just a reminder for everyone that buying "zero waste" alternatives to things you already have that are still useful is the complete OPPOSITE of zero waste! the most ecofriendly and sustainable product is the one you already have and the things that you DON'T buy! for example, I love the aesthetic and look of a sustainably made bamboo hair brush, but the plastic brush that I've had for the past 10 years still works perfectly fine, so I wont be buying a bamboo brush until my plastic one is completely unusable
Yup, when I started making the shift, I just wishlisted zero-waste alternatives and only got back to them after exhausting what I already had. It was a great motivator to making full use of the items otherwise lying around and I either didn't buy the alternative and only bought alternatives to things I genuinely used.
So... this is basically a step by step tutorial to be zero waste on a regular day. So all we need to do I start one of this habits and then add more and more. Thanks for this guide!
Idk if this is really zero waste, but I am often creating things from things I have because I'm broke. I'm good at making furniture out of cardboard(dressers, chests, baskets) making baskets from grasses and fabrics, making pillows and stuffing them with clean old socks and knickers along with loose fibers, sewing clothing on my machine or by hand(usually with bedsheets or resizing clothing from the thrift store) I also forage for wood to create trellises for my garden and forage for food while I'm at it(this does require research, but becomes easier with time. I'm loving the surplus of mulberries rn) also, when I have plastic, I am often using it to plant stuff because plants are the most important part of my life. I still holes in containers to use as seed starters, grow leafy greens in plastic bags I find(shallow root systems :) ) and use harder plastics for propping up plants. I really enjoy making food out of food waste and avoiding waste. Why waste things you can use? Things deserve a second life
if you go to shoe stores, you might get their empty shoe boxes when customers don't need them! (children's shoes for small storage or high boots boxes to pin together for thin shelves!) i got a bunch of boxes because a friend worked at burger king and their fries and patty boxes are sturdy and a great size :D using old clothes to fill pillows is a genius idea! my socks get holes so fast!!
Yes! This aspect of zero waste is so underrated. I cant afford to buy most "zero waste" things so I am forced to come up with creative solutions. You can do almost everything yourself with a sewing machine and hot glue gun. People usually just buy what they want without a second thought because they aren't used to thinking outside the box. Yesterday I wanted to make beeswaz wraps but couldnt buy/afford the pine resin, but I knew I lived by tons of pine trees! So I collected my own resin and made a little fire in my backyard to refine it. It worked great,
I think an important part that people forget is not buying things to help you be zero waste if you never did it in the first place... I.e. drinking straws and wooden cutlery.
Exactly, and some people throw away plastic items to buy glass or bamboo instead. If you've already got the plastic variant, just keep using it until it breaks. Then switch. Otherwise it's just as wasteful.
Like the only time I ever needed a straw was when I got my tongue hurt very badly (can't remember how) and had to basically drink my food + eat soft bland foods. Lol I had to make a smoothie out of lentils and veggies. Thankfully I had my reusable plastic straw to use.
I like that she showed us her cupboards with reused glass bottles with old labels on them 👍👍👍, all of my storage is reused glass bottles. I have never seen her washing "powder" sheets, interesting.
The closest store that has any type of bulk is a 35 minute drive. But my closest grocery store is a six minute bike ride away. I would love to visit the bulk store but I’m not over there very often. I think choosing to ride my bike and use canvas bags is better than driving 35 minutes for bulk items.
@@bta.c.e3739 nobody is judging, attack dog. They're giving perfectly reasonable opinions. Many ppl in the zero waste World who live ages away from a bulk store choose to make the trip once a month or so. They're only getting dry goods or non-perishables like dishwashing liquid so it's a great idea if possible.
aussiejubes attack dog? Tf? And I’m pretty sure there was another reply that’s now deleted that I moreso based my comment off of that was more critical than those.
I never even thought about the fact that cloths that are not made of natural materials would shed microfibres. Idk why that didn't occur to me but when I move into my own place, I will take that into consideration.
Such a great video! For anyone coming to this video and using it as a starting point to overhaul their life, I'd like to share a bunch of tips relating to some of the things in the video. I've kept each tip in its own comment, so expand the thread if you'd like to read more. Full disclosure: I'm still a novice, unlike the beautiful and incredible Gittemary, but my own learning curve can hopefully shed some light on how to make the habits and swaps seen in this video work for you. With that, let's hop to it!
Tip 2/ If you have periods and you've never tried a menstrual cup or have struggled to get along with one in the past, take the, "Which cup am I?," quiz (via putacupinit.com) to find your right fit. Unsurprisingly, people who menstruate have totally different bodies and totally different menstrual cup requirements. My ideal menstrual cup is long and slim, but yours may be short and wide. This test will point you to the brand that is most likely to be your best fit (and they really know their stuff), while also giving you several other options to choose from. Do yourself this kindness! It will completely change the experience. A word of warning, however: You'll be asked to measure your pelvic depth using a finger. If this makes you uncomfortable or you cannot physically do this, you certainly aren't required to provide this answer, but your result will not be able to take this factor into account. If menstrual cups still don't work for you, or you have a disability that makes them difficult or impossible to use, an option to consider is period underwear. Period underwear absorbs several tampons worth of blood, making it especially great for overnight use and for general wear with a heavy flow. It can also be worn in addition to a cup, which I recommend if you do gymnastics, ballet, or other affected sports. Plus, there are period underwear brands out there who do styles to better accommodate genderqueer, non-binary, and transgender individuals. I feel like this is an issue with a lot of other period products currently on the market. You may need to do a little more research into the manufacturing process if fabric sourcing, etc, is of major concern to you as a buyer (I tend to worry a little less when it comes to healthcare/medical items, just because they're so essential), but it's still a comparatively sustainable period product regardless. If you have enough underwear to cover several days, then you would simply change the underwear daily, soaking each used item in the morning to 'rinse' it clean, and then wash all of the items together at the end of your cycle. Or that would be my suggestion. You may have your own method!
