Zero waste during covid
It's been over a year since our world was flipped upside down due to Covid-19. With so many unknowns about the virus, our everyday lives shifted and we had to adapt to a new lifestyle that lasted much longer than any of us had anticipated.
Like many other areas of life, my zero waste routines also changed quite a bit in the past year, so this video is an update on how things have been. Though it wasn't too great to start, there were some bright spots throughout the past year - find the video above and a summary below of a few areas where I've faced challenges, along with some lessons learned in the process.
A thank you to GoClimate for sponsoring this video - find more information at the bottom of this post about how to support climate projects and get your first month of offsetting free of charge.
5 zero waste lessons from covid
With many changes in the past year, here are a few areas I’ve focused and reflected on in regards to my zero waste lifestyle. If there’s anything I’ve learned in the past twelve months, it’s that there are still many opportunities and areas to make positive change outside of reducing waste.
Navigating packaging and plastic waste
Most bulk bins at grocery stores are closed, yet we can still do our best to opt for products in recyclable packaging, opt for no plastic produce bags, and put items back into the shopping cart to bag ourselves
There are new online zero waste grocery stores such as The Wally Shop (offers nationwide shipping) as well as Zero Grocery which is based in the Bay Area and Los Angeles - use the code SIMPLYBYCHRISTINE for $20 off
For take-out, we try our best to let businesses know that we don't need any plastic utensils or bag and check for compostable and recyclable packaging
Local zero waste stores and small businesses
Business has been steady as my local zero waste store, but growth has slowed as most people aren't out and about as much
If you have a local zero waste shop near you, don't forget to support them during this time, even if you have the option to buy online
In the case you’re on a tight budget, consider sharing a post, engaging with their social media channels, or writing a positive review, which are all free ways to support your small businesses
Green investing and money
Money has been a hot topic during the pandemic as job security has been tough, but note that even the money in our banks and investments are being used for something
If you have the opportunity, look to invest and put a portion of your savings towards sustainable organizations and initiatives, or support climate projects through companies like GoClimate (more details below)
Check out this feature on green banks if you need a starting point
Expanding into other areas of sustainability
It can be easy to become narrow-minded and forget all the other areas for sustainability - if you’re interested in learning about other issue areas, below are some resources I’ve been enjoying
Drawdown - a comprehensive guide of various solutions to tackle climate change
Kiss the Ground - documentary on regenerative agriculture and taking care of our soils
Gather - documentary focusing on stories of Native Americans looking to regain access to cultural, healthy foods through food sovereignty
Circular economy - an economic system aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources
Getting out of our bubbles and into the world
This past year has been a strange one, and while it's easy to stay at home and lose motivation, let’s not forget that sustainability doesn’t fall on just the individual, but more so on our governments and corporations
A change in legislation or business practices has a huge impact, so take a moment to speak up or get involved, and don’t be afraid to do so
About GoClimate
We all have an individual carbon footprint - unfortunately, the average American emits 18.6 tonnes of CO2e per year, with the global average being 3.4 tonnes of CO2e. GoClimate has developed a carbon footprint calculator to determine your unique carbon footprint and offers a service where you can choose to balance your carbon footprint by financing certified climate projects via a monthly subscription. Financing climate projects are surprisingly affordable and can have a high climate impact - the average carbon footprint for someone living in the US costs less than $15 to offset. Be sure to use the referral code simplybychristine to get your first month of offsetting free of charge.