I switched to as many reusable and eco friendly products as I could across all aspects of my life and I'm super conscious about how much plastic packaging is on what I buy. I also buy/trade for second hand items/clothes wherever I can and buying new is always my last option. I've found zero waste particularly hard in regards to food packaging.
I try to do the best I can. I bike everywhere, eat a completely plant based diet, shop package free and in bulk, recycle, shop second hand exclusively, as a menstruating person I use reusable menstrual products, I consume only when necessary.. well the list goes on.
"we don't need a few people doing zero waste perfectly, we need many people doing it imperfectly" - a quote I first heard from Zero Waste Chef and seen it attributed to a few people
Yeah Id agree with that. You could say saying "zero waste" here is redundant because you said "imperfectly", but if you said "lessen our waste", you would be ignored since this is being said a lot and has been said a lot.
@Lean Nasty Pimp I see no problem with capitalism, the only problem is that people dont know about what these companies are doing, and our governments are no longer under our own control. We need to retake the consciousness of the people, and the information for what these businesses are doing. And if theyre doing bad stuff- we shouldnt be buying from them. I believe in a good society, not a socialist society or a hyper capitalist one. Where the people have all the power, and the people do good. Where businesses are built by people to give good things to other people at fair prices. This is THE business model. Because if you genuinely aim to benefit all parties involved aswell as yourself, all people will come flocking to your business. We shouldnt work for money, money should work for us. This is my opinion.
@Lean Nasty Pimp Socialism and Communism has never worked in a society. The only society that will ever work is the good not extremely capitalist society, every other society will destroy it self unless it changes. If people were conscious and they knew or cared about what was going on in the world today, the society would automatically be good. But right now, all people care about is their phones and wifi, they dont know or want to know anything else. We need to get people talking about things that matter, and good thoughts will arise from this, which will be followed by good action. An example of good societies is the Islamic Empires. They are literally never mentioned in history in Western countries, and so Western countries think that today is the best moral time in history- this is the exact opposite of the truth. The Islamic empires were extremely moral until close to their end in the 1900s. The people were good to one another and cared about one another, and they fought for justice since it was their duty to do so. Even the Caliphs were brought to court by the common people- and the common person won. This is justice, it comes from consciousness and care, which people are lacking due to their devices, and a world theyve made up for themselves.
Yeah. I'm just trying to be lower waste. It requires FORETHOUGHT though, which is difficult in an economic consumer environment that preys on poor planning by supplying convenience.
If you look deeper into the "zero waste" movement, you will see that most are looking at it as "low impact". It's about reduction, not perfection. I've been on my journey for about a year. I'm not perfect and it's not easy on a tight budget, but I'm trying my best. Structural change doesn't happen without individual change. Our current lifestyle isn't sustainable. But that doesn't mean that we have to go to extremes as individuals to live a more sustainable life. I still use my electric toothbrush because it takes care of my teeth better. I buy medicine in plastic bottles. I'm vegan but I still buy tofu in plastic and meat substitutes in packaging because it's a more efficient way to get protein.
Yeah I agree. it's almost impossible to go completely zero waste when you on a tight budget and don't have access to bulk stores. This is why I'm all for reduced/ minimal waste. It about reducing the waste you can easily prevent.
Space Meter well, I don’t know where you come from, but in my country we use recycled paper or paper that comes from tree farms. It’s also a misconception that the rainforests are being cleared for paper. They often do that for farming, meat industry and wood like teak :)
@@spacemeter3001 rainforests are being burned to grow crops for livestock, for the meat and milk you eat, not paper Food wrapping paper (the brown one or gray) is made out of recycled paper. Meat eating is one of the most environmentally harmful commonly performed actions in existence edit; typo
For me, living low waste isn’t about perfection, it is about consuming less goods, questioning what I really need, making use of second hand streams and cooking from scratch rather than buying prepackaged fast foods. I don’t believe this will change the world but I do what I can and avoiding unnecessary trash makes me feel like I am living by my morals.
This is a really great video - I think the waste jar is kind of bull shit and wish I hadn’t have fallen into that trap and I actually don’t call myself Zero Waste anymore - rather I look at overall ways we can reduce our impact. Zero waste isn’t really accessible to all, and is actually an industrial term. So it’s just a great starting point for people to become more conscious of their lifestyle and how they can then look at supporting more sustainable practices elsewhere. Thanks for looking beyond Zero Waste and addressing what we can do to make a bigger impact though, this was a really interesting video.
Real nature is zero waste but human society under capitalism will never be even close to zero waste because there is no incentive for it to happen, at least not until it is too late. Market capitalism is the root problem behind all this. Just local movements to get composting programs and some industries to reduce their plastic packaging might be okay but will not address the larger issue. We need structural change. The structure of our economy is the opposite of sustainable. We still have millions of people in poverty today even though the technical means to end that problem passed many decades ago! We've been caught up in the wrong game and we have some waking up to do and evolving to do as a species if we want to solve these problems for real. A possible structural solution to our waste problem, along with the larger order economic problem is to build a movement that makes a demand to end this destructive system and actively transition out of it. We should demand a global UBI funded by the billionaire class because they are the most structurally violent of our current economy and should have already done their part to solve poverty many years ago. The global UBI would end poverty and allow us to say we WANT to automated away jobs and tasks that human don't want to do and are boring or dangerous for us to do and machines could do it better anyway. Humans will still be very needed but finally freed to do creative and meaningful tasks that truly contribute to society and support their community when their basic needs are met without submission to exploiting entities. We can make essential products as local as possible until they are free for all. Once money isn't the barrier and also the corrupting factor for problem solving, problems will be able to be solved much, much faster.
I mean, I know I sound like a broken record here but... "You don't need to be a hero to save the planet." haha but yeah as I've said before, it's the effort towards zero waste, rather than the end goal of "zero waste". Another great video man!
@@celinak5062 Japan export their mixed recycle trash to other countries which isn't efficient, most of the trash end up in landfills of other countries
I also lived abroad in Korea for a year and a low waste lifestyle is almost impossible for the same reason. Corporations and the govt need to also do their part to reduce waste.
I feel that. I lived in the Japanese countryside for a year and even there most of the produce, a lot of it local!, was wrapped in plastic. They have an obsession with gift unwrapping and it extends into everything. 🙄
the action of government and business are shaped by the demand of individuals. particularly (successful) companies are sure to respond as quickly as possible to changes in their statistics.
The point is to change the rules by changing demand and spreading awareness. Look what happened with veganism. You find plant based alternatives in every store and restaurant.
Just a small note on the packaging of items as they are shipped (specifically the pear example). I work for a printing company, and even though we generate a stupid amount of paper waste, big companies like ours are under huge pressure to limit our waste production and disposal. We have recycling for literally *everything* . And when I worked at a grocery store, nearly all the product packaging we got was broken down and recycled. I know that’s not the case everywhere, but especially health food stores and the like, that is definitely a priority. So even though your fruit might come to the store in packaging, there is a good chance that at least some of that packing is also getting repurposed or recycled along the way. So don’t feel too bad. I know it’s a big, trash-filled world. Do what you can. Little things add up. :)
When the term "Zero Waste" was first construed, it was intended to be a corporate term, wherein corporations strive to emit net zero waste during production. But like everything else from single use plastics to grocery bags, that responsible has been shifted away from companies and onto customers. We should all be doing our best to reduce waste where we can. Use your own water bottle, coffee mug, and replace foil with silicone baking mats. But the idea that the entire plastic economy has to be fixed by consumer habits is exactly what corporations want you to think. That way they don't have to change and customers will just give up and buy their plastic products.
liberal individualistic approach can never actually solve any of the problems related to our environment. Structural change by collective action is the way.
The author has a liberal individualistic approach. He recommends we "coexist ethically" with capitalist companies. 🙄 Most liberal point I have ever heard.
How about both? There's nothing stopping you from reducing your impact individually and trying to make structural change happen at the same time. Given the urgency of the matter I'd say it's necessary to do both.
the first the the origin of the latter. structural change, be it through companies or governments, is dictated by the demand of the sum of individuals. when broken down, individuals are the only driving force in our economies. but perhaps that is what you mean by "collective action"... still, it doesn't make sense to put one over the other. they're both essential components of the same process.
I am trying to live a "lower waste" lifestyle. Living in Germany it is quite easy. A good Alternative is to buy things in bigger packs so it results in less packaging ( i.e. flour, sugar, Coffee, rice ect.). It is more expensive, yet affordable if you reduce your use of other things and cook from scratch (it really does take aome time but also is a skill you learn). I think this individual solution is starting to become a structural change. Here in Germany big supermarket chains are advertising with "less waste" or "biodigradable packaging". Since more people want to live zero waste companies need to adapt to find a larger mass of consumers. So in my oppinion the individual solution IS turning things around because companies who are already producing conscious probably get more costumers and big companies have to rethink their wasteproblem. It's also a question of where you invest your money. I am quite hopeful not because I have such a perfect life without waste but because by me living a bit more conscious some friends and family have adapted to live like it too.
