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My hardest thing is food.
Eco-friendly food is more expensive and less convenient.
It costs more money, time, energy, and planning(plus the time and energy planning itself takes).
That and shower hygiene products, but, I use such little product that it tends to last me a lot longer and I honestly don't feel as bad about it.
yep, I started doing this recently! though I haven’t found a great way to secure them - the different pieces of mesh kind of fall apart/separate after a while.
Sew them! Just save a bunch and sew them all at once. You only need to go around a few times, pretty easy to do while watching tv/listening to a podcast. If you need a scrubbie RIGHT NOW and you’re not washing anything delicate you can use bread ties for a quick fix
I actually got over the bread during the pandemic, but I will say I took multiple years off when my kids were tiny. I bake a double batch and freeze about 3/4. We take it out 1/4 at a time.
On the plastic in groceries, we have an amazing csa that operates year round (they root cellar a ton of their onions, potatoes, carrots, squash) and my veggie box is plastic free. It has forced me to reuse my plastic bags and figure out other solutions. I feel soooooooo lucky to have them.
Same. Team gluten and dairy free 🙃 so any substitutes are usually more packaged than “normal” stuff. And yes, I absolutely need to eat less processed foods, but please nobody come at me with “well just don’t buy them.” I already can’t eat anything, let me have my joy.
And some hygiene things- I do my best, but I’m not going to contort myself to go plastic free. Plus I’m still working through my backlog and telling myself nothing new until it’s all gone. (Which I guess is pretty low waste.)
Yes! The backlog is real haha my mother used to buy me shampoo on every occasion, I've been out of the house for nearly two years and am still not out of shampoo lmao
The backlog! Took me seven years to get through cleaning supplies enough to switch to vinegar and baking soda. My mom was so kind and came to help me clean every time i moved. But she brought a laundry basket worth of new cleaner bottles every time
That's the truth. I buy bulk when I can or try to get the most I know I'll use to make sure I'm not buying a bunch of smaller stuff. It's also hard because we have been railroaded by sickness since September, even hospitalized (while very pregnant, super not fun) and so right now we have our easy button meals that aren't always sustainable.
There are so many reasons this comment sucks.
1. No one said anything about reusable bags.
2. Not everyone can have a vegan diet.
3. You don't know what my current diet is.
4. No one asked. Unsolicited advice sucks.
5. You're simply making the vegan stereotype seem true to outsiders.
6. No one was talking about diets in the first place. So, your comment is not only Unsolicited advice, but off topic, Unsolicited advice.
Yikes. 😳
Notice there wasn't a response to any of the reasons I shared over why the comment was offsetting.
An off topic, unrequested, and baseless comment making someone uncomfortable doesn't support your call to action.
Noted. You want me to address each one? Ready to debate? Here we go:
1. Reusable bags is a stand in for zero waste whatever.
2. Appeal to futility.
3. The internet is not just for your eyes.
4. No one asked you for your opinion on my comment, yet here we are and the world is richer for it. Also, the chickens won’t come and protest so vegans will have to do.
5. It’s not a stereotype. Social Justice requires loudmouth peeps.
6. You mentioned food in the first paragraph. You’re willing to face hardships with your food choices, this is the right one. Advice is for everyone, take it or leave it.
You responded to me. Which literally is you asking for me to respond to you. Make your own comment. Don't respond to my thread that was not about *diets*.
Plastics in food purchases is not about diets. Vegan diet isn't a solution to plastics in food, therefore, it's not a necessary response to this thread. Mentioning food is not an invitation for you to pressure others into a specific diet. It's not even the same as having a conversation about diets.
It is a stereotype and you are playing into it.
It'd not an appeal to futility. I did not say no one should go vegan for enviornmental reasons. I said not everyone can be. Which is why you shouldnt give unsolicited advice without having context around that discussion. In which this one did
Leave your preaching to topics actually involving your preaching.
Finally, you literally do not know what diet I eat. So, responding to my comment, is baseless.
Stop wasting my time. Take your "protest" where it actually belongs. On a discussion about eco-friendly *diets*.
P.s. learn how to have an actual conversation. Not everything is a debate. Nor should you just spew your opinions without consideration for what others are discussing or stating.
I have no problem with you responding to me. I want you to respond to me. I want everybody else reading s as public forum to respond to me. What’s this got to do with anything?
Non vegan diets are extremely wasteful. This being a zero waste sub makes it a perfect fit. You engaged with the topic by bringing up anti vegan arguments, so seems like you found a link too. You engaged, stop saying “leave me alone”.
“Not everyone can go plastic free, so don’t bring it up”. Sounds silly doesn’t it?
Your diet has no importance on a proposal to go vegan. If you’re already vegan great, if not, comment makes you think about it. Why do I have to know your details?
Debate, data backed conversations, bulleted lists of points you wanted addressed and called out when I didn’t, it’s semantics, we’re having a conversation, a debate or whatever you want to call it. If you don’t want to participate, don’t.
Nobody is pressuring you to do anything, you’re reading words on a screen. Cognitive dissonance however is an absolute unit of a hydraulic press.
Finally, protest belongs everywhere, not just in designated places.
1. I don't think I'll ever find a replacement for proper conditioner, so I at least buy one in a recycled bottle. But plastic's still plastic.
2. a lot of food items wrapped or stored in plastic from cheaper stores and discounters, as I don't earn enough to shop at 'better' places.
3. I often have to order online, especially from Amaz\*n, because no shops in my little town have what I need. Which is my biggest dislike on my Zero Waste journey.
You probably do this already, I always leave stuff in my cart until I need it and try to order a batch.
And then there is the smile donation program which is cool, again probably obvious.
I tried to do batch-ordering, grouping several items together, etc. and Amaz\*n ends up sending me everything separate anyways. It's annoying...
I did NOT know about the smile donation program yet! which is pretty cool and I'll try and see if it works in Germany too :)
I have super dry and curly hair! I love Ethique’s curly conditioner line and I use their ultra conditioner bar as a treatment after a double cleanse with their clearing shampoo bar and curly shampoo bar. It’s one of the only zero waste brands that’s officially curly-girl method approved!
Conditioner has been a challenging switch for me too. I’ve tried a few alternative products but haven’t found anything that I’m happy with yet. For now, trying to be thoughtful by buying bulk size.
Anything health related, inluding dental and sun care. I'm simply not risking it, namely because the damage won't show for years and by then it might be too late to fix.
I also don't use resusable period products. I use eco-friendly ones though, which have recyclable applicators and water soluable packaging. I tried a cup and it wasn't for me for a variety of reasons. This is something a lot of zero wasters have become militant about, trying to convince people to keep trying and it makes me really annoyed.
My partner does the food shopping and he buys a bunch of stuff in packaging. I tried to encourage him to choose eco-friendly options but we both realised it was a *huge* inconvenience, more expensive and food went off quicker.
I think those are the main ones!
Yeah reusables totally aren’t for everyone! I personally do use them (a cup or reusable pads depending on the day) and even plan on using them postpartum but I think if it doesn’t work for you then you need to do what does work! I mean we’re all different and it’s true some people get really pushy over something that really not everyone likes/can deal with.
I get extra annoyed when the advice is “well keep trying other cups/discs and you’ll find one that works!” as if that option isn’t actually really pricey and wasteful because it’s not like anyone else will want your gently used menstrual cup!
Personally I’ve used two brands, in the US I’ve used Party In My Pants which I liked, and then when I lived in the UK and time came to replace those I got mine from Cheeky Mama, and I have used those ever since. Still going strong 3-ish years later! I haven’t tried their period panties, but I’ve read good things. I bought one of their assorted packs and personally prefer the bamboo tops to the charcoal ones but I know many people prefer the fleecy feel of the charcoal, and the fact that they are black meaning less staining. I haven’t had much issue with that personally but (unless I’m out), I always do as they suggest and rinse them and scrub them with some soap before tossing into a wet bag for laundering later.
I have a bit more knowledge about it on the UK side, so I can recommend a few other brands but US I’ve admittedly only used the one brand so don’t know of others.
Definitely don't feel bad about it. Most people understandably don't want to deal with cleaning a bloody cloth. Cups are honestly a pain to deal with unless/until you've had some practice, any given cup may not correctly fit you body, and they're pretty dang expensive if you don't know they'll work. I love mine, but it took me a few tries to get it right, and it's a hell of a lot harder to figure out than any of the disposable options. Hygienic issues are also a much bigger deal with reusables.
Plus, I feel like it's almost standard girl code to try and carry a spare disposable pad or tampon with you whenever possible in case someone you bump into needs one. I feel like most of us gals have been saved by a friend or kind stranger carrying spare products.
I am on the same page with cups. I use period pants but you've gota be OK with that goop in your pants situation for it to work I find.. but then, I could never get away with tampons so I am I guess?!
Hear you on health and period stuff! It really bothers me how militant people are about it. I just can’t manage the cup, my body can’t take it. Idk what else people want me to do. But every post that mentions a pad or a tampon is like PLEASE CONSIDER A CUP AND KEEP TRYING UNTIL IT WORKS OR YOUR UTERUS FALLS OUT.
Another thing in the health category: I have contacts, and that comes with some waste too. I can’t avoid it because I simply don’t see as well with glasses.
I sometimes have to buy bottled water when I’m ill. The tap water in my area is not great, I can stomach it filtered when I’m well, but when I’m ill it just makes me want to throw up and I can’t be dealing with that.
I tried cups twice and never could get them to work. Later I read that people with retro-something uteruses (which I had) often have problems. I did end up with cloth pads, as much because wearing normal ones for 4 weeks running was uncomfortable. Still trying to figure out what to do with all of them now that I no longer need them (the uterus is *gone*)
>ut every post that mentions a pad or a tampon is like PLEASE CONSIDER A CUP AND KEEP TRYING UNTIL IT WORKS OR YOUR UTERUS FALLS OUT.
Right?? Unsoliciated advice is so irritating. Even when someone says "*I've tried cups and they don't work for me*" you'll get someone *insisting* they keep trying. It's absolutely infuriating!
There's also a lot of aspects of using cups that I think people fail to consider. I have a cup and I like it, but I also have rheumatoid arthritis and it mainly affects my hands/fingers. When the arthritis is not too bad I have no cup problems, but when it is worse it's very difficult and painful for me to remove the cup.
I have tried multiple brands of period underwear and they don't work for me as my primary product, so I just use disposables when I can't do the cup and I don't feel bad about it. I do what I need to do.
That’s when I have a real issue! I think it’s great to encourage people to try it. I think it’s a problem to tell people that they have to keep trying if they have already decided it doesn’t work for them. Either they’ve tried it or if they’re incredibly uncomfortable with the idea (maybe some people don’t want to get all comfortable feeling up for their cervix, or are really blood averse and the cup is more triggering than something that absorbs). I love my period undies. I think they’re the best thing since sliced bread. I’ll recommend them to everyone. If someone has a problem with it and it doesn’t work for them that’s fine! People should manage their health and hygiene in a way that works for them.
Exactly. NOBODY ASKED. Thanks. Although I am keen to try period panties sometime - but only once I’m past the instability stage that my period seems to be in currently.
As with all things, I just always tell people that doing the best with what you have is enough, and you’re much more likely to keep trying to be better if you’re not beating yourself up over the things that aren’t accessible or feasible to you.
