Almost Zero Waste
  • Home
  • Articles
    • Zero Waste For Beginners
      • Pros And Cons Of Safety Razors (2022)
      • 6 Best Menstrual Cup For Beginners (2022)
      • Best Menstrual Cup For Heavy Flow (List)
      • How Do I Know If My Menstrual Cup Is In Right
      • How To Remove Menstrual Cup Without Mess
      • I Can Feel My Menstrual Cup: Causes & Prevention
      • 22 Surprising Things That Contain Plastic (+Plastic-Free Alternatives)
      • 26 Environmental Documentaries On Netflix (And Beyond)
      • 90 Zero Waste Tips For Beginners (Impactful & Easy Habits)
      • 11 Ways To Reduce The Use Of Plastic (+Infographic)
      • How To Start A Zero Waste Life? Top 16 essentials
      • 5 Rs Of Zero Waste: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot
    • Zero Waste Products
      • 21 Best Eco-Friendly Shampoo And Conditioner Bars (Plastic-Free Alternatives)
      • The Most Sustainable Protein Bars: numove (Review)
      • 13 Zero Waste Protein Powder Products
      • 18 Sustainable Snacks With Compostable Packaging
      • 21 Zero Waste Bathroom Swaps & Essentials (And Where To Find Them!)
      • Soyabella vs Almond Cow: Plant-Milk Machines For Nut Milk (Review)
      • Kipli Natural Latex Pillow (Review)
      • 32 Zero Waste Kitchen Products And Essentials
      • 15 Best Zero Waste Deodorant Brands That Work
      • 19 Zero Waste Vitamins & Plastic-Free Supplements (2022)
      • 6 Eco-Friendly Alternatives To Ziploc Bags
      • Toilet Paper Without Plastic Packaging: 19 Plastic-Free Options
      • 17 Best Zero Waste Books In 2022 (2 for FREE)
      • 9 Of The Healthiest Water Bottles In 2022
      • The 8 BEST Compost Bins For An Apartment
      • 10 Low Waste Products to Lower 70% of Your Waste
      • 142 Zero Waste Swaps And Essential Products
      • 46 Zero Waste Online Stores (The Ultimate List)
    • Zero Waste Tips
      • 28 Zero Waste Party Tips (Simple & Affordable)
      • 18 Awesome Apps To Reduce Food Waste, Save Money & The Planet
      • 11 Things I Still Buy In Plastic
      • 7 Easy Ways To Prevent Ocean Plastic Pollution
      • 8 Waste Disposal Problems And 8 Fantastic Solutions
      • 6 Zero Waste Alternatives to Trash Bags
      • 6 Ways To Reduce The Use Of Plastic Bags
      • How To Be Zero Waste When Living With Parents (Or Roommates)?
      • 9 Disadvantages Of Zero Waste (+Solutions)
      • How Can We Encourage People To Produce Less Waste?
      • 6 Easy Ways To Freeze Bread Without Plastic
      • 16 Surprising Benefits Of Going Zero Waste
      • Why Is Palm Oil Bad For The Environment?
    • Zero Waste FAQ’s
      • Are shampoo bars good for your hair?
      • Is Zero Waste REALLY Possible?
      • How Zero Waste Helps The Environment
      • Types Of Biodegradable Plastics
      • What Is Biodegradable Plastic Made Of?
      • Is Silicone Better Than Plastic?
      • Is Silicone Biodegradable Or Recyclable?
      • Can You Compost Pizza Boxes?
      • 4 Dangers Of Reusing Plastic Water Bottles
      • Why Should We Reduce The Use Of Plastic
      • Does Zero Waste Make a Difference?
    • Recycling Tips
      • 24 Things To Do With Plastic Containers (Repurposing Ideas)
      • How To Recycle Paper – The ultimate guide
      • 11 Types Of Paper That Cannot Be Recycled
      • How To Recycle Metal: Step-by-step process
      • Where To Recycle Old Clothes: 20 Textile Recycling Drop Off Locations
      • Can You Recycle Receipts
      • Things That Cannot Be Recycled
    • Zero Waste Guides
      • 7 Zero Waste Shampoo Alternatives
      • 15 Ways To Be More Sustainable In Everyday Life
      • 23 Best Places To Sell Used Clothes For Cash
      • 41 Best Consumable Gifts For Every Budget
      • 58 Zero Waste Gifts That Help The Environment
      • How To Organize A Clothing Swap (Guide + Tips)
      • How To Store Vegetables & Fruits Without Plastic (2022)
      • Greenwashing 101: All You Need To Know (2021)
      • Zero Waste Shaving With Eco-Friendly Razors
      • How To Save Money By Going Zero Waste ($5,337 A Year)
      • 10 Things That Pollute The Earth + Swaps
      • Apartment Composting: 7 Step-by-step guides
    • Ethical Fashion
      • 39 Best Online Thrift Stores
      • 26 Cheap Sustainable Clothing Brands
      • 15 Zero Waste Clothing Brands: Sustainable Fashion
      • What Are The Disadvantages Of Fast Fashion?
      • 29 Unethical Fast Fashion Clothing Brands To Avoid
    • Why Vegan
      • Are There Ethical Arguments for Eating Meat?
      • How To Become Vegan Slowly: A step-by-step beginner’s guide
      • 8 Environmental Benefits Of Reducing Meat Consumption
      • How Are Pigs Killed: The Brutality Of Animal Agriculture
    • Minimalism
      • Project 333: Rules & Template
      • 68 Things To Get Rid Of (Minimalism)
      • How To Become A Minimalist In 30 Days
      • 55 Things I Stopped Buying To Save Money And Waste
      • How To Be Ruthless When Decluttering Clothes: 9 Steps
      • 41 Non-Materialistic Gifts For Any Budget
  • DIY
