Who we are

Almost Zero Waste is an online educational platform that provides educational and inspirational content on the topic of zero waste and sustainability.

​Our mission is to help sustainability advocates and enthusiasts from around the world learn how to live more eco-friendly lives.

Our website address is: https://www.almostzerowaste.com/.

DEFINING BASIC TERMS OF GDPR AND ABOUT PRIVACY POLICY

General Regulation means regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural party regarding the processing of Personal Data and the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation);

European Union means the European Union’s institutions, bodies, offices, and agencies set up by or based on, the TEU, the TFEU, or the Euratom Treaty;

Processing means any operation or set of operations that is performed on Personal Data or sets of Personal Data, whether or not by automated means, such as collection, recording, organization, structuring, storage, adaptation or alteration, retrieval, consultation, use, disclosure by transmission, dissemination or otherwise making available, alignment or combination, restriction, erasure or destruction;

Consent means any freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous indication of the Data Subject’s wishes by which he or she, by a statement or by clear affirmative action, signifies agreement to the processing of Personal Data relating to him or her.

Personal Data means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person; an identifiable natural person can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person;

Data Subject means a person whose Personal Data is processed and whose identity is identified or identifiable; an identifiable natural person can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person;

Recipient means a natural or legal person, public authority, agency, or another body to which the Personal Data is disclosed, whether a Third-party or not;

Third-party means a natural or legal person, public authority, agency, or body other than the Data Subject, Controller, Processor, and party who, under the direct authority of the Controller or Processor, are authorized to process Personal Data;

International organization means an organization and its subordinate bodies governed by public international law or any other body which is set up by or based on an agreement between two or more countries;

This is all recording in Article 6.1 (e) (EU) 2016/679 
European Parliament and Council Regulation from March 27th, 2016, on the protection of individuals regarding the processing of personal data.

!Accepting our terms and conditions while entering the website is considered accepting our entire privacy policy!

INFORMATION COLLECTED FROM DATA SUBJECTS

Usual data collected by us is: 

  • IP address – We collect IP addresses only for comments to prevent spam; Google analytics – IP is anonymized. 
  • Cookies –

What are cookies – Cookies are text files containing small amounts of information downloaded to your device when you visit a website and then sent back to the originating website on each subsequent visit or to another website that recognizes that cookie. Cookies are useful because they allow a website to recognize your device. You can find out more about cookies and their uses by visiting the following link – https://www.allaboutcookies.org/

We use cookies for the following purposes:

(a) authentication – we use cookies to identify you when you visit our website and as you navigate our website;

(b) personalization – we use cookies to store information about your preferences and to personalize the website for you;

(c) security – we use cookies as an element of the security measures used to protect user accounts, including preventing fraudulent use of login credentials, and to protect our website and services generally;

(d) advertising – we use cookies to help us to display advertisements that will be relevant to you; and

(e) analysis – we use cookies to help us to analyze the use and performance of our website and services;

Most browsers allow you to refuse to accept cookies and delete cookies. The methods for doing so vary from browser to browser and from version to version. You can, however, obtain up-to-date information about blocking and deleting cookies via these links:

(a) https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647?hl=en (Chrome);

(b) https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/enable-and-disable-cookies-website-preferences (Firefox);

(c) http://www.opera.com/help/tutorials/security/cookies/ (Opera);

(d) https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/17442/windows-internet-explorer-delete-manage-cookies (Internet Explorer);

(e) https://support.apple.com/kb/PH21411 (Safari); and

(f) https://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10-microsoft-edge-and-privacy (Edge).

Please note that blocking cookies may harm the functions of many websites, including our Site. Some features of the Site may cease to be available to you.

