• Reduce, reuse, recycle

The idea of ​​zero waste is a lifestyle that reduces waste production as much as possible. Eco-friendly habits are highly desirable today, as the negative impact of human activities on the environment has become greater than ever before in history due to the development of the food, clothing, and transportation industries in recent decades. Human activities lead to air, land, and water pollution. We emit noise, toxic gases into the atmosphere, wastewater into rivers, and unprocessed waste that remains in landfills. This also results in a depletion of natural resources. Fortunately, the time has come to reflect and raise social awareness. Zero-waste and less-waste movements are helping us. Change can be initiated with small steps, starting in the immediate environment around you. Here are some simple ideas for reducing waste that we can use every day.

Reduce, reuse, recycle

Reduce, reuse, and recycle – the 3Rs, the core principle of zero waste. What does this look like in practice?

• We've completely eliminated single-use plastic bags. Instead, we're choosing reusable cotton, linen, or canvas bags to pack our groceries in. Vegetables and fruit purchased by weight can be packed in reusable nylon nets.
• Wax wraps instead of foil and paper for food packaging – cold cuts, cheese, or a child's school sandwiches can be wrapped in specially prepared waxed material, which is available at any eco-friendly store. Beeswax wraps are waterproof, convenient to use, and will last for years.
• It is better to buy foods such as vegetables, nuts, sausage or cheese by weight rather than wrapping them in plastic.
• Conventional cloths and kitchen towels instead of paper towels. While we've become accustomed to the convenience of paper towels, this solution isn't environmentally friendly at all. In North America alone, more than 100 million trees are cut down each year and approximately 500 billion liters of water are used just so we can wipe our hands on paper instead of a kitchen towel. This is also true in the production of paper towels.
• Shopping should be well-thought-out, ideally with a list. This way, we avoid impulse purchases and only buy what we really need and can use.
• Buying a thermos instead of a takeaway coffee. If you often drink coffee in the city, it's worth considering buying a good thermos and enjoying your favorite coffee without a disposable plastic cup. Buying children's drinks in plastic bottles for school is also not worth it. It's more environmentally friendly and healthier to pack a thermos of tea or a water bottle in your backpack.
• Prepare school and work food at home and pack it in lunchboxes. It's a healthier and more environmentally friendly solution than, for example, bars in plastic packaging.
• Let's try not to waste or throw away food, plan meals, and shop for groceries when we've used up all the food in the fridge. There are many ways to use slightly wilted vegetables and fruit. Proper food storage is also important. Loose produce, for example, can be stored in glass jars, which most of us already have at home. There's no need to buy new plastic food storage containers. Microplastic particles can get into your food.

• Plastic bottles take up the most space in your household basket. To reduce plastic waste, simply switch to tap water. If your water doesn't meet the relevant standards, you can connect a special filter to the faucet to purify the drinking water.
• In the bathroom, it's better to replace all shampoos, soaps, and gels with regular bar soaps packaged in a cardboard box. You can use a solid shampoo for your hair.
• Bamboo toothbrushes instead of plastic toothbrushes.
• Reusable razors instead of the razors you throw away after one use.
• Reusable cotton pads instead of disposable cotton pads.
• Instead of buying ready-made detergent, you can use vinegar, water and baking soda with a little essential oil for ecological washing and cleaning.
• Second-hand clothing – The clothing industry is largely responsible for environmental pollution. This is influenced by both the production of clothing, which consumes hectoliters of water, and the use of chemicals, dyes, and bleaching agents, as well as by fashion, which requires the systematic purchase of new clothing from ever-changing collections. Instead of buying clothes for one season, it's better to invest in timeless, good-quality clothing made from natural materials. And if your child, for example, quickly outgrows their winter jacket, it's worth giving it to someone who can still use it.
• Avoid buying things and decorations for a single season—like plastic Easter eggs, bunnies, or Santa Clauses. Instead, you can make eco-friendly Christmas decorations on your own or with your children using materials you have at home.

Of course, these aren't all the ideas for a greener life. For the sake of our planet, it's worth introducing at least a few of them. Let's also remember to take care of the things we already have. Well-maintained clothing, household appliances, and electronics will last us longer.