    • 3-Ingredient Homemade Deodorant Without Coconut Oil
    • Non-Greasy Lotion Bar Recipe (Vegan & Without Beeswax)
    • The BEST Non-Greasy Whipped Body Butter Recipe For Dry Skin
    • DIY Coffee Scrub (Without Coconut Oil)
    • 7 DIY Beauty Products You Can Make At Home
    • How To Make Air Freshener with Essential Oils And Baking Soda
    • Remineralizing Tooth Powder Recipe
    • How to Make Aloe Vera Mouthwash
    • How To Make Dry Shampoo At Home: 3 Ways
    • DIY Deodorant For Smelly Armpits (4 Recipes)
    • 3 DIY Zero Waste Toothpaste Recipes
    • 36 Creative Ideas To Use Glass Jars (with pictures)
  • Zero Waste Recipes
    • Healthy Protein Sweets
      • Healthy Vegan Twix Bars (High-Protein Recipe)
      • Chickpea Cookie Dough Protein Bars (No Bake)
      • Vegan Protein Bounty Bars
      • Orange Chocolate Pea Protein Bars (Recipe)
      • Homemade Protein Bars (Low Calorie, Vegan, No Bake)
      • Healthy Vegan Fudge (5 Ingredients, No-Bake, Low Calorie)
      • Healthy Vegan Pumpkin Protein Muffins
      • Vanilla Protein Powder Muffins (Vegan)
      • Hemp Protein Powder Energy Balls (Vegan)
    • Sweet Snacks
      • Chocolate Chip Cookies In A Jar With Printable Tags (Recipe)
      • Ridiculously Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies
      • Cashew Pulp Cookies (Vegan, 4 Ingredients)
      • Old Fashioned Fig Bars Recipe (Vegan)
    • No Bake & Raw Sweets
      • No-Bake Double Chocolate Walnuts Bars
      • 4-Ingredient Date And Peanut Butter Energy Balls
      • Caramel Fudge Without Condensed Milk (Vegan)
      • Peanut Flour Energy Balls Recipe
    • Brownies & Cakes
      • Healthy Marbled Banana Bread (Vegan)
      • Flourless Healthy Pumpkin Brownies (Fudgy & Vegan)
      • Sweet Potato Protein Brownies (Vegan, Gf)
      • Healthy White Bean Blueberry Blondies (Vegan)
      • Fudgy Almond Butter Brownies (Vegan)
      • Vegan Pumpkin Protein Brownies
    • Cheesecake, Tart & Pies
      • Easy Chocolate Orange Tart (Vegan & No Bake)
      • Raw Lemon Cheesecake (Vegan, 9 Ingredients)
      • Easy Vegan Birthday Cake Recipe (No Bake)
      • Peanut Butter Pie From Scratch (Vegan, No Bake)
    • Salty Snacks & Food
      • Vegan Potato Stew (Grandma’s Recipe)
      • Avocado Spread Recipe (Raw, Vegan)
    • What I Eat In A Day (Zero Waste Vegan Recipes)
    • Nut Milk Maker: 3 Easy Ways To Make Plant-Based Milk
  • Zero Waste Swaps
  • About
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Almost Zero Waste
  • Home
  • Articles
    • Zero Waste For Beginners
      • Pros And Cons Of Safety Razors (2022)
      • 6 Best Menstrual Cup For Beginners (2022)
      • Best Menstrual Cup For Heavy Flow (List)
      • How Do I Know If My Menstrual Cup Is In Right
      • How To Remove Menstrual Cup Without Mess
      • I Can Feel My Menstrual Cup: Causes & Prevention
      • 22 Surprising Things That Contain Plastic (+Plastic-Free Alternatives)
      • 26 Environmental Documentaries On Netflix (And Beyond)
      • 90 Zero Waste Tips For Beginners (Impactful & Easy Habits)
      • 11 Ways To Reduce The Use Of Plastic (+Infographic)
      • How To Start A Zero Waste Life? Top 16 essentials
      • 5 Rs Of Zero Waste: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot
    • Zero Waste Products
      • 21 Best Eco-Friendly Shampoo And Conditioner Bars (Plastic-Free Alternatives)
      • The Most Sustainable Protein Bars: numove (Review)
      • 13 Zero Waste Protein Powder Products
      • 18 Sustainable Snacks With Compostable Packaging
      • 21 Zero Waste Bathroom Swaps & Essentials (And Where To Find Them!)
      • Soyabella vs Almond Cow: Plant-Milk Machines For Nut Milk (Review)
      • Kipli Natural Latex Pillow (Review)
      • 32 Zero Waste Kitchen Products And Essentials
      • 15 Best Zero Waste Deodorant Brands That Work
      • 19 Zero Waste Vitamins & Plastic-Free Supplements (2022)
      • 6 Eco-Friendly Alternatives To Ziploc Bags
      • Toilet Paper Without Plastic Packaging: 19 Plastic-Free Options
      • 17 Best Zero Waste Books In 2022 (2 for FREE)
      • 9 Of The Healthiest Water Bottles In 2022
      • The 8 BEST Compost Bins For An Apartment
      • 10 Low Waste Products to Lower 70% of Your Waste
      • 142 Zero Waste Swaps And Essential Products
      • 46 Zero Waste Online Stores (The Ultimate List)
    • Zero Waste Tips
      • 28 Zero Waste Party Tips (Simple & Affordable)
      • 18 Awesome Apps To Reduce Food Waste, Save Money & The Planet
      • 11 Things I Still Buy In Plastic
      • 7 Easy Ways To Prevent Ocean Plastic Pollution
      • 8 Waste Disposal Problems And 8 Fantastic Solutions
      • 6 Zero Waste Alternatives to Trash Bags
      • 6 Ways To Reduce The Use Of Plastic Bags
      • How To Be Zero Waste When Living With Parents (Or Roommates)?
      • 9 Disadvantages Of Zero Waste (+Solutions)
      • How Can We Encourage People To Produce Less Waste?
      • 6 Easy Ways To Freeze Bread Without Plastic
      • 16 Surprising Benefits Of Going Zero Waste