Wow, okay, so I had a lovely tip here for everyone with disabilities and medical considerations, but since CZcams decided to delete that, we'll have to skip forward to my final, alternative rec. Tip 3/ Sustainability isn't about home makeovers, interior design, aesthetics, or 'swap' hauls. Very few sustainable homes actually look Instagram and CZcams perfect. And I honestly ask, how convincing is it when they do? I love when low-waste CZcamsrs reveal their cupboard of mismatched drinkware or old Tupperware. I love when we see their plastic yoga mat that probably has devastating manufacturing origins--because realistically, they've had no reason to replace it yet and they haven't crumbled to the desire to appear perfect online. This does not apply to Gittemary, but plenty of social media zero-waste icons completely overhauled their homes to look eco-perfect in the beginning. Those who are more credible will admit to this and admit they got swept up in the aesthetic over the principles. Others are doing sustainability-as-design-porn. And you know what? Your home won't look like that. Your home won't look like that, because it didn't before, and sustainability means not going out to buy a whole lot of things to replace *what you already have*. It won't look like that, because sustainability means living with the consumer decisions and plastic-lade chaos of the home you built in life until you understood the challenges of sustainability. It won't look like that, because chances are, if you are economically middle-class, then you already have containers, cookware, pantry staple, and personal care products--all of which need using up, because sustainability means not abandoning and accumulating at will. Unlike CZcams, sustainability can be unglamorous. It can mean your surroundings actually begin to change even less than usual--slower than ever before--because you embrace *what you already have*. In stark contrast to Gittemary's gorgeous video, I want to share snapshots of what sustainability looks like for me, beyond the shampoo bars, re-usable baking mats, and wax wraps: A draw full of (thankfully BPA-free) 5-year-old Ziplock bags I'd much rather be done with by now and which have been re-washed so many times their labels are completely worn off. These do still get used for food, but also for general storage and travel. A truly massive stack of unsightly delivery boxes and packaging materials, crammed behind my couch to keep them out of sight, waiting to be re-used. Oh, and three rolls of plastic-lined Christmas paper that haunt me. A seriously unglamorous, freebie plastic water bottle, which would be ridiculous to replace with something pretty, so I won't until it falls apart. Mismatching, re-purposed packaging/storage literally everywhere. Sometimes I decorate it, but honestly, that only compromises its eventual recyclability. So, it's imperfect if I don't, but imperfect in a serious way if I do. Hours of my life spent mind-numbingly picking or scrubbing off labels from packaging, so that I can either recycle it or use it in my home without becoming unhappy (arguably, it'd be more sustainable to leave the stickers on). There you go! Just a snippet. And yet, low-waste is something I wouldn't change for anything. It's a feeling of immense satisfaction. It's the joy of discovery and living with less 'need'. It's money saved. It's being part of a global community of beautiful people. It's eating fresher, healthier, more seasonal food. It's so many good things. And it's impossible not to love the beauty that we slowly introduce into our homes, albeit it on a much slower scale. You do need considerable patience to face the flawed reality of the home you constructed pre-sustainability, but when you do replace something at the end of its life, the presence of whatever replaces it communicates so much about the journey you and the world as a whole is on. The only thing you need to do to start being (more) sustainable is to stop needlessly consuming. And that probably means not buying that bamboo cutlery set, because you *probably* already have cutlery that you can wrap up and take on the road. Educate yourself about low-waste, manufacturing, how to be a smarter consumer, etc. Remember that the goal isn't to use things up so that you can replace it with something more idealistic. However, every time you do need to make a replacement, educate yourself about that particular item's lifecycle. And just know that perfect doesn't exist, however perfect we think our favourite low-waste CZcamsrs are (they are incredible, though
What an amazing and unique way of showing tips! We are slowly incorporating more and more zero waste products and ideas into our lives and really appreciate you saying at the end that it won’t happen overnight. Every little thing makes a big big difference. Thanks for all the hard work you put into this video, it really was inspirational xx
These are all excellent tips. Very aspirational. Here's a few things I do that weren't mentioned in the video: 1. I take cold showers to save on energy (and it makes me feel good). 2. I grow and multiply my own herbs. 3. I sew my own period pads out of old clothes.
I'm at the start of my journey, currently gave away 100 books, keeping 50, going to give 3 bin bags full of my clothes to a shelter, many I have never got round to wear and are doubles, went from two wardrobes down to one 😂 good progress at the moment
Just keep in mind that de-cluttering is more along the lines of minimalism than sustainability. You can have 150 books and still practice sustainability. Your goal in future would simply be to avoid bringing in new books. The same goes for clothes. It sounds like that will be the really big change that low-waste/sustainable living will bring about for you. You should feel really proud of making that change, and it was great of you to give away your possessions to people who could really use them (since that's also an important element of sustainability). :) As a committed book addict, here are my best tips for doing book addiction more sustainably: Personally, I think some three good reasons to buy a book are because 1) you need it for a course or for your work (not just for a month or two, but for the whole year or whatever), 2) because it's an indispensable day-to-day reference, and 3) because it's your absolute favourite series or holds an extremely significant sentimental value. If you do decide to continue buying hardcopy books, you can switch to doing so at second-hand shops or from second-hand listings. On top of reading constantly, I travel a lot, so I started committing to ebooks and audiobooks. I mostly use Audible and Kindle, but also free resources, such as Project Gutenburg and Google Books. I also recommend using your local library, both for hardcopy books and any ebook services it might offer! Book Crossing is also great. My last three hardcopy books came from my local Book Crossing, which is great, because you can return them once you're done reading (or donate your own). I would also recommend looking up your nearest street libraries. I was shocked to find two in my area. SO unexpected, believe me. And you could also try exploring the world of online fiction. I hope these tips help. :)
@@michaelafischer6177 Thank you so much! I didn't know there were so many options other than the main charity shops and online books, really appreciate all the recommendations and it was a great point about the minimalism and sustainability diffrence sometimes I forget and use them interchangeably x
Thank you Gittermary, I love the video! One small thing I've done is transition from normal tissues to 100% cotton/linen handkerchiefs which I made by cutting up some second hand shirts into rectangles and stitching the hems. Its an ongoing process and I sew them while watching/listening to things, or on video call with friends/family. I am by no means zero waste yet or even close - but its a small thing. Its good for my skin, better for the planet - and also saves so much money. I also have been using the period cup for over 2 years now! xx
Good job 👍. I have a few handkerchiefs that I use for my allergies, I should make some more. We only use cloth napkins at home, 90% are vintage from charity shops, they are so pretty.
Baby steps... I switched to reusable menstrual pads which feel very good after having a hard time experimenting with a Diva cup. Also I acquired a non-plastic razor that uses regular razorblades. And one way that I am practicing zero waste without even thinking about it was my book habit. Yes I participate in Life's library, so I get some new books each year all while supporting Partners in Health in Sierra Leone, but most other books are either shared with friends or from an open library shelf where I also recycle my only-read-once books.