Your objections to the zero waste movement are surprising because they're not really objections at all. - "Not everyone can do it" and "You won't actually reach zero" are things that I think virtually everyone is aware of in the movement. The goal is to help those who can improve to improve. It's exactly the same as when talking about reducing our CO2 emissions, or virtually any good action you can think of. - "Structural change is needed". Yes, it's needed TOO. That doesn't mean individual change cannot happen at the same time nor that it doesn't have an impact. Ultimately, I wish this video had put more emphasis on the actual positive impact of zero waste, then highlighted its limits. Instead it feels like you were trying to discredit the whole thing because it is not perfect. Maybe that wasn't your point, but that's the impression it left me.
I think maybe given the urgency of the problem, this video was trying to emphasise that there are things that could make more of a difference and quicker. It could have a bigger impact for the planet than just giving people a pat on the back for attempting zero waste if there's something more effective they could be doing in tandem.
Yeah I don't think he understands that we ALREADY KNOW that zero waste is unachievable. The point is to lower our impact in general by trying to reach a GOAL of zero waste.
@@ThunderFortune Given the urgency of the situation I think it's important that people make efforts at the individual level too. You can encourage that behavior without discouraging action at the structural level. Again that's very much the same situation as with travel, meat consumption, palm oil etc. Those subject were all treated by this channel without belittling individual actions. I wish this video had been more like that.
@@steevemartial4084 Steeve Martial I agree, no one should be belittled for any positive choice they are making in their lives. But I do think people should be open to having their actions and beliefs challenged for the sake of overall improvement. It takes time to create a zero waste lifestyle and if that time can be spent more effectively to reach the same goal then I think it should be.
Sustainably vegan doesn't advocate for Zero Waste though. She even made a video about that. She just promotes reducing plastic consumption. I just took a look, she calls it "Low Impact" living.
Yes I came to say this. She is responsible for coining the "Low Impact Movement". And I thing the fact that he called HER out for unrealistic goals in zero waste makes me question his general research and his view on the movement.
@Priscilla Jimenez The video is probably from someone that eats a Mediterranean diet and is looking for excuses to not change for the better. A Mediterranean diet contains fish and so it is responsible for overfishing and ocean dead zones. It contains meat and animal products which has a big environmental impact (high water usage and pollution, high emissions, high in land use), health impact (creating antibiotic resistance, spreading deseases and viruses when people eat meat from sick animals, increase of cancer, diabetes, obesety, heart attacks, etc) and of course it has a huge impact on the innocent beings that die and suffer for our taste pleasure. Don't believe in the lies they tell you, even if they sound nice.
Another thing you didn't mention in your video is the social impact a person practicing "zero waste" has on their surroundings. About a year ago I started being conscious about my waste and overall the negative footprint I leave on this planet. And I can see how it has also changed the perspectives of people around me, and some of them actually make changes in their lives now. and this is how the circle just keeps growing and spreading. One step at a time (:
Great video, but as I remember from one of Shelbizlee's videos, zero waste wasn't meant to be an individual solution. The term was originally for industrial waste. I don't think it's bad to try reducing your own waste. I'm also living since 1,5 years low waste. I just wanted to point that the origin was already where most changes are achievable. Sorry if my English might be weird, it's not my mother tongue.
I follow I lot of zero waste influencer and almost all don't try to be perfect or preach perfection into others they are aware that zero waste is impossible and avoiding plastic is pretty much a privilege, but still what they share to others it's pretty helpful and great for going the right path
I worked at a local recycling station (transfer station) in Massachusetts for 5 years and it was eye opening to see how much waste is created just from a very small town! There are a lot of complicated components to recycling such as contamination and hazardous waste and one of the most crucial components is how to properly separate different categories of materials at the source. Amazing stuff and I am certain that the technology will continue to play a role in the efficiency of these systems BUT the consumers (all of us) can still play a major role in this process by simply cleaning our food containers and making sure to separate them properly before pickup! Go world, we are awesome and we can do this!
the idea of zero waste only reducing *visible* waste reminds me of a blog post i read a few years ago about a dude who tried to reduce his water usage as much as possible. his solution to using water to wash clothes was to buy single-use vinyl jumpsuits and give them to a thrift store when they got dirty. never mind the water needed to produce them, or that the store would need to use water to wash them before sale -- HE wasn't using water, so he met his goal.
Unfortunately where I live, there’s no market that occurs often. For special events around Christmas and Halloween there’s some stalls, but almost nothing. There is one man who sells fresh eggs, which I really appreciate, but other than that it’s near impossible to reduce waste for products you aren’t able to grow yourself.
What about all the waste involved in production and packaging for transportation? We don't just store apples in wooden crates and send then off to market in little carts anymore. The people who profit from that market could also be spending that money on creating plastic waste if it's not something they're conscious of. This issue requires change from the top down.
@@ThunderFortune In my country (France) and from what I saw it's the same in Italy, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands, on real markets, the products are transported and presented in baskets or open boxes in wood or plastic, they use the same everytime unitil they break. They don't use anything else. They have not changed they way to sell for generations. But true on their exploitation they use perhaps plastic to cover strawberries and other stuff. You're right.
So in case any oft you, want to reduce plastic packaging, but dont know how, there is this app called Reduce Plastic, where you scan the barcode of the product you think has too much plastic, and when 20 people have scanned this item it sends a warning email to the manufacturer. I dont know to which extent it works, but this could be a way to address the producer directly, not the consumer
I've been following your videos for a while and I have learned so much from them. Thanks a lot for making them! When it comes to zero waste, I think there are two ways to see it- the one you mentioned, where people try to produce as little trash as possible, and another one, where it's the general impact that is being minimized. I personally identify more with the second definition, as it includes vegetarianism, avoiding flights, using public transport or biking on a daily basis etc.
So true. We've had trash without anything smelling in it but since it was a few days of it sitting in the covered trashcan, my folks were itching to toss the whole bag. Or they're quick to throw stuff out instead of recycling something or donating it (even though I offered to take it to a donation place). They dont think, they just throw. Out of sight out of mind for them.
I feel like I was succeeded being lower waste when I was living alone. But now, as a someone who moved back with my mom, it became harder. However, just thinking differently [like thinking to get something from a thrift store instead of Walmart] is already a lot and way more achievable than going a jar of trash for many years. And yes, even that tofu wrapped in plastic is way better for the environment than getting "Zero waste" beef burger. I think a lot of zero wasters admit impact of shopping for physical items but sometimes they tend to neglect meat and dairy's impact.
if you can be an example to your mum and show her that this lifestyle is something worth pursuing, then I'm sure that she will be openminded and intrigued
I think social media has kind of tainted the zero waste movement. Most of my "zero-waste" friends and I are really "low waste," and we've shifted to buying as much locally as we can. And most people I know in the zero waste movement are also very vocal about lobbying companies and local elected officials, as well. The social media aspect of it all has made perfection and aesthetic the key, but in the real world, that is not the case at all. And that's a problem with social media and the internet, not the zero waste movement. I'm sure someone has posted this already, but this quote says it all: "We don't need a few people doing zero waste perfectly, we need many people doing it imperfectly."
Just taking your own bag to the groceries is good! I try to reduce my carbon footprint by eating vegetarian, but i know that zero waste can be pricy! So just by doing a little bit helps, don’t be discouraged!!
The youtuber sustainably vegan changed her idea about Zero waste and she now endeavours to live Low impact. She is all about trying to buy local, supporting companies who are ethical, low impact, buying less etc. She is honest and recognises that many of us do not have bulk stores or fresh produce markets on our doorsteps, if you haven't checked out her channel give it a try. Best wishes.
i went to eastern europe some time ago and i found this really tiny store owned by an old man who had racks full of spices, he had big bags of pasta and rice, and he even had "soy steaks" and "soy crumbs". the best part was that he had all of this stored in big boxes/containers. and you could bring your own smaller boxes/containers to store the produce in. it was great! we dont have those types of stores around here, but the old man inspired me to start a store like that some time in the future, when i myself am old. i do see bigger companies trying to make more "eco-friendly" packaging. and i think it definitely works when you contact brands (especially the bigger ones) about maybe rethinking their packaging. they probably wont do it out of the kindness of their hearts, but for marketing reasons. but at least it's something. that said, going zero waste as a (western) consumer is near impossible and i also don't think most people have time for that in today's western society. going zero waste is possible if you grow all your food yourself. being a farmer like that is unfortunately a full time job, so again, most people don't really have time for that. i think it is good when people look at their lifestyle and how it affects the environment and to make adjustments where possible, but if we really want to go zero waste we have to ask the big brands + supermarket chains to work with us. putting all this on just the consumer seems fruitless.