      • Why Is Palm Oil Bad For The Environment?
    • Zero Waste FAQ’s
      • Are shampoo bars good for your hair?
      • Is Zero Waste REALLY Possible?
      • How Zero Waste Helps The Environment
      • Types Of Biodegradable Plastics
      • What Is Biodegradable Plastic Made Of?
      • Is Silicone Better Than Plastic?
      • Is Silicone Biodegradable Or Recyclable?
      • Can You Compost Pizza Boxes?
      • 4 Dangers Of Reusing Plastic Water Bottles
      • Why Should We Reduce The Use Of Plastic
      • Does Zero Waste Make a Difference?
    • Recycling Tips
      • 24 Things To Do With Plastic Containers (Repurposing Ideas)
      • How To Recycle Paper – The ultimate guide
      • 11 Types Of Paper That Cannot Be Recycled
      • How To Recycle Metal: Step-by-step process
      • Where To Recycle Old Clothes: 20 Textile Recycling Drop Off Locations
      • Can You Recycle Receipts
      • Things That Cannot Be Recycled
    • Zero Waste Guides
      • 7 Zero Waste Shampoo Alternatives
      • 15 Ways To Be More Sustainable In Everyday Life
      • 23 Best Places To Sell Used Clothes For Cash
      • 41 Best Consumable Gifts For Every Budget
      • 58 Zero Waste Gifts That Help The Environment
      • How To Organize A Clothing Swap (Guide + Tips)
      • How To Store Vegetables & Fruits Without Plastic (2022)
      • Greenwashing 101: All You Need To Know (2021)
      • Zero Waste Shaving With Eco-Friendly Razors
      • How To Save Money By Going Zero Waste ($5,337 A Year)
      • 10 Things That Pollute The Earth + Swaps
      • Apartment Composting: 7 Step-by-step guides
    • Ethical Fashion
      • 39 Best Online Thrift Stores
      • 26 Cheap Sustainable Clothing Brands
      • 15 Zero Waste Clothing Brands: Sustainable Fashion
      • What Are The Disadvantages Of Fast Fashion?
      • 29 Unethical Fast Fashion Clothing Brands To Avoid
    • Why Vegan
      • Are There Ethical Arguments for Eating Meat?
      • How To Become Vegan Slowly: A step-by-step beginner’s guide
      • 8 Environmental Benefits Of Reducing Meat Consumption
      • How Are Pigs Killed: The Brutality Of Animal Agriculture
    • Minimalism
      • Project 333: Rules & Template
      • 68 Things To Get Rid Of (Minimalism)
      • How To Become A Minimalist In 30 Days
      • 55 Things I Stopped Buying To Save Money And Waste
      • How To Be Ruthless When Decluttering Clothes: 9 Steps
      • 41 Non-Materialistic Gifts For Any Budget
  • DIY
    • 3-Ingredient Homemade Deodorant Without Coconut Oil
    • Non-Greasy Lotion Bar Recipe (Vegan & Without Beeswax)
    • The BEST Non-Greasy Whipped Body Butter Recipe For Dry Skin
    • DIY Coffee Scrub (Without Coconut Oil)
    • 7 DIY Beauty Products You Can Make At Home
    • How To Make Air Freshener with Essential Oils And Baking Soda
    • Remineralizing Tooth Powder Recipe
    • How to Make Aloe Vera Mouthwash
    • How To Make Dry Shampoo At Home: 3 Ways
    • DIY Deodorant For Smelly Armpits (4 Recipes)
    • 3 DIY Zero Waste Toothpaste Recipes
    • 36 Creative Ideas To Use Glass Jars (with pictures)
  • Zero Waste Recipes
    • Healthy Protein Sweets
      • Healthy Vegan Twix Bars (High-Protein Recipe)
      • Chickpea Cookie Dough Protein Bars (No Bake)
      • Vegan Protein Bounty Bars
      • Orange Chocolate Pea Protein Bars (Recipe)
      • Homemade Protein Bars (Low Calorie, Vegan, No Bake)
      • Healthy Vegan Fudge (5 Ingredients, No-Bake, Low Calorie)
      • Healthy Vegan Pumpkin Protein Muffins
      • Vanilla Protein Powder Muffins (Vegan)
      • Hemp Protein Powder Energy Balls (Vegan)
    • Sweet Snacks
      • Chocolate Chip Cookies In A Jar With Printable Tags (Recipe)
      • Ridiculously Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies
      • Cashew Pulp Cookies (Vegan, 4 Ingredients)
      • Old Fashioned Fig Bars Recipe (Vegan)
    • No Bake & Raw Sweets
      • No-Bake Double Chocolate Walnuts Bars
      • 4-Ingredient Date And Peanut Butter Energy Balls
      • Caramel Fudge Without Condensed Milk (Vegan)
      • Peanut Flour Energy Balls Recipe
    • Brownies & Cakes
      • Healthy Marbled Banana Bread (Vegan)
      • Flourless Healthy Pumpkin Brownies (Fudgy & Vegan)
      • Sweet Potato Protein Brownies (Vegan, Gf)
      • Healthy White Bean Blueberry Blondies (Vegan)
      • Fudgy Almond Butter Brownies (Vegan)
      • Vegan Pumpkin Protein Brownies
    • Cheesecake, Tart & Pies
      • Easy Chocolate Orange Tart (Vegan & No Bake)
      • Raw Lemon Cheesecake (Vegan, 9 Ingredients)
      • Easy Vegan Birthday Cake Recipe (No Bake)
      • Peanut Butter Pie From Scratch (Vegan, No Bake)
    • Salty Snacks & Food
      • Vegan Potato Stew (Grandma’s Recipe)
      • Avocado Spread Recipe (Raw, Vegan)
    • What I Eat In A Day (Zero Waste Vegan Recipes)
    • Nut Milk Maker: 3 Easy Ways To Make Plant-Based Milk
  • Zero Waste Swaps
  • About
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Almost Zero Waste
No Result
View All Result