Great ideas 🙂 I normally use broccoli stems for stir fry, just cut them into smaller pieces and fry with other things (sometimes I peel them first from the harder outer part). I also like them just cooked, taste is different from the florets, more like kohlrabi. I am lowering my waste by trying to waste as little as possible. I often buy food in conventional packaging (right now I am not able to buy everything package free), but then I do everything not to throw it away, use odd bits, do a stew, freeze leftovers, do a weird ingredient combo. I am shocked how much food is wasted, I was raised in deep respect for food, my grandparents experienced actuall lack of food and they would never throw any food away.
I love this because when someone asks me for tips for low waste/zero waste living, I have to sometimes think about it because I do so many things on autopilot that I don't really think about it. It's nice that I'm not the only one :)
This is a great video for any person to begin their journey to sustainable living. I had no clue how in-depth zero waste can go. I just started learning about composting and recycling to help with the waste that can't be recycled. But of course, it would be better to steer clear from the companies that produce these harmful items in the first place.
This actually made me feel better about my self. I feel like I am not doing enough zero waste habbits in my life, I do probably about 90% of the habbits that u listed
Wow, such a well made video full of great tips! I have never seen this way of presenting the tips before and I really liked it. Hope it gets picked up by the algorithms :)
O yes thanks for these veggie storing tips! I often buy too much produce for a week from the market because I’m still getting used to cooking for myself and end up loosing a lot of it. Excited to try this!!
I line dry most of my clothes year round. In the winter we heat with a wood stove, which makes the air even more dry, and drying clothes on a rack in front takes very little time and puts moisture back into the air. I also keep a pot of water on the wood stove rather than running a humidifier. I’ve been saving my toilet paper rolls, candle remnants and dryer lint to make my own fire starters. Instead of donating my unwanted household items to the overwhelmed thrift stores, I leave them by the road in front of my house, everything’s gone in a day or two and most likely to someone who will use it rather than send it to the landfill.
I buy the mini Hershey candy bars for low sugar levels and low iron levels plus I use the paper insert for recipe cards and groceries lists. I use the bottom hem of my cotton t-shirts for headband and scrunchies, the sleeves for hankies and face wash clothes and cleaning rags. And the whites for Femine pads. And when my button shirt are holely I make crazy quilts out of them and old sheet for sewing too and older blankets for batting. And more shirts ,skirts,and dresses and my old jeans into shorts and crossbody bags , veggies bags, tea bags.And coffee filters, and fruit strain bags. Microfiber towels for mopping and cleaning. I use the frig baking soda too clean my drains by adding vinegar, and lemon peels for cleaning spray.
Ive been knitting for 7-8 years now and a couple of my favorite things to make are reusuable dishcloths/handtowels (To reduce the amount me and my family have to spend kn paper towels) and tote bags so I don't have to use plastic bags
I use banana peels and comfrey leaves for natural fertilizer tea for garden and house plants. And the egg and potato water for inside plants and crushed eggshells in holes of all garden plants when planting. All cardboard and papers in my compost bin. And all onion bags for pot scrubbers. I just tight 3 bags into knots. And crochet& knitted dishclothes and back scrubbers. And yes I reuse my freezer bags a good wash and rinse and hang too dry.
This video came up in my recommendations and I’m really grateful that it did. This was incredibly inspirational and has me second guessing quite a few of our everyday habits here in our home. Thank you 🙏🏼
Thank you to this young woman who has made it her mission to educate and inspire people on how to reduce their waste and environmental impact! The more people subscribed to her the better chance the earth has 💚🌏
I use cloth napkins and have been using them for years. I also use cleaning cloths. I use less than a roll of paper towels in a year. I carry a nylon bag in my purse for shopping and cloth bags for bigger grocery hauls. I only shower and wash my hair every three days as I'm an elder and our skin dries out if washed more frequently. I no longer buy things that I don't need, no more "retail therapy". I have a seasonal capsule wardrobe of mostly natural fibers including linen which takes much less water than cotton to grow and lasts for years. I'm grateful for what I have and take good of them to keep them out of the landfill. I've never watched your videos before and I found it delightful and informative!❤❤❤❤
Yes I've been doing the same and have multiple batches of veggies pickled veggies ,jams,jellies and freezer packages if tricolored peppers and onions for stir fries and tacos. And sometimes sealed meats has long as their still cold. That way I will can them up .
So packed with helpful and succinct information - the best video I’ve seen on the subject! . Thank you so much; you’re an inspiration. You restore my faith in people 😍
That's an incredible video. In Germany we have bookcases in a lot of areas. You can go there and take a free book out there and also put some of your old books inside. It's an really awesome and cheap way to find some new books and also getting rid of your old ones😊
I have a document (digital so I can edit without making things confusing or wasting paper) and in that document I collect food ideas for zero waste. I section it into types of food (ones that can be used and prepared similarly) then the specific food and I break that down into parts of the ingredient and then how I can use those. This helps inspire meals to use up remaining ingredients or the scraps. For the scraps I even say if it would be appropriate for one of my freezer containers for making stock, pesto, curry paste, Smoothies, etc. I also have a section of ways to my leftover meals exciting, different sauce recipes and how to change those up, and spice blends I make and how to tweak those for something more interesting. This cheat sheet means I don't forget the cool zero waste recipes I find and helps me maximise my use out of the food.
Sounds like you should start a channel and share all your research and tips with others on the same journey, or make it into an e-book for others to purchase from you to learn how to do these things as well. I would watch a channel like that and probably many others would as well.