Don't you have a China town in your city? Where I live, they have stores in China town where they make tofu in bulk, they don't wrap them and you can buy from them as it is. Also, zero waste is not as hard as it seems. Just do small steps, not everything at once, if you are new to zero waste. Start by buying a travel mug, a stainless steel straw (if you use straws; I don't). I compost everything. I use reusable produce bags when I shop and I buy 90% of my stuff in bulk stores. I use handkerchiefs instead of paper tissue (I haven't bought paper tissue for 6, 7 years now) and I use fabric serviettes when I am eating at home. I also buy shampoo, soap, liquid detergent in zero waste stores, where you go and they refill the empty container that you give them. Frankly you don't need 10 different products to clean your home. I have a very clean home and I use just vinegar, baking soda and liquid detergent. I use the same detergent for dishes and housecleaning. I use a different one for laundry. There are many other things you will discover as you go on, but start with one thing at a time, get used to it and start something else and so on.
Great video! I agree with you. Zero waste is daunting. But it’s all about being conscious of what we’re consuming. It’s about doing the best you can with what’s available to you! 😊👍🌏
I work in a small fruit and veg store (our pears are not individually wrapped btw just come loose in a box lol) and a lot of stuff comes in plastic or we put into plastic. Why? Because unfortunately plastic is the best material available currently for storing certain produce (not everything, a lot does get transported and stored in cardboard) To reduce Plastic we’d have to order stock in smaller quantities meaning having additional deliveries throughout the week. Not only financially would that be impossible (freight is a massive cost) the additional carbon emissions of several small deliveries would far outweigh one large delivery. What we need is development into plant based compostable plastics, to make them affordable and accessible.
I am on my second month of trying zero waste lifestyle. So much to transition to, but doing it slowly so as not to create more waste. Had to curb cravings and ended up not buying some food items because they come in plastic packaging. Trying to keep trash to a minimal by only using one small trash bin. The Mason jar trash is more of a discouraging ideal to me. I am focusing this year to implement more thoughts on my purchases. Still learning and relearning.
Zero waste just shifts the responsibility to the consumer when the reality is the manufacture of single use plastics and the way they're used is a corporate responsibility. Corporations get the money, they're the ones with real control over the masses of waste produced industrially. Household waste by contrast isn't actually a huge problem, waste management and making sure it doesn't reach the environment is a much bigger problem. Again with so many green issues corporations deflects the responsibility to the user, extremist influencers just end up legitimising the issue and the government doesn't do their jobs enforcing corporate controls for fear of losing their future corporate jobs. The public eventually become fatigued because they can't do what the influencers do and the government won't do anything and all they can do is recycle.
The issue is the idea of zero waste was actually developed as a business plan, not something meant for an individual. Zero waste is the idea to have a business model that is based on a circular instead of linear economy. Instead of a line from creation to disposal, a zero waste company will focus on the end of their product as much as the beginning, often implementing reusables so that they are creating zero, or little to zero, waste.
Thank you for addressing the medical needs! As a diabetic, I consume A LOT of single use plastics (needles, lancets, test strips, CGM sensor, insulin vials & pens) as a necessity for my survival.
Family of 3 (inc a baby) in Houston, tx: we are practically Zero Waste. Zero Waste actually makes you save money (cloth diapers, bulk food, second hand clothing, home brewing, etc.). Yes, it takes a bit more time, but we enjoy it and we are proud of it. Thanks for the video :)
Hey I saw that you used a clip from the Sustainably Vegan channel, as a subscriber of that channel I noticed that you were using one of her older videos. She has since started a branch movement within the Zero Waste community called Low Waste which focuses on upstream waste, pollution, energy usage, and other important issues along side the trash that we have some amount of control over. Her current content is pretty price and budget conscious and she tries to be conscious of access since most people either don't have bulk/package free options or those options are very limited as you found with your tofu. I'm mentioning this because I think what most critiques of Zero Waste miss is that people in the community just want each other and others to just do their best, not to be perfect (I certainly don't have a trash jar). It is about a community of imperfect people with imperfect access trying to do the best they can to resist the copious of waste in this world whether we can see it or not.
I've been continually trying to be lower and lower waste. But I live in a small town, so we have only one retailer that sells household items, plus one larger grocery store, and one small one. None of these stores have bulk bin options. Everything is packaged. Some produce can be bought individually without plastic, and others can't. Most items, we simply cannot buy without plastic packaging because the store only carries packaged forms of the item.
Totally agree, this is why after I got sick and tired of obsessing over every single plastic wrapping, I decided to step into environmental activism and to push corporates and governments to change rather than individuals.
No one will ever get to zero waste. However, almost all of us can easily and inexpensively reduce our waste and impact on the planet. Do what is within your means. Next time you go to the grocery store, do you really need to put your apples or tomatoes in a plastic produce bag? Can you use a reusable grocery bag or no bag at all instead of getting a plastic grocery bag each time you shop? Why not buy a reusable metal razor instead of the disposable plastic ones? Do you really need a plastic straw? Can you make coffee at home or use a reusable one when you buy coffee at a cafe? These are all simple, convenient, and inexpensive changes most of us can make. Don't worry about things you have no control over; take charge of the things that you do control.
bro I love your videos about climate divulgation, they are smooth, entertaining and clear. However I miss some action based videos instead of just breaking down the problems of the system, videos that guide the individual to improove and some movements to join. A call to action or some projects to tackle the problems we are facing together. Thanks for the awesome work keep it up! You are truly an inspiration for me!
Yes it's true that we can't change anything individually and we should attack the bigger corporations, but the truth is that most of those huge corporations don't care about our opinions as long as their products are still used widely around the world. If we remove a large part of single use items from our lifes we could affect them, because all of our crying that it's them who are destroying the planet will only seem as words of the air for their ears. If we want them to change their way of packaging and producing, we should SHOW them what kind of lifestyle we want to follow
I may be in a very lucky situation where I have local farms of all types of goods all over the area I live in, but to minimize waste on both my consumer side and the manufacturing side I try to eat as local as possible and alot of the farms in my area are very eco friendly
Reducing consumption is more important than reducing waste. Waste is it's own problem and we should all seek to reduce the waste we create but the whole "zero waste" thing feels excessive to me. As long as people are sensible, reuse, recycle, and reduce non-biodegradable waste as much as they can, in tandem with companies being forced to take steps towards moving to biodegradable or recyclable packaging and items (as well as regulations on what actually happens to recycling being tightened) then I think that would help things a lot, and there are bigger things to focus on than completely eliminating waste. It's all well and good if you don't throw a plastic straw in the bin and compost a paper straw instead but it isn't really a net benefit environmentally if that straw had to be shipped halfway around the world rather than produced locally imo. This kind of calculation should always be taken into account.
This is a great video that encourages people to make attempts!! Zero waste does sound pretty intimidating but you gave us all a new perspective! Thank you :)
I also think it’s important for everyone to realize that we need systemic,, or structural change as you call it, but we all individually need to reduce our waste drastically. It’s not just one or the other it’s going to take and effort from our government, corporations and ourselves.
Regarding fruit, I’m finding it very helpful to buy locally grown fruit from bins, when it is in season. I’m also going to begin canning fruit as it’s in season so I have it year-round. This way I do not have to buy any fruit or vegetables in plastic.Canning is actually pretty easy and it can save you so much money.I also think it’s important to keep in mind that zero waste should always be the goal even though we know it is not 100% achievable. Don’t beat yourself up if you’re only able to reduce your plastic waste by 70 or 80% instead of 100%. Anything and everything is helpful. Do not give up the fight my friends.
This seems like something of a change from what you've said in past videos, especially in regards to actions like petitioning governments. Just curious what's changed? I think it's a good direction. I'd love to see more videos that focus less on individual consumer choices and more on what's being done to push governments to change at a structural level.
Research soft plastic recycling schemes near you. In Australia you can take it to some supermarkets where there is a bin which is directly recycled by the company who supplies the service :) not exactly zero waste but at least you know the plastics are being reused !
I totally agree that individual changes are not going to change the world. In fact it really takes the blame off of companies and puts it onto consumers ! However when I'm shopping i always try to remember that i vote with my dollars
I'm just starting to do my part slowly. Once my toothpaste runs out I will be replacing it with a bamboo toothbrush and so many other things I'm replacing once I'm done with them. I'm going to see how much I have to pay to recycle because apparently someone who wanted to do that told me in order to recycle now you have to pay. Before they use to provide those recycling bins and they would pick up your items to be recycled now you have to pay them to do this. I also found a grocery store that is kind of far from me that uses as zero waste as much as possible. They encourage you to bring your own grocery bags and such to place all your groceries in. Now I've seen biodegradable items, but I'm not sure how to dispose of them or get rid of them. I thought because I live close to farmland and a lot of people try to grow their own produce that they would accept kitchen compost and biodegradable packaging from items I plan to purchase, but I can't find a compost facility. I also went to sharewaste.com where people who have their own garden would accept them, but no one around my area is showing up. So if anyone has any suggestions please let me know because I'm not giving up. This is what we need to do there is no simple answer and no easy way out. Everyone needs to try and be plastic free, recycle, and support businesses that are trying to be eco friendly. We can't just say oh well the government isn't doing anything so it's impossible. They need to change first. No! If you go out of your way to get eco/ biodegradable items and a lot of people do this then companies will notice and try to make a change because they are seeing a decrease in sales. They will go where the people spend their money. We do have the power to make a change, but everyone needs to get on board. Do your part! No one is making you be 100% perfect, but the effort is what counts. Ever since I started doing this I noticed how unnecessary buying things was. Makeup, loads of clothes, cleaning supplies, cling wrap, sandwich bags. I'm no longer buying clothes because I have enough, same with makeup. You can buy reusable items to replace sandwich bags, and cling wrap and it will save you money. Buying little by little replacing items that you are running out of with eco friendly alternatives with eco friendly packing will make a difference.