16 Surprising Benefits Of Going Zero Waste

by Merilin Vrachovska
in Articles, Zero Waste Living Tips
0
16 Surprising Benefits Of Going Zero Waste - Almost Zero Waste
668
SHARES
Share on PinterestShare on FacebookShare or Reddit

This post and the photos within it may contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link, I may receive a commission at no extra charge to you.


Have you ever wondered what the benefits of zero waste are? 

The truth is that going zero waste has unique economic, environmental, and personal advantages.

In this article, we will observe some of the most outstanding benefits of zero waste. 

We will go through: 

  1. Benefits of zero waste  
  2. FAQ:
    – What does zero waste mean? 
    – Why is zero waste important?
    – Why is reducing plastic waste important? 
  3. Conclusion 

16 great benefits of zero waste


Economic benefits of zero waste:

1. No more meaningless shopping 

One of the benefits of zero waste is that shopping becomes less frequent and automatic.

It turns into a more conscious activity. You will find many products to be pointless, and you will find simple alternatives to them.  

For example, why buy an expensive window cleaning product full of toxic ingredients when you can make a natural one by yourself?

You will need a few ingredients, such as vinegar and baking soda. 

Or what about kitchen paper towels? You can switch to cloth towels that you can reuse over and over again!

These are just two examples, but many similar ones can reduce clutter and save you money. 

Related post: How to save $5,337 by going zero waste?

2. Focus on long-lasting products 

Beyond that, it is buying only long-lasting and carefully-selected items, like clothes, furniture, and electronics.

This can also help you to save extra cash. 

For example, when I started to adopt the zero waste lifestyle, a lot of times, I asked myself: 

  • Do I need that thing? 
  • Do I have something similar at home? 
  • Is it going to last? Can I make it by myself? 
  • Can I find it, second-hand?