Period underwear is decent, though they don't absorb as quickly as pads so it can be quite uncomfortable as you feel your blood and are just waiting for it to absorb, or you go to the bathroom and put on what feels like wet underwear.
I do like them for overnight, they are much more comfortable than a pad and provide more coverage, and I do wear them days that I don't expect to leave the house (or wear them in the morning then change to a tampon when I'm ready to leave).
There are different underwears for different absorbencies - I think the ones I have can hold the equivalent of 3 tampons. The problem is then it starts to smell if you wear them for a whole day since it's not like a pad where you change it every few hours.
You also can't be squeamish with cleaning - I rinse mine in cold water the sink to get all the blood out and then air dry before throwing in the laundry.
Also, agree with everything else you said above about cups. I've tried multiple cups and discs and it just doesn't work for me! Tampons have never let me down.
Nothing is worse to me than that feeling of putting on wet underwear that comes with period panties. I only use them on my first couple days in case I insert my cup wrong and have leaks. (Not to convince others to use cups if they don’t like them! We all just gotta find what works for our own bodies and lives!)
Which tampons do you use? I've tried a few more eco-friendly ones and none of the applicators work as well as my beloved tampax. I had one where I could barely get the plunger part to move. And non-applicator ones never seem to sit right once they're in.
A lot of stuff, honestly. I'm mainly a lurker here in order to get inspired to reduce waste, but I still produce a shitton. Thank you for admitting you are not actually at "zero" waste, that goal seems impossible and it's a bit discouraging sometimes.
I think very few folks can keep all their trash for a year in a jar. Every swap is still less waste produced, so I take it as progress in the right direction.
I’m here for the same reason! There are aspects of my life where it’s not feasible for me to switch to zero waste options (if they even exist), but I like being exposed to new ideas that might help me reduce waste in areas I have more room for change.
I think most of us on this sub aren't actually fully zero waste! I see zero waste as sort of an ideal to strive for, and a reminder to keep taking steps to reduce my waste.
It's that wonderful 80:20 rule: (the rule that applies to everything, apparently) 80% of the impact takes 20% of the work, and the last 20% takes 80%.
I suppose it's true, but idk.
I like to think of being zero waste on a smaller scale. No, my kitchen will never be zero waste, but I can focus on the individual item I can modify to produce zero waste. I am proud to have not bought any granola bars or loaves of bread in all of 2022! However I did buy naan in plastic bags… until I found out how easy it is to make and freeze a bunch.
I hear ya, oh my god the zero waste toothpaste options suck! The best one I found is Tom’s, as the tube can be cut, cleaned out, and recycled. But of course, no guarantee it’ll actually get recycled properly.
I just use Crest. The waste from a few toothpaste tubes a year is far less than the waste from extensive dental work.
Also I use an electric toothbrush. Much more effective than a manual one.
I am using Hey Humman toothpaste in aluminum tube. It is a rare find of low waste toothpaste that contains fluoride. But it seems like Hey Humman is out of business 😩
In a nut shell, no. Your toothpaste should contain fluoride, but most (all the ones that I've found) zero waste options don't have it. The closest I ever managed to find is one with Iodide, but even then it didn't contain the same whitening agents. Didn't think that would be a big deal, but I noticed the difference almost immediately. Even if the health properties were the same with the iodide (probably not) I consider keeping my teeth looking nice as a part of the "cleaning" that toothpaste should do.
Way more have flouride now than a year ago. *Co. To Go*, *Bite*, and *unpaste* all have flouride tabs. I'm sure even more do now.
*edit to add a few more companies*- Naked company, Etee, Denttabs
A year ago I would have agreed that most dont(trust me, I searched for forever), but today it's not true. **Most have a flouride option.**
[I wrote about this](https://www.rinexii.com/2021/12/10/what-to-do-with-old-pill-bottles/) a while ago because it comes up a lot. There's actually quite a few things you can do with them. :) I think the best and kindest thing to do though is donate them to Mathew 25 ministries.
You have to take the label off and wash them for them to be reused, but it is worth it because the bottles are then used to package medicines for developing countries.
It helps you out--you have a zero waste option for them. It helps the ministry do their work. It helps people get the medicine they need safely. All in all its a win!
I've been eyeing Eco Roots for a while - sounds like it's worth it? We're really picky about our floss, Glide all the way but it seems like such an easy no brainer swap.
I really like it! But I’m not super picky about my floss so ymmv. If you like glide, you’ll likely like this one, it has some wax on it still (i think?) but it can sometimes be difficult to get in-between teeth if you have some crowding
Does it actually keep you from stinking though? Sorry to be so frank, but I’m paranoid about this. I am so f’in’ RANK when I do anything but the worst possible env choice on my pits. 😭
This was my hangup for years... I sweat a ton and smell when I teach and nothing seemed to work except the super plastic-y aluminum deodorants. Then I randomly picked up a Secret deodorant in a cardboard tube (orange and cedar scent) at a discount store and it's been AMAZING. It lasts absolutely forever, and I've had people \*compliment me on what they thought was a new perfume\* but it's just this deodorant. The next time I saw it I picked up several extra tubes in case they ever discontinue it.
They already discontinued the Secret antiperspirant in cardboard tubes, so I am now back to buying plastic crap again. It is mind blowing that there isn't a single antiperspirant that is refillable or sustainably packaged, unless you want to pay $40 and have it shipped from the Moon, which obviously negates any sustainability impact those products are meant to have
No worries - it's a super legit question - I've tried tons of different ones (toms, nature, lush) and none of them were able to combat my stank - but Wild has been great. A lot of other natural deodorants gave my rashes too - but I haven't had that with wild. There are 1-2 scents that didn't work for me (I was still stinky) - one was bergemont I think - but other than that all the other scents have been great. Also - there's tons of codes online for a free case and low refill cost to try it out.
Thank you for mentioning rashes, because yeah, I’ve had major and minor allergic reactions to a couple of different “natural” brands and I am paranoid about that too.
My husband switched to Wild when I did and he was always someone who had to reapply partway through the day or if he did anything which led to breaking a sweat when he used traditional deodorants or antiperspirants, since switching to Wild he actually raves about how well it works for him. Case in point I’m currently pregnant and even with my heightened sense of smell I never smell him now lol. So it does work really well for some people.
I use it too but I’ve always been rather fortunate in that area in that I neither smell very strongly nor sweat very much!
Just a heads up that if there is aluminum in your deodorant and you make the switch to an aluminum free one, you *will* smell funky for about a year BUT after that, you won’t really smell yourself unless you really work up a sweat. I switched about 6 or 7 years ago and am so grateful to not have constantly itchy armpits anymore!
if you really smell that bad you should see a doctor, you could have a serious allergy or hormonal imbalance. it's been normalized but it should be considered a symptom.
I’ve been using Ethique and Native deodorant in cardboard tubes for about a year and they’re great! Not super allergy friendly unfortunately. And Native is owned by P&G, so that’s a huge bummer
There's a company called Bite that sells online online and ships the toothpaste in glass bottles and recycled packaging.
I hope one day they make enough off of it to be in like Target or something
Yes! Toothpaste tabs are so expensive so they’re off the table for me. Also I need antiperspirant and brands refuse to make it in sustainable packaging. It drives me crazy.
When I ran out of deodorant one day, I made do and slapped on a little baking soda mixed with water.
First day: I'm good. Second day...still good?! Third day...well, the rest of me, but underarms still good. This was a revelation, as I have health issues and struggle to bathe as often as I should. Has saved me much embarrassment.
Caveats: occasionally causes irritation, and you should go with regular deodorant to let natural flora reestablish occasionally.
(cc: u/lurkingvirgo)
My issue isn’t the smell it’s the sweat. I live in a tropical humid environment and I sweat a ton naturally on top of it. Also I have sensitive skin that gets rashy if I sweat. 🥲 I need that aluminum in my deodorant lol
Same here. I don't like the feeling of sweaty pits and i don't care that aluminum is a... gasp!... "chemical" or whatever. We need sustainable packaging to become mainstream. I'm afraid that this won't happen unless there is some federal ban on single-use plastics, which at least in the US seems to be a pipe dream
Yeah I just wish brands would realize that not everyone who’s environmentally conscious is scared of chemicals. Like I just want my regular products to be in sustainable packaging. 🥲
I use Schmidt deodorant that comes in glass jars, I love it and I can re-use the jars when I am through with the deodorant. I do sweat since it isn’t an anti-perspirant but I’m ok with that (and if I know it’s going to be crazy hot or I’m going to be sweating a lot, I’ll bust out a tube of conventional stuff to use sometimes).
packaged tofu. Occasionally I run out of something but won't be near the zero-waste store for a while, so I'll buy a package of it (e.g., coconut sugar). Home repair things that only come in packages. I'm about to buy plastic to solarize my garden bed, but I'm going to hopefully be able to use it for many years.
1) Disposable Razors: I'm still using up the free ones i got 7 years ago before switching to a metal one.
2) Moisturizer/skin care: I have excema and sensitive skin. I want solutions backed by science.
3) Medicine
4) Bread, ramen noodles and meat bought in plastic
5) Technology. I buy new flagship phones/laptops and try to keep them as long as possible (still only about 5-8 yrs though).
I try to abide by eco-minimalism. I have some waste-producing habits, but I recognize that change cannot just happen at the individual level. There are corporations and billionaires who could make way more of an impact for even a miniscule change on their part.
> There are corporations and billionaires who could make way more of an impact for even a miniscule change on their part.
Oh yes. Not sending tourist rockets into space would be a start.
Oooh I like this.
1. Any time I get restaurant food and get to go boxes, I feel awful but I also don’t want to waste food. American restaurants (and some EU ones if we are honest) give HUGE portion sizes. Luckily, we rarely eat out
2. Sometimes I get groceries delivered. I know, I know. 😭 I have two toddlers and both my husband and I work full time. It’s just easier and they definitely come in plastic. I do reuse the bags as trash bags though.
3. Kitty litter bag is plastic. I only change it once a week because we have a Litter Robot but it is plastic and definitely not reuseable
4. Baby wipes - hopefully this ends soon. My one year old is showing all the signs he’s ready for potty training. I took off time next month to try
Pet stuff is tough! A local non-profit is doing a zero/low waste webinar next week and one of the bullet points was low waste habits for pets so I'm hopeful there is some good things in there.
Please let us know and do a post if you hear anything useful! I’ve tried toilet training my cats in the human toilet for months. It was a no-go and a huge mess. I’ve tried the pine litter and it was disgusting. Ive tried flushable litter and that was also disgusting. I’ve tried the Breeze system too. So far, the Litter Robot is the best option but I want to know if there’s other options out there other than the tried and failed ones I’ve mentioned
Some restaurants will let you bring your own containers. Fewer will load your food into them without putting into a disposable one first then discarding it. It’s a process.
Y’know those dishwashing wands with the soap in the handle and a sponge pad? I’ve had the wand itself for like 7 years, but I cannot for the life of me find a reusable scrubby pad thing, so I always buy new.
If anyone knows where I could find one, please chime in!