Thank you for the video! This is indeed an inspirational sensational set of pictures that moved me. I really only recently learned about hemp seeds and they are pretty good. They will take about 2 or 3 weeks to get used to since my taste buds like them. I just need to learn to cook them and incoporate them into a meal. Plants are time consuming, but I hope that I learn to properly care for them and make them worth the while. I need to stop stressing about certain things. There are more important things to stress about. I need to do bulk shopping at least once. I am excited to try bulk shopping even if it happens online. Again, thank you so much for the video. It is great! Very educational. I love the idea of wasting less. There are so many things that can be salvaged and used to their full extent! There are so many resources available that are clean and handy! I have started to reuse containers and buy only things I know will be worth the containers that they are presented in. God bless your soul and spirit with wisdom and strength to keep making wonderful inspirational videos. I love how I learn from different individuals little bits and pieces of how to be more sustainable. Thank you for teaching me this: how to flourish in this world which seems determined to make me trash and filth. You give me hope and faith in Jehovah, Jesus Christ, Emmanuel for showing people to love themselves and their neighbors even if they are strangers. Even if I do not know you or have never seen you in person you taught me a lesson. You showed me how I can make a difference. They say one person does not really matter, but I know one person made justice available for me and there shall be justice for the people who believe in a clean Earth. Especially, people who believe in clean souls with clean hands and clean clothes. They shall be gifted each with their own crown. They shall have houses not made with hands of men or women forever away beyond the skies. I wonder why I thought of that. Curios. Curioser.And curioser. Friday, the tenth day of the month of July, the seventh month of the year, 2020. 1:53 PM
Gittemary, thank you so very much for this informative/educational video. I'm learning and always interested in the food aspect- did you make your bags for the farmers market?
well if you reuse your toothbrush, this seems logical. I use my flosstick for a week, and once in a week I desinfect my toothbrush with an antibacterial mouthwash
I like to use soap nuts, chest nuts or my own homemade liquid washing detergent for the laundry. I love farmers markets (when their open and it's not Corona time), otherwise I like dumpster diving and I've been saving so much money.
Recently started to pay more attention to the things I buy and the package they come into, I've been a fan of no packaging beauty, cleaning and laundry (often homemade) products for a long time now. I live in a small village in the mountains, so recycling, compost and homegrown food has always been a part of my life, fortunately. Always seeking to improve.
Its interesting you mentioned streaming as little as possible, as that's one massive energy consumption most people wouldn't think about. The wireless tech, servers, etc use an insane amount of (I'm most cases) coal energy.
Moving from a large home to a small cottage. Taking this opportunity to re-evaluate things. I already compost and grow a lot of my vegetables. I live in Texas, USA so I have 2 growing seasons. I already use a similar low or no package goods & products and have many things that are second hand. But feel like going a step further. So putting up an old fashion clothes line to use instead of dryer with our abundant and free sunshine. Looking into solar panels as well, since here 100 degree days are pretty normal in mid to late summer, so air conditioning is a must. I’m currently, slowly trying to replace my falling apart fast fashion with more durable and BREATHABLE FIBERS, wool, cotton, silk & linen. But as a plus size women, that is harder than you might think. But I can sew, so maybe I’ll be better off at the end of run outlets. Currently looking at a dehumidifier that filters water from the air into a water tank for drinking water. Here in South Texas we have year round water restrictions to prevent waste. Having lived on a boat, I’m pretty good with water economy for dishes and showering, as well as using baking soda and vinegar as my primary cleaners. But you mentioned orange peels? Is that functional or is it for scent?
Amazing video and what a great idea to show zero waste tips and habits, I prefer this rather than the "follow me around as a zero waster for a day kinda vlogs" that you just see everywhere on youtube!
@@yippehanako honestly depends. Using too much will damage your skin. But the question is what we see as "too much". Some people need many products and it isn't too much for them. It's always the best to consult a dermatologist
just a reminder for everyone that buying "zero waste" alternatives to things you already have that are still useful is the complete OPPOSITE of zero waste! the most ecofriendly and sustainable product is the one you already have and the things that you DON'T buy! for example, I love the aesthetic and look of a sustainably made bamboo hair brush, but the plastic brush that I've had for the past 10 years still works perfectly fine, so I wont be buying a bamboo brush until my plastic one is completely unusable
thanks
I agree as well
Yup, when I started making the shift, I just wishlisted zero-waste alternatives and only got back to them after exhausting what I already had. It was a great motivator to making full use of the items otherwise lying around and I either didn't buy the alternative and only bought alternatives to things I genuinely used.
exactly
That is exactly what in my mind when i watch these videos....i guess it is a business more than a life style
So... this is basically a step by step tutorial to be zero waste on a regular day. So all we need to do I start one of this habits and then add more and more. Thanks for this guide!
Wiktoria Kłusak czcams.com/video/gszXst3LNkQ/video.html
Idk if this is really zero waste, but I am often creating things from things I have because I'm broke. I'm good at making furniture out of cardboard(dressers, chests, baskets) making baskets from grasses and fabrics, making pillows and stuffing them with clean old socks and knickers along with loose fibers, sewing clothing on my machine or by hand(usually with bedsheets or resizing clothing from the thrift store) I also forage for wood to create trellises for my garden and forage for food while I'm at it(this does require research, but becomes easier with time. I'm loving the surplus of mulberries rn) also, when I have plastic, I am often using it to plant stuff because plants are the most important part of my life. I still holes in containers to use as seed starters, grow leafy greens in plastic bags I find(shallow root systems :) ) and use harder plastics for propping up plants. I really enjoy making food out of food waste and avoiding waste. Why waste things you can use? Things deserve a second life
if you go to shoe stores, you might get their empty shoe boxes when customers don't need them! (children's shoes for small storage or high boots boxes to pin together for thin shelves!)
i got a bunch of boxes because a friend worked at burger king and their fries and patty boxes are sturdy and a great size :D
using old clothes to fill pillows is a genius idea! my socks get holes so fast!!
Yes! This aspect of zero waste is so underrated. I cant afford to buy most "zero waste" things so I am forced to come up with creative solutions. You can do almost everything yourself with a sewing machine and hot glue gun. People usually just buy what they want without a second thought because they aren't used to thinking outside the box. Yesterday I wanted to make beeswaz wraps but couldnt buy/afford the pine resin, but I knew I lived by tons of pine trees! So I collected my own resin and made a little fire in my backyard to refine it. It worked great,
All this stuff sounds amazing I wish I knew how to do it. Plus no one else will have the stuff you have either 🙂🙂
Impressive. I'm speechless
sounds like upcycling which is also a good thing
I think an important part that people forget is not buying things to help you be zero waste if you never did it in the first place... I.e. drinking straws and wooden cutlery.
Exactly, and some people throw away plastic items to buy glass or bamboo instead. If you've already got the plastic variant, just keep using it until it breaks. Then switch. Otherwise it's just as wasteful.