Often, I concluded that I could either make something by myself, I already have a similar thing at home, or I can purchase it second hand.

Each of these options saves money and helps to avoid buying useless stuff.

benefits of going zero waste

3. No more food waste 

Another principle of zero waste is to minimize household food waste.

For instance, a way to do that is to cook an appropriate amount of portions and not let food rot. 

The goal is to buy only what we need, and not what you saw at a discount or didn’t truly need. 

4. Zero waste community initiatives 

Zero waste community initiatives can incorporate useful ideas.

This can be something like composting at the neighborhood garden.

Or even tool and skill sharing to reuse and repair, which again reduces waste and costs.

Additionally, community-based zero waste strategies could redistribute useful goods to people in need, such as:

  • food to shelters
  • used furniture for refugees
  • professional attire for those entering the job market. 

5. Zero waste encourages a circular economy 

In contrast, the zero waste movement promotes a circular economy.

This type of economy is designed to be regenerative. It enables job creation while strengthening community bonds. 

Moreover, the economic potential of recovering and reselling valuable materials represents new business opportunities that can help to grow a local, circular economy. 

6. Zero waste creates more jobs 

On average, zero waste creates 10 times more jobs through reducing, reusing, and recycling than through trash disposal. 

More jobs are created in rental, repairing, reusing, and sharing businesses (e.g., car-sharing, apartment-sharing, tool rental). 

Plus, local funds are spent on local products and services, instead of going outside the community to buy imported products.

That not only saves money but also reduces CO2 emissions by eliminating transport. 

benefits of going zero waste
Clothing swap event. Photo by Elif Valeriya Martinec, @leraworks

7. Zero waste creates connections 

Zero waste creates connections with people through zero waste initiatives.

This also inspires greater community involvement, partnerships, innovation, and sharing. 

It helps you to meet like-minded people and to spark even more significant positive change. 

Personal benefits of zero waste:

8. Healthier lifestyle 

Going zero waste means fewer visits to the supermarket.

It means reducing and ultimately eliminating packaged processed snacks and foods. 

The benefit is that you will eat more unpackaged, fresh produce, and healthy bulk food items (like grains, beans, nuts, etc.).

9. Zero waste saves money 

A lot of the zero waste practices include purchasing things mindfully, DIY’s, and also shopping second-hand.

Second-hand items, as well as recyclable and reusable ones, often cost less. So, you will be able to spend less money.

Once you stop buying wasteful everyday things, you can save a lot – to be precise, up to $5,000 a year!

Imagine what you can do with that amount – go on a trip that you’ve always wanted to, enjoy new experiences, etc. 

Related post: How To Save $5,337 A Year By Going Zero Waste

benefits of going zero waste

10. Environment-friendly eating habits 

The ingredients you find at the bulk store and farmer’s market will give you everything you need to create balanced, healthy meals and snacks.

As a result, your diet will contain fewer saturated fats, sugars, additives, and preservatives. 

What is more, since meat and other dairy foods are typically pre-packaged, going zero waste goes hand-in-hand with reducing your consumption of animal products (which is ultimately better for the environment).

This will be a great reason to incorporate more vegetable protein, vegetables, fruit, and healthy fats.

Interesting fact:

Researchers concluded that the lowest carbon footprint diets are vegan and vegetarian, while the highest footprint is the omnivore diet.

One of the most effective steps in reducing an individual’s greenhouse gas emissions is to adopt a whole-food plant-based diet.

11. Getting in shape 

A side benefit that you probably haven’t thought of going zero waste is weight loss, especially in the initial transition phase.

If you are usually grabbing already-made foods and snacks, they always come with a heap of plastic or cardboard packaging.

Frequently, such foods contain a lot of sugars, fats, and a lot of calories.

So, going zero waste will require you to come up with some creative, homemade (healthier) alternatives. This can be simple energy balls, peanut butter pie, vegan muffins, etc. 

12. Creating new & good habits 

The modern world promotes and encourages a lot of unsustainable habits.

For example, we are shopping mindlessly for new clothes and new cosmetics that we don’t need.

It is driven by materialism and purchasing more and more stuff.

Instead of spending hours of your free time shopping, you can: 

– relax with a good book 

– cook something for the first time

– go on a hike or a walk 

– swim, do yoga, go for a run, etc

benefits of going zero waste

Environmental benefits of zero waste:

13. Conserves resources and reduces pollution 

The present rate of consumption on the planet isn’t sustainable.

Logging in the forests, mining for silver and gold, and drilling for oil requires loads of energy.

We create a vast amount of single-use products, which pollute our planet.

There are also often violent conflicts between indigenous communities and corporate powers. 

The zero-waste lifestyle is all about doing your part in conserving nature and its precious resources.

It encourages a shift from our linear consumption habits into more circular, sustainable ones for the sake of Earth’s preservation.

14. Supports the reduction of global warming 

Another zero waste benefit is that it reduces humans’ harmful influence on global climate patterns. 