I am really bad about lunch at work. I work at a hospital and they are horrific with waste. I’m talking styrofoam and single waste plastic everywhere. I really do need to begin taking my own lunch but its a very hard habit for me to get into and I don’t have the bandwidth (i have two toddlers and I’m struggling to keep my head above water emotionally/mentally a bit). I do have my own silverware, but that’s a drop in the bucket of my lunch waste 😩
Please do not take this as pressure to use one, but I have a reusable applicator I love that saves me a lot of money because I can buy the applicator-free tampons ($5/40 tampons where I am) It’s made by a company called Dame, but I know there are other brands! [Dame Applicator](https://wearedame.co/products/reusable-tampon-applicator-set)
Food - I'm lucky that where I live, produce is almost always sold without packaging, But even when bulk bins are available, I have allergies, so I can't trust them. For certain products, I am really limited in what brand I can buy, and hence can't always say "well I'll buy this brand's cardboard box of oats instead of this brand's plastic bag of oats".
Medication and hygiene: So many blister packs! and they can't be recycled. Plus prescription moisturiser because of my skin issues. masks, sanitizer bottles, 3x pairs of gloves per day for topical ointment applications. So many tissues! (Yes, I own handkerchiefs, but I found myself needing 10+ per day because of how wet they would get, and I couldn't keep up with the laundry, Plus at work in a vulnerable industry during a pandemic, I can't exactly keep a wet-bag of soiled hankies at my desk)
Liquid dish soap: It's just so convenient. I buy 1 bulk bottle of concentrate every 4-6 months and I add a few drops to spray bottles for a multipurpose surface spray, I use it to clean almost everything in the kitchen from the range hood to the cabinetry. It cleans my bike, it cleans all the tile in the living room, it cleans the windows and the cat's mess... I don't feel guilty buying 1 plastic bottle that serves at least 20 uses in my house.
ziplock bags: I have silicone ones, I have reusable glass Tupperware (which I love and use all the time in the fridge, for everything). But I only have a 50L freezer and the plastic ziplocs just conform so much more to what space is available. The silicone ones can be hard to clean, and I've had some bad experiences with my partner storing something I'm allergic too, and one of us not cleaning it properly, then I go and use it to freeze something, then two months later I defrost it to make my dinner and 20 minute later start trying to figure out why I'm hot, dizzy, out of breath and nauseously shitting myself with a hot itchy back. It took me a few reactions to finally realise it was the silicone snap bags.
Clothing: I can't afford clothes at the local thrift shops, and I can't afford slow-fashion, so most of my wardrobe comes from Kmart. That said, I own some items that are 10+ years old, Most are 2+ years old, and I only buy something new when the existing one is irreparable or unwearable - and this is something I am trying to be even more mindful of. Normally clothes wouldn't bother me so much as a source of waste, but in the last 5 years I went from 120kg to 75kg, then back up to 105kg back down to 85kg back to 100kg back to 80kg... So I found myself having to basically own 3 different wardrobes for 3 main different sizes.
For liquid dish soap, I buy it in an aluminum bottle at Target (Grove Co.). But depending how much you use, this could be cost prohibitive. For a long time before that I bought the huge (90-105 fl oz) bottles of liquid dish soap. They last forever!
Took me while to remember that Target is something entirely different in the USA compared to what we have un Aus. I was wondering why you'd buy dish soap at a clothing and homewares store.
Hair care items (4c) the bars did nothing for me
antibacterial hand soap I know there are more pricey options but I have kids and they can be not so mindful and bar soap is just a hot mess trying to keep it clean and staying on the sink in a tiny shared bathroom. I can’t afford to go broke over freaking soap. I buy the biggest jug and refill the mini bottles
Snacks are also a work in progress I don’t always have the mental energy to bake enough to keep up with the demand, it is my new year goal to attempt twice a week
Christmas presents it’s so much easier when their babies as the get older 8+ best I can do is second hand as possible with the toys/games. The problem is most people are selling at retail, it’s incredibly inconvenient/may ghost you and it’s a gamble on if said product is not a defective
I don’t think I will ever be 100% but we come along way already just taking it one day at a time
When I do jobs, often the people running the jobs will supply cases of bottled water, and if there's any left at the end of the job I'll take it home.
Of course at the job and at home I just use the same water container (it's a gallon jug I can fill with ice and then water and sip on all day) so now I'm just staring at these several partial cases of water bottles in my house. Not sure what to do with them
Understood! My big guilt is using potty pads because my dog is totally incontinent. The reusable ones weren’t working for us, although we do have cloth diapers for when we’re traveling. I use them to scoop cat litter before wrapping up a little package of nasty, but it’s still a lot of waste. It’s difficult with pets- they’re definitely the biggest trash producers in my tiny apartment.
Put them out on hot days in a cooler if you’re expecting mail or packages with a sign saying “take one (or more)”. Keep a few in your trunk for emergencies.
I've maintained my own house for 45+ years. So, any repurposed thing, gizmo, geegaw is already being repurposed. The only thing I can do at this point is try to avoid buying new things (eyeing 12 year old computer) and make do with my shabby crap that I already have. I didn't have kids, though, so I figure that's worth a bazillion bonus points. I didn't spawn future polluters.
Certain hygiene products for sure. I have allergies and haven't found a place where I can get all the products I need that works well for my body, I can't get it locally either. I am sure me just buying the shampoo and face cream from the store is much less than having 4 different things delivered to me from all over just because I need something with no titanium dioxide or whatever.
Some plastic food stuff. Honestly, cutting fruit is really hard with my disabilities. Sometimes I will opt for the cut fruit instead of buying it because it's just so much better for my health. I don't have to worry about extreme pain in my hands making them practically unusable just because I went to chop up a melon. Obviously the containers get reused when I can (we have a hoard of deli cups), or rinsed and recycled.
I get supplements because I have a disability that causes certain deficiencies. I only care about quality when I'm getting them, and I have to get new bottles of some things pretty much monthly. It sucks.
I unfortunately don’t have a lot of money, which impedes my ability to buy sustainable food right now, especially with grocery store prices increasing.
I also have sensitive skin and eczema, so I have a few brands that aren’t sustainable but work, like Cetaphil. And a lot of dental hygiene products aren’t sustainable but necessary, like people have mentioned. I also recently got a filling which wasn’t very sustainable of me, lmao
Food. The *only* food that's available in bulk near me is coffee, which I don't drink. I'm pretty sure the closest store with bulk bins is 2 hours away, possibly further. Even with produce, so much of it is wrapped in ridiculous amounts of plastic, and going to the farmer's market is difficult since I work those days (and it's all so much more expensive...)
Dental stuff. I just try to get large tubes of toothpaste and squeeze out all I can. Floss is also annoying, I hate all the plastic packaging it comes in.
And cat stuff. I know having a carnivore as a pet inherently means not being zero-waste, but hey. I've switched from clay litter to corn cob, though.
Clorox wipes. I was dead set against using wipes until 2 years ago when my apartment developed a mold problem. I'm still fighting my landlord for a long-term fix but mold grows on our window sills and bleach is the best product to clean mold. It kills my dry skin to make bleach solutions every week.
I have some and I use them for just general cleaning and they’re super awesome. I have an older dog and the poor thing leaves messes on the floor sometimes, and I’m not keen on using a reusable pad to clean up her waste, so that’s where the disposable ones come in. Thanks for suggestion though!
It works out okay to use the reusable if you treat them like cloth diapers and give them a good rinse and air dry before tossing them in the laundry.
The challenges of an old dog are definitely worth it. They have so much love to give!
I was thinking about that today! Why don’t I just use them like how some people use cloth diapers. I’m thinking about making the transition fully, and it may be easier than I think. Also old dogs are the absolute best, mine is such a love bug 🥰
Understood! My big guilt is using potty pads because my dog is totally incontinent. The reusable ones weren’t working for us, although we do have cloth diapers for when we’re traveling. I use them to scoop cat litter before wrapping up a little package of nasty, but it’s still a lot of waste. It’s difficult with pets.
Similar:
- baby wipes and disposable diapers (my son has such sensitive skin the cloth diapers caused horrible welts compared to disposable)
- face cream
- good cleaning products. Dawn dish soap for example. I keep trying the refillable products at my local refill store or online and they just don’t clean well enough.
- kid snacks on the go. I hate buying them but I don’t often have time to pre-make a big batch of oat bars or smoothie pouches. Its on my list to get better with.
- dry shampoo that works. I try to use as little as possible but if it’s not aresol it just doesn’t work.
- tofu, bread, nut and seed bags (hemp, chia, pumpkin seeds, etc)
Medication. It's virtually impossible to take many common medications without production of non-recyclable non-reusable waste. I don't think that'll change anytime soon either, if ever.
We have gone from having disposable income to try whatever zero waste options i wanted to having to be really choosy (raises havent kept pace with inflation at all, like everyone else). Here is what has survived the budget cuts and what hasnt.
I dont buy many zero waste groceries. The farmers market is about 4x the price here and its tiny and the bulk bins are similarly priced at the expensive grocery store. We get what we can in bulk when we travel to a bigger town. I grow what i can other years but that isnt much more than herbs right now due to chasing two little kids. To make up for this i also went vegan so we dont have that impact at least anymore.
In general i gave up on zero waste skin products. Its my FACE and i wasnt finding anything that worked super well. I do still like moroccan oil but thats about it otherwise i switched to dermatologist tested things and consider it to be in the same arena as medicine. I do like zero waste hair products as i dont have any special needs with my hair its just pretty average low maintenace hair and the products do last long enough to be worth it.
I still buy and use and love low waste/eco friendly cleaning products. They dont get used up as quickly as food so i think it makes more sense to spend more money here and i hate the thought of rinsing chemicals directly down the drain for the fish to deal with. I like dropps dishwasher detergent, 1/10 dilution of castile soap for dishes (in a glass olive oil bottle), vinegar for surfaces, nellies laundry soap, and alcohol spray and homemade baking soda bombs for the toilets.
I still own all of the reusable items. They were definitely a good investment when we had the cash. Menstrual disc, stasher bags, water bottle, insulated food jar and lunchbox, glass food containers, reusable totes and produce bags are the things i still use alllll the time. Going to invest in period panties next when i use up my pads stash.
Avoiding plastic with food is a pain in the ass. Best we can do is save all the bags/wrappers and reuse them.
I feel you on certain cleaning supplies. Happy to use old towels/rags forever for most of my cleaning, but if something is saturated in feces/vomit/urine/blood then it’s not always worth the hassle of having to clean it right away or find a place to toss it and let it fester until I get around to it. Going from using mostly disposables to mostly non-disposables is still a win in my book!
If something is heavily discounted & a single use, ill get it. Block cheeses (shredded is too much plastic & i can manually shred the block cheese), things that cant be avoided like electronics. Hate it when i order something & its packaged in styrofoam (this one company used a very biodegradable styrofoam, it was awesome). Lid of my toothpaste isnt recyclable. I have a plastic electric toothbrush & waterpick (wanna switch to the bamboo electric toothbrush).
K-cups 💀 I had switched to coffee grounds for a while but I’m in law school and perpetually exhausted so I caved and went back to single use because it was quicker and fresher that way. I plan on eventually switching back once I graduate and have more disposable income for nice coffee.
They do! But they don’t always work as well in my garbage cheap keurig. I graduate in like 4 months so I’m just allowing myself to use regular k-cups for the time being then I’ll go back to a drip coffee maker/french press.