Like the only time I ever needed a straw was when I got my tongue hurt very badly (can't remember how) and had to basically drink my food + eat soft bland foods. Lol I had to make a smoothie out of lentils and veggies. Thankfully I had my reusable plastic straw to use.
I like that she showed us her cupboards with reused glass bottles with old labels on them 👍👍👍, all of my storage is reused glass bottles. I have never seen her washing "powder" sheets, interesting.
!!!
i dont really understand the bamboo/wood cutlery thing, since most of us already have reusable metal ones for FREE at home??
The closest store that has any type of bulk is a 35 minute drive. But my closest grocery store is a six minute bike ride away. I would love to visit the bulk store but I’m not over there very often. I think choosing to ride my bike and use canvas bags is better than driving 35 minutes for bulk items.
Sure. But you could drive there every few months and stock up.
Why is everyone so judgy, it’s perfectly reasonable for you to do that.
The closest bulk store in my state mostly have candy and junk food. There are some grocery stores that have bulk dispensers but not for everything.
@@bta.c.e3739 nobody is judging, attack dog. They're giving perfectly reasonable opinions.
Many ppl in the zero waste World who live ages away from a bulk store choose to make the trip once a month or so. They're only getting dry goods or non-perishables like dishwashing liquid so it's a great idea if possible.
aussiejubes attack dog? Tf? And I’m pretty sure there was another reply that’s now deleted that I moreso based my comment off of that was more critical than those.
Buying second hand things is something so small and makes a big difference! 👏
I never even thought about the fact that cloths that are not made of natural materials would shed microfibres. Idk why that didn't occur to me but when I move into my own place, I will take that into consideration.
I put water that’s been left in a bottle too long in my kettle or leave it for my plants.
This video was so helpful to see how u actually implement some of this stuff in your everyday! Thanks
me literally sitting through the ads because she deserves the revenue
OMG, the thing is that I got a REALLY interesting add, and I'll watch it all!
I see Emilia Clarke and I don't know why
it is because of her brows and the way she moves them
OmG I thought I was the only one lol
Good, I am not insane...
beyoutiful you same, came to the comments to see if anyone else thought this.
i didn't expect to see this comment here, but i totally see it too. it's definitely in the way she is so expressive facially. it's adorable!
Such a great video! For anyone coming to this video and using it as a starting point to overhaul their life, I'd like to share a bunch of tips relating to some of the things in the video. I've kept each tip in its own comment, so expand the thread if you'd like to read more. Full disclosure: I'm still a novice, unlike the beautiful and incredible Gittemary, but my own learning curve can hopefully shed some light on how to make the habits and swaps seen in this video work for you. With that, let's hop to it!
Tip 2/
If you have periods and you've never tried a menstrual cup or have struggled to get along with one in the past, take the, "Which cup am I?," quiz (via putacupinit.com) to find your right fit. Unsurprisingly, people who menstruate have totally different bodies and totally different menstrual cup requirements. My ideal menstrual cup is long and slim, but yours may be short and wide. This test will point you to the brand that is most likely to be your best fit (and they really know their stuff), while also giving you several other options to choose from. Do yourself this kindness! It will completely change the experience.
A word of warning, however: You'll be asked to measure your pelvic depth using a finger. If this makes you uncomfortable or you cannot physically do this, you certainly aren't required to provide this answer, but your result will not be able to take this factor into account.
If menstrual cups still don't work for you, or you have a disability that makes them difficult or impossible to use, an option to consider is period underwear. Period underwear absorbs several tampons worth of blood, making it especially great for overnight use and for general wear with a heavy flow. It can also be worn in addition to a cup, which I recommend if you do gymnastics, ballet, or other affected sports. Plus, there are period underwear brands out there who do styles to better accommodate genderqueer, non-binary, and transgender individuals. I feel like this is an issue with a lot of other period products currently on the market.
You may need to do a little more research into the manufacturing process if fabric sourcing, etc, is of major concern to you as a buyer (I tend to worry a little less when it comes to healthcare/medical items, just because they're so essential), but it's still a comparatively sustainable period product regardless. If you have enough underwear to cover several days, then you would simply change the underwear daily, soaking each used item in the morning to 'rinse' it clean, and then wash all of the items together at the end of your cycle. Or that would be my suggestion. You may have your own method!
Wow, okay, so I had a lovely tip here for everyone with disabilities and medical considerations, but since CZcams decided to delete that, we'll have to skip forward to my final, alternative rec.
Tip 3/
Sustainability isn't about home makeovers, interior design, aesthetics, or 'swap' hauls. Very few sustainable homes actually look Instagram and CZcams perfect. And I honestly ask, how convincing is it when they do? I love when low-waste CZcamsrs reveal their cupboard of mismatched drinkware or old Tupperware. I love when we see their plastic yoga mat that probably has devastating manufacturing origins--because realistically, they've had no reason to replace it yet and they haven't crumbled to the desire to appear perfect online. This does not apply to Gittemary, but plenty of social media zero-waste icons completely overhauled their homes to look eco-perfect in the beginning. Those who are more credible will admit to this and admit they got swept up in the aesthetic over the principles. Others are doing sustainability-as-design-porn. And you know what? Your home won't look like that.
Your home won't look like that, because it didn't before, and sustainability means not going out to buy a whole lot of things to replace *what you already have*. It won't look like that, because sustainability means living with the consumer decisions and plastic-lade chaos of the home you built in life until you understood the challenges of sustainability. It won't look like that, because chances are, if you are economically middle-class, then you already have containers, cookware, pantry staple, and personal care products--all of which need using up, because sustainability means not abandoning and accumulating at will.
Unlike CZcams, sustainability can be unglamorous. It can mean your surroundings actually begin to change even less than usual--slower than ever before--because you embrace *what you already have*.
In stark contrast to Gittemary's gorgeous video, I want to share snapshots of what sustainability looks like for me, beyond the shampoo bars, re-usable baking mats, and wax wraps:
A draw full of (thankfully BPA-free) 5-year-old Ziplock bags I'd much rather be done with by now and which have been re-washed so many times their labels are completely worn off. These do still get used for food, but also for general storage and travel.
A truly massive stack of unsightly delivery boxes and packaging materials, crammed behind my couch to keep them out of sight, waiting to be re-used. Oh, and three rolls of plastic-lined Christmas paper that haunt me.
A seriously unglamorous, freebie plastic water bottle, which would be ridiculous to replace with something pretty, so I won't until it falls apart.