I am seriously considering adopting a minimalist lifestyle. Not so much for environmental reasons, but because I feel it would help me become a better person.
I have never attempted to go zero waste, but undoubtedly I consume consciously. I avoid unnecessary packaging, I look for packages that can be resuable (such as some butter packages that I use as a container to store food in the fridge or freezer, eliminating also the necessity to buy containers for such purpose.
Obviously the largest problems are structural, and we'll need government action to resolve that. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't be trying to go zero waste if we can. And if enough people go zero waste, companies will see the benefit in making larger scale changes, which makes everything easier.
There's a method to convert the plastic to "raw plastic" so that we can take them directly to the recycling centers & 100% can be recycled at that point. (I'm still learning) I've even resorted to separating all of my aluminum cans so. This way I can exclude them from my typical single stream recycling bin that I have at home. As a result I can take those to the recycling center directly to be recycled. Slowly we're (myself & my children) creating our own compost. We no longer purchase the bulk of single plastic bottled waters. Rather than bottled water, we now use either filtered (i.e. brita) or other forms of filtration methods. We're also attempting to collect rain water to water our plants & whatnot. We figured slow progress is better than no progress. We learn as we go.. The everyday plastic containers, we usually keep to use them for other purposes. Some for storage, some for plants (initial phases.. germination & such), etc.... Our garbage pick up is on a weekly basis. We used to have both of those containers filled to the top every single wk. But now we set ours to be picked up every 2wks. (We don't accumulate enough. Therefore, there's no need to put them out to be picked up every wk 🤷🏻♀️) However we can contribute, we will do. We might not make much difference, but we also know that it's better than not doing anything at all. 💯 Stay safe everyone 💕💕
If you use companies like CSA coops and farmers markets you are giving back to those farmers. A lot of times if you are nearby your coop or visit them you can volunteer and get a free share of produce.
I'm a 16-year-old living in a family who doesn't care too much about environmental impacts. Sure, they do what they can, but they don't really step outside their comfort zone. I wish going low waste would be easier for people who don't want to completely change their lifecycle.
Thank you for this video!! I have been trying to live a “lower waste” lifestyle these past few months and there are some monumental barriers imposed by finances and my medical needs. I try to avoid some insta zw influencers because they are mostly essential oil peddlers. in addition to changing my own habits, i have been looking into masking structural changes in my town and at my university:)
We have rethinked zero waste, where we mean low waste or low impact when we talk about it or actually call it low waste/low impact. Everyone who has seen zero waste knows it’s impossible, the point is trying to continually lessen waste, and that everyone needs to do it imperfectly to work. I agree that when outsiders see or hear the words zero waste, they think it’s impossible but once you look into the community, you’ll know that people who practice zero waste or low impact have to be super forgiving of themselves because of how tough it is sometimes to reduce waste. Some practitioners will say zero waste is something to strive for, but for many people who don’t like failing at something, the unattainability of zero dissuades them. It would be nice if we just all stopped calling it zero waste so people would be more likely to join, but it has already caught on and I’m sure the name sticks because of how radical it is. But hear me out, we don’t need a radical fringe movement that normal people look at and say it’s not for them, we need a movement that is accessible and simple for most people. After all, for it to make any difference at all, everyone needs to be making low impact a habit. W
I think this is true for any environmental issue: a lot of people get shooed away by not being perfect. I heard so many times "I tried vegan but failed". It's very important to understand that even if you can reduce your impact only a little, it already works. Performing perfectly is nearly impossible, but it doesn't mean we shouldn't perform at least somehow better.
I am always inspired by the concept of zero waste which helps the environment but every thing is packaged in the world we live from toothpaste to the veggies the products we use almost everything and am living a zero waste lifestyle from a month now not so perfectly but I tried my level best to keep up your video is very inspiring thanks a lot
I wrote a letter to another country about changes to ryvita, biscuits .. one year later ...they did change it ! Now it's better than ever before and all of it recyclable .. go Oz
Zero waste is definitely just a catchy misnomer... unfortunately, Low Waste or Low Impact doesn't draw the same attention to it! I have embarked on a "zero waste" journey, but it's more related to being conscious from the beginning to end of life cycle for everything that we consume. It really does need to start from the very beginning! Great video :)
paper products and paper towels can easily be stored in cardboard without the plastic water can be sold by the litter from a huge truck . farmers can sell their meat only in glass jars that you are responsible for returning just as milk . eggs can be sold in paper as well
While personal responsability is a very romantic notion, in global issues it's utopic to think enough people in the world will surpass basic needs + have the will to impact the world. Structural changes are the way to go.
My personal experience with pelople in this movement is that they are incredibly privileged, that they dont understand privilege or how its a crucial concept in environmentalist struggle, they don see issues with the capitalist system. They dont understand that people shouldnt be doing the job of corporations. Its irritating.
Do you guys in the states have discussions about start building incinerators (that also generate some energy), instead of using landfills? Not that less waste is a good thing anyway, but then the other waste would not end up just in a landfill.
I always try to reduce the waste I use when possible but there really are so many things where it is just impossible to do so - I appreciate you mentioning medical reasons because I have type 1 diabetes and there is SO much waste that I have to produce from that, and there’s not much I can do except hope that more eco friendly versions of my supplies are made in the future :/
There is a reason for buying directly from farmers when getting in season foods and for not buying many processed foods... it is about reducing carbon impact and as consumers every individual's act changes the world.
We NEED to start using HEMP plastic!! We need hemp farmers, and government subsidiaries. It's the only solution that I can think of. It's a miracle plant. We have the technology, we just need people to invest in it!!
Everyone I talk to seems either unaware or uncaring of our current climate situation, what should I do to edge them towards a more sustainable lifestyle?
Zigmunt Bauman: “Each individual seeks to construct individual solutions to society's problems, and then tries to put them into practice on the basis of his or her individual abilities. The goal is no longer a better society, but the improvement of one's individual position within that society. Instead of common rewards for collective efforts at social reform, only individual loot remains
What do in your own life to minimize waste? Have you ever tried Zero Waste?
I've switched to solid shampoo!
I switched to as many reusable and eco friendly products as I could across all aspects of my life and I'm super conscious about how much plastic packaging is on what I buy. I also buy/trade for second hand items/clothes wherever I can and buying new is always my last option. I've found zero waste particularly hard in regards to food packaging.
I try to do the best I can. I bike everywhere, eat a completely plant based diet, shop package free and in bulk, recycle, shop second hand exclusively, as a menstruating person I use reusable menstrual products, I consume only when necessary.. well the list goes on.
Loopstore❣️
I don’t buy clothes from usual shops and I’m a vegan
"we don't need a few people doing zero waste perfectly, we need many people doing it imperfectly"
- a quote I first heard from Zero Waste Chef and seen it attributed to a few people
Yeah Id agree with that. You could say saying "zero waste" here is redundant because you said "imperfectly", but if you said "lessen our waste", you would be ignored since this is being said a lot and has been said a lot.
@Lean Nasty Pimp I see no problem with capitalism, the only problem is that people dont know about what these companies are doing, and our governments are no longer under our own control.
We need to retake the consciousness of the people, and the information for what these businesses are doing. And if theyre doing bad stuff- we shouldnt be buying from them.
I believe in a good society, not a socialist society or a hyper capitalist one. Where the people have all the power, and the people do good.
Where businesses are built by people to give good things to other people at fair prices. This is THE business model. Because if you genuinely aim to benefit all parties involved aswell as yourself, all people will come flocking to your business.
We shouldnt work for money, money should work for us.
This is my opinion.
@Lean Nasty Pimp Socialism and Communism has never worked in a society.
The only society that will ever work is the good not extremely capitalist society, every other society will destroy it self unless it changes.
If people were conscious and they knew or cared about what was going on in the world today, the society would automatically be good. But right now, all people care about is their phones and wifi, they dont know or want to know anything else. We need to get people talking about things that matter, and good thoughts will arise from this, which will be followed by good action.
An example of good societies is the Islamic Empires. They are literally never mentioned in history in Western countries, and so Western countries think that today is the best moral time in history- this is the exact opposite of the truth.
The Islamic empires were extremely moral until close to their end in the 1900s. The people were good to one another and cared about one another, and they fought for justice since it was their duty to do so.
Even the Caliphs were brought to court by the common people- and the common person won.
This is justice, it comes from consciousness and care, which people are lacking due to their devices, and a world theyve made up for themselves.
