Attempting to move to a zero waste lifestyle and to reduce my carbon footprint taught me a lot about what I needed and what I really didn’t need after all. I thought it would be hard giving some of these up. But in the end I didn’t miss them at all. This list is always growing as I learn about new ways to live waste free or new opportunities because available in my community.
- baggies
- plastic wrap
- jam/jelly (make my own)
- pickles (make my own)
- paper books (I do make some exceptions for manuals and reference books, but buy them used if at all possible)
- liquid soap
- facial cleanser
- hair color (I am embracing the gray)
- makeup (though I do still have some left from years ago)
- wrapping paper
- paper towels
- plastic food containers (I use stainless steel)
- new clothes (instead I buy new-to-me clothes or make my own from locally grown fabric)
- pads or tampons (I use period panties and the cup, both of which I do buy new when they wear out)
- body wash
- processed or “instant” foods (if it comes in a box or in a freezer bag, I pretty much won’t buy it)
- cleaning products (vinegar and baking soda do the trick, also vinegar steeped with leftover citrus peels)
- CDs or DVDs
- soda (though I do sometimes cheat at a restaurant)
- bottled water (or any other drink that comes in plastic)
- shaving cream (bar soap works just fine)
- hair products (things like mousse, leave in conditioner, hairspray – I wash it and leave it to air dry)
- bottled shampoo (I use shampoo and conditioner bars instead)
- holiday décor (I now use only natural decor from my yard or local environment)
- holiday gifts (my family and I focus on time together and no longer exchange gifts)
- petroleum or soy based candles (I have dozens of beekeepers in my area and buy candles from them)
- newspapers or magazines (I purchase online subscriptions only)
- sponges
- plastic scrubber brushes for cleaning
- napkins (I use fabric)
- paper plates, plastic silverware, plastic cups (when I have people over, we use real dishes)
- pens (if I need one I buy from the thrift store)
- tissues (I use fabric)
- face wipes/pads (I use an organic cotton knitted pad that I wash as needed)
- q tips or cotton swabs
- plastic toothbrushes
- dental floss (I use silk floss, not plastic)
- disposable razors
- dryer sheets (I use wool balls felted from local sheep)
- air freshener
- packaged foods (I shop from the bulk bins at my local 0 waste store, using my own canning jars)
- coffee filters (I have a reusable linen filter for my pour over, and otherwise use a press)
- herbs (I do buy some, but grow and dry the bulk of them myself)
- pasta sauce (I slice up and freeze enough tomatoes to last the winter, and also can and freeze a variety of pesto)
- notebooks (I will buy, but only after I’ve used the one I have completely)
- microwave popcorn
- tea bags (loose leaf only)
- sprouts (I buy seed from my local 0 waste store and sprout them myself)