Where do you start to cut your waste easily? And how do you go further in this necessary and satisfying undertaking? Here are our tips for helping one another to consume differently and reduce the waste we produce at home.
You read that correctly: satisfying. Yes, because moving towards zero waste is not necessarily a constraint or a chore. Admittedly, at first you do not know where to start. But once the habit is formed, it is often a great pleasure and a real satisfaction. Because reducing your waste means consuming differently, choosing your products better, surrounding yourself with beautiful things that last and that are well made. That is what naturally happens when you rethink the way you live with the objects of the house, with food, with "consumables".
So where do we begin? Here are our tips, and do share yours in the comments. This is a collective undertaking; other people often have fine ideas worth borrowing and putting into practice.
Buy loose wherever you can
There are more and more places to shop loose, alongside the market, which remains the best option for fresh produce :) Even in some large stores, for anyone without a co-operative or a grocer nearby, dispensers are becoming more and more common. Tip: help yourself into bags you can reuse next time. That way your packaging stays in a closed loop, reused endlessly. You can also invest in fabric drawstring bags. Good news: on our online shop you will find our lovely personalisable linen drawstring bags.
Move over to fabric napkins: you saw that coming!
We are not telling you anything new, but it is worth repeating :) No more paper napkins. The fabric napkin is elegant, endearing and long-lasting. You will find ours on our online shop.
Use solid soap and shampoo
In the bathroom there is a great deal of packaging that can easily be done away with. First of all: tubes of soap, shampoo and toothpaste. 1. move over to solid soap, far better for the skin, and use up every last little piece with this tip! 2. try solid shampoo, easily found in organic cosmetics shops and websites. 3. use up your tube of toothpaste to the very end, really to the very end ;) then try solid toothpaste, refillable in little metal tins.
Change your laundry detergent!
Buy your detergent loose from a shop with dispensers, make it yourself from basic ingredients, or choose a sustainable "home-made" brand. We are preparing an article about that!
Use reusable coffee filters and capsules
Instead of using a filter every time, use a cotton filter or a "permanent" plastic coffee filter. For capsule devotees, there are solutions too: the reusable capsule that you empty the grounds out of. They are stainless steel (so no risk to health), reusable as often as you like and compatible with Nespresso machines. You can find them here, for example. PS: compost the coffee grounds!
Try beeswax wraps
Do you know them? They are a very practical way of wrapping food from the kitchen so that nothing goes to waste. They are the eco-friendly food wrap par excellence. They are self-adhesive and can be used for a year. Need ideas on where to find them? Hello Néo has them, a brilliant platform devoted to zero waste where you will find everything you need.
Put your tea towels to work
Tea towels are good for keeping bread, some cakes and even unripe vegetables. Wrap them in a large linen tea towel for ideal keeping!
Invest in a "kit" to get started
Short of the equipment you need to get going and to replace plastic with things that last? The site Hello Néo also offers "kits" with everything you need.
And you, what are your good tips?