Charlotte Lee yes I remember that quote!! It’s beautiful.
Yeah. I'm just trying to be lower waste. It requires FORETHOUGHT though, which is difficult in an economic consumer environment that preys on poor planning by supplying convenience.
If you look deeper into the "zero waste" movement, you will see that most are looking at it as "low impact". It's about reduction, not perfection. I've been on my journey for about a year. I'm not perfect and it's not easy on a tight budget, but I'm trying my best.
Structural change doesn't happen without individual change. Our current lifestyle isn't sustainable. But that doesn't mean that we have to go to extremes as individuals to live a more sustainable life. I still use my electric toothbrush because it takes care of my teeth better. I buy medicine in plastic bottles. I'm vegan but I still buy tofu in plastic and meat substitutes in packaging because it's a more efficient way to get protein.
u a bad person then 😝
Yeah I agree. it's almost impossible to go completely zero waste when you on a tight budget and don't have access to bulk stores. This is why I'm all for reduced/ minimal waste. It about reducing the waste you can easily prevent.
@ismini I am not a vegan, I am eating my meat with the plastic packaging to reduce waste
use Curaprox ultra soft, it will take care of your teeth better than any electric toothbrush!
Consider trying it out
just a recommendation
Curaprox toothbrushes take care of teeth great
Maybe even better than electric
My school always wrapped sandwiches we could buy in plastic. Last week they switched to paper packaging. Im proud of my school.
Ikr now we only have to mow down the rainforest for paper :)
Space Meter well, I don’t know where you come from, but in my country we use recycled paper or paper that comes from tree farms. It’s also a misconception that the rainforests are being cleared for paper. They often do that for farming, meat industry and wood like teak :)
@@timfonteyne Recycled paper is softer and is often used as toilet paper. Idk what kind of paper your school uses for the sandwiches.
Space Meter as I said, we use recycled paper and paper from tree farms. I guess our sandwiches are wrapped in the second one.
@@spacemeter3001 rainforests are being burned to grow crops for livestock, for the meat and milk you eat, not paper
Food wrapping paper (the brown one or gray) is made out of recycled paper.
Meat eating is one of the most environmentally harmful commonly performed actions in existence
edit; typo
For me, living low waste isn’t about perfection, it is about consuming less goods, questioning what I really need, making use of second hand streams and cooking from scratch rather than buying prepackaged fast foods. I don’t believe this will change the world but I do what I can and avoiding unnecessary trash makes me feel like I am living by my morals.
Better than what i and most people do, so dont let anything discurage you. What you are doing is better than not doing annything
This is a really great video - I think the waste jar is kind of bull shit and wish I hadn’t have fallen into that trap and I actually don’t call myself Zero Waste anymore - rather I look at overall ways we can reduce our impact. Zero waste isn’t really accessible to all, and is actually an industrial term. So it’s just a great starting point for people to become more conscious of their lifestyle and how they can then look at supporting more sustainable practices elsewhere. Thanks for looking beyond Zero Waste and addressing what we can do to make a bigger impact though, this was a really interesting video.
🙌🙌
Going vegan alone is a huge, huge impact. Not having kids though wins at every method.
Real nature is zero waste but human society under capitalism will never be even close to zero waste because there is no incentive for it to happen, at least not until it is too late.
Market capitalism is the root problem behind all this. Just local movements to get composting programs and some industries to reduce their plastic packaging might be okay but will not address the larger issue.
We need structural change. The structure of our economy is the opposite of sustainable. We still have millions of people in poverty today even though the technical means to end that problem passed many decades ago! We've been caught up in the wrong game and we have some waking up to do and evolving to do as a species if we want to solve these problems for real.
A possible structural solution to our waste problem, along with the larger order economic problem is to build a movement that makes a demand to end this destructive system and actively transition out of it. We should demand a global UBI funded by the billionaire class because they are the most structurally violent of our current economy and should have already done their part to solve poverty many years ago. The global UBI would end poverty and allow us to say we WANT to automated away jobs and tasks that human don't want to do and are boring or dangerous for us to do and machines could do it better anyway. Humans will still be very needed but finally freed to do creative and meaningful tasks that truly contribute to society and support their community when their basic needs are met without submission to exploiting entities. We can make essential products as local as possible until they are free for all. Once money isn't the barrier and also the corrupting factor for problem solving, problems will be able to be solved much, much faster.
I mean, I know I sound like a broken record here but... "You don't need to be a hero to save the planet." haha but yeah as I've said before, it's the effort towards zero waste, rather than the end goal of "zero waste". Another great video man!
Levi Hildebrand I like both of ur vids
But there’s millennia of philosophy around that - ethics is about actual change.
I have been in Japan the last few months. Zero waste is utterly impossible here. I try to buy the least amount of plastic as possible.
Don't they recycle instead
@@celinak5062 Japan export their mixed recycle trash to other countries which isn't efficient, most of the trash end up in landfills of other countries
@@celinak5062 but then there are parts in Japan that does recycling fantastically but it's not enough
I also lived abroad in Korea for a year and a low waste lifestyle is almost impossible for the same reason. Corporations and the govt need to also do their part to reduce waste.
I feel that. I lived in the Japanese countryside for a year and even there most of the produce, a lot of it local!, was wrapped in plastic. They have an obsession with gift unwrapping and it extends into everything. 🙄
Appreciate you mentioning how plastic is necessary in some cases, like medical/disabled scenarios.
It’s not the small amount in necessary cases that’s important,
it’s the massive amount in unnecessary cases that’s the issue.
As long as government and business take no action, we individuals can never actually succeed it
the action of government and business are shaped by the demand of individuals.
particularly (successful) companies are sure to respond as quickly as possible to changes in their statistics.
We have to protest so the government has to do something
@Mac J what Holly says apply in every nation, doesn't matter if Western or not
Rifat bin maruf individuals ARE government and businesses
The point is to change the rules by changing demand and spreading awareness. Look what happened with veganism. You find plant based alternatives in every store and restaurant.
Just a small note on the packaging of items as they are shipped (specifically the pear example). I work for a printing company, and even though we generate a stupid amount of paper waste, big companies like ours are under huge pressure to limit our waste production and disposal. We have recycling for literally *everything* . And when I worked at a grocery store, nearly all the product packaging we got was broken down and recycled. I know that’s not the case everywhere, but especially health food stores and the like, that is definitely a priority. So even though your fruit might come to the store in packaging, there is a good chance that at least some of that packing is also getting repurposed or recycled along the way. So don’t feel too bad. I know it’s a big, trash-filled world. Do what you can. Little things add up. :)
When the term "Zero Waste" was first construed, it was intended to be a corporate term, wherein corporations strive to emit net zero waste during production. But like everything else from single use plastics to grocery bags, that responsible has been shifted away from companies and onto customers. We should all be doing our best to reduce waste where we can. Use your own water bottle, coffee mug, and replace foil with silicone baking mats. But the idea that the entire plastic economy has to be fixed by consumer habits is exactly what corporations want you to think. That way they don't have to change and customers will just give up and buy their plastic products.
liberal individualistic approach can never actually solve any of the problems related to our environment. Structural change by collective action is the way.
@Jack K
My statement wasn't against the author of the video as he seemed to reach the same conclusion as I did.
The author has a liberal individualistic approach. He recommends we "coexist ethically" with capitalist companies. 🙄 Most liberal point I have ever heard.
How about both? There's nothing stopping you from reducing your impact individually and trying to make structural change happen at the same time. Given the urgency of the matter I'd say it's necessary to do both.
@@steevemartial4084 totally agree with you, individual and collective actions are needed.
the first the the origin of the latter.
structural change, be it through companies or governments, is dictated by the demand of the sum of individuals.
when broken down, individuals are the only driving force in our economies.
but perhaps that is what you mean by "collective action"...
still, it doesn't make sense to put one over the other. they're both essential components of the same process.
I am trying to live a "lower waste" lifestyle. Living in Germany it is quite easy. A good Alternative is to buy things in bigger packs so it results in less packaging ( i.e. flour, sugar, Coffee, rice ect.). It is more expensive, yet affordable if you reduce your use of other things and cook from scratch (it really does take aome time but also is a skill you learn). I think this individual solution is starting to become a structural change. Here in Germany big supermarket chains are advertising with "less waste" or "biodigradable packaging". Since more people want to live zero waste companies need to adapt to find a larger mass of consumers. So in my oppinion the individual solution IS turning things around because companies who are already producing conscious probably get more costumers and big companies have to rethink their wasteproblem. It's also a question of where you invest your money.
I am quite hopeful not because I have such a perfect life without waste but because by me living a bit more conscious some friends and family have adapted to live like it too.
Your objections to the zero waste movement are surprising because they're not really objections at all.
- "Not everyone can do it" and "You won't actually reach zero" are things that I think virtually everyone is aware of in the movement. The goal is to help those who can improve to improve. It's exactly the same as when talking about reducing our CO2 emissions, or virtually any good action you can think of.
