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How to adopt a zero-waste lifestyle?

Tips to reduce your daily waste

Taking care of our planet is everyone's responsibility. Recently, we have heard more and more about the zero-waste lifestyle. The reason is simple: we produce way too much waste daily. We live in an era of over-consumption that has many negative consequences for the planet. We tell ourselves that because we make the positive gesture of putting something into recycling, it will inevitably be recycled and reused. The reality is that unfortunately it cannot. Did you know that glass and plastic, for example, are recycled at only 14% and 18%? So, what happens with everything else? All this waste has to go somewhere! They are thrown in the landfill sites with all the other waste in our garbage cans. The reality is that all of this waste releases a lot of greenhouse gases and ends up in the environment. This is a growing problem. However, on the positive side, everyone can do their part to improve the situation! This solution is, among other things, is a zero-waste lifestyle.

Basic rules for a zero-waste lifestyle

We are aware that this term can sometimes frighten some people or seem complicated. Don't worry, it's really not that complicated! In fact, every action counts to make a difference towards a greener future. You'll have a lot more fun moving towards a leaner lifestyle if you go at your own pace and have fun at the same time. In this article, you will find tips on how to live a more eco-responsible lifestyle and guide you towards a zero-waste lifestyle.

Let's start with the basics. The most popular recommendation is the 5Rs rule, popularized by blogger and speaker Bea Johnson.  Living a lifestyle of material abundance, Bea decides to take the path towards a more minimalist lifestyle. She decided to release her book "Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life by Reducing Your Waste!" to demonstrate to people that not only is adopting zero waste practices beneficial for the planet, but that it also makes you save a lot of money. Here is a summary of the 5 Rs rule:

  1. Refusing all single-use products and favoring purchases without waste (such as bulk)
  2. Reduce consumption of goods.
  3. Reuse (repair) anything that can be reused.
  4. Recycle anything that cannot be reused.
  5. ROT: Compost all organic waste

With the above steps, you will have the opportunity to reduce your waste significantly. You can decide to do them all right now or focus on getting complete control one point at a time. It's up to you! That's the fun part of living a zero-waste lifestyle, you can go at your own pace, the important thing is to make a positive difference for our beautiful planet!

More tips for a zero-waste lifestyle

 More tips for a zero-waste lifestyle

Say no to plastic bags and reduce your plastic consumption

Yes! The famous plastic bags. The over-consumption of plastic is a real scourge for our planet. Did you know that there is a "continent" of plastic located in the North Pacific Ocean and that there would be 5 of them all over the world? It is difficult to estimate the real size of these plastic continents, but experts have recently suggested that the surface of these continents is about 1.6 million square kilometers. To imagine the whole, say that the size of the province of Quebec is 1.54 million square kilometers... So, these continents are larger than the whole territory of Quebec! These areas of waste, also called waste gyres, are very harmful to the environment and to aquatic animals. Plastic waste ends up in their environment and causes many ravages.

The solution? Bring your reusable bags with you when you go shopping. Get eco-responsible fruit and vegetable bags to avoid taking the plastic ones available at the grocery store. There are also reusable sandwich bags that are an eco-friendly alternative to traditional ziplock bags.

Stop Pub

This trick is often misunderstood by many. To avoid receiving catalogs and flyers in your mailbox, you can indicate on your postal box ''Stop Pub''. Did you know that you will save about 35 kg of paper per year? That's an astronomical amount, especially if you don't even look at them! Moreover, it will be a great way to save a few dollars by avoiding being tempted by advertisements that sometimes make us want to buy superfluous goods.  

Bulk purchase

Bulk purchasing is one of the most environmentally friendly alternatives available. Think of all the cardboard, paper and plastic that covers our products at the grocery store. It's crazy! Buying your food and products in bulk will greatly reduce your waste. You will be able to buy exactly the quantity you want and therefore reduce your food waste. In fact, at Pro-Terre, we have a very large selection of quality bulk food and products available. Don't hesitate to come take a look at our Zero Waste Store located in Terrebonne, QC. 

Get a starter kit with the right basics

If you have not yet read our article on our Greener life starter kit, we recommend that you read it after reading it. At Pro-Terre, our mission is to help you reduce waste in your daily life. This is why we have concocted this kit which contains several essential products towards a zero-waste lifestyle. It contains a beeswax film to cover your fruits and vegetables, reusable straws, a bamboo toothbrush, a shampoo bar, a reusable sandwich bag as well as reusable bags for groceries or bulk. This will give you a good foundation to start your zero waste lifestyle now! To get it, click here.

 Get a starter kit with the right basics

This concludes our article on How to adopt a zero-waste lifestyle. A zero-waste lifestyle is the gateway to a better world and a healthy planet. That's why, at Pro-Terre, we offer high quality eco-responsible, locally produced products that will help you adopt a more environmentally conscious lifestyle. Do not hesitate to visit our website or follow us on our social media.

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