Zero Waste in a circular economy ? What if we use baking soda and vinegar for cleaning at home ? Or turn food waste into biogas ? Using leftover grains from beer production to feed fish and achieving 20 % cost reduction by switching to reusable packaging ? Naming only a few examples of the world´s leading circular economy network. Ellen MacArthurs Foundation´s report “Towards the Circular Economy” shows, it is possible to turn back the clocks. All we have to do is start. Now.
The last 150 years of industrial evolution have been an explosion of innovation. Science has brought us incredible progress, our economy skyrocketed, but where to ? It has been a linear path that consists of resource extraction, production, distribution, consumption, waste. Solid waste management is a universal issue that matters to every single person in the world. So, how can we move towards a circular economy ?
From a linear to a circular economy
Let´s imagine the recycling sector as a linear system: the input is resource extraction, the actual waste and the output production & distribution. The missing link: consumption and this is where we need to shape loops: reduce, reuse, recycle.
Now the other way round, imagine the production chain of a single use coffee cup as part of a loop. And this is where circular economy begins, in our thoughts as consumers, with every single decision we make, day by day.
An average OECD citizen consumes 800 kg of food & beverage , 120 kg of packaging & 20 kg of clothing a year. 80 % of these materials are used linear. They become waste, that stays in landfills or wastewater. Currently we recover 20 % using decomposition and reuse. By making conscious purchase choices, we can reduce our daily consumption.
Now that you know some of the hard facts, let me tell you about 5 zero waste practices, that can make a huge impact.
1. Grandma was an Upcycler !
Whats´s old new again, but with a twist. Upcycling is the process of transforming useless materials into products of better quality and environmental value.
So what is zero Waste in a circular economy ? Some of the best examples of modern-day upcycling come from the 1930s and 40s when families had very little economic or material resources. Turning an old door into a dining table, plastic toys into a lamp or cardboards into a bed. In times of Covid-19 we will face major economic challenges as well and therefor upcycling is a good alternative to buying everything new. Here is some upcycling inspiration.
Constantly reusing ressources that already exist make you part of a circular economy.
2. Bokashi: Learn composting from the Japanese
Part of the zero-waste journey to a more circular lifestyle is finding your favorite way to handle the organic matter coming out of your kitchen. As landfills aren’t designed to handle organic waste, there are so many reasons to use organics for our own advantage — from decreasing your carbon footprint to putting the nutrients back into the soil. Introducing the Bokashi method: an easy, practical, Japanese fermentation process. Take a look at all the benefits that come along:
The benefits of bokashi composting
- you can put ANY organic food waste including dairy products, bones, fish, meat, even tea bags
- it neutralizes the bad odors
- no greenhouse gasses are produced
- does not attract rodents, fruit flies or other insects due to the acidity
- the process takes only 2–3 weeks and the material is plantable in 4 weeks
- produces organic fertilizer for your plants or urban garden
Try it out yourself! The Compost Gardner has a great step-by-step guide plus videos for starters.
3. Use Vinegar and Baking Soda for cleaning
When it comes to cleaning, we automatically think of a bunch of cleaning detergents: one cleaner for the grease in the kitchen, one for the soap scum in your bathroom, another for carpet stains. But did you know that with just two affordable and natural ingredients, you have a cleaner for all of that and more?
Zero waste cleaning made easy !
Introducing the powerful duo: baking soda and vinegar.
01: For a sparkling clean bathroom: mix one cup of baking soda and 1/4 cup vinegar until it forms a thick paste and apply a layer on any scummy surface. Leave it for at least 15 minutes. Rinse with water and dry.
02: For a spotless kitchen: spray undiluted solution of vinegar onto the greasy surfaces. It only takes 5–10 minutes for the grease to break down then you can wipe it away with a clean dishcloth. It might be worth mentioning that you shouldn’t do this on unsealed stone countertops or any porous surface.
03: For a stainless carpet : pour a small amount of vinegar over the stained area. AFTER the vinegar sets, sprinkle baking soda on the area to release a bubbling reaction. Once the fizzing slows down you can wipe and vacuum the area clean.
04: For a happy laundry machine: cleaning your front-loading laundry machine means cleaner clothes, too. Mix together 1/4 cup of baking soda with 1/4 cup of water. Load that into the detergent container, then pour 2 cups of vinegar straight into the drum. Set your washer to the hottest water temperature and run a normal load. Do this process once per month to keep your washer in great shape.