- "Structural change is needed". Yes, it's needed TOO. That doesn't mean individual change cannot happen at the same time nor that it doesn't have an impact.
Ultimately, I wish this video had put more emphasis on the actual positive impact of zero waste, then highlighted its limits. Instead it feels like you were trying to discredit the whole thing because it is not perfect. Maybe that wasn't your point, but that's the impression it left me.
I think maybe given the urgency of the problem, this video was trying to emphasise that there are things that could make more of a difference and quicker. It could have a bigger impact for the planet than just giving people a pat on the back for attempting zero waste if there's something more effective they could be doing in tandem.
Yeah I don't think he understands that we ALREADY KNOW that zero waste is unachievable. The point is to lower our impact in general by trying to reach a GOAL of zero waste.
@@ThunderFortune Given the urgency of the situation I think it's important that people make efforts at the individual level too. You can encourage that behavior without discouraging action at the structural level.
Again that's very much the same situation as with travel, meat consumption, palm oil etc. Those subject were all treated by this channel without belittling individual actions. I wish this video had been more like that.
Yeah same
@@steevemartial4084 Steeve Martial I agree, no one should be belittled for any positive choice they are making in their lives. But I do think people should be open to having their actions and beliefs challenged for the sake of overall improvement. It takes time to create a zero waste lifestyle and if that time can be spent more effectively to reach the same goal then I think it should be.
Sustainably vegan doesn't advocate for Zero Waste though. She even made a video about that. She just promotes reducing plastic consumption. I just took a look, she calls it "Low Impact" living.
Yes I came to say this. She is responsible for coining the "Low Impact Movement". And I thing the fact that he called HER out for unrealistic goals in zero waste makes me question his general research and his view on the movement.
A video I saw said that Mediterranean diet doesn't impact much more than vegan/vegetarian diets. So I'm pushing more for that than vegan
@Priscilla Jimenez
The video is probably from someone that eats a Mediterranean diet and is looking for excuses to not change for the better. A Mediterranean diet contains fish and so it is responsible for overfishing and ocean dead zones. It contains meat and animal products which has a big environmental impact (high water usage and pollution, high emissions, high in land use), health impact (creating antibiotic resistance, spreading deseases and viruses when people eat meat from sick animals, increase of cancer, diabetes, obesety, heart attacks, etc) and of course it has a huge impact on the innocent beings that die and suffer for our taste pleasure. Don't believe in the lies they tell you, even if they sound nice.
Another thing you didn't mention in your video is the social impact a person practicing "zero waste" has on their surroundings. About a year ago I started being conscious about my waste and overall the negative footprint I leave on this planet. And I can see how it has also changed the perspectives of people around me, and some of them actually make changes in their lives now. and this is how the circle just keeps growing and spreading. One step at a time (:
I don't think that I can emphasise enough just how much I appreciate your videos; all the editing and research that goes into them is amazing!
Great video, but as I remember from one of Shelbizlee's videos, zero waste wasn't meant to be an individual solution. The term was originally for industrial waste. I don't think it's bad to try reducing your own waste. I'm also living since 1,5 years low waste. I just wanted to point that the origin was already where most changes are achievable.
Sorry if my English might be weird, it's not my mother tongue.
I follow I lot of zero waste influencer and almost all don't try to be perfect or preach perfection into others they are aware that zero waste is impossible and avoiding plastic is pretty much a privilege, but still what they share to others it's pretty helpful and great for going the right path
I worked at a local recycling station (transfer station) in Massachusetts for 5 years and it was eye opening to see how much waste is created just from a very small town! There are a lot of complicated components to recycling such as contamination and hazardous waste and one of the most crucial components is how to properly separate different categories of materials at the source. Amazing stuff and I am certain that the technology will continue to play a role in the efficiency of these systems BUT the consumers (all of us) can still play a major role in this process by simply cleaning our food containers and making sure to separate them properly before pickup! Go world, we are awesome and we can do this!
the idea of zero waste only reducing *visible* waste reminds me of a blog post i read a few years ago about a dude who tried to reduce his water usage as much as possible. his solution to using water to wash clothes was to buy single-use vinyl jumpsuits and give them to a thrift store when they got dirty. never mind the water needed to produce them, or that the store would need to use water to wash them before sale -- HE wasn't using water, so he met his goal.
Going to your local market makes it really easy to be "real zero waste" with food.
Unfortunately where I live, there’s no market that occurs often. For special events around Christmas and Halloween there’s some stalls, but almost nothing. There is one man who sells fresh eggs, which I really appreciate, but other than that it’s near impossible to reduce waste for products you aren’t able to grow yourself.
@@DragonFang409 It's sad to hear that. It's still good that those who have a local market take advantage of it.
@@DragonFang409 Where do you live ?
What about all the waste involved in production and packaging for transportation? We don't just store apples in wooden crates and send then off to market in little carts anymore. The people who profit from that market could also be spending that money on creating plastic waste if it's not something they're conscious of. This issue requires change from the top down.
@@ThunderFortune In my country (France) and from what I saw it's the same in Italy, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands, on real markets, the products are transported and presented in baskets or open boxes in wood or plastic, they use the same everytime unitil they break. They don't use anything else. They have not changed they way to sell for generations. But true on their exploitation they use perhaps plastic to cover strawberries and other stuff. You're right.
So in case any oft you, want to reduce plastic packaging, but dont know how, there is this app called Reduce Plastic, where you scan the barcode of the product you think has too much plastic, and when 20 people have scanned this item it sends a warning email to the manufacturer. I dont know to which extent it works, but this could be a way to address the producer directly, not the consumer
Can you give me a download link?
I've been following your videos for a while and I have learned so much from them. Thanks a lot for making them!
When it comes to zero waste, I think there are two ways to see it- the one you mentioned, where people try to produce as little trash as possible, and another one, where it's the general impact that is being minimized. I personally identify more with the second definition, as it includes vegetarianism, avoiding flights, using public transport or biking on a daily basis etc.
3:41 'we are addicted to trash' ... this is spot on.
So true. We've had trash without anything smelling in it but since it was a few days of it sitting in the covered trashcan, my folks were itching to toss the whole bag. Or they're quick to throw stuff out instead of recycling something or donating it (even though I offered to take it to a donation place). They dont think, they just throw. Out of sight out of mind for them.
Not exactly. Most trash is a result of convenience. We’re addicted to convenience.
I feel like I was succeeded being lower waste when I was living alone. But now, as a someone who moved back with my mom, it became harder. However, just thinking differently [like thinking to get something from a thrift store instead of Walmart] is already a lot and way more achievable than going a jar of trash for many years. And yes, even that tofu wrapped in plastic is way better for the environment than getting "Zero waste" beef burger. I think a lot of zero wasters admit impact of shopping for physical items but sometimes they tend to neglect meat and dairy's impact.
I feel the same. It becomes more difficult when you start living with someone else, especially when they have a different lifestyle.
if you can be an example to your mum and show her that this lifestyle is something worth pursuing, then I'm sure that she will be openminded and intrigued
@@hayliechen9329 Yes, I agree. I will just lead by example and with compassion and will see what happens (:
@@222Deima i hope that your mum can be receptive and good luck!
I lived by example with my folks and got ridiculed but luckily with my grandparents they're more open to it and are more supportive
I think social media has kind of tainted the zero waste movement. Most of my "zero-waste" friends and I are really "low waste," and we've shifted to buying as much locally as we can. And most people I know in the zero waste movement are also very vocal about lobbying companies and local elected officials, as well. The social media aspect of it all has made perfection and aesthetic the key, but in the real world, that is not the case at all. And that's a problem with social media and the internet, not the zero waste movement.
I'm sure someone has posted this already, but this quote says it all: "We don't need a few people doing zero waste perfectly, we need many people doing it imperfectly."
Just taking your own bag to the groceries is good! I try to reduce my carbon footprint by eating vegetarian, but i know that zero waste can be pricy! So just by doing a little bit helps, don’t be discouraged!!
RUclips needs more content like this. Productive, solutions driven content with a hint of skepticism.
The youtuber sustainably vegan changed her idea about Zero waste and she now endeavours to live Low impact. She is all about trying to buy local, supporting companies who are ethical, low impact, buying less etc. She is honest and recognises that many of us do not have bulk stores or fresh produce markets on our doorsteps, if you haven't checked out her channel give it a try. Best wishes.
i went to eastern europe some time ago and i found this really tiny store owned by an old man who had racks full of spices, he had big bags of pasta and rice, and he even had "soy steaks" and "soy crumbs". the best part was that he had all of this stored in big boxes/containers. and you could bring your own smaller boxes/containers to store the produce in. it was great! we dont have those types of stores around here, but the old man inspired me to start a store like that some time in the future, when i myself am old.
i do see bigger companies trying to make more "eco-friendly" packaging. and i think it definitely works when you contact brands (especially the bigger ones) about maybe rethinking their packaging. they probably wont do it out of the kindness of their hearts, but for marketing reasons. but at least it's something.
that said, going zero waste as a (western) consumer is near impossible and i also don't think most people have time for that in today's western society. going zero waste is possible if you grow all your food yourself. being a farmer like that is unfortunately a full time job, so again, most people don't really have time for that. i think it is good when people look at their lifestyle and how it affects the environment and to make adjustments where possible, but if we really want to go zero waste we have to ask the big brands + supermarket chains to work with us. putting all this on just the consumer seems fruitless.