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that about 42 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions are caused by producing goods, such as processed food and plastic packaging materials. 

Reducing, reusing, and recycling can conserve that energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

15. Aims to preserve natural resources 

The zero-waste movement aims to conserve natural resources and minimize pollution.

Reducing and reusing means fewer products are made, as people make the purchase less and demand products designed to last longer. 

Additionally, recycling is not a solution in itself.

However, it does help keep waste out of landfills and provides manufacturers with recycled materials to create new products. 

Did you know that it takes twenty times less energy to produce aluminum from recycled materials than raw materials?

So, even though recycling isn’t a solution, it has benefits, and it’s a great way to reuse the already created materials, even if they aren’t sustainable (such as plastic).

benefits of going zero waste

16. Encourages positive systemic change

Each consumer can choose to reject unsustainable, single-use items.

They can be easily replaced with reusable items, like glass or metal containers, canvas bags, reusable water bottles, bamboo straws, and utensils. 

By refusing such items, the consumers can inspire and encourage different positive systemic changes.

For example, single-use plastics are starting to be outlawed and banned in Europe and some U.S. states.

These disposable items include plastic shopping bags, styrofoam cups, take-out containers, plastic straws, and utensils. 

Benefits of zero waste – FAQ:

What does zero-waste mean? 

The goal of zero waste is to redefine the current production and consumption system, in which resources are taken from the Earth and, sooner or later, landfilled or dumped into toxic holes in the ground.

Ultimately, it is the goal of trying to send zero trash to the landfill.

It is a replacement for the standard, linear economy with its wasteful model. 

We can strive for a zero-waste lifestyle by:

  • Refusing things that we don’t need
  • Reducing our consumption to only what we truly need
  • Reusing as much as possible
  • Composting our food scraps
  • Lastly, recycle what we cannot refuse, reduce, reuse, or compost.   

Related post: What is zero waste, and how to get started?

Why is zero waste important?

The zero waste movement is essential as the goal is to break the unsustainable production/consumption cycle.

It is a radical act to boycott such ordinary, everyday things as plastic packaging and single-use plastics. 

Instead of throwing stuff away, the goal is for all resources to be absorbed fully back into the system. 

People who are adopting the zero waste lifestyle are living with the daily intention of not wasting resources.

Instead of that, they rely on buying in bulk and investing in high-quality, biodegradable products.  

As consumers, we have the power to make a change by:

  • purchasing sustainably
  • spreading awareness about the importance of reducing waste
  • supporting responsible disposing
  • implementing actions one step at a time

Why is reducing plastic waste important? 

It is important to reduce plastic waste because plastic is dangerous for our planet, humans, and marine life.

Rather than biodegrading, it photodegrades, which means it gets smaller but never truly goes away. 

Additionally, plastic production requires lots of resources in the manufacturing process.

Products and the packaging they are delivered have to be designed, assembled, packed, transported, sold, and shipped. 

These processes utilize electric energy, carbon dioxide, water, and human energy, among other resources.

If we don’t try to go towards a circular economy, new landfills will keep popping up, the litter will fly around roads and paths, and plastic will pollute rivers and the ocean. 

The ultimate goal of zero waste is to move in the direction of nature, toward a circular economy where trash is no longer a thing.

The aim is to eliminate the general production of trash through conscious consumerism. 

How zero waste helps the environment?

Zero waste helps the environment since it:

  • Reduces energy-related emissions
  • Reduces methane emissions
  • Protects our carbon sinks
  • Conserves resources and minimizes pollution 
  • Reduces plastic pollution in our oceans
  • Decreases the use of fossil fuels and polluting toxins 
  • It causes the ripple effect and provokes positive changes
16 Surprising Benefits Of Going Zero Waste - Almost Zero Waste

Conclusion

Zero waste is a fantastic movement that promotes living in harmony with our planet.

It inspires and shows that everyone has an important role to play in protecting our environment.

Adopting this lifestyle requires greater awareness, and it will take some effort.

Yet, transitioning to a zero waste lifestyle offers so many personal, communal, and environmental benefits, as we already saw! 

Even if going 100% zero waste seems complicated, you can start small and take gradual steps toward a low waste living. 

Zero Waste Benefits - Infographic - Almost Zero Waste
Pin505Share72Share
Previous Post

How To Start A Zero Waste Life? Top 16 essentials

Next Post

3 DIY Zero Waste Toothpaste Recipes

Merilin Vrachovska

Merilin Vrachovska

I'm Meri, and my goal is to share my experiences and knowledge on how anyone can live more sustainably. I share tips, guides, and different ways of becoming *almost* zero waste! You can find other topics, such as how to recycle different materials, how to make your own products, where to find fantastic zero waste goods, etc. For more information, check the About page!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About me

Almost Zero Waste

Hi there! My name is Meri and I'm behind Almost Zero Waste - a platform, where you can find how to live sustainably, where to find plastic-free goods, eco-friendly guides, and much more. To learn more, check my "About" page!