Cookies that we collect –

  1. Google Analytics – to analyze the use of our website. Google Analytics gathers information about website use by means of cookies. The information gathered relating to our website is used to create reports about the use of our website. Google’s privacy policy is available at https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/
  2. Cloudflare – A content delivery network (CDN) that helps improve the performance and security of the website. Cloudflare’s privacy policy – https://www.cloudflare.com/privacypolicy/

Cookies from advertisers and affiliates –

  1. Mediavine – This website is affiliated with Mediavine for the purpose of placing advertising on the site. Mediavine collects different cookies than us. Mediavine’s privacy policy – https://www.mediavine.com/privacy-policy/
  2. Amazon Associates – “Almost Zero Waste is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases”. Furthermore, Amazon may collect information from visitors using cookies. Amazon’s privacy notice – https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=aw?ie=UTF8&nodeId=468496
  3. Awin: https://ui.awin.com/legal-docs/privacy-policy#:~:text=AWIN%20takes%20all%20technical%20and,not%20open%20to%20public%20access.
  4. Earth Hero: https://earthhero.com/privacy-policy/
  5. Eco Roots: https://ecoroots.us/policies/privacy-policy

Notice! – We also use a variety of social networks throughout the website, and they also collect their own cookies. You can see the list of the networks by scrolling further below. 

  • email address – We collect email addresses through Mailchimp when you sign up for the newsletter.

We also collect email addresses when you submit a comment (when you leave a comment) and the contact form (when you send us an email via the contact form).

  • on comments – email address, IP address, and name. We also use Akismet to prevent spam. Akismet’s privacy policy – https://akismet.com/privacy/
  • on contact form – name and email address.
  • other data – message content (if it contains any personal data)
  • Data subjects on our Social Networks:

We are using the following social networks for promoting our business activities: Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube.

We are in the position of a Joint Controller together with social network platforms when processing your Personal Data (collected when visiting our social networks). Social network platforms process your Personal Data in accordance with their own Privacy Policies.

We are collecting a minimum of your Personal Data when visiting our social networks. We only collect a number of visitors as a statistic data for the purpose of tracking popularity of our account on respective social network.

You can find more about Privacy Policies of each social network platform on the following links:

To find out more about the cookies we use visit our cookie policy page.

ACCESS TO COLLECTED DATA:

We treat your Personal Data with confidentiality. We protect them in accordance with applicable legal regulations and practices. Third parties have a right to access and process your Personal Data only if legally necessary (as competent authority, as a Controller, as a Processor)

DATA SECURITY:

To provide an adequate level of data protection, we undertake actions that are reasonable and effective, considering the sensitivity of Personal Data we process and the risk of unauthorized access and processing. 

HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

Google analytics – 26 months

Comments – 14 to 19 days – for spam comments. For real (non-spam) comments indefinite (until a user requests to be removed)

Cloudflare – 29 days

For the other cookies used, please refer to the specific website’s privacy policy for more information. 

Contact – indefinite until users ask to be removed. 

Email – You are free to unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time you wish to do so. Emails collected from contact forms and comments are kept indefinitely until the user asks to be removed.  

TRANSFER TO THIRD COUNTRIES OR INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:

We usually don’t do transfers to third countries and international organizations in our everyday business. In situations where we are legally obliged to transfer your Personal Data to third countries or international organizations, we ensure an adequate level of data protection. In such situations, we have to justify such a transfer (requesting your explicit consent and applying additional safeguards prescribed by the General Regulation).

PROFILING AND DECISION-MAKING: 

With your consent (newsletter), we will notify you about new offers based on your interests, and during it, we collect your personal data ( see Data subjects – link ). You have the right to unsubscribe at any point of time. For any questions, you can always contact us. 

YOUR RIGHTS:

The Right of Access to Your Personal Data

You have the right to obtain confirmation as to whether or not your Personal Data is being processed, as well as access to your Personal Data. You have the right to access the following information:

  • the purposes of processing,
  • the categories of your Personal Data,
  • the recipients or categories of recipient to whom your Personal Data has been or will be disclosed, in particular recipients in third countries or international organizations,
  • retention periods regarding your Personal Data,
  • the existence of your rights to erasure, rectification, restriction of processing, the right to object and the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority,
  • the existence of automated decision-making (including profiling) and meaningful information about the logic involved, as well as envisaged consequences of such processing,
  • where personal data is transferred to third countries or international organizations, information of the appropriate safeguards taken for such transfer,
  • where your Personal Data is not collected from you, any available information about the source of your Personal Data.

The Right to Rectification of Inaccurate Personal Data

You have the right to request the rectification of your incorrect Personal Data and the right to have incomplete Personal Data completed. If you are exercising this right, you must prove the inaccuracy or incompleteness of your Personal Data (for example, attaching supporting documentation, etc.).