Mismatching, re-purposed packaging/storage literally everywhere. Sometimes I decorate it, but honestly, that only compromises its eventual recyclability. So, it's imperfect if I don't, but imperfect in a serious way if I do.
Hours of my life spent mind-numbingly picking or scrubbing off labels from packaging, so that I can either recycle it or use it in my home without becoming unhappy (arguably, it'd be more sustainable to leave the stickers on).
There you go! Just a snippet.
And yet, low-waste is something I wouldn't change for anything. It's a feeling of immense satisfaction. It's the joy of discovery and living with less 'need'. It's money saved. It's being part of a global community of beautiful people. It's eating fresher, healthier, more seasonal food. It's so many good things. And it's impossible not to love the beauty that we slowly introduce into our homes, albeit it on a much slower scale. You do need considerable patience to face the flawed reality of the home you constructed pre-sustainability, but when you do replace something at the end of its life, the presence of whatever replaces it communicates so much about the journey you and the world as a whole is on.
The only thing you need to do to start being (more) sustainable is to stop needlessly consuming. And that probably means not buying that bamboo cutlery set, because you *probably* already have cutlery that you can wrap up and take on the road. Educate yourself about low-waste, manufacturing, how to be a smarter consumer, etc. Remember that the goal isn't to use things up so that you can replace it with something more idealistic. However, every time you do need to make a replacement, educate yourself about that particular item's lifecycle. And just know that perfect doesn't exist, however perfect we think our favourite low-waste CZcamsrs are (they are incredible, though
@@michaelafischer6177 👍👍
What an amazing and unique way of showing tips! We are slowly incorporating more and more zero waste products and ideas into our lives and really appreciate you saying at the end that it won’t happen overnight. Every little thing makes a big big difference. Thanks for all the hard work you put into this video, it really was inspirational xx
These are all excellent tips. Very aspirational.
Here's a few things I do that weren't mentioned in the video:
1. I take cold showers to save on energy (and it makes me feel good).
2. I grow and multiply my own herbs.
3. I sew my own period pads out of old clothes.
Cold water can be very unhealthy. Save energy. Oh dear. Stop watching TV mate
I'm at the start of my journey, currently gave away 100 books, keeping 50, going to give 3 bin bags full of my clothes to a shelter, many I have never got round to wear and are doubles, went from two wardrobes down to one 😂 good progress at the moment
Just keep in mind that de-cluttering is more along the lines of minimalism than sustainability. You can have 150 books and still practice sustainability. Your goal in future would simply be to avoid bringing in new books. The same goes for clothes. It sounds like that will be the really big change that low-waste/sustainable living will bring about for you. You should feel really proud of making that change, and it was great of you to give away your possessions to people who could really use them (since that's also an important element of sustainability). :)
As a committed book addict, here are my best tips for doing book addiction more sustainably:
Personally, I think some three good reasons to buy a book are because 1) you need it for a course or for your work (not just for a month or two, but for the whole year or whatever), 2) because it's an indispensable day-to-day reference, and 3) because it's your absolute favourite series or holds an extremely significant sentimental value. If you do decide to continue buying hardcopy books, you can switch to doing so at second-hand shops or from second-hand listings.
On top of reading constantly, I travel a lot, so I started committing to ebooks and audiobooks. I mostly use Audible and Kindle, but also free resources, such as Project Gutenburg and Google Books. I also recommend using your local library, both for hardcopy books and any ebook services it might offer! Book Crossing is also great. My last three hardcopy books came from my local Book Crossing, which is great, because you can return them once you're done reading (or donate your own). I would also recommend looking up your nearest street libraries. I was shocked to find two in my area. SO unexpected, believe me. And you could also try exploring the world of online fiction.
I hope these tips help. :)
@@michaelafischer6177 Thank you so much! I didn't know there were so many options other than the main charity shops and online books, really appreciate all the recommendations and it was a great point about the minimalism and sustainability diffrence sometimes I forget and use them interchangeably x
@@michaelafischer6177 ♥️
Thank you Gittermary, I love the video! One small thing I've done is transition from normal tissues to 100% cotton/linen handkerchiefs which I made by cutting up some second hand shirts into rectangles and stitching the hems. Its an ongoing process and I sew them while watching/listening to things, or on video call with friends/family. I am by no means zero waste yet or even close - but its a small thing. Its good for my skin, better for the planet - and also saves so much money. I also have been using the period cup for over 2 years now! xx
I do this with old t-shirts too!
Good job 👍. I have a few handkerchiefs that I use for my allergies, I should make some more. We only use cloth napkins at home, 90% are vintage from charity shops, they are so pretty.
Baby steps... I switched to reusable menstrual pads which feel very good after having a hard time experimenting with a Diva cup. Also I acquired a non-plastic razor that uses regular razorblades. And one way that I am practicing zero waste without even thinking about it was my book habit. Yes I participate in Life's library, so I get some new books each year all while supporting Partners in Health in Sierra Leone, but most other books are either shared with friends or from an open library shelf where I also recycle my only-read-once books.
Great ideas 🙂 I normally use broccoli stems for stir fry, just cut them into smaller pieces and fry with other things (sometimes I peel them first from the harder outer part). I also like them just cooked, taste is different from the florets, more like kohlrabi.
I am lowering my waste by trying to waste as little as possible. I often buy food in conventional packaging (right now I am not able to buy everything package free), but then I do everything not to throw it away, use odd bits, do a stew, freeze leftovers, do a weird ingredient combo. I am shocked how much food is wasted, I was raised in deep respect for food, my grandparents experienced actuall lack of food and they would never throw any food away.
I love this because when someone asks me for tips for low waste/zero waste living, I have to sometimes think about it because I do so many things on autopilot that I don't really think about it. It's nice that I'm not the only one :)
This is a great video for any person to begin their journey to sustainable living. I had no clue how in-depth zero waste can go. I just started learning about composting and recycling to help with the waste that can't be recycled. But of course, it would be better to steer clear from the companies that produce these harmful items in the first place.
This actually made me feel better about my self. I feel like I am not doing enough zero waste habbits in my life, I do probably about 90% of the habbits that u listed
90%, that is MUCH more than the average human, and even people who try to make an effort! 90% is very significant, you’re doing so great!!