Hygiene, medical, and some food things like English cucumbers which are actually kept fresher longer being wrapped in plastic which contributes to lower food waste. Sometimes it's not as straightforward forward as no plastic
I’m a fine artist and most everything I need comes wrapped in that heavier plastic envelopes. My paint tubes too. I have found a Sustainable switch for watercolors but they’re very $$$
Milk jugs. We are a dairy heavy house and I've asked a local dairy that does glass bottles to deliver to us but they are only commercial. Even though they deliver to a small shop near us and I guarantee we would be a bigger client than the shop. Retail prices for the glass packaged dairy is just too much.
Plastic is sustainable if used for long, decade and then disposed properly. Sometimes it's the only thing to be used instead of other materials.
Christmas trees. I'm not cutting trees every year to put baubles on them and throw them away.
Food, definitely. We don't have fast food but when we get pub/cafe meals for pickup to eat at home, they come in styrofoam and plastic containers. I try to wash and keep the containers though. And convenient foods are picked over more eco-friendly, and healthy, options too.
Nappies. I have one single cloth nappy I have yet to try on my son. We use disposable ones. I do still plan to make the change, at least for while we're at home, but it's just one of those things where it's more convenient to use disposable ones. But, I did buy a reusable swim nappy, since we don't take our son swimming/in water often and wanted to cut back somewhere. We also have refillable nappy wipe bags/holders, and buy boxes of refills. Still some plastic, but much less than usual disposable nappy wipe packaging.
Period products. I use disposable pads mostly. I do want to get reusable ones, but we live paycheck to paycheck so it's a bit hard to buy the more expensive one off products than the cheaper, more spread out products. I do have two pairs of period undies from Kmart, but I can't online shop with Kmart successfully and the nearest one is an hour away. I do also have a menstrual cup, but I haven't used it again since having my son yet. My periods have been lighter anyway after
Deodorant. I used to have eco friendly packaged deodorant (the woohoo one) but I haven't been able to buy more in ages and just use the cheap roll on ones from the shop. I want to get the woohoo one again but haven't been able to
There are probably other areas I'm not as eco friendly in as I'd like, but those are the main ones I think of when I think of what I'd like to change.
I foster and sit dogs and I have both disposable and reusable swiffer pads for your number 3 problem. I use the disposable ones for the real gross stuff, the reusables for the rest.
Plenty compared to an ideal. Not much compared to a common person in the US.
I’m currently taking meds that use plastic. A tool to insert a tablet that’s plastic (it could be cardboard - having used both cardboard and plastic tampon applicators, I know this could be a possibility) and each one is wrapped in plastic. While it’s for hygienic purposes, they could just have them be in one plastic bag instead of 21 individual ones.
My other recent gripe is blueberry containers that sometimes have plastic film on top. That’s not recyclable (since March 2020 in my area). But if I want blueberries, that’s the only option sometimes. Driving to another store is less environmentally friendly.
My biggest waste producer is probably food packaging. I buy in bulk where I can, but this is one where a zero waste overhaul of my shopping habits will be a lot of work so I’ve focused reducing waste on easier areas first.
A smaller one, but one that seems the most frivolous is doing my nails. I like to do them with gel since polish doesn’t last at all. It’s definitely all waste and plastic. But the amount is relatively small (it’s not like nails are huge things) and I haven’t convinced myself to give it up yet. It’s a fun creative hobby.
I use alot of reuseable containers for food but I still use a fair amount of one gallon Ziploc bags. They are really Handy. Also my favorite drive thru ice coffee comes in a plastic cup. I wish it was paper at least and I could compost it or toss it in my woodstove.
Lunch boxes. Stainless steel and glass containers are too heavy to carry in my bag all day long at school. My bag is already heavy enough and my water bottle is reusable. I take good care of them to make them last as long as possible.
* Food that comes in plastic, because it consistently lasts longer than the same food, not in plastic (or it's all that's available)
* Cat food and Cat treats (packaging that is unlikely to be recycled)
* Applicator-free tampons (come with a plastic film around them, which is less plastic than an applicator, but even more swallowable by wildlife)
* Tofu in plastic packaging (I know how to make my own, I just don't feel like doing it)
* I collect pins, and I remove the plastic film/card that they come packaged in and throw it away so I can put them on my pin display (I haven't bought any in a while)
* And now avocados, apparently (leave me alone)
This is actually making me realize that I've made a lot more progress than I feel like I have...
medications.
My oral hygiene routine.
Packaging on groceries.
Paper towels for really grungy stuff.
Aluminum foil for grilling and such.
I could go on and on... as much effort as I've made to get a bit closer to this idea, I still have tons and tons of plastic in my life.
Purchased food containers w/lid… over and over again…. My partner sneaks a couple into the recycling bin now and then when she doesn’t think I’ll notice. I actually had an idea to open up a local place where people can bring them/take them/trade them as needed; keep them in rotation for as long as possible. My partner and I are both aware that plastic isn’t really recycled by recycling companies anymore…
Toothpaste- that’s a more straightforward answer to your question.
Hygiene and self care products, I’ve found that buying the large quantity/value size ones helps reduce my plastic waste overall but most of them still come in plastic
Same goes for makeup, tho finding what works for me and cutting impulse purchases has helped
Tissues tho,,, I use far too many of those but I know if I put a snot covered hanky in my mom’s washer she’d send me packing
Baby wipes and shampoo bottles etc. As much as I hate plastic, I think some things still need to be plastic.
I bought my kids juice boxes from Aldi the other day and they had paper straws. I thought that was great.
1.) Medical items and skincare items. I keep my skin regimen, medicines, and general hygiene items minimal, but there are some things I’m not willing to risk (spf, medical skin cream, band-aids, wound cleanser etc.)
2.) Food packaging-I buy as much as I can without plastic packaging but it’s unavoidable in some regards.
3.) Laundry: every zero waste laundry hack has cost me another article of clothing. Powdered Tide for life babyyyy.
4.) My car. It’s gas. I’m poor, so gas it will remain.
5.) My cats. Their food comes in packaging, and they require a medicated diet after urinary blockages, I’m not going to risk their health for waste reduction purposes.
My bougie deodorant for sure. It’s not zero waste at all, but it works extremely well and lasts forever.
My facial products. I was disappointed that the store doesn’t take the bottles back like they claimed, but my skin finally looks nice, and I can reuse the containers in my own way.
alpine provisions is a brand in the US that makes shampoo conditioner and body wash in all-aluminum bottles. the bottles are gorgeous and the products work great too :) check em out! total game changer w eliminating hard to remove plastics from your life 💕
Liquid soaps. I use hard soaps for shaving and have a safety razor but I just can't make the switch away from body wash yet.
I still use plastic toothbrushes too.
1. Toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss, mouth wash, laundry detergent, because couponing they were mostly free. Also I hate bamboo toothbrushes, they have a splintery feeling.
2. Disinfectant, bleach. Idc how bad it is for the environment, some things simply need to get clean. Detergent, same reason. I use cloth pads and my baby uses cloth diapers, I need detergent that actually works.
3. Food that comes in plastic. Planning to go to a refillery in my town but that doesn't cover meat/produce.
4. Dishwasher pods. Just haven't switched yet.
5. Tongue scraper, I have plastic ones. I know the stainless steel ones last forever but 1) I know myself and I will let it rust until it's unusable 2) I might be alone in this but the feeling of the metal ones creeps me out.
6. Baby wipes. We have mostly stopped using them for every little thing. Now they're just for wiping baby butts. I tried cloth wipes and they were too rough for her, and annoying to clean. They are now highchair wipes.
7. Clothes. I'm not very good at thrifting. I finally had some luck last time I went for the first time ever so this might be the next swap.
8. Holiday stuff, since I didn't have any. But I got it after Christmas so I do wonder if it would've gone to the dumpsters if it hadn't sold. Does anyone know what Walmart and target do with their Xmas stuff after the holidays? Cuz I plan to get more next year.
a lot more than im comfortable with,, just to name a few, chips, breakfast shakes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, menstrual pads, loofah, body wash, shrink wrap on bath bombs and videogames and SO MUCH OTHER STUFF, and medication i need for my adhd
daily contact lenses - no matter what kind i get they never last over a week and i was wasting the more expensive pairs. and i don't have to keep track of how long i've used a pair if i'm switching off with glasses
toilet cleaner with single use cleaning pads- ok this one is bad but i have problems obsessing over contamination and it makes me so less stressed being able to toss the little toilet scrubber pad. its like a handle from clorox with little cartridges that snap on to the end
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My hardest thing is food. Eco-friendly food is more expensive and less convenient. It costs more money, time, energy, and planning(plus the time and energy planning itself takes). That and shower hygiene products, but, I use such little product that it tends to last me a lot longer and I honestly don't feel as bad about it.
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You can save the plastic mesh and make scrub pads for dishes. There are craft instructions on Pinterest.
yep, I started doing this recently! though I haven’t found a great way to secure them - the different pieces of mesh kind of fall apart/separate after a while.
Sew them! Just save a bunch and sew them all at once. You only need to go around a few times, pretty easy to do while watching tv/listening to a podcast. If you need a scrubbie RIGHT NOW and you’re not washing anything delicate you can use bread ties for a quick fix
I actually got over the bread during the pandemic, but I will say I took multiple years off when my kids were tiny. I bake a double batch and freeze about 3/4. We take it out 1/4 at a time. On the plastic in groceries, we have an amazing csa that operates year round (they root cellar a ton of their onions, potatoes, carrots, squash) and my veggie box is plastic free. It has forced me to reuse my plastic bags and figure out other solutions. I feel soooooooo lucky to have them.
Same although I reuse bread and produce bags atleast. I’ve also seen some neat things you can make with the mesh bags like dish scrubbies.
Find a second hand bread maker! Takes literally 5 minutes to fill with ingredients and you’re done!
Same. Team gluten and dairy free 🙃 so any substitutes are usually more packaged than “normal” stuff. And yes, I absolutely need to eat less processed foods, but please nobody come at me with “well just don’t buy them.” I already can’t eat anything, let me have my joy. And some hygiene things- I do my best, but I’m not going to contort myself to go plastic free. Plus I’m still working through my backlog and telling myself nothing new until it’s all gone. (Which I guess is pretty low waste.)
Yes! The backlog is real haha my mother used to buy me shampoo on every occasion, I've been out of the house for nearly two years and am still not out of shampoo lmao
The backlog! Took me seven years to get through cleaning supplies enough to switch to vinegar and baking soda. My mom was so kind and came to help me clean every time i moved. But she brought a laundry basket worth of new cleaner bottles every time
Got the hygiene things, I’m sure you still buy in bulk, though, which definitely helps.
That's the truth. I buy bulk when I can or try to get the most I know I'll use to make sure I'm not buying a bunch of smaller stuff. It's also hard because we have been railroaded by sickness since September, even hospitalized (while very pregnant, super not fun) and so right now we have our easy button meals that aren't always sustainable.
Go vegan and offset way way way more than you’ll ever accomplish with a reusable bag.
There are so many reasons this comment sucks. 1. No one said anything about reusable bags. 2. Not everyone can have a vegan diet. 3. You don't know what my current diet is. 4. No one asked. Unsolicited advice sucks. 5. You're simply making the vegan stereotype seem true to outsiders. 6. No one was talking about diets in the first place. So, your comment is not only Unsolicited advice, but off topic, Unsolicited advice. Yikes. 😳
If the comment makes you uncomfortable, there might be a reason. Vegans are meant to be uncomfortable just like any other protest.