Don't you have a China town in your city? Where I live, they have stores in China town where they make tofu in bulk, they don't wrap them and you can buy from them as it is. Also, zero waste is not as hard as it seems. Just do small steps, not everything at once, if you are new to zero waste. Start by buying a travel mug, a stainless steel straw (if you use straws; I don't). I compost everything. I use reusable produce bags when I shop and I buy 90% of my stuff in bulk stores. I use handkerchiefs instead of paper tissue (I haven't bought paper tissue for 6, 7 years now) and I use fabric serviettes when I am eating at home. I also buy shampoo, soap, liquid detergent in zero waste stores, where you go and they refill the empty container that you give them. Frankly you don't need 10 different products to clean your home. I have a very clean home and I use just vinegar, baking soda and liquid detergent. I use the same detergent for dishes and housecleaning. I use a different one for laundry. There are many other things you will discover as you go on, but start with one thing at a time, get used to it and start something else and so on.
Your videos are so well put together and thought out ♡
Great video! I agree with you. Zero waste is daunting. But it’s all about being conscious of what we’re consuming. It’s about doing the best you can with what’s available to you! 😊👍🌏
I work in a small fruit and veg store (our pears are not individually wrapped btw just come loose in a box lol) and a lot of stuff comes in plastic or we put into plastic. Why? Because unfortunately plastic is the best material available currently for storing certain produce (not everything, a lot does get transported and stored in cardboard) To reduce Plastic we’d have to order stock in smaller quantities meaning having additional deliveries throughout the week. Not only financially would that be impossible (freight is a massive cost) the additional carbon emissions of several small deliveries would far outweigh one large delivery. What we need is development into plant based compostable plastics, to make them affordable and accessible.
I am on my second month of trying zero waste lifestyle. So much to transition to, but doing it slowly so as not to create more waste. Had to curb cravings and ended up not buying some food items because they come in plastic packaging. Trying to keep trash to a minimal by only using one small trash bin. The Mason jar trash is more of a discouraging ideal to me. I am focusing this year to implement more thoughts on my purchases. Still learning and relearning.
Zero waste just shifts the responsibility to the consumer when the reality is the manufacture of single use plastics and the way they're used is a corporate responsibility. Corporations get the money, they're the ones with real control over the masses of waste produced industrially. Household waste by contrast isn't actually a huge problem, waste management and making sure it doesn't reach the environment is a much bigger problem. Again with so many green issues corporations deflects the responsibility to the user, extremist influencers just end up legitimising the issue and the government doesn't do their jobs enforcing corporate controls for fear of losing their future corporate jobs. The public eventually become fatigued because they can't do what the influencers do and the government won't do anything and all they can do is recycle.
The issue is the idea of zero waste was actually developed as a business plan, not something meant for an individual. Zero waste is the idea to have a business model that is based on a circular instead of linear economy. Instead of a line from creation to disposal, a zero waste company will focus on the end of their product as much as the beginning, often implementing reusables so that they are creating zero, or little to zero, waste.
Another great video. Keep up the good work!
Yeh music is a bit too lood tho and not sure about the mood of it
Thank you for addressing the medical needs! As a diabetic, I consume A LOT of single use plastics (needles, lancets, test strips, CGM sensor, insulin vials & pens) as a necessity for my survival.
Family of 3 (inc a baby) in Houston, tx: we are practically Zero Waste. Zero Waste actually makes you save money (cloth diapers, bulk food, second hand clothing, home brewing, etc.). Yes, it takes a bit more time, but we enjoy it and we are proud of it.
Thanks for the video :)
Hey I saw that you used a clip from the Sustainably Vegan channel, as a subscriber of that channel I noticed that you were using one of her older videos. She has since started a branch movement within the Zero Waste community called Low Waste which focuses on upstream waste, pollution, energy usage, and other important issues along side the trash that we have some amount of control over. Her current content is pretty price and budget conscious and she tries to be conscious of access since most people either don't have bulk/package free options or those options are very limited as you found with your tofu. I'm mentioning this because I think what most critiques of Zero Waste miss is that people in the community just want each other and others to just do their best, not to be perfect (I certainly don't have a trash jar). It is about a community of imperfect people with imperfect access trying to do the best they can to resist the copious of waste in this world whether we can see it or not.
Paige Bethea 💛💛💛
I've been continually trying to be lower and lower waste. But I live in a small town, so we have only one retailer that sells household items, plus one larger grocery store, and one small one. None of these stores have bulk bin options. Everything is packaged. Some produce can be bought individually without plastic, and others can't. Most items, we simply cannot buy without plastic packaging because the store only carries packaged forms of the item.
Totally agree, this is why after I got sick and tired of obsessing over every single plastic wrapping, I decided to step into environmental activism and to push corporates and governments to change rather than individuals.
No one will ever get to zero waste. However, almost all of us can easily and inexpensively reduce our waste and impact on the planet. Do what is within your means. Next time you go to the grocery store, do you really need to put your apples or tomatoes in a plastic produce bag? Can you use a reusable grocery bag or no bag at all instead of getting a plastic grocery bag each time you shop? Why not buy a reusable metal razor instead of the disposable plastic ones? Do you really need a plastic straw? Can you make coffee at home or use a reusable one when you buy coffee at a cafe? These are all simple, convenient, and inexpensive changes most of us can make. Don't worry about things you have no control over; take charge of the things that you do control.
The content of this video is awesome, but all I saw was the beutiful way you edited this! Great job!
bro I love your videos about climate divulgation, they are smooth, entertaining and clear. However I miss some action based videos instead of just breaking down the problems of the system, videos that guide the individual to improove and some movements to join. A call to action or some projects to tackle the problems we are facing together. Thanks for the awesome work keep it up! You are truly an inspiration for me!
Yes it's true that we can't change anything individually and we should attack the bigger corporations, but the truth is that most of those huge corporations don't care about our opinions as long as their products are still used widely around the world. If we remove a large part of single use items from our lifes we could affect them, because all of our crying that it's them who are destroying the planet will only seem as words of the air for their ears. If we want them to change their way of packaging and producing, we should SHOW them what kind of lifestyle we want to follow
Hey man I just found your videos for the first time and I love your style and content keep it up🤟
I may be in a very lucky situation where I have local farms of all types of goods all over the area I live in, but to minimize waste on both my consumer side and the manufacturing side I try to eat as local as possible and alot of the farms in my area are very eco friendly
Where do you live?
@@greeleyestateslove I live just outside the Ontario green belt off the Niagara escarpment
Absolutely agree, and we should encourage each other to tackle these issues.
Reducing consumption is more important than reducing waste. Waste is it's own problem and we should all seek to reduce the waste we create but the whole "zero waste" thing feels excessive to me. As long as people are sensible, reuse, recycle, and reduce non-biodegradable waste as much as they can, in tandem with companies being forced to take steps towards moving to biodegradable or recyclable packaging and items (as well as regulations on what actually happens to recycling being tightened) then I think that would help things a lot, and there are bigger things to focus on than completely eliminating waste.
It's all well and good if you don't throw a plastic straw in the bin and compost a paper straw instead but it isn't really a net benefit environmentally if that straw had to be shipped halfway around the world rather than produced locally imo. This kind of calculation should always be taken into account.
This is a great video that encourages people to make attempts!! Zero waste does sound pretty intimidating but you gave us all a new perspective! Thank you :)
I also think it’s important for everyone to realize that we need systemic,, or structural change as you call it, but we all individually need to reduce our waste drastically. It’s not just one or the other it’s going to take and effort from our government, corporations and ourselves.
Regarding fruit, I’m finding it very helpful to buy locally grown fruit from bins, when it is in season. I’m also going to begin canning fruit as it’s in season so I have it year-round. This way I do not have to buy any fruit or vegetables in plastic.Canning is actually pretty easy and it can save you so much money.I also think it’s important to keep in mind that zero waste should always be the goal even though we know it is not 100% achievable. Don’t beat yourself up if you’re only able to reduce your plastic waste by 70 or 80% instead of 100%. Anything and everything is helpful. Do not give up the fight my friends.
thank's for this new episode. I try to be zero waste so it talks to me!
Reduce, Re-use, Recycle, that is all we can do and it can be a competition for sure.
What song is used between 4:40 and 4:54?
The editing is craaaazy
This seems like something of a change from what you've said in past videos, especially in regards to actions like petitioning governments. Just curious what's changed?
I think it's a good direction. I'd love to see more videos that focus less on individual consumer choices and more on what's being done to push governments to change at a structural level.
In India we have markets and there they sell fruits and other things package free. It's really cool!
