Zero waste, one year in
Laura Wilson, big little brush
In the last year since joining the big little brush team, I’ve been inspired to take my plastic reduction at home to the next level. I’ve always thought household plastic items from the supermarket are really ugly, so one of the pleasant side effects of moving toward zero waste is that my house actually looks better.
Note I said ‘moving towards zero waste’, as trying to make better choices is a progression and it doesn’t happen instantly, will look different for everyone, nor will it ever be perfect.
Completely package free stuff is really hard to find. Obviously anything single use is not ideal, but in my mind bamboo, glass, metal, paper or other organic matter (especially recyclable) is better than a plastic thing, since plastic is toxic and will be around forever.
I’ve shared which swaps I’ve made, from easy through to hard. Make one swap per week or even one per month, every bit counts.
DEAD EASY:
- Toothbrushes. Switching to a bamboo toothbrush, like big little brush is stupidly simple and saves so many years of plastic pollution in landfill soil or the sea.
- Dish brush, and other household brushes. Lots of wood ones available, like this.
- Plastic wrapped produce. For salad greens, grab a paper mushroom bag! If you must have a bag to keep things separate, you can get reusable versions of those.
- Takeaway stuff. Coffee cups, disposable bags, straws, plastic bottles and the like. Get a KeepCup (or drink it in the cafe), any old reusable bag (or a really pretty one), and a reusable drink bottle. Try and avoid takeaways that you know come in plastic, or opt to eat in. Find out which places deliver in cardboard if you’re uber eat-ing e.g. pizza.
- Body wash. There are so many nice bar soaps out there that come with minimal packaging, from high-end to cheap. If you can’t deal with bar soap, get the largest bottle of Dr Bronner’s you can find, and dilute. This also works as hand soap.
- Plastic wrapped toilet paper. Who Gives a Crap, deliver recycled TP to your door and the only plastic in sight is the tape on the box. Bonus: they are also a social enterprise!
LEVEL UP:
- Bulk food shopping. You will need to have a a bulk food store nearby, and a plan of attack. The Source Bulk Foods is seriously amazing for those that live in Australia, and these stores are popping up in many other cities and towns. Bring back Bin Inn! Aside from fresh produce, meat and dairy, The Source has almost everything. My favourite thing is filling up my large jar with protein powder which costs me around $10. Once you get into a routine with bulk food shopping, it’s just as easy as the supermarket.
- Skin and hair care products. You can get many nice things in bar form now, with minimal packaging. I’ve swapped shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, body lotion. Lush is well priced and easy to get, and NZ brand Ethique is at the higher end. I honestly feel like the quality is on par, if not better than regular products and they last ages. I buy the largest bottle of jojoba oil for moisturiser and oil face cleanser and customise with essential oils.
- Makeup with less plastic. Brands like RMS, Kjaer Weiss have either plastic free pots or refillable options. I can’t wait to see more inexpensive options like Elate cosmetics pop up too.
- Refillable household products. Refill stations are amazing. I’ve found a small shop in the South Melbourne Markets that allows me to refill hand soap, dish soap, washing powder, wool wash, spray and wipe, bathroom spray etc. It’s cheaper too. The Source also do refills (but i find them a bit more expensive)
STILL WORKING ON IT:
There are so many things which I haven’t mastered yet. Sunscreen! Online shopping! Composting! Second hand things! But I’ll keep chipping away. I’m always on the lookout for refill stations for things, and more sustainable and plastic free options.
It’s so satisfying when you find a swap you can make, and I highly recommend starting small and going from there.
What are your best zero waste tips?
