English
One person can produce up to 5 lbs of trash a day and with our world's current state, I saw this as a problem. For two weeks I decided to explore how I can cut back my waste everyday. My daily log explains new breakthroughs I had, new products I was using and even the way I was perceiving waste differently. I started to research products that help with a zero-waste lifestyle, and to my surprise, some of them were amazing.
I started my journey with research and looking at the way other people live a zero-waste lifestyle. From bamboo toothbrushes to bars of shampoo and conditioner, lots of products made it easier to reduce their waste. My first big find was the reusable k-cup pods. They were designed when it was brought to people's attention that the plastic k-cups were being thrown out daily after being used. The reason that these reusable pods are so effective is because you are able to grind your own coffee and fill them to brew. This product lasts up to 5 years and it also saves money. The keurig itself is also very sustainable because it uses less energy and you are able to customize your cup size inorder to save water. Overall, I loved this product and I use it everyday.
The next aspect of a zero-waste lifestyle that I looked into were toothpaste tablets. These tablets are stored in a glass jar, opposed to a plastic tube. The reason glass jars are sustainable packages is because they are able to be reused in your home or recycled. Although the average person only goes through about 3 tubes of toothpaste in one year, the tablets are the more sustainable option. Along with reducing waste, the tablets are also healthier for you. Normal toothpaste is made up of over 50% water and chemicals are added so that it won’t go bad. Based off of my research, I believe that the toothpaste tablets are a better alternative for toothpaste.
After I researched some products and understood how they work, I started to read more blogs and I found something that I was missing. I realized that in order to have a zero-waste lifestyle, you have to have the correct mindset. The willpower it takes in order to completely cut waste from your life is incredible. As a beginner, I realize I need to adjust to the lifestyle. During the research, I saw a quote that stood out to me. The quote reads, “Refuse what you don’t need and reuse what you already have.” I believe that this is very important to changing your lifestyle because the mindset will help you transition.
Once I fully understood how someone transitions into a zero-waste lifestyle, I thought about why the choices I make effect me. When going to the grocery store, it’s easy to get individually wrapped snacks because its convenient, but it is not sustainable at all. The mindset is key because in order to reduce your waste, it may cause extra work for you. Buying food in bulk and then storing it in reusable containers is a great way to cut down, but it is more work for you to do. This is why I believe that in order to fully change your lifestyle to zero-waste, there must be a strong commitment to the decision.
I started my journey with research and looking at the way other people live a zero-waste lifestyle. From bamboo toothbrushes to bars of shampoo and conditioner, lots of products made it easier to reduce their waste. My first big find was the reusable k-cup pods. They were designed when it was brought to people's attention that the plastic k-cups were being thrown out daily after being used. The reason that these reusable pods are so effective is because you are able to grind your own coffee and fill them to brew. This product lasts up to 5 years and it also saves money. The keurig itself is also very sustainable because it uses less energy and you are able to customize your cup size inorder to save water. Overall, I loved this product and I use it everyday.
The next aspect of a zero-waste lifestyle that I looked into were toothpaste tablets. These tablets are stored in a glass jar, opposed to a plastic tube. The reason glass jars are sustainable packages is because they are able to be reused in your home or recycled. Although the average person only goes through about 3 tubes of toothpaste in one year, the tablets are the more sustainable option. Along with reducing waste, the tablets are also healthier for you. Normal toothpaste is made up of over 50% water and chemicals are added so that it won’t go bad. Based off of my research, I believe that the toothpaste tablets are a better alternative for toothpaste.
After I researched some products and understood how they work, I started to read more blogs and I found something that I was missing. I realized that in order to have a zero-waste lifestyle, you have to have the correct mindset. The willpower it takes in order to completely cut waste from your life is incredible. As a beginner, I realize I need to adjust to the lifestyle. During the research, I saw a quote that stood out to me. The quote reads, “Refuse what you don’t need and reuse what you already have.” I believe that this is very important to changing your lifestyle because the mindset will help you transition.
Once I fully understood how someone transitions into a zero-waste lifestyle, I thought about why the choices I make effect me. When going to the grocery store, it’s easy to get individually wrapped snacks because its convenient, but it is not sustainable at all. The mindset is key because in order to reduce your waste, it may cause extra work for you. Buying food in bulk and then storing it in reusable containers is a great way to cut down, but it is more work for you to do. This is why I believe that in order to fully change your lifestyle to zero-waste, there must be a strong commitment to the decision.
History
I was able to research and evaluate products that could potentially help reduce waste. All of the products I chose are marketed as sustainable and eco-friendly. I used reasoning to explain my evaluation of the product, and I also used other peoples opinions about the products to back-up my perspective. Throughout my project, I also researched what it's like to live with zero-waste. Looking at this perspective helped me to tie the reasoning in with my project. The slides below show my process and the final evaluation and explanation of these products!
Art
Eco Bricks have taken over the Philippines. With only a small community building an idea, it started to spread. The idea of an Eco Brick is to take a clean, empty, plastic water bottle and fill it with single-use plastics. They wash the plastic off and let it dry, then cut it into small pieces and strips. After this is done, they stuff the plastic in the bottle using a stick until it is packed tightly. These bricks are then used to build walls and fences with corn mortar. Due to the corn mortar's consistency, the Eco Bricks are able to be reused once the structure has no use. Below is a video explaining how they are made and how it reduces the single-use plastic waste.