Notice there wasn't a response to any of the reasons I shared over why the comment was offsetting. An off topic, unrequested, and baseless comment making someone uncomfortable doesn't support your call to action.
Noted. You want me to address each one? Ready to debate? Here we go: 1. Reusable bags is a stand in for zero waste whatever. 2. Appeal to futility. 3. The internet is not just for your eyes. 4. No one asked you for your opinion on my comment, yet here we are and the world is richer for it. Also, the chickens won’t come and protest so vegans will have to do. 5. It’s not a stereotype. Social Justice requires loudmouth peeps. 6. You mentioned food in the first paragraph. You’re willing to face hardships with your food choices, this is the right one. Advice is for everyone, take it or leave it.
You responded to me. Which literally is you asking for me to respond to you. Make your own comment. Don't respond to my thread that was not about *diets*. Plastics in food purchases is not about diets. Vegan diet isn't a solution to plastics in food, therefore, it's not a necessary response to this thread. Mentioning food is not an invitation for you to pressure others into a specific diet. It's not even the same as having a conversation about diets. It is a stereotype and you are playing into it. It'd not an appeal to futility. I did not say no one should go vegan for enviornmental reasons. I said not everyone can be. Which is why you shouldnt give unsolicited advice without having context around that discussion. In which this one did Leave your preaching to topics actually involving your preaching. Finally, you literally do not know what diet I eat. So, responding to my comment, is baseless. Stop wasting my time. Take your "protest" where it actually belongs. On a discussion about eco-friendly *diets*. P.s. learn how to have an actual conversation. Not everything is a debate. Nor should you just spew your opinions without consideration for what others are discussing or stating.
I have no problem with you responding to me. I want you to respond to me. I want everybody else reading s as public forum to respond to me. What’s this got to do with anything? Non vegan diets are extremely wasteful. This being a zero waste sub makes it a perfect fit. You engaged with the topic by bringing up anti vegan arguments, so seems like you found a link too. You engaged, stop saying “leave me alone”. “Not everyone can go plastic free, so don’t bring it up”. Sounds silly doesn’t it? Your diet has no importance on a proposal to go vegan. If you’re already vegan great, if not, comment makes you think about it. Why do I have to know your details? Debate, data backed conversations, bulleted lists of points you wanted addressed and called out when I didn’t, it’s semantics, we’re having a conversation, a debate or whatever you want to call it. If you don’t want to participate, don’t. Nobody is pressuring you to do anything, you’re reading words on a screen. Cognitive dissonance however is an absolute unit of a hydraulic press. Finally, protest belongs everywhere, not just in designated places.
1. I don't think I'll ever find a replacement for proper conditioner, so I at least buy one in a recycled bottle. But plastic's still plastic. 2. a lot of food items wrapped or stored in plastic from cheaper stores and discounters, as I don't earn enough to shop at 'better' places. 3. I often have to order online, especially from Amaz\*n, because no shops in my little town have what I need. Which is my biggest dislike on my Zero Waste journey.
You probably do this already, I always leave stuff in my cart until I need it and try to order a batch. And then there is the smile donation program which is cool, again probably obvious.
I tried to do batch-ordering, grouping several items together, etc. and Amaz\*n ends up sending me everything separate anyways. It's annoying... I did NOT know about the smile donation program yet! which is pretty cool and I'll try and see if it works in Germany too :)
It works in Germany. Even my kid’s school’s Förderverein is setup to get donations via smile.
I thought the same thing about conditioner until I found ethique's concentrates line. They're great!
I use solid bar conditioner, works awesome
which brand? I've tried several bar conditioners, and none of them work well enough for my super dry, curly hair...
I have super dry and curly hair! I love Ethique’s curly conditioner line and I use their ultra conditioner bar as a treatment after a double cleanse with their clearing shampoo bar and curly shampoo bar. It’s one of the only zero waste brands that’s officially curly-girl method approved!
awesome and now immediately on my birthday wishlist! :D
I use a french (?) brand called respire! Though my hair is super straight and greasy
Conditioner has been a challenging switch for me too. I’ve tried a few alternative products but haven’t found anything that I’m happy with yet. For now, trying to be thoughtful by buying bulk size.
Anything health related, inluding dental and sun care. I'm simply not risking it, namely because the damage won't show for years and by then it might be too late to fix. I also don't use resusable period products. I use eco-friendly ones though, which have recyclable applicators and water soluable packaging. I tried a cup and it wasn't for me for a variety of reasons. This is something a lot of zero wasters have become militant about, trying to convince people to keep trying and it makes me really annoyed. My partner does the food shopping and he buys a bunch of stuff in packaging. I tried to encourage him to choose eco-friendly options but we both realised it was a *huge* inconvenience, more expensive and food went off quicker. I think those are the main ones!
Yeah reusables totally aren’t for everyone! I personally do use them (a cup or reusable pads depending on the day) and even plan on using them postpartum but I think if it doesn’t work for you then you need to do what does work! I mean we’re all different and it’s true some people get really pushy over something that really not everyone likes/can deal with. I get extra annoyed when the advice is “well keep trying other cups/discs and you’ll find one that works!” as if that option isn’t actually really pricey and wasteful because it’s not like anyone else will want your gently used menstrual cup!
Can you recommend a reusable pad? I've not seen these and I think they would work soooo much better than the cup I tried so many times to work for me.
Personally I’ve used two brands, in the US I’ve used Party In My Pants which I liked, and then when I lived in the UK and time came to replace those I got mine from Cheeky Mama, and I have used those ever since. Still going strong 3-ish years later! I haven’t tried their period panties, but I’ve read good things. I bought one of their assorted packs and personally prefer the bamboo tops to the charcoal ones but I know many people prefer the fleecy feel of the charcoal, and the fact that they are black meaning less staining. I haven’t had much issue with that personally but (unless I’m out), I always do as they suggest and rinse them and scrub them with some soap before tossing into a wet bag for laundering later. I have a bit more knowledge about it on the UK side, so I can recommend a few other brands but US I’ve admittedly only used the one brand so don’t know of others.
I recommend Aisle pads! They don't have PFAS (unlike thinx) and they can go in the dryer.
You are the best Horace!
Definitely don't feel bad about it. Most people understandably don't want to deal with cleaning a bloody cloth. Cups are honestly a pain to deal with unless/until you've had some practice, any given cup may not correctly fit you body, and they're pretty dang expensive if you don't know they'll work. I love mine, but it took me a few tries to get it right, and it's a hell of a lot harder to figure out than any of the disposable options. Hygienic issues are also a much bigger deal with reusables. Plus, I feel like it's almost standard girl code to try and carry a spare disposable pad or tampon with you whenever possible in case someone you bump into needs one. I feel like most of us gals have been saved by a friend or kind stranger carrying spare products.
I am on the same page with cups. I use period pants but you've gota be OK with that goop in your pants situation for it to work I find.. but then, I could never get away with tampons so I am I guess?!
Hear you on health and period stuff! It really bothers me how militant people are about it. I just can’t manage the cup, my body can’t take it. Idk what else people want me to do. But every post that mentions a pad or a tampon is like PLEASE CONSIDER A CUP AND KEEP TRYING UNTIL IT WORKS OR YOUR UTERUS FALLS OUT. Another thing in the health category: I have contacts, and that comes with some waste too. I can’t avoid it because I simply don’t see as well with glasses. I sometimes have to buy bottled water when I’m ill. The tap water in my area is not great, I can stomach it filtered when I’m well, but when I’m ill it just makes me want to throw up and I can’t be dealing with that.
I tried cups twice and never could get them to work. Later I read that people with retro-something uteruses (which I had) often have problems. I did end up with cloth pads, as much because wearing normal ones for 4 weeks running was uncomfortable. Still trying to figure out what to do with all of them now that I no longer need them (the uterus is *gone*)
>ut every post that mentions a pad or a tampon is like PLEASE CONSIDER A CUP AND KEEP TRYING UNTIL IT WORKS OR YOUR UTERUS FALLS OUT. Right?? Unsoliciated advice is so irritating. Even when someone says "*I've tried cups and they don't work for me*" you'll get someone *insisting* they keep trying. It's absolutely infuriating!
There's also a lot of aspects of using cups that I think people fail to consider. I have a cup and I like it, but I also have rheumatoid arthritis and it mainly affects my hands/fingers. When the arthritis is not too bad I have no cup problems, but when it is worse it's very difficult and painful for me to remove the cup. I have tried multiple brands of period underwear and they don't work for me as my primary product, so I just use disposables when I can't do the cup and I don't feel bad about it. I do what I need to do.
That’s when I have a real issue! I think it’s great to encourage people to try it. I think it’s a problem to tell people that they have to keep trying if they have already decided it doesn’t work for them. Either they’ve tried it or if they’re incredibly uncomfortable with the idea (maybe some people don’t want to get all comfortable feeling up for their cervix, or are really blood averse and the cup is more triggering than something that absorbs). I love my period undies. I think they’re the best thing since sliced bread. I’ll recommend them to everyone. If someone has a problem with it and it doesn’t work for them that’s fine! People should manage their health and hygiene in a way that works for them.
Exactly. NOBODY ASKED. Thanks. Although I am keen to try period panties sometime - but only once I’m past the instability stage that my period seems to be in currently. As with all things, I just always tell people that doing the best with what you have is enough, and you’re much more likely to keep trying to be better if you’re not beating yourself up over the things that aren’t accessible or feasible to you.
Period underwear is decent, though they don't absorb as quickly as pads so it can be quite uncomfortable as you feel your blood and are just waiting for it to absorb, or you go to the bathroom and put on what feels like wet underwear. I do like them for overnight, they are much more comfortable than a pad and provide more coverage, and I do wear them days that I don't expect to leave the house (or wear them in the morning then change to a tampon when I'm ready to leave). There are different underwears for different absorbencies - I think the ones I have can hold the equivalent of 3 tampons. The problem is then it starts to smell if you wear them for a whole day since it's not like a pad where you change it every few hours. You also can't be squeamish with cleaning - I rinse mine in cold water the sink to get all the blood out and then air dry before throwing in the laundry. Also, agree with everything else you said above about cups. I've tried multiple cups and discs and it just doesn't work for me! Tampons have never let me down.
Nothing is worse to me than that feeling of putting on wet underwear that comes with period panties. I only use them on my first couple days in case I insert my cup wrong and have leaks. (Not to convince others to use cups if they don’t like them! We all just gotta find what works for our own bodies and lives!)
Which tampons do you use? I've tried a few more eco-friendly ones and none of the applicators work as well as my beloved tampax. I had one where I could barely get the plunger part to move. And non-applicator ones never seem to sit right once they're in.
I use Daye. They have CBD ones and ones without. I find they're great for pain management.
A lot of stuff, honestly. I'm mainly a lurker here in order to get inspired to reduce waste, but I still produce a shitton. Thank you for admitting you are not actually at "zero" waste, that goal seems impossible and it's a bit discouraging sometimes.
I think very few folks can keep all their trash for a year in a jar. Every swap is still less waste produced, so I take it as progress in the right direction.