Popular Articles

  • Why Should We Reduce The Use Of Plastic - Almost Zero Waste

    Why Should We Reduce The Use Of Plastic

    788 shares
    Share 236 Tweet 148
  • 9 Of The Healthiest Water Bottles In 2022

    603 shares
    Share 217 Tweet 136
  • 39 Thrift Shops For Second Hand Clothes Online

    2436 shares
    Share 214 Tweet 134
  • 142 Zero Waste Swaps And Essential Products

    8943 shares
    Share 186 Tweet 116
  • The BEST Non-Greasy Whipped Body Butter Recipe For Dry Skin

    341 shares
    Share 114 Tweet 72
  • Home
  • Zero Waste Swaps
  • Zero Waste Guides
  • Zero Waste Living Tips
  • DIY
  • Zero Waste FAQ’s
  • Zero Waste Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2019 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.”

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Articles
    • Zero Waste For Beginners
      • Pros And Cons Of Safety Razors (2022)
      • 6 Best Menstrual Cup For Beginners (2022)
      • Best Menstrual Cup For Heavy Flow (List)
      • How Do I Know If My Menstrual Cup Is In Right
      • How To Remove Menstrual Cup Without Mess
      • I Can Feel My Menstrual Cup: Causes & Prevention
      • 22 Surprising Things That Contain Plastic (+Plastic-Free Alternatives)
      • 26 Environmental Documentaries On Netflix (And Beyond)
      • 90 Zero Waste Tips For Beginners (Impactful & Easy Habits)
      • 11 Ways To Reduce The Use Of Plastic (+Infographic)
      • How To Start A Zero Waste Life? Top 16 essentials
      • 5 Rs Of Zero Waste: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot
    • Zero Waste Products
      • 21 Best Eco-Friendly Shampoo And Conditioner Bars (Plastic-Free Alternatives)
      • The Most Sustainable Protein Bars: numove (Review)
      • 13 Zero Waste Protein Powder Products
      • 18 Sustainable Snacks With Compostable Packaging
      • 21 Zero Waste Bathroom Swaps & Essentials (And Where To Find Them!)
      • Soyabella vs Almond Cow: Plant-Milk Machines For Nut Milk (Review)
      • Kipli Natural Latex Pillow (Review)
      • 32 Zero Waste Kitchen Products And Essentials
      • 15 Best Zero Waste Deodorant Brands That Work
      • 19 Zero Waste Vitamins & Plastic-Free Supplements (2022)
      • 6 Eco-Friendly Alternatives To Ziploc Bags
      • Toilet Paper Without Plastic Packaging: 19 Plastic-Free Options
      • 17 Best Zero Waste Books In 2022 (2 for FREE)
      • 9 Of The Healthiest Water Bottles In 2022
      • The 8 BEST Compost Bins For An Apartment
      • 10 Low Waste Products to Lower 70% of Your Waste
      • 142 Zero Waste Swaps And Essential Products
      • 46 Zero Waste Online Stores (The Ultimate List)
    • Zero Waste Tips
      • 28 Zero Waste Party Tips (Simple & Affordable)
      • 18 Awesome Apps To Reduce Food Waste, Save Money & The Planet
      • 11 Things I Still Buy In Plastic
      • 7 Easy Ways To Prevent Ocean Plastic Pollution
      • 8 Waste Disposal Problems And 8 Fantastic Solutions
      • 6 Zero Waste Alternatives to Trash Bags
      • 6 Ways To Reduce The Use Of Plastic Bags
      • How To Be Zero Waste When Living With Parents (Or Roommates)?
      • 9 Disadvantages Of Zero Waste (+Solutions)
      • How Can We Encourage People To Produce Less Waste?
      • 6 Easy Ways To Freeze Bread Without Plastic
      • 16 Surprising Benefits Of Going Zero Waste
      • Why Is Palm Oil Bad For The Environment?
    • Zero Waste FAQ’s
      • Are shampoo bars good for your hair?
      • Is Zero Waste REALLY Possible?
      • How Zero Waste Helps The Environment
      • Types Of Biodegradable Plastics
      • What Is Biodegradable Plastic Made Of?
      • Is Silicone Better Than Plastic?
      • Is Silicone Biodegradable Or Recyclable?
      • Can You Compost Pizza Boxes?
      • 4 Dangers Of Reusing Plastic Water Bottles
      • Why Should We Reduce The Use Of Plastic
      • Does Zero Waste Make a Difference?
    • Recycling Tips
      • 24 Things To Do With Plastic Containers (Repurposing Ideas)
      • How To Recycle Paper – The ultimate guide
      • 11 Types Of Paper That Cannot Be Recycled
      • How To Recycle Metal: Step-by-step process
