- Sustainable Queen
ZERO WASTE – A SOLUTION TO CLIMATE CHANGE?
ZERO WASTE, A SOLUTION TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
Everyone should be able to achieve zero waste, both as a goal and as an action plan. The intent is to both ensure resource recovery and protection of scarce natural resources by reducing and ending waste disposal in incinerators, landfills, and dumps, while simultaneously taking steps toward responsible consumption to reduce waste in the first place, such as eliminating unnecessary products and packaging and instead embracing and encouraging reuse and repair.
The initiative goes beyond this by promoting changes in our consumption habits, encouraging sustainable production and life cycle, and promoting ecological habits such as recycling, reusing, and composting.
Moving towards zero waste is not simply a change of mindset, but actually involves a positive shift towards sustainable living. Not only will it have an impact on the cities we live in and our world as a whole, but it will also help improve our personal lives, our immediate environment, living conditions, and our health.
LESS IS MORE!
Less waste means less consumption. There is no question of depriving ourselves of what we need!
But we could change our consumption and shopping habits and only buy the essentials and what we do not already have or can recycle or reuse.
ZERO PLASTIC OR ZERO PAPER?
Why not replace plastic water bottles with stainless steel water bottles for instance? disposable plastic or paper cups with a glass cup or tumbler? Another simple and very important gesture:
carry a small cloth bag/toilet. It doesn’t take up any space and avoids the plastic bag bought at the supermarket checkout. The world is moving toward a “zero plastic” or “zero paper” initiative.
Yet, until the world becomes completely plastic-free or paper-free, what can be done to reduce waste? First, of course, reduce your plastic and paper consumption by making an effort to shop responsibly. Secondly, when it comes to existing and owned plastic containers, for example, recycle and repurpose them. This way, these containers do not go to the trash and, at the same time, they are given a new life.
FOOD WASTE?
Food waste reduction plays a major role in the zero-waste initiative. The volume of food waste is a significant contributor to climate change. Therefore, people, whether individuals or food production are strongly urged to compost instead of landfill and to reuse whenever possible.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Ok, we get it; you love fashion and you only live once!
And that’s fine. You want to be on the lookout for the latest trends, you love to shop and get the latest clothes and accessories. Well, That’s right. However, where do you stand in terms of your responsibility towards the planet?
Your old clothes, on the other hand, don’t have to live just once either. By donating your clothes, selling them at garage sales, online closet cleanouts or flea markets, recycling them at home, or, why not, turning them into sustainable artworks, you are directly contributing to the circular economy, which is a leading sustainable endeavor in itself.
NGOs and political leaders around the world are trying to find ways to fight global warming, but we should not wait for them to start changing our habits and create an impact. It is up to us, the citizens of the world, to act!
By changing our daily behavior through small and simple gestures. We can all act against global warming. And this includes reducing our waste. Adopt, implement and encourage zero waste. Would this completely eradicate global warming? Certainly not, but every little gesture count. You can make a difference.