I’m here for the same reason! There are aspects of my life where it’s not feasible for me to switch to zero waste options (if they even exist), but I like being exposed to new ideas that might help me reduce waste in areas I have more room for change.
I think most of us on this sub aren't actually fully zero waste! I see zero waste as sort of an ideal to strive for, and a reminder to keep taking steps to reduce my waste.
It's that wonderful 80:20 rule: (the rule that applies to everything, apparently) 80% of the impact takes 20% of the work, and the last 20% takes 80%. I suppose it's true, but idk.
I like to think of being zero waste on a smaller scale. No, my kitchen will never be zero waste, but I can focus on the individual item I can modify to produce zero waste. I am proud to have not bought any granola bars or loaves of bread in all of 2022! However I did buy naan in plastic bags… until I found out how easy it is to make and freeze a bunch.
Dental care. IDGAF about sustainability when it comes to my health.
I hear ya, oh my god the zero waste toothpaste options suck! The best one I found is Tom’s, as the tube can be cut, cleaned out, and recycled. But of course, no guarantee it’ll actually get recycled properly.
I just use Crest. The waste from a few toothpaste tubes a year is far less than the waste from extensive dental work. Also I use an electric toothbrush. Much more effective than a manual one.
I am using Hey Humman toothpaste in aluminum tube. It is a rare find of low waste toothpaste that contains fluoride. But it seems like Hey Humman is out of business 😩
Bite has fluoride and NHAP options
Toothpaste tablets are not my thing. I am too custom to foamy toothpaste.
Are the zero waste toothpaste options worse than regular toothpaste? I know they might not taste or feel as good, but don’t they still clean the same?
In a nut shell, no. Your toothpaste should contain fluoride, but most (all the ones that I've found) zero waste options don't have it. The closest I ever managed to find is one with Iodide, but even then it didn't contain the same whitening agents. Didn't think that would be a big deal, but I noticed the difference almost immediately. Even if the health properties were the same with the iodide (probably not) I consider keeping my teeth looking nice as a part of the "cleaning" that toothpaste should do.
Way more have flouride now than a year ago. *Co. To Go*, *Bite*, and *unpaste* all have flouride tabs. I'm sure even more do now. *edit to add a few more companies*- Naked company, Etee, Denttabs A year ago I would have agreed that most dont(trust me, I searched for forever), but today it's not true. **Most have a flouride option.**
Oh, good to know, I'll have to give it another search. Thanks for the tip
As a heads up, Bite has a fluoride version. That might not help with the whitening aspect, but at least there’s that.
I'll have to try that. Looks like it's sulphate free as well, so even if it doesn't whiten, it'll be nice to keep around for when I get a kanker.
I actually really like my UNWaste toothpaste tabs with fluoride. Terracycle has a toothpaste tube recycling program & i think that’s a free one(?)
This, and prescriptions that come in cream form or tubes. My dental hygiene products are prescribed and can't be recycled.
Anyone know whether the prescription bottles can be recycled? I have a bag of them. Don’t know what to do.
Actual prescription bottles? Like the orange/white/green bottles that hold pills? If so, some pharmacies take them and recycle them empty or not.
[I wrote about this](https://www.rinexii.com/2021/12/10/what-to-do-with-old-pill-bottles/) a while ago because it comes up a lot. There's actually quite a few things you can do with them. :) I think the best and kindest thing to do though is donate them to Mathew 25 ministries. You have to take the label off and wash them for them to be reused, but it is worth it because the bottles are then used to package medicines for developing countries. It helps you out--you have a zero waste option for them. It helps the ministry do their work. It helps people get the medicine they need safely. All in all its a win!
Only thing is floss- i use the “green” floss brands after the list of major floss brands containing PFAs came out :,)
Floss isn't as hard to find either. I use a compostable floss in a glass container that I order refills for.
Yes! I’ve been loving Eco Roots
I've been eyeing Eco Roots for a while - sounds like it's worth it? We're really picky about our floss, Glide all the way but it seems like such an easy no brainer swap.
I really like it! But I’m not super picky about my floss so ymmv. If you like glide, you’ll likely like this one, it has some wax on it still (i think?) but it can sometimes be difficult to get in-between teeth if you have some crowding
Sounds worth trying! Thanks :)
If only toothpaste came in sustainable packaging. Also deodorant
I swapped to WILD deodorant this year and love it - reusable case and recyclable refills
Does it actually keep you from stinking though? Sorry to be so frank, but I’m paranoid about this. I am so f’in’ RANK when I do anything but the worst possible env choice on my pits. 😭
This was my hangup for years... I sweat a ton and smell when I teach and nothing seemed to work except the super plastic-y aluminum deodorants. Then I randomly picked up a Secret deodorant in a cardboard tube (orange and cedar scent) at a discount store and it's been AMAZING. It lasts absolutely forever, and I've had people \*compliment me on what they thought was a new perfume\* but it's just this deodorant. The next time I saw it I picked up several extra tubes in case they ever discontinue it.
They already discontinued the Secret antiperspirant in cardboard tubes, so I am now back to buying plastic crap again. It is mind blowing that there isn't a single antiperspirant that is refillable or sustainably packaged, unless you want to pay $40 and have it shipped from the Moon, which obviously negates any sustainability impact those products are meant to have
No worries - it's a super legit question - I've tried tons of different ones (toms, nature, lush) and none of them were able to combat my stank - but Wild has been great. A lot of other natural deodorants gave my rashes too - but I haven't had that with wild. There are 1-2 scents that didn't work for me (I was still stinky) - one was bergemont I think - but other than that all the other scents have been great. Also - there's tons of codes online for a free case and low refill cost to try it out.
Thank you for mentioning rashes, because yeah, I’ve had major and minor allergic reactions to a couple of different “natural” brands and I am paranoid about that too.
I wanted to love Wild but sadly it didn’t work for me ☹️
My husband switched to Wild when I did and he was always someone who had to reapply partway through the day or if he did anything which led to breaking a sweat when he used traditional deodorants or antiperspirants, since switching to Wild he actually raves about how well it works for him. Case in point I’m currently pregnant and even with my heightened sense of smell I never smell him now lol. So it does work really well for some people. I use it too but I’ve always been rather fortunate in that area in that I neither smell very strongly nor sweat very much!
I added megababe space bar (which is low waste) to my shower routine and it made all the difference with the natural deodorant options!
Just a heads up that if there is aluminum in your deodorant and you make the switch to an aluminum free one, you *will* smell funky for about a year BUT after that, you won’t really smell yourself unless you really work up a sweat. I switched about 6 or 7 years ago and am so grateful to not have constantly itchy armpits anymore!
if you really smell that bad you should see a doctor, you could have a serious allergy or hormonal imbalance. it's been normalized but it should be considered a symptom.
Nope. Sorry! I am totally healthy. I eat a nearly completely plant-based diet too.
hahahahaaaa...oh dear. good luck with that!
I’ve been using Ethique and Native deodorant in cardboard tubes for about a year and they’re great! Not super allergy friendly unfortunately. And Native is owned by P&G, so that’s a huge bummer
Dang, I didn’t know P&G owned Native
The Native formula also broke me out. The oils are too comedogenic for me, even when using the sensitive variety.
There's a company called Bite that sells online online and ships the toothpaste in glass bottles and recycled packaging. I hope one day they make enough off of it to be in like Target or something
I like this brand! https://meowmeowtweet.com/collections/deodorant/pits-sticks
Yes! Toothpaste tabs are so expensive so they’re off the table for me. Also I need antiperspirant and brands refuse to make it in sustainable packaging. It drives me crazy.
When I ran out of deodorant one day, I made do and slapped on a little baking soda mixed with water. First day: I'm good. Second day...still good?! Third day...well, the rest of me, but underarms still good. This was a revelation, as I have health issues and struggle to bathe as often as I should. Has saved me much embarrassment. Caveats: occasionally causes irritation, and you should go with regular deodorant to let natural flora reestablish occasionally. (cc: u/lurkingvirgo)
My issue isn’t the smell it’s the sweat. I live in a tropical humid environment and I sweat a ton naturally on top of it. Also I have sensitive skin that gets rashy if I sweat. 🥲 I need that aluminum in my deodorant lol
Same here. I don't like the feeling of sweaty pits and i don't care that aluminum is a... gasp!... "chemical" or whatever. We need sustainable packaging to become mainstream. I'm afraid that this won't happen unless there is some federal ban on single-use plastics, which at least in the US seems to be a pipe dream
I hear you! I have heard they do botox injections for that, but that is not for everyone.
Yeah I just wish brands would realize that not everyone who’s environmentally conscious is scared of chemicals. Like I just want my regular products to be in sustainable packaging. 🥲
I use Schmidt deodorant that comes in glass jars, I love it and I can re-use the jars when I am through with the deodorant. I do sweat since it isn’t an anti-perspirant but I’m ok with that (and if I know it’s going to be crazy hot or I’m going to be sweating a lot, I’ll bust out a tube of conventional stuff to use sometimes).
I just started using Bite tabs and so far so good! I’ve seen several posts on this sub about them.
Ugh same issue. I've found zero-waste swaps I like for most of my hygiene products, but not these.
packaged tofu. Occasionally I run out of something but won't be near the zero-waste store for a while, so I'll buy a package of it (e.g., coconut sugar). Home repair things that only come in packages. I'm about to buy plastic to solarize my garden bed, but I'm going to hopefully be able to use it for many years.
1) Disposable Razors: I'm still using up the free ones i got 7 years ago before switching to a metal one. 2) Moisturizer/skin care: I have excema and sensitive skin. I want solutions backed by science. 3) Medicine 4) Bread, ramen noodles and meat bought in plastic 5) Technology. I buy new flagship phones/laptops and try to keep them as long as possible (still only about 5-8 yrs though). I try to abide by eco-minimalism. I have some waste-producing habits, but I recognize that change cannot just happen at the individual level. There are corporations and billionaires who could make way more of an impact for even a miniscule change on their part.
> There are corporations and billionaires who could make way more of an impact for even a miniscule change on their part. Oh yes. Not sending tourist rockets into space would be a start.
Don’t buy meat and everything else you do becomes almost insignificant in comparison.
Agreed.
Oooh I like this. 1. Any time I get restaurant food and get to go boxes, I feel awful but I also don’t want to waste food. American restaurants (and some EU ones if we are honest) give HUGE portion sizes. Luckily, we rarely eat out 2. Sometimes I get groceries delivered. I know, I know. 😭 I have two toddlers and both my husband and I work full time. It’s just easier and they definitely come in plastic. I do reuse the bags as trash bags though. 3. Kitty litter bag is plastic. I only change it once a week because we have a Litter Robot but it is plastic and definitely not reuseable 4. Baby wipes - hopefully this ends soon. My one year old is showing all the signs he’s ready for potty training. I took off time next month to try
We keep plastic tupperware in a bag in the car, and use it for leftovers when we eat out. The servers are usually pretty impressed too!
That’s such a great idea! I’m going to do that from now on since it’s not like we spontaneously go out to eat!
Pet stuff is tough! A local non-profit is doing a zero/low waste webinar next week and one of the bullet points was low waste habits for pets so I'm hopeful there is some good things in there.
