What is zero waste?
Zero waste is about making conscious, more sustainable choices while focusing on what works best for you. The intention is to:
- refuse things that we don’t need
- reduce what we need
- reuse & repair things
- compost (rot) our food waste
- and lastly, to recycle what’s left.
Why go *almost* zero waste?
For the planet, for the animals, for the people. Living sustainably brings lots of benefits: it helps us live in harmony with the Earth, waste less, appreciate having less stuff, get creative with repurposing and DIY, save money, and so much more!
The goal of Almost Zero Waste
My purpose is to share my experience and research the best ways to live a sustainable, healthy, and happy life. I want to emphasize that we all have different resources, lifestyles, and choices, and what works for me may not work for you. And that’s cool. My goal is to help you find what works best for YOU. š
Here, you can find guides, DIYs, and frequently asked questions going through my head when I started to live more sustainably. From tips on how to reduce your waste and how to recycle things to DIY guides on natural cosmetics, how to save money, where to find plastic-free products, tasty vegan recipes & more.
I want to show you that EVERY action counts and that together, we can make a difference. ā”ļøWhile real change requires systemic shifts, individual actions are essential to get us there.
Who’s behind Almost Zero Waste?
Hi, Iām Meri, an *imperfect* zero waste advocate passionate about sustainability, veganism, and living in harmony with nature.
I got interested in sustainable living somewhere in 2018 when I heard about āzero wasteā for the first time. I got inspired and motivated to live more sustainably, but simultaneously, I was crushed every time I made āmistakesā.
I had different phases, where I tried to create as little trash as possible, and other times when I did the bare minimum. My latest one started after I felt very disconnected from the purpose of my blog and my sustainable journey, due to various reasons.
I had to re-establish this connection and saw that things needed to change to continue forward. Things that worked for me before didnāt anymore.
Now, Iām much more focused on the bigger picture. What does this mean? Iām putting my attention on creating truly sustainable habits for the long run and taking care of both my external and internal world.
Some of my values and views on certain things changed, and I’m honestly glad about it. I read something about being disciplined vs rigid, and I could relate to it so much.
Self-discipline is essential for setting and reaching goals. But too much of it can turn into rigidity, and Iāve experienced it in different parts of my life. Being too rigid makes me too strict and inflexible. That rigidity crashes spontaneity, creativity, and adaptability, and it often brings me lots of anxiety and stress.
Lifeās anyway a huge rollercoaster, and things are constantly changing. Now, my focus has shifted to finding that sweet spot called balance and discovering what works best for me in my current situation & lifestyle.
I believe that each of us has a unique life situation, and what works for me may not work for you. And thatās perfectly fine. You do you, and Iāll do me, however this may look. The point is to try to be better, towards yourself, those around you, and our precious planet.
If some of the things I share relate to you, inspire you, or help you in any way, Iām happy about it, and itās all that matters to me.
If you want to connect, you can always do it over my email, or social media (Iām mostly active on Instagram). You can also follow me here – YouTube, Pinterest, Facebook, & TikTok.