Blog
Biodegradable Plastic: Is It REALLY Eco-Friendly?
If there’s one environmental claim that makes me nervous when I see it printed on plastic-like products and packaging, it’s “biodegradable”. Why? Because without context, this label is vague and potentially misleading. A one-word label like this tells us nothing about the true biodegradability of a product. What does it biodegrade into? Toxic or non-toxic? […]
Is “Zero Waste” Even Real?
For me, living zero waste means trying to create as little waste (and that includes recycling) as possible. Refusing single-use items, avoiding plastic, reducing what I purchase, and choosing items that are well made and designed to last. For bigger, one-off purchases I try to find what I want second-hand. For the regular, consumable things […]
Why “Guilt” Has No Place in the Zero Waste Lifestyle
Why do I love the plastic-free and zero waste lifestyle? Well, there are lots of reasons, but a big one is this: knowing that every single day I can make a difference and have a positive impact. Every single day I have the potential to create waste, and the opportunity to avoid it. We all […]
Zero Waste Kitchen: DIY Chickpea Falafels Recipe
I buy dry chickpeas in bulk, a couple of kilos at a time. I soak them, then cook them, and then proceed to make every chickpea recipe I can think of. (I do freeze the spare for later, so it’s not about needing to use them up. More a celebration of this delicious and super […]
Spilling the Truth About the “Perfect” Zero Waste Image
I’ll admit it. I do like a stylish, carefully curated zero waste image. I’m prone to double-tapping “like” when a snap of a beautiful pantry with whole foods stacked neatly in glass jars appears on my social media feed. I think that pictures of products made of stainless steel and glass are much more visually […]
Reducing Food Waste with Worm Farms: Trialing the Hungry Bin
Zero waste is all about circular living. It’s often talked about in terms of the circular economy (which is the ideal and the one we want to work towards) as opposed to the linear economy (which is the one we have now). The idea is that materials and resources should cycle, being reused or repurposed […]
The Illusion of Being Perfectly Zero Waste (or Perfectly Plastic-Free)
A few years ago, I wandered into a second-hand bag outlet in a pop-up shop that sold handbags. One bag caught my eye – it was in excellent condition and very inexpensive (it was $28 AUD). The lady explained that she had purchased it thinking it was leather, but then realised it wasn’t leather at […]
A First-Timer’s Guide to Shopping at Bulk Stores
Bulk stores make shopping plastic-free and zero waste so much easier. They allow us to avoid unnecessary packaging, and buy only what we need (no unnecessary food waste). But they operate quite differently to regular stores and supermarkets, and if you haven’t shopped at one before, the idea can be a little intimidating. If you’re […]