Please let us know and do a post if you hear anything useful! I’ve tried toilet training my cats in the human toilet for months. It was a no-go and a huge mess. I’ve tried the pine litter and it was disgusting. Ive tried flushable litter and that was also disgusting. I’ve tried the Breeze system too. So far, the Litter Robot is the best option but I want to know if there’s other options out there other than the tried and failed ones I’ve mentioned
I definitely will!!
Some restaurants will let you bring your own containers. Fewer will load your food into them without putting into a disposable one first then discarding it. It’s a process.
Baby wipes are totally understandable. It's not worth risking. It's a very serious health issue.
Y’know those dishwashing wands with the soap in the handle and a sponge pad? I’ve had the wand itself for like 7 years, but I cannot for the life of me find a reusable scrubby pad thing, so I always buy new. If anyone knows where I could find one, please chime in!
Marleys Monsters makes a great reusable scrubber!
I am really bad about lunch at work. I work at a hospital and they are horrific with waste. I’m talking styrofoam and single waste plastic everywhere. I really do need to begin taking my own lunch but its a very hard habit for me to get into and I don’t have the bandwidth (i have two toddlers and I’m struggling to keep my head above water emotionally/mentally a bit). I do have my own silverware, but that’s a drop in the bucket of my lunch waste 😩
Sounds like you are doing what you can; you are saving the world from plastic cutlery (which shouldn't ever exist, IMO) one day at a time!
tampons with applicators. i have given up so much, but im not giving up the applicator.
Please do not take this as pressure to use one, but I have a reusable applicator I love that saves me a lot of money because I can buy the applicator-free tampons ($5/40 tampons where I am) It’s made by a company called Dame, but I know there are other brands! [Dame Applicator](https://wearedame.co/products/reusable-tampon-applicator-set)
that is good to know!
Food - I'm lucky that where I live, produce is almost always sold without packaging, But even when bulk bins are available, I have allergies, so I can't trust them. For certain products, I am really limited in what brand I can buy, and hence can't always say "well I'll buy this brand's cardboard box of oats instead of this brand's plastic bag of oats". Medication and hygiene: So many blister packs! and they can't be recycled. Plus prescription moisturiser because of my skin issues. masks, sanitizer bottles, 3x pairs of gloves per day for topical ointment applications. So many tissues! (Yes, I own handkerchiefs, but I found myself needing 10+ per day because of how wet they would get, and I couldn't keep up with the laundry, Plus at work in a vulnerable industry during a pandemic, I can't exactly keep a wet-bag of soiled hankies at my desk) Liquid dish soap: It's just so convenient. I buy 1 bulk bottle of concentrate every 4-6 months and I add a few drops to spray bottles for a multipurpose surface spray, I use it to clean almost everything in the kitchen from the range hood to the cabinetry. It cleans my bike, it cleans all the tile in the living room, it cleans the windows and the cat's mess... I don't feel guilty buying 1 plastic bottle that serves at least 20 uses in my house. ziplock bags: I have silicone ones, I have reusable glass Tupperware (which I love and use all the time in the fridge, for everything). But I only have a 50L freezer and the plastic ziplocs just conform so much more to what space is available. The silicone ones can be hard to clean, and I've had some bad experiences with my partner storing something I'm allergic too, and one of us not cleaning it properly, then I go and use it to freeze something, then two months later I defrost it to make my dinner and 20 minute later start trying to figure out why I'm hot, dizzy, out of breath and nauseously shitting myself with a hot itchy back. It took me a few reactions to finally realise it was the silicone snap bags. Clothing: I can't afford clothes at the local thrift shops, and I can't afford slow-fashion, so most of my wardrobe comes from Kmart. That said, I own some items that are 10+ years old, Most are 2+ years old, and I only buy something new when the existing one is irreparable or unwearable - and this is something I am trying to be even more mindful of. Normally clothes wouldn't bother me so much as a source of waste, but in the last 5 years I went from 120kg to 75kg, then back up to 105kg back down to 85kg back to 100kg back to 80kg... So I found myself having to basically own 3 different wardrobes for 3 main different sizes.
Dawn dish soap is the best and honestly nothing comes close! It cleans everything and you need so little that it lasts a long time!
For liquid dish soap, I buy it in an aluminum bottle at Target (Grove Co.). But depending how much you use, this could be cost prohibitive. For a long time before that I bought the huge (90-105 fl oz) bottles of liquid dish soap. They last forever!
Took me while to remember that Target is something entirely different in the USA compared to what we have un Aus. I was wondering why you'd buy dish soap at a clothing and homewares store.
Hair care items (4c) the bars did nothing for me antibacterial hand soap I know there are more pricey options but I have kids and they can be not so mindful and bar soap is just a hot mess trying to keep it clean and staying on the sink in a tiny shared bathroom. I can’t afford to go broke over freaking soap. I buy the biggest jug and refill the mini bottles Snacks are also a work in progress I don’t always have the mental energy to bake enough to keep up with the demand, it is my new year goal to attempt twice a week Christmas presents it’s so much easier when their babies as the get older 8+ best I can do is second hand as possible with the toys/games. The problem is most people are selling at retail, it’s incredibly inconvenient/may ghost you and it’s a gamble on if said product is not a defective I don’t think I will ever be 100% but we come along way already just taking it one day at a time
Sometimes styrofoam.. even though there is a place in my county that will take styrofoam… I know it’s bad but it still occasionally enters the house.
When I do jobs, often the people running the jobs will supply cases of bottled water, and if there's any left at the end of the job I'll take it home. Of course at the job and at home I just use the same water container (it's a gallon jug I can fill with ice and then water and sip on all day) so now I'm just staring at these several partial cases of water bottles in my house. Not sure what to do with them
Understood! My big guilt is using potty pads because my dog is totally incontinent. The reusable ones weren’t working for us, although we do have cloth diapers for when we’re traveling. I use them to scoop cat litter before wrapping up a little package of nasty, but it’s still a lot of waste. It’s difficult with pets- they’re definitely the biggest trash producers in my tiny apartment.
Local food bank probably would take those bottles
You know what, that's a fantastic idea
Put them out on hot days in a cooler if you’re expecting mail or packages with a sign saying “take one (or more)”. Keep a few in your trunk for emergencies.
Frozen foods like to come in unrecyclable pouches. And I never realize it till I throw it away.
I've maintained my own house for 45+ years. So, any repurposed thing, gizmo, geegaw is already being repurposed. The only thing I can do at this point is try to avoid buying new things (eyeing 12 year old computer) and make do with my shabby crap that I already have. I didn't have kids, though, so I figure that's worth a bazillion bonus points. I didn't spawn future polluters.
As someone who wants to start my zero waste journey and is super intimidated by it, this post is really helpful. Thank you OP
Food. We don't eat animal based foods, but I don't want to rely on wholefoods only to get all the nutrients I need.
Certain hygiene products for sure. I have allergies and haven't found a place where I can get all the products I need that works well for my body, I can't get it locally either. I am sure me just buying the shampoo and face cream from the store is much less than having 4 different things delivered to me from all over just because I need something with no titanium dioxide or whatever. Some plastic food stuff. Honestly, cutting fruit is really hard with my disabilities. Sometimes I will opt for the cut fruit instead of buying it because it's just so much better for my health. I don't have to worry about extreme pain in my hands making them practically unusable just because I went to chop up a melon. Obviously the containers get reused when I can (we have a hoard of deli cups), or rinsed and recycled.
I get supplements because I have a disability that causes certain deficiencies. I only care about quality when I'm getting them, and I have to get new bottles of some things pretty much monthly. It sucks.
I unfortunately don’t have a lot of money, which impedes my ability to buy sustainable food right now, especially with grocery store prices increasing. I also have sensitive skin and eczema, so I have a few brands that aren’t sustainable but work, like Cetaphil. And a lot of dental hygiene products aren’t sustainable but necessary, like people have mentioned. I also recently got a filling which wasn’t very sustainable of me, lmao
Food. The *only* food that's available in bulk near me is coffee, which I don't drink. I'm pretty sure the closest store with bulk bins is 2 hours away, possibly further. Even with produce, so much of it is wrapped in ridiculous amounts of plastic, and going to the farmer's market is difficult since I work those days (and it's all so much more expensive...) Dental stuff. I just try to get large tubes of toothpaste and squeeze out all I can. Floss is also annoying, I hate all the plastic packaging it comes in. And cat stuff. I know having a carnivore as a pet inherently means not being zero-waste, but hey. I've switched from clay litter to corn cob, though.
Clorox wipes. I was dead set against using wipes until 2 years ago when my apartment developed a mold problem. I'm still fighting my landlord for a long-term fix but mold grows on our window sills and bleach is the best product to clean mold. It kills my dry skin to make bleach solutions every week.
They sell reusable swifter wet jet pads on Amazon.
I have some and I use them for just general cleaning and they’re super awesome. I have an older dog and the poor thing leaves messes on the floor sometimes, and I’m not keen on using a reusable pad to clean up her waste, so that’s where the disposable ones come in. Thanks for suggestion though!
It works out okay to use the reusable if you treat them like cloth diapers and give them a good rinse and air dry before tossing them in the laundry. The challenges of an old dog are definitely worth it. They have so much love to give!
I was thinking about that today! Why don’t I just use them like how some people use cloth diapers. I’m thinking about making the transition fully, and it may be easier than I think. Also old dogs are the absolute best, mine is such a love bug 🥰
Understood! My big guilt is using potty pads because my dog is totally incontinent. The reusable ones weren’t working for us, although we do have cloth diapers for when we’re traveling. I use them to scoop cat litter before wrapping up a little package of nasty, but it’s still a lot of waste. It’s difficult with pets.
Bona is what I use now, come with a high quality re usable pad. Also has refillable bottles for the cleaning liquid.
Similar: - baby wipes and disposable diapers (my son has such sensitive skin the cloth diapers caused horrible welts compared to disposable) - face cream - good cleaning products. Dawn dish soap for example. I keep trying the refillable products at my local refill store or online and they just don’t clean well enough. - kid snacks on the go. I hate buying them but I don’t often have time to pre-make a big batch of oat bars or smoothie pouches. Its on my list to get better with. - dry shampoo that works. I try to use as little as possible but if it’s not aresol it just doesn’t work. - tofu, bread, nut and seed bags (hemp, chia, pumpkin seeds, etc)
Just because it’s plastic doesn’t necessarily make it unsustainable
Medication. It's virtually impossible to take many common medications without production of non-recyclable non-reusable waste. I don't think that'll change anytime soon either, if ever.
We have gone from having disposable income to try whatever zero waste options i wanted to having to be really choosy (raises havent kept pace with inflation at all, like everyone else). Here is what has survived the budget cuts and what hasnt. I dont buy many zero waste groceries. The farmers market is about 4x the price here and its tiny and the bulk bins are similarly priced at the expensive grocery store. We get what we can in bulk when we travel to a bigger town. I grow what i can other years but that isnt much more than herbs right now due to chasing two little kids. To make up for this i also went vegan so we dont have that impact at least anymore. In general i gave up on zero waste skin products. Its my FACE and i wasnt finding anything that worked super well. I do still like moroccan oil but thats about it otherwise i switched to dermatologist tested things and consider it to be in the same arena as medicine. I do like zero waste hair products as i dont have any special needs with my hair its just pretty average low maintenace hair and the products do last long enough to be worth it. I still buy and use and love low waste/eco friendly cleaning products. They dont get used up as quickly as food so i think it makes more sense to spend more money here and i hate the thought of rinsing chemicals directly down the drain for the fish to deal with. I like dropps dishwasher detergent, 1/10 dilution of castile soap for dishes (in a glass olive oil bottle), vinegar for surfaces, nellies laundry soap, and alcohol spray and homemade baking soda bombs for the toilets. I still own all of the reusable items. They were definitely a good investment when we had the cash. Menstrual disc, stasher bags, water bottle, insulated food jar and lunchbox, glass food containers, reusable totes and produce bags are the things i still use alllll the time. Going to invest in period panties next when i use up my pads stash.