      • Where To Recycle Old Clothes: 20 Textile Recycling Drop Off Locations
      • Can You Recycle Receipts
      • Things That Cannot Be Recycled
    • Zero Waste Guides
      • 7 Zero Waste Shampoo Alternatives
      • 15 Ways To Be More Sustainable In Everyday Life
      • 23 Best Places To Sell Used Clothes For Cash
      • 41 Best Consumable Gifts For Every Budget
      • 58 Zero Waste Gifts That Help The Environment
      • How To Organize A Clothing Swap (Guide + Tips)
      • How To Store Vegetables & Fruits Without Plastic (2022)
      • Greenwashing 101: All You Need To Know (2021)
      • Zero Waste Shaving With Eco-Friendly Razors
      • How To Save Money By Going Zero Waste ($5,337 A Year)
      • 10 Things That Pollute The Earth + Swaps
      • Apartment Composting: 7 Step-by-step guides
    • Ethical Fashion
      • 39 Best Online Thrift Stores
      • 26 Cheap Sustainable Clothing Brands
      • 15 Zero Waste Clothing Brands: Sustainable Fashion
      • What Are The Disadvantages Of Fast Fashion?
      • 29 Unethical Fast Fashion Clothing Brands To Avoid
    • Why Vegan
      • Are There Ethical Arguments for Eating Meat?
      • How To Become Vegan Slowly: A step-by-step beginner’s guide
      • 8 Environmental Benefits Of Reducing Meat Consumption
      • How Are Pigs Killed: The Brutality Of Animal Agriculture
    • Minimalism
      • Project 333: Rules & Template
      • 68 Things To Get Rid Of (Minimalism)
      • How To Become A Minimalist In 30 Days
      • 55 Things I Stopped Buying To Save Money And Waste
      • How To Be Ruthless When Decluttering Clothes: 9 Steps
      • 41 Non-Materialistic Gifts For Any Budget
  • DIY
    • 3-Ingredient Homemade Deodorant Without Coconut Oil
    • Non-Greasy Lotion Bar Recipe (Vegan & Without Beeswax)
    • The BEST Non-Greasy Whipped Body Butter Recipe For Dry Skin
    • DIY Coffee Scrub (Without Coconut Oil)
    • 7 DIY Beauty Products You Can Make At Home
    • How To Make Air Freshener with Essential Oils And Baking Soda
    • Remineralizing Tooth Powder Recipe
    • How to Make Aloe Vera Mouthwash
    • How To Make Dry Shampoo At Home: 3 Ways
    • DIY Deodorant For Smelly Armpits (4 Recipes)
    • 3 DIY Zero Waste Toothpaste Recipes
    • 36 Creative Ideas To Use Glass Jars (with pictures)
  • Zero Waste Recipes
    • Healthy Protein Sweets
      • Healthy Vegan Twix Bars (High-Protein Recipe)
      • Chickpea Cookie Dough Protein Bars (No Bake)
      • Vegan Protein Bounty Bars
      • Orange Chocolate Pea Protein Bars (Recipe)
      • Homemade Protein Bars (Low Calorie, Vegan, No Bake)
      • Healthy Vegan Fudge (5 Ingredients, No-Bake, Low Calorie)
      • Healthy Vegan Pumpkin Protein Muffins
      • Vanilla Protein Powder Muffins (Vegan)
      • Hemp Protein Powder Energy Balls (Vegan)
    • Sweet Snacks
      • Chocolate Chip Cookies In A Jar With Printable Tags (Recipe)
      • Ridiculously Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies
      • Cashew Pulp Cookies (Vegan, 4 Ingredients)
      • Old Fashioned Fig Bars Recipe (Vegan)
    • No Bake & Raw Sweets
      • No-Bake Double Chocolate Walnuts Bars
      • 4-Ingredient Date And Peanut Butter Energy Balls
      • Caramel Fudge Without Condensed Milk (Vegan)
      • Peanut Flour Energy Balls Recipe
    • Brownies & Cakes
      • Healthy Marbled Banana Bread (Vegan)
      • Flourless Healthy Pumpkin Brownies (Fudgy & Vegan)
      • Sweet Potato Protein Brownies (Vegan, Gf)
      • Healthy White Bean Blueberry Blondies (Vegan)
      • Fudgy Almond Butter Brownies (Vegan)
      • Vegan Pumpkin Protein Brownies
    • Cheesecake, Tart & Pies
      • Easy Chocolate Orange Tart (Vegan & No Bake)
      • Raw Lemon Cheesecake (Vegan, 9 Ingredients)
      • Easy Vegan Birthday Cake Recipe (No Bake)
      • Peanut Butter Pie From Scratch (Vegan, No Bake)
    • Salty Snacks & Food
      • Vegan Potato Stew (Grandma’s Recipe)
      • Avocado Spread Recipe (Raw, Vegan)
    • What I Eat In A Day (Zero Waste Vegan Recipes)
    • Nut Milk Maker: 3 Easy Ways To Make Plant-Based Milk
  • Zero Waste Swaps
  • About
  • Contact