Really cool
It's really expensive where I live and I'm broke lol but I'm trying
Research soft plastic recycling schemes near you. In Australia you can take it to some supermarkets where there is a bin which is directly recycled by the company who supplies the service :) not exactly zero waste but at least you know the plastics are being reused !
I totally agree that individual changes are not going to change the world. In fact it really takes the blame off of companies and puts it onto consumers ! However when I'm shopping i always try to remember that i vote with my dollars
I'm just starting to do my part slowly. Once my toothpaste runs out I will be replacing it with a bamboo toothbrush and so many other things I'm replacing once I'm done with them. I'm going to see how much I have to pay to recycle because apparently someone who wanted to do that told me in order to recycle now you have to pay. Before they use to provide those recycling bins and they would pick up your items to be recycled now you have to pay them to do this. I also found a grocery store that is kind of far from me that uses as zero waste as much as possible. They encourage you to bring your own grocery bags and such to place all your groceries in. Now I've seen biodegradable items, but I'm not sure how to dispose of them or get rid of them. I thought because I live close to farmland and a lot of people try to grow their own produce that they would accept kitchen compost and biodegradable packaging from items I plan to purchase, but I can't find a compost facility. I also went to sharewaste.com where people who have their own garden would accept them, but no one around my area is showing up. So if anyone has any suggestions please let me know because I'm not giving up. This is what we need to do there is no simple answer and no easy way out. Everyone needs to try and be plastic free, recycle, and support businesses that are trying to be eco friendly. We can't just say oh well the government isn't doing anything so it's impossible. They need to change first. No! If you go out of your way to get eco/ biodegradable items and a lot of people do this then companies will notice and try to make a change because they are seeing a decrease in sales. They will go where the people spend their money. We do have the power to make a change, but everyone needs to get on board. Do your part! No one is making you be 100% perfect, but the effort is what counts. Ever since I started doing this I noticed how unnecessary buying things was. Makeup, loads of clothes, cleaning supplies, cling wrap, sandwich bags. I'm no longer buying clothes because I have enough, same with makeup. You can buy reusable items to replace sandwich bags, and cling wrap and it will save you money. Buying little by little replacing items that you are running out of with eco friendly alternatives with eco friendly packing will make a difference.
Great topic aside, your videos are absolutely STUNNING.
I am seriously considering adopting a minimalist lifestyle. Not so much for environmental reasons, but because I feel it would help me become a better person.
I have never attempted to go zero waste, but undoubtedly I consume consciously. I avoid unnecessary packaging, I look for packages that can be resuable (such as some butter packages that I use as a container to store food in the fridge or freezer, eliminating also the necessity to buy containers for such purpose.
You look at all the sides !
Great video
the solution is a self sufficient lifestyle i believe ☮
Obviously the largest problems are structural, and we'll need government action to resolve that. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't be trying to go zero waste if we can.
And if enough people go zero waste, companies will see the benefit in making larger scale changes, which makes everything easier.
You’re so nice about people
No one has to be perfect, just do your best
I love these videos so much!!!!!
Great vid CK 👌
There's a method to convert the plastic to "raw plastic" so that we can take them directly to the recycling centers & 100% can be recycled at that point. (I'm still learning)
I've even resorted to separating all of my aluminum cans so. This way I can exclude them from my typical single stream recycling bin that I have at home. As a result I can take those to the recycling center directly to be recycled.
Slowly we're (myself & my children) creating our own compost.
We no longer purchase the bulk of single plastic bottled waters. Rather than bottled water, we now use either filtered (i.e. brita) or other forms of filtration methods. We're also attempting to collect rain water to water our plants & whatnot.
We figured slow progress is better than no progress. We learn as we go..
The everyday plastic containers, we usually keep to use them for other purposes. Some for storage, some for plants (initial phases.. germination & such), etc....
Our garbage pick up is on a weekly basis. We used to have both of those containers filled to the top every single wk. But now we set ours to be picked up every 2wks. (We don't accumulate enough. Therefore, there's no need to put them out to be picked up every wk 🤷🏻♀️)
However we can contribute, we will do.
We might not make much difference, but we also know that it's better than not doing anything at all. 💯
Stay safe everyone 💕💕
I love how the subtitle for I eat a lot of tofu" appears way too early (at about 0:09 ), it makes it look like he's been saying it for way too long.
If you use companies like CSA coops and farmers markets you are giving back to those farmers. A lot of times if you are nearby your coop or visit them you can volunteer and get a free share of produce.
The VOX youtube series on waste are brilliant
I'm a 16-year-old living in a family who doesn't care too much about environmental impacts. Sure, they do what they can, but they don't really step outside their comfort zone. I wish going low waste would be easier for people who don't want to completely change their lifecycle.
Thank you for this video!! I have been trying to live a “lower waste” lifestyle these past few months and there are some monumental barriers imposed by finances and my medical needs. I try to avoid some insta zw influencers because they are mostly essential oil peddlers. in addition to changing my own habits, i have been looking into masking structural changes in my town and at my university:)
Look at Zero Waste Chef, she's awesome! ^_^ And join a Zero waste FB community :)
love your videos... thanks for what you do
Can we recoin the term to low waste?
We have rethinked zero waste, where we mean low waste or low impact when we talk about it or actually call it low waste/low impact. Everyone who has seen zero waste knows it’s impossible, the point is trying to continually lessen waste, and that everyone needs to do it imperfectly to work. I agree that when outsiders see or hear the words zero waste, they think it’s impossible but once you look into the community, you’ll know that people who practice zero waste or low impact have to be super forgiving of themselves because of how tough it is sometimes to reduce waste. Some practitioners will say zero waste is something to strive for, but for many people who don’t like failing at something, the unattainability of zero dissuades them. It would be nice if we just all stopped calling it zero waste so people would be more likely to join, but it has already caught on and I’m sure the name sticks because of how radical it is. But hear me out, we don’t need a radical fringe movement that normal people look at and say it’s not for them, we need a movement that is accessible and simple for most people. After all, for it to make any difference at all, everyone needs to be making low impact a habit. W
I think this is true for any environmental issue: a lot of people get shooed away by not being perfect. I heard so many times "I tried vegan but failed". It's very important to understand that even if you can reduce your impact only a little, it already works. Performing perfectly is nearly impossible, but it doesn't mean we shouldn't perform at least somehow better.
I am always inspired by the concept of zero waste which helps the environment but every thing is packaged in the world we live from toothpaste to the veggies the products we use almost everything and am living a zero waste lifestyle from a month now not so perfectly but I tried my level best to keep up your video is very inspiring thanks a lot
I wrote a letter to another country about changes to ryvita, biscuits .. one year later ...they did change it ! Now it's better than ever before and all of it recyclable .. go Oz
Zero waste is definitely just a catchy misnomer... unfortunately, Low Waste or Low Impact doesn't draw the same attention to it! I have embarked on a "zero waste" journey, but it's more related to being conscious from the beginning to end of life cycle for everything that we consume. It really does need to start from the very beginning!
Great video :)
paper products and paper towels can easily be stored in cardboard without the plastic
water can be sold by the litter from a huge truck .
farmers can sell their meat only in glass jars that you are responsible for returning just as milk .
eggs can be sold in paper as well
While personal responsability is a very romantic notion, in global issues it's utopic to think enough people in the world will surpass basic needs + have the will to impact the world. Structural changes are the way to go.
i love this channel
My personal experience with pelople in this movement is that they are incredibly privileged, that they dont understand privilege or how its a crucial concept in environmentalist struggle, they don see issues with the capitalist system.
They dont understand that people shouldnt be doing the job of corporations.
Its irritating.
Great wrk guys thank you
Do you guys in the states have discussions about start building incinerators (that also generate some energy), instead of using landfills? Not that less waste is a good thing anyway, but then the other waste would not end up just in a landfill.
Please make a video on the Extinction Rebellion movement. Is it the right approach to these problems?
I always try to reduce the waste I use when possible but there really are so many things where it is just impossible to do so - I appreciate you mentioning medical reasons because I have type 1 diabetes and there is SO much waste that I have to produce from that, and there’s not much I can do except hope that more eco friendly versions of my supplies are made in the future :/
There is a reason for buying directly from farmers when getting in season foods and for not buying many processed foods... it is about reducing carbon impact and as consumers every individual's act changes the world.
We NEED to start using HEMP plastic!! We need hemp farmers, and government subsidiaries. It's the only solution that I can think of. It's a miracle plant. We have the technology, we just need people to invest in it!!
thank you
Everyone I talk to seems either unaware or uncaring of our current climate situation, what should I do to edge them towards a more sustainable lifestyle?
It's hard I can relate but keep convincing them and recommend subtle ways to become more eco friendly
@@TheVirtualJenesis That is rad
Zigmunt Bauman: “Each individual seeks to construct individual solutions to society's problems, and then tries to put them into practice on the basis of his or her individual abilities. The goal is no longer a better society, but the improvement of one's individual position within that society. Instead of common rewards for collective efforts at social reform, only individual loot remains