The Right to Erasure

You have the right to request erasure of your Personal Data, where one of the following grounds applies:

  • your Personal Data is no longer necessary,
  • you withdraw the consent on which the processing is based,
  • you object to the processing,
  • your Personal Data is unlawfully processed,
  • your Personal Data must be erased for the compliance with a legal obligation under EU Law or our national law.

We will make your Personal Data unusable in a manner that prevents anyone from accessing, reading out, and processing your Personal Data. We will inform you about the technique used for erasing your Personal Data.

The Right to Restriction of Processing

You have the right to request the restriction of processing your Personal Data. The restriction of processing does not relate to the retention period of your Personal Data. Methods used for restriction could include the following:

  • temporarily moving your Personal Data to another processing system,
  • making your Personal Data unavailable for usage,
  • temporarily removing published Personal Data from our website.

The Right to Data Portability

You have the right to request the transfer of your Personal Data when the processing is based on your consent or on a contract and is carried out by automated means. You have the right for your Personal Data to be transmitted directly from us to another Controller, if it is technically feasible. However, exercising your right should not adversely affect the rights and freedoms of others.

The right to Object about the Processing of Your Personal Data

You have the right to object at any time to the processing of your Personal Data, relating to your particular situation, necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or for the purpose of our legitimate interest. Objecting to the processing has an effect only on future processing activities unless you are objecting about the direct marketing, which takes effect immediately.

The Right to Withdraw the Consent

At any time, you have the right to withdraw the consent for the further processing of your Personal Data. The withdrawal of the consent shall not affect the lawfulness of processing based on the consent before its withdrawal.

The Right to Complain

You have the right to complain to the competent body (here) for the protection of Personal Data in relation with processing and protection of Your Personal Data.

Mediavine Programmatic Advertising (Ver 1.1)

The Website works with Mediavine to manage third-party interest-based advertising appearing on the Website. Mediavine serves content and advertisements when you visit the Website, which may use first and third-party cookies. A cookie is a small text file which is sent to your computer or mobile device (referred to in this policy as a “device”) by the web server so that a website can remember some information about your browsing activity on the Website.

First party cookies are created by the website that you are visiting. A third-party cookie is frequently used in behavioral advertising and analytics and is created by a domain other than the website you are visiting. Third-party cookies, tags, pixels, beacons and other similar technologies (collectively, “Tags”) may be placed on the Website to monitor interaction with advertising content and to target and optimize advertising. Each internet browser has functionality so that you can block both first and third-party cookies and clear your browser’s cache. The “help” feature of the menu bar on most browsers will tell you how to stop accepting new cookies, how to receive notification of new cookies, how to disable existing cookies and how to clear your browser’s cache. For more information about cookies and how to disable them, you can consult the information at All About Cookies.

Without cookies you may not be able to take full advantage of the Website content and features. Please note that rejecting cookies does not mean that you will no longer see ads when you visit our Site. In the event you opt-out, you will still see non-personalized advertisements on the Website.

The Website collects the following data using a cookie when serving personalized ads:

  • IP Address
  • Operating System type
  • Operating System version
  • Device Type
  • Language of the website
  • Web browser type
  • Email (in hashed form)

Mediavine Partners (companies listed below with whom Mediavine shares data) may also use this data to link to other end user information the partner has independently collected to deliver targeted advertisements. Mediavine Partners may also separately collect data about end users from other sources, such as advertising IDs or pixels, and link that data to data collected from Mediavine publishers in order to provide interest-based advertising across your online experience, including devices, browsers and apps. This data includes usage data, cookie information, device information, information about interactions between users and advertisements and websites, geolocation data, traffic data, and information about a visitor’s referral source to a particular website. Mediavine Partners may also create unique IDs to create audience segments, which are used to provide targeted advertising.

If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices to opt-in or opt-out of this data collection, please visit National Advertising Initiative opt out page. You may also visit Digital Advertising Alliance website and Network Advertising Initiative website to learn more information about interest-based advertising. You may download the AppChoices app at Digital Advertising Alliance’s AppChoices app to opt out in connection with mobile apps, or use the platform controls on your mobile device to opt out.