation how important it is to take responsibility for what we reuse and throw away and implement what we can ourselves. And by normalizing the process of recycling items we no longer need; this should ensure that Edward continues this process throughout his life, just like brushing his teeth, which I’ll be honest is a battle sometimes too!
Click here for more information about Zero Waste Week and here and for more sustainable swap ideas.
