Can you believe that we are almost into May?! There are some exciting things coming up, but I’m not going into detail since I’m waiting on someone else to finish their part first. May also happens to be my birthday month. Anyway, this is more of just a ramble than anything else, as if I were having a discussion with a friend. In the future, I will have a post explaining and listing references for some of the statements, but for now, I’m just going to talk…well, type.

I love living low-waste even though it hasn’t been easy this past year. To be honest, and I think I’ve mentioned this in previous posts, I’ve purchased more food in packaging than I have since deciding to live low-waste. With the current global situation, it’s not something I mind, especially when the packaging is recyclable/reusable. In some areas low-waste living has saved us money, and it has made us more conscious consumers. However, there is a side that isn’t always thought of nor discussed. Part of it stems from the “out of sight, out of mind” concept. We don’t always see the waste that is generated during the process of creating and shipping goods, nor do we see the waste that a zero-waste company accumulates. Most goods some in some form of packaging, which a company then needs to dispose of. They could simply toss it in the dumpster. We don’t see that process. Some companies are transparent about waste disposal, although I can’t think of any off the top of my head. If you happen to know of any companies that are transparent about their handling of waste, let me know in the comments. We also don’t see how people have to actively go out of their way to maintain this lifestyle. Currently, finding anything that is without packaging, or with more eco-friendly packaging, is nearly impossible where I live. In order to get items that fit my low-waste lifestyle I have to travel out of the area. That itself poses an issue because of the gas, wear & tear, etc. At what point does the use of resources to make more eco-conscious purchases (gas, emissions, etc.) become more harmful than shopping closer to home, even if it means more packaging?

In terms of being zero-waste, I also like the ability to reuse and repurpose items that I have. Aside from the typical jar situation, net bags can be used scrubbers for some surfaces–I’m not sure about any sort of micro-plastic breakdown, so if you do, let me know. I’ve also cut and decorated cereal boxes to use as magazine/mail holders. More crafty individuals can create bags and mats from plastic shopping bags. There is so much, in terms of “stuff”, that is manufactured daily–most of which will end up in landfills. And not just landfills…waterways, forests, and other ecosystems become flooded with a profusion of trash, including loads of plastic. What can we do to change this? Nearly every talk and interview I’ve seen has a focus on refusing freebies (although, some of us need them or can use them, so saying no isn’t always the most beneficial option). As if refusing them will somehow eliminate all excess goods. We have to look beyond just goods, emissions, manufacturing and sourcing, etc. and look at culture. Culture plays a role as does marketing.

Auri Jackson just posted a video she made that gives a well-rounded look at zero-waste. You can check it out below.

Regarding minimalism, I have accepted the fact that it’s not me. Quite frankly, I don’t want to change. That being said, I have less than I used to, and have found it so much easier to clean, pack, etc. with less. I often think about things that I have, why I still have them, and ways to give the things I no longer need a new home. We are currently in the process of cleaning out everything as a bit of a reset. Having less gives less headache when you’re looking for an item, and it’s nice not to scramble for keys as I’m leaving the house. You often hear of sustainable or zero-waste living and minimalism going hand-in-hand, as many are of the opinion that you can’t truly be zero-waste without minimalism. Personally, I think it’s all in how you approach your life. You can live sustainably and still be a collector. When you make purchases, buy second-hand, and when you can, see about donating an item whenever you decide to bring another in. What are your thoughts?

Peace & Love, always!