05: For a healthy drain: It’s something you don’t see, but you know it’s grimy in there. Especially when it’s starting to get clogged or emitting a funky smell. Pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain, then around half a cup of baking soda. After a few minutes, pour 1 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of hot water down on top. Quickly cover with your drain plug or else the bubbles will escape the wrong way. Wait 10 minutes and pour another pot of boiling water to flush it through.
Extra: A nice tip for dealing with the vinegar smell is adding a squeeze of lemon into your solution!
4. Buy 2nd-hand fashion — easier on the planet, easier on your wallet
Photo by Alyssa Strohmann on Unsplash
Do you know that approximately 6800 liters of water is used to make just one pair of blue jeans?
We have entered the age of the educated consumer — and brands are trying to stay one step ahead by stocking up on more eco-friendly alternatives. For the past couple of years, the sales of sustainable fashion has risen 139% despite the pieces being sold at generally higher prices points. It’s literally a large price to pay to take part in saving the world and appeasing your conscience. But how effective is that, really, when you consider that your planet friendly t-shirt is one of billions that are created in factories struggling to keep up with ongoing demand? The increase of our appetite for new outfits cannot keep up with how companies are trying to decrease their carbon footprint. So, what can we do?
Harper’s Bazaar gives some great tips for anyone who wants to start today. A favorite is the “one in, one out rule” — and I like to take it further by keeping it within the cycle by buying and donating from second hand shops! There are some great gems to be found. Let it be an adventure and leave with a thicker wallet!
From fast fashion to pre-loved items
Don’t forget that making the switch from “fast” fashion to more eco-friendly, ethically-made brands is a great start, true sustainability comes from simply using the clothes you already own, or shopping from pre-owned pieces that have already stood the test of time. Keep your clothes out of landfills by donating to a second-hand shop. Buy higher quality so they last in the years to come. Future generations will thank you and if you´re lucky your grandson will wear your hip jeans from the 90´s one day ;).
5. Plastic, packaging or planet ?
Damn Plastic ?! Did you know that mass plastic production began only 70 years ago?
The Belgian-born American Leo Baekeland produced the first synthetic plastic derived from fossil fuels in 1907 with the invention of Bakelite. Production for the mass consumers market began in the late 40´s with products such as Tupperware, launched in 1948.
But let´s go to the very beginning of naturally produced plastic. The Olmec’s, the earliest known population of Mesoamerica, used natural rubber from trees to form balls 1500 BC. Later medieval craftsmen produced lantern windows out of slices of animal horn. And even today we are using natural derived plastic from corn or sugar cane.
Biodegradable garbage bags
An amazing company in the Caribbean is making waves in the islands with its Earth-friendly “100% Totally biodegradable garbage bags.” Named and dedicated after the CEO’s mother “Rosealba”, RosieBags is made of material that looks like plastic, feels like plastic, works like plastic, but contains a chemical trigger that accelerates its decomposition when exposed to sunlight and oxygen. This material is largely different than crop-based plastics — materials such as rice husk, corn and sugarcane — in which has started to take over the plastic free market as alternatives. Also known as bio-plastics, research has shown they need much higher heat and special conditions for breakdown to occur.
Minimizing use of plastics or any unnecessary packaging is still the best way to reduce our footprint. But in low access places such as Tobago and Trinidad, RosieBags is making a real difference. Not only for the environment, but each color sold represents a different cause that they send a percentage of sales to support. Win — win — win!
Green alternatives for everyone?
As sustainability and zero-waste trends continue to shine under the consumer spotlight, businesses are struggling to keep up with demands of green alternatives to their products. But the good news is that the message is out there. We’re finally realizing the consequences of our single-use habits and throwaway culture.
I admit, it’s getting harder to give up the conveniency of online shopping. Especially with same-day shipping — some people are privileged enough to restock toilet paper or groceries without even getting out of be -especially in times of Covid-19. And don’t even get me started on takeaway!
Will it ever be possible in the near future to go zero waste on packaging?
Maybe we should go back a couple generations and find inspiration from life predating plastic. With a mix of modern science and engineering, we’ve seen creative solutions being implemented around the globe:
Companies moving towards zero waste in a circular economy
- Ikea started using mushroom based packaging
- Pangea Organics packaged some of their products in recycled newspaper with seeds embedded in the paper
- packaging made by Level Ground Trading is made from wood pulp and is completely biodegradable
We’re in the midst of a revolution to save our planet from suffocating under our landfills, industrial waste, and rising methane emissions. It doesn’t take an overnight job to undo decades of damage and societal habits. So next time you are out shopping, do a little research and support those businesses making the effort to keep our planet green.
Everyone can be a changemaker by bein zero waste in a circular economy !
United by nature and guided by science we can achieve waste management beyond singularity.
