Zero waste knowledge is power. If you’re new to Zero Waste Week, you may feel overwhelmed. This year’s topic is Climate Change. I mean, where do you start? How the heck do you stop glaciers from melting?
Overwhelmed? I’ve seen it often in Facebook groups, for instance, that newcomers feel overwhelmed by the discussions they see. There are some heated debates. After all, some are at the stage where they’ve got many simple swaps under their belt, so get stuck into the big issues, in a big way. And, sometimes I’m inclined to join them.
I would agree – simple swaps are a great way to start. But then it’s natural to look sideways and beyond, and get bamboozled by all the hot trends for being green, the misinformation, and the fake news. It’s all there. Green politics is no exception to the rule for general politics.
How do you navigate it all? The old adage that knowledge is power is true. That’s the theme for Zero Waste Week today. Here’s my strategy….
Zero Waste Knowledge Is Power: Try Simple Swaps Plus One
Simple Swaps
Most green-living bloggers and influencers will say, start with simple swaps. They’re a good start. These swaps normally involve reusables or swapping plastic (made from fossil fuels) for natural biodegradable materials. They will cost you (usually only a little) in the first instance, but save you in the long run. And, save more resources being used for disposables, waste into landfill (stop the methane!): and, plastic into the sea.
Think refillable bottles and cups, eat-on-the-go kits to keep in your bag, bamboo toothbrushes instead of plastic, beeswax wraps instead of clingfilm and plastic bags…..
Zero waste can get very aspirational. So, you don’t need stainless steel – I just happened to buy this stainless steel lunch box when we seemed to be running out of plastic tubs. I say seemed to be, but before long they showed up again from all four corners of the house 🙄.
Search on Zero Waste Week, and there should be all manner of help on wasting less: food, energy and stuff, of all kinds.
With the zero waste movement well underway, there is an abundance of advice online, and now in books. One of the Zero Waste Week Ambassadors, Zoe Morrison, has a new book out, called Eco Thrifty Living: Save Money, Save the Environment and Live the Life You Want!.
Get yourself over to the Zero Waste Week website too.
Plus One
What is the Plus One? Simple swaps are a great way to start, but life is complex, despite what the mainstream media would have us believe. We can find ourselves swept along by some very black and white thinking. Plus, some academic reports comparing the carbon footprint of this and that (plastic Bag For Life shopping bags with cotton totes, for instance) can have your brain tied in knots.
We need knowledge, and the ability to take a few big steps back: to keep an open mind, and see the bigger picture. You could start now.
Choose one thing. What would make a big difference to you right now?
Maybe, you’re travelling to a new workplace. Or, the kids have moved school, and you need to re-think your travel. Dive in deep – research green travel. Maybe you’ve thought about cycling to slash your fuel footprint, so you search for advice on ‘Is cycling dangerous?’ You’ll find plenty of strong opinions. You might have been completely put off by newspaper scary statistics.
Until someone on a sustainable travel and cycling stall at a local event pushes a local ‘safe routes’ map into your hand. So, you think ‘Hmmm maybe I’ll give this some thought?’ You just take a more balanced view.
So, you might want to grow your own and slash your food footprint. And you keep hearing GROWING VEG IS SO MUCH WORK! Or, you keep seeing lots of beguilingly beautiful photos of well-kept allotments that look easy work. Well, yes, you can’t just stand and watch the veg grow, but neither do you necessarily need to leap into full veg-sufficiency and the ‘Best Kept Allotment’ competition. Keep an open mind. There are ways to keep a lid on the work. Start small. Try my small productive garden approach. Read my Six Plus Points.
You may not be able to do any of this. You might prefer to sign petitions, write to your MP, or your local supermarket.
Shades of Grey
Take one thing, and before long you adjust to looking at it from all angles. You’ll quickly spot that when one green issue hits the news, journalists (and any influencers for that matter) have a tendency to head off mainly in one thought direction. The thought direction that sells – and it’s often an emotive one. Dig beneath the surface though, and you’ll find nuances.
With all that weighing up of pros and cons and different opinions, you might think you’ll never get anywhere. But, I’d say, digging beneath the surface will lead to your own opinions. Opinions that make sense for you.
Zero waste knowledge is power!
Get Bookish
From acorns oak trees do grow, as they say. You start with a bamboo toothbrush and a solid shampoo bar, and before long you’re making your own bath bombs and face creams. That’s me, because I’m an avid crafter. Yes, I have phases of making bath bombs, and I make my own face cream now. But, it might not be you. Get bookish (or internet-ish) with what you love.
It might be something else that gets you into books. I’m an armchair farmer, as I’m interested in sustainable food, ancient food, heirloom grains – you name it. You might be an armchair-something else.
Books can be expensive, but I find if friends and family know you’re interested in something, you do find all sorts of lovely, useful books will come your way.
The internet and libraries have plenty of free information too. My husband, Andy, has just got into listening to audio books via the local library. What a good idea. Podcasts – I’m fan. I listen to them whilst cooking dinner or clearing up in the kitchen, and at work when I’m doing routine work.
Get knowledgeable – get bookish, get podcast’ish’, and we can make a difference.
A woman after my own heart!
Thanks very much. I’m glad you liked it. It sounds like you’re quite a gardener (from another comment)!