How you do your facial routine is exactly how I do mine and exactly how my mom has been since the 70's it's so easy and much nicer on the skin
Wow, such a well made video full of great tips! I have never seen this way of presenting the tips before and I really liked it. Hope it gets picked up by the algorithms :)
O yes thanks for these veggie storing tips! I often buy too much produce for a week from the market because I’m still getting used to cooking for myself and end up loosing a lot of it. Excited to try this!!
I love how short this video is! Most of the zero waste videos i see are 15 minutes plus
I line dry most of my clothes year round. In the winter we heat with a wood stove, which makes the air even more dry, and drying clothes on a rack in front takes very little time and puts moisture back into the air. I also keep a pot of water on the wood stove rather than running a humidifier. I’ve been saving my toilet paper rolls, candle remnants and dryer lint to make my own fire starters. Instead of donating my unwanted household items to the overwhelmed thrift stores, I leave them by the road in front of my house, everything’s gone in a day or two and most likely to someone who will use it rather than send it to the landfill.
I buy the mini Hershey candy bars for low sugar levels and low iron levels plus I use the paper insert for recipe cards and groceries lists. I use the bottom hem of my cotton t-shirts for headband and scrunchies, the sleeves for hankies and face wash clothes and cleaning rags. And the whites for Femine pads. And when my button shirt are holely I make crazy quilts out of them and old sheet for sewing too and older blankets for batting. And more shirts ,skirts,and dresses and my old jeans into shorts and crossbody bags , veggies bags, tea bags.And coffee filters, and fruit strain bags. Microfiber towels for mopping and cleaning. I use the frig baking soda too clean my drains by adding vinegar, and lemon peels for cleaning spray.
Ive been knitting for 7-8 years now and a couple of my favorite things to make are reusuable dishcloths/handtowels (To reduce the amount me and my family have to spend kn paper towels) and tote bags so I don't have to use plastic bags
I use banana peels and comfrey leaves for natural fertilizer tea for garden and house plants. And the egg and potato water for inside plants and crushed eggshells in holes of all garden plants when planting. All cardboard and papers in my compost bin. And all onion bags for pot scrubbers. I just tight 3 bags into knots. And crochet& knitted dishclothes and back scrubbers. And yes I reuse my freezer bags a good wash and rinse and hang too dry.
Awesome vid! Love how it was filmed sequentially addressing all the areas in your day to day life. You are like the perfect zero-waster!
I love this! 50 tips is so cool! I feel proud that I have adopted a lot of these habits!
I use shredded paper and baking soda for my cats’ litter.
I think you can toilet train cats actually. VLOG your progress 😊
This video came up in my recommendations and I’m really grateful that it did. This was incredibly inspirational and has me second guessing quite a few of our everyday habits here in our home. Thank you 🙏🏼
Thank you to this young woman who has made it her mission to educate and inspire people on how to reduce their waste and environmental impact! The more people subscribed to her the better chance the earth has 💚🌏
Saskia Cornish 💚💚💚
OMG I love the detail and everything you do!! I love how you added how to store these foods properly so they last longer. Thank you
I love how transparent you are🖤🖤
I use cloth napkins and have been using them for years. I also use cleaning cloths. I use less than a roll of paper towels in a year. I carry a nylon bag in my purse for shopping and cloth bags for bigger grocery hauls. I only shower and wash my hair every three days as I'm an elder and our skin dries out if washed more frequently. I no longer buy things that I don't need, no more "retail therapy". I have a seasonal capsule wardrobe of mostly natural fibers including linen which takes much less water than cotton to grow and lasts for years. I'm grateful for what I have and take good of them to keep them out of the landfill. I've never watched your videos
before and I found it delightful and informative!❤❤❤❤
This was such a peaceful watch. Learnt some things too, thank you 🙏
This is an amazing summary of what it means to live zero waste! Thank you :)
Yes I've been doing the same and have multiple batches of veggies pickled veggies ,jams,jellies and freezer packages if tricolored peppers and onions for stir fries and tacos. And sometimes sealed meats has long as their still cold. That way I will can them up .
I love this video because it shows really actionable ways to going zero waste day to day :) thankyou x
Hands down the best video I've seen on these tips, well done! I will continue to explore your channel.
You're inspirational, I love your videos, they're so informative and concise. Thank you so much ❤️
So packed with helpful and succinct information - the best video I’ve seen on the subject! . Thank you so much; you’re an inspiration. You restore my faith in people 😍
Loved it ♥️ I want to implement more zero waste habits, so it was great inspiration. Thank you!
This is the most pleasent video of its kind I have ever seen, so refreshing
I've had to watch this video again. So much helpful ideas and practices! I can't wait to use them :D
I love the implementation of each product!
This is so helpful! gave me so many ideas for small changes I can make in day to day life
Love the creativity behind this video! This is giving me great ideas
Been trying to be less wasteful for about a year. Loved the video! Lots of tips.
Thanks so much for this! I learned a couple new tricks and will try to implement them in my daily routine :)
That's an incredible video.
In Germany we have bookcases in a lot of areas. You can go there and take a free book out there and also put some of your old books inside.
It's an really awesome and cheap way to find some new books and also getting rid of your old ones😊
This was a great way to do it...following your day. Often lists can be boring but this worked
just the video I needed! thank you, stay safe:)
wow thats cool! ive been trying all the mindful living tips for around 2 years now so this video greatly helped me by giving more tips! thanks again
so informative, I also started to reduce my waste, together we can save the earth.
wow absolutely wow! double thumbs up! I'm holding onto to this video for future ideas definitely :) you go girl!!!
This guide is amazing! Thank you
GREAT video. Thanks for doing this. Im starting my zero-waste journey and your video was so helpful!
I have a document (digital so I can edit without making things confusing or wasting paper) and in that document I collect food ideas for zero waste. I section it into types of food (ones that can be used and prepared similarly) then the specific food and I break that down into parts of the ingredient and then how I can use those. This helps inspire meals to use up remaining ingredients or the scraps. For the scraps I even say if it would be appropriate for one of my freezer containers for making stock, pesto, curry paste, Smoothies, etc.
I also have a section of ways to my leftover meals exciting, different sauce recipes and how to change those up, and spice blends I make and how to tweak those for something more interesting.
This cheat sheet means I don't forget the cool zero waste recipes I find and helps me maximise my use out of the food.
Sounds like you should start a channel and share all your research and tips with others on the same journey, or make it into an e-book for others to purchase from you to learn how to do these things as well. I would watch a channel like that and probably many others would as well.