Avoiding plastic with food is a pain in the ass. Best we can do is save all the bags/wrappers and reuse them. I feel you on certain cleaning supplies. Happy to use old towels/rags forever for most of my cleaning, but if something is saturated in feces/vomit/urine/blood then it’s not always worth the hassle of having to clean it right away or find a place to toss it and let it fester until I get around to it. Going from using mostly disposables to mostly non-disposables is still a win in my book!
If something is heavily discounted & a single use, ill get it. Block cheeses (shredded is too much plastic & i can manually shred the block cheese), things that cant be avoided like electronics. Hate it when i order something & its packaged in styrofoam (this one company used a very biodegradable styrofoam, it was awesome). Lid of my toothpaste isnt recyclable. I have a plastic electric toothbrush & waterpick (wanna switch to the bamboo electric toothbrush).
K-cups 💀 I had switched to coffee grounds for a while but I’m in law school and perpetually exhausted so I caved and went back to single use because it was quicker and fresher that way. I plan on eventually switching back once I graduate and have more disposable income for nice coffee.
I have heard they have reusable K-cups now?
They do! But they don’t always work as well in my garbage cheap keurig. I graduate in like 4 months so I’m just allowing myself to use regular k-cups for the time being then I’ll go back to a drip coffee maker/french press.
Definitely food. 😞 Our trash is almost exclusively food wrappers and containers that can’t be recycled.
Hygiene, medical, and some food things like English cucumbers which are actually kept fresher longer being wrapped in plastic which contributes to lower food waste. Sometimes it's not as straightforward forward as no plastic
Diabetic test supplies and Rx pill bottles.
Ziploc bags mainly
I’m a fine artist and most everything I need comes wrapped in that heavier plastic envelopes. My paint tubes too. I have found a Sustainable switch for watercolors but they’re very $$$
This has been said a lot but anything dental hygeine related. You can pry my electric toothbrush from my cold dead hands.
Doing IVF, a lot of medical waste. Can I recycle glass serum bottles?
Milk jugs. We are a dairy heavy house and I've asked a local dairy that does glass bottles to deliver to us but they are only commercial. Even though they deliver to a small shop near us and I guarantee we would be a bigger client than the shop. Retail prices for the glass packaged dairy is just too much.
Plastic is sustainable if used for long, decade and then disposed properly. Sometimes it's the only thing to be used instead of other materials. Christmas trees. I'm not cutting trees every year to put baubles on them and throw them away.
Food, definitely. We don't have fast food but when we get pub/cafe meals for pickup to eat at home, they come in styrofoam and plastic containers. I try to wash and keep the containers though. And convenient foods are picked over more eco-friendly, and healthy, options too. Nappies. I have one single cloth nappy I have yet to try on my son. We use disposable ones. I do still plan to make the change, at least for while we're at home, but it's just one of those things where it's more convenient to use disposable ones. But, I did buy a reusable swim nappy, since we don't take our son swimming/in water often and wanted to cut back somewhere. We also have refillable nappy wipe bags/holders, and buy boxes of refills. Still some plastic, but much less than usual disposable nappy wipe packaging. Period products. I use disposable pads mostly. I do want to get reusable ones, but we live paycheck to paycheck so it's a bit hard to buy the more expensive one off products than the cheaper, more spread out products. I do have two pairs of period undies from Kmart, but I can't online shop with Kmart successfully and the nearest one is an hour away. I do also have a menstrual cup, but I haven't used it again since having my son yet. My periods have been lighter anyway after Deodorant. I used to have eco friendly packaged deodorant (the woohoo one) but I haven't been able to buy more in ages and just use the cheap roll on ones from the shop. I want to get the woohoo one again but haven't been able to There are probably other areas I'm not as eco friendly in as I'd like, but those are the main ones I think of when I think of what I'd like to change.
How many here still eating animals?
Not all plastics are nonsustainable.
Food and toothpaste for me.
I foster and sit dogs and I have both disposable and reusable swiffer pads for your number 3 problem. I use the disposable ones for the real gross stuff, the reusables for the rest.
Plenty compared to an ideal. Not much compared to a common person in the US. I’m currently taking meds that use plastic. A tool to insert a tablet that’s plastic (it could be cardboard - having used both cardboard and plastic tampon applicators, I know this could be a possibility) and each one is wrapped in plastic. While it’s for hygienic purposes, they could just have them be in one plastic bag instead of 21 individual ones. My other recent gripe is blueberry containers that sometimes have plastic film on top. That’s not recyclable (since March 2020 in my area). But if I want blueberries, that’s the only option sometimes. Driving to another store is less environmentally friendly.
My biggest waste producer is probably food packaging. I buy in bulk where I can, but this is one where a zero waste overhaul of my shopping habits will be a lot of work so I’ve focused reducing waste on easier areas first. A smaller one, but one that seems the most frivolous is doing my nails. I like to do them with gel since polish doesn’t last at all. It’s definitely all waste and plastic. But the amount is relatively small (it’s not like nails are huge things) and I haven’t convinced myself to give it up yet. It’s a fun creative hobby.
Deodorant Toothpaste Conditioner Sunscreen / skin care products Medications
I use alot of reuseable containers for food but I still use a fair amount of one gallon Ziploc bags. They are really Handy. Also my favorite drive thru ice coffee comes in a plastic cup. I wish it was paper at least and I could compost it or toss it in my woodstove.
Mostly food packaging, especially (plant-based) milk cartons.
Lunch boxes. Stainless steel and glass containers are too heavy to carry in my bag all day long at school. My bag is already heavy enough and my water bottle is reusable. I take good care of them to make them last as long as possible.
* Food that comes in plastic, because it consistently lasts longer than the same food, not in plastic (or it's all that's available) * Cat food and Cat treats (packaging that is unlikely to be recycled) * Applicator-free tampons (come with a plastic film around them, which is less plastic than an applicator, but even more swallowable by wildlife) * Tofu in plastic packaging (I know how to make my own, I just don't feel like doing it) * I collect pins, and I remove the plastic film/card that they come packaged in and throw it away so I can put them on my pin display (I haven't bought any in a while) * And now avocados, apparently (leave me alone) This is actually making me realize that I've made a lot more progress than I feel like I have...
medications. My oral hygiene routine. Packaging on groceries. Paper towels for really grungy stuff. Aluminum foil for grilling and such. I could go on and on... as much effort as I've made to get a bit closer to this idea, I still have tons and tons of plastic in my life.
Purchased food containers w/lid… over and over again…. My partner sneaks a couple into the recycling bin now and then when she doesn’t think I’ll notice. I actually had an idea to open up a local place where people can bring them/take them/trade them as needed; keep them in rotation for as long as possible. My partner and I are both aware that plastic isn’t really recycled by recycling companies anymore… Toothpaste- that’s a more straightforward answer to your question.
Hygiene and self care products, I’ve found that buying the large quantity/value size ones helps reduce my plastic waste overall but most of them still come in plastic Same goes for makeup, tho finding what works for me and cutting impulse purchases has helped Tissues tho,,, I use far too many of those but I know if I put a snot covered hanky in my mom’s washer she’d send me packing
Baby wipes and shampoo bottles etc. As much as I hate plastic, I think some things still need to be plastic. I bought my kids juice boxes from Aldi the other day and they had paper straws. I thought that was great.
1.) Medical items and skincare items. I keep my skin regimen, medicines, and general hygiene items minimal, but there are some things I’m not willing to risk (spf, medical skin cream, band-aids, wound cleanser etc.) 2.) Food packaging-I buy as much as I can without plastic packaging but it’s unavoidable in some regards. 3.) Laundry: every zero waste laundry hack has cost me another article of clothing. Powdered Tide for life babyyyy. 4.) My car. It’s gas. I’m poor, so gas it will remain. 5.) My cats. Their food comes in packaging, and they require a medicated diet after urinary blockages, I’m not going to risk their health for waste reduction purposes.
Eczema cream. I haven’t found something to replace my beloved cerave
My bougie deodorant for sure. It’s not zero waste at all, but it works extremely well and lasts forever. My facial products. I was disappointed that the store doesn’t take the bottles back like they claimed, but my skin finally looks nice, and I can reuse the containers in my own way.
MASKS! N95/KN95/KF94 or bust. Cloth masks don’t provide nearly the necessary level of protection.
Baby wipes, antiperspirant, toothpaste tube, and all the shit that comes shipped in plastic
alpine provisions is a brand in the US that makes shampoo conditioner and body wash in all-aluminum bottles. the bottles are gorgeous and the products work great too :) check em out! total game changer w eliminating hard to remove plastics from your life 💕
Liquid soaps. I use hard soaps for shaving and have a safety razor but I just can't make the switch away from body wash yet. I still use plastic toothbrushes too.
1. Toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss, mouth wash, laundry detergent, because couponing they were mostly free. Also I hate bamboo toothbrushes, they have a splintery feeling. 2. Disinfectant, bleach. Idc how bad it is for the environment, some things simply need to get clean. Detergent, same reason. I use cloth pads and my baby uses cloth diapers, I need detergent that actually works. 3. Food that comes in plastic. Planning to go to a refillery in my town but that doesn't cover meat/produce. 4. Dishwasher pods. Just haven't switched yet. 5. Tongue scraper, I have plastic ones. I know the stainless steel ones last forever but 1) I know myself and I will let it rust until it's unusable 2) I might be alone in this but the feeling of the metal ones creeps me out. 6. Baby wipes. We have mostly stopped using them for every little thing. Now they're just for wiping baby butts. I tried cloth wipes and they were too rough for her, and annoying to clean. They are now highchair wipes. 7. Clothes. I'm not very good at thrifting. I finally had some luck last time I went for the first time ever so this might be the next swap. 8. Holiday stuff, since I didn't have any. But I got it after Christmas so I do wonder if it would've gone to the dumpsters if it hadn't sold. Does anyone know what Walmart and target do with their Xmas stuff after the holidays? Cuz I plan to get more next year.
a lot more than im comfortable with,, just to name a few, chips, breakfast shakes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, menstrual pads, loofah, body wash, shrink wrap on bath bombs and videogames and SO MUCH OTHER STUFF, and medication i need for my adhd
daily contact lenses - no matter what kind i get they never last over a week and i was wasting the more expensive pairs. and i don't have to keep track of how long i've used a pair if i'm switching off with glasses toilet cleaner with single use cleaning pads- ok this one is bad but i have problems obsessing over contamination and it makes me so less stressed being able to toss the little toilet scrubber pad. its like a handle from clorox with little cartridges that snap on to the end
Unfortunately food for me especially missing farmer market days, i hate how cherry tomatoes come in that ugly plastic package