​Zero waste lifestyle: 10 practical tips to get started

Sep 4, 2024

By: Kapil Yadav

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​Digital medium instead of paper

The environmental impact of paper manufacturing is well-known, including issues like harmful gas emissions and acid rain. You can reduce these effects by opting for digital mediums whenever possible as it is more eco-friendly.

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​Use public transport

Using public transport minimises vehicle emissions and lowers overall resource consumption. It helps cut down on waste from personal vehicles, contributing to a zero-waste lifestyle.

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​Reuse old clothes

You can repurpose old clothes into new items like bags or cushions or you can donate them. This supports a zero-waste lifestyle by extending garment life and also reducing textile waste and saving resources.

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​Don’t waste food

Food wastage is a global concern with over 2.5 billion tonnes of food being wasted every year. You can largely avoid it by eating in small portions and even after this if something is left you should compost instead of throwing it away.

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Plan your meals

Planning your meals beforehand is a great way of staying healthy and it also reduces food wastage significantly.

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​Avoid single-use plastic

Single-use plastics, such as straws, stirrers, plastic bags, and food packaging, often end up in landfills and cause environmental pollution because they are difficult to recycle. To reduce this damage, choose reusable or biodegradable alternatives whenever possible.

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​Stop using plastic bottles

Plastic bottles take centuries to decompose and release toxins during that time. Switching to alternatives like glass, stainless steel, or aluminium, which are more durable and eco-friendly, can help eliminate this issue.

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​Use a cloth bag for shopping

Instead of relying on non-biodegradable plastic shopping bags, you can switch to reusable carry bags made of clothes. You can even turn your old clothes into eco-friendly carry bags.

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Avoid over-packaged products

Over-packaging such as using excessive cardboard, oversized boxes, or excessive bubble wrap wastes resources and causes pollution. You can choose alternatives or shop with businesses that prioritise minimal, sustainable packaging.

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​Manage your consumption

Simply being mindful of what you buy and buying only what you actually need is a good way of reducing waste. Instead of shopping on impulse, making a list helps you find things you need and shop only for that.

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