Thank you for the video! This is indeed an inspirational sensational set of pictures that moved me.
I really only recently learned about hemp seeds and they are pretty good. They will take about 2 or 3 weeks to get used to since my taste buds like them. I just need to learn to cook them and incoporate them into a meal.
Plants are time consuming, but I hope that I learn to properly care for them and make them worth the while. I need to stop stressing about certain things. There are more important things to stress about. I need to do bulk shopping at least once. I am excited to try bulk shopping even if it happens online. Again, thank you so much for the video. It is great! Very educational.
I love the idea of wasting less. There are so many things that can be salvaged and used to their full extent! There are so many resources available that are clean and handy! I have started to reuse containers and buy only things I know will be worth the containers that they are presented in. God bless your soul and spirit with wisdom and strength to keep making wonderful inspirational videos.
I love how I learn from different individuals little bits and pieces of how to be more sustainable.
Thank you for teaching me this: how to flourish in this world which seems determined to make me trash and filth. You give me hope and faith in Jehovah, Jesus Christ, Emmanuel for showing people to love themselves and their neighbors even if they are strangers. Even if I do not know you or have never seen you in person you taught me a lesson. You showed me how I can make a difference. They say one person does not really matter, but I know one person made justice available for me and there shall be justice for the people who believe in a clean Earth.
Especially, people who believe in clean souls with clean hands and clean clothes. They shall be gifted each with their own crown. They shall have houses not made with hands of men or women forever away beyond the skies.
I wonder why I thought of that. Curios. Curioser.And curioser.
Friday, the tenth day of the month of July, the seventh month of the year, 2020. 1:53 PM
Love love love this! Just subscribed
thank you for making these videos xxx
Gittemary, thank you so very much for this informative/educational video. I'm learning and always interested in the food aspect- did you make your bags for the farmers market?
I am not sold on reusing floss....
well if you reuse your toothbrush, this seems logical. I use my flosstick for a week, and once in a week I desinfect my toothbrush with an antibacterial mouthwash
Its not reusable ( at least I think it isn't) I think it is just better for the environment than normal dental floss.
@@kirannayyar3596 she said she reuses the same piece a few times before composting
@@StarryEyedReads oh...whoops
So creative !! Loved it ❤️
Great video!! So helpful!
I absolutely love watching your videos and learn so much! TY!
Wow!!! Those are all great habits to have. I am nowhere near your level of sustainability but it’s getting there slowly!
This is so inspiring. Thank you! ✨
Love your channel and energy. You are looking so radiant at the moment 😊
Thank you I hope to use a few habits . I really appreciate you doing this !
I like to use soap nuts, chest nuts or my own homemade liquid washing detergent for the laundry. I love farmers markets (when their open and it's not Corona time), otherwise I like dumpster diving and I've been saving so much money.
This is SO helpful. I wish your channel were more well known!
Recently started to pay more attention to the things I buy and the package they come into, I've been a fan of no packaging beauty, cleaning and laundry (often homemade) products for a long time now. I live in a small village in the mountains, so recycling, compost and homegrown food has always been a part of my life, fortunately. Always seeking to improve.
I loved this video ! It’s amazing and it give me a lot of ideas 💡💙
Love this approach and thank you for sharing how you approach zero waste living!
Thank you ❤ This is so inspirational ❤
I love this!! I already do so much of this but i need to get better with food waste
Its interesting you mentioned streaming as little as possible, as that's one massive energy consumption most people wouldn't think about. The wireless tech, servers, etc use an insane amount of (I'm most cases) coal energy.
wowowow what a unique and awesomely informative video concept!!!! love this content.
Holy!!! I'm just scratching the surface! But also super inspirationbal :D Thanks so much!!!
This was a very enjoyable video! Thank you for making it😉
this video was made so well!
What a brilliant video, thank you for sharing so many good ideas. All the best, Maeve in Ireland
Wow! This is dedication. Amazing.
Moving from a large home to a small cottage. Taking this opportunity to re-evaluate things. I already compost and grow a lot of my vegetables. I live in Texas, USA so I have 2 growing seasons. I already use a similar low or no package goods & products and have many things that are second hand. But feel like going a step further. So putting up an old fashion clothes line to use instead of dryer with our abundant and free sunshine. Looking into solar panels as well, since here 100 degree days are pretty normal in mid to late summer, so air conditioning is a must. I’m currently, slowly trying to replace my falling apart fast fashion with more durable and BREATHABLE FIBERS, wool, cotton, silk & linen. But as a plus size women, that is harder than you might think. But I can sew, so maybe I’ll be better off at the end of run outlets. Currently looking at a dehumidifier that filters water from the air into a water tank for drinking water. Here in South Texas we have year round water restrictions to prevent waste. Having lived on a boat, I’m pretty good with water economy for dishes and showering, as well as using baking soda and vinegar as my primary cleaners. But you mentioned orange peels? Is that functional or is it for scent?
Great job! Very inspirational. X
Grocery stores lock up their dumpsters around here to prevent dumpster diving. I'd love to visit a bulk food store though!
Amazing video and what a great idea to show zero waste tips and habits, I prefer this rather than the "follow me around as a zero waster for a day kinda vlogs" that you just see everywhere on youtube!
BRAVO!!!!!!! Love your channel...can you do a video when you go out to the second hand stores for purchasing clothing or anything else please.
Awesome video thank you so much ...love seeing your new videos.....thanks from Canada
*wonderful video with some great ideas for low waste, thank you for sharing 🥰🥰🥰*
You're such an inspiration!
Inspiring! Thanks!
Thank you so much, I just begin to reduce waste, love you.❤
This is great content!, thanks for sharing. here in Singapore most of the fresh produce are plastic wrapped :(
Omg I really really respect you for displine
I can get on board with this except for the skincare routine. My skin would absolutely not handle this well 😅 and I wear spf daily
using too much "stuff" on ya skin ruins the skin and makes it need more "stuff" ;-) evil circle, ya gotta get out of
@@LiLBitsDK no, it doesn't.
@@yippehanako believe that
@@yippehanako honestly depends. Using too much will damage your skin. But the question is what we see as "too much". Some people need many products and it isn't too much for them. It's always the best to consult a dermatologist
@@LiLBitsDK lol yeah but a basic skincare routine and daily spf isn’t too much