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If you are looking for zero waste books to kickstart your journey, look no further!
I’m going to share with you a list of 17 books about zero waste and plastic-free living.
These books will give you tons of ideas and tips on how to live a zero waste life by making sustainable choices.
The zero waste books are divided into a few categories and are linked to Amazon:
- Some are available for free if you have an unlimited Kindle account
- Others will be free if you take Audible Trial
- Plenty of very cheap second-hand paperback copies!
Without further ado, let’s begin with the list with zero-waste books.
Zero waste books & categories:
- ZERO WASTE BEGINNERS BOOKS
- ZERO WASTE BOOKS FOR INTERMEDIATE OR MORE ADVANCED
- ZERO WASTE, OVERCONSUMPTION & MATERIALISM BOOKS
- PLASTIC FREE LIVING BOOKS
- ZERO WASTE AND FAST FASHION BOOKS
BOOKS FOR ZERO WASTE BEGINNERS:
1. A Zero Waste Life
by Anita Vandyke
INSPIRING & PRACTICAL
You just heard about zero waste, and you are curious to learn more?
Then A Zero Waste Life is a great start, as it will teach you how to reduce your waste by 80% in 30 DAYS.
The author will teach you how to make ethical and sustainable choices when it comes to shopping, eating, travel, and beauty.
The book is NOT ideal for those who know the zero waste basics, and who are already making some effort to reduce their impact.
This book is excellent for you, IF:
- you are high-level consumerist
- you like to spend a lot of your free time shopping
- you barely know anything about zero waste living
- you want to learn exciting facts about plastics and fast fashion
- you want to find beginners and practical tips on how to start your zero waste journey
FIND IT:
- FREE with Audible Trial
- Paperback
NOTES:
- The e-book version (on Amazon) is having very tiny letters, so it can be challenging to read it. It is best to choose the Audiobook/Paperback version of this book.
- If you choose Audiobook, make sure to take some notes, as she shares DIY household cleaner and skincare recipes.
2. Give a Sh*t: Do Good. Live Better. Save the Planet.
by Ashlee Piper
FUN, MOTIVATING, NON-JUDGEMENTAL
A practical handbook packed with simple yet impactful changes that anyone can do! The changes are focused around:
- your home
- your kitchen
- your closet
- Your beauty routine
- In the wild
It is ideal for both beginners and more advanced eco-conscious folks.
Give a Sh*t includes step by step guides for sustainable living, plus great recommendations for making smaller/more significant changes that can make a huge difference, and that is within your budget!
This book is for you, IF:
- You want to find the best diet that harms the environment the least
- You want to learn why recycling is good but reducing is better
- How to consume less, waste less, and feel cleaner, less cluttered and healthier
- You want to learn interesting information about animal testing
FIND IT:
- FREE with Audible Trial
- Affordable second-hand paperback on Amazon
NOTES:
- The author has edgy humor, and while some might find it entertaining, others complain that it is quite immature
- The book includes a bunch of cited facts and sources and no judgment whatsoever
3. Zero Waste: Simple Life Hacks to Drastically Reduce Your Trash
by Shia Su
INSIGHTFUL & REALISTIC
Comprehensive and funny, this read makes “zero waste” feel less overwhelming.
The book is full of practical tips, recipes, and tricks that make it very practical for everyone who is aiming to reduce the amount of waste drastically.
This book is for you, IF:
- You are looking for a great place to start with the zero-waste lifestyle
- You are looking for a quick, easy to read zero waste book
- You want to find practical recipes for things such as shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, and laundry detergent
FIND IT:
- Kindle book
- Affordable second-hand paperback on Amazon
4. 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste
by Kathryn Kellogg
SIMPLE, INSPIRATIONAL, MOTIVATING
The author, a zero waste blogger, supports baby steps, that’s why the book is full of simple and actionable steps, accessible to most of us.
Overall, it is a fantastic book for beginners, and people who know fundamental things about zero waste living.
This book is for you, IF:
- You want to get inspired to make your next zero waste swap
- You want to reduce your plastic waste but you a bunch of questions with no answers
- You want to learn more about recycling, and what can/can’t be recycled
- You are interested in DIY goods – the book offers some simple DIY recipes for cleaning and beauty products
FIND IT:
- FREE on Audible Trial
- Kindle or affordable second-hand paperback on Amazon
NOTES:
- The book lacks some sources, so keep in mind that if you want to know more, you should do your further research on specific topics
5. Less Stuff: Simple Zero-Waste Steps To A Joyful And Clutter-Free Life
by Lindsay Miles
ENCOURAGING, REALISTIC, MOTIVATING
The book outlines the entire process from getting your values in order (why you want to declutter), going through each part of the house, how and where to take everything you’re getting rid of, and how to prevent buying more.
If you already practice a bit of minimalism and sustainability, this book will probably contain a lot of things that you already know.
This book is for you, IF:
- You want to declutter your home, but don’t know where to start
- You want to get rid of things, but not send them to waste
- You are entirely new to “minimalism” and sustainability
- You want relatable, real-life examples and actionable steps
FIND IT:
- FREE with Audible Trial
- Kindle or second-hand paperback on Amazon
ZERO WASTE BOOKS FOR INTERMEDIATE:
6. Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life by Reducing Your Waste
by Bea Johns
COMPREHENSIVE, INFORMATIVE, PROVOCATIVE
The author offers both beginner-friendly and advanced ideas for living a waste-free life. Bea shares that some of her ideas are more extreme than others and that it is NOT necessary to try all of her suggestions.
This book collects everything together into quite a comprehensive guide to how you can reduce waste and become more environmentally conscious.
The author shares her journey and teaches you how to:
- go through various areas of your house
- how to evaluate what you have
- how to decide what you truly need
This book is for you, IF:
- you are just starting, and this whole idea is pretty new
- you are interested in changing essential habits
- you are open to trying some UNUSUAL practices and ideas
- you want to know how to STOP junk mail ones for all
- you want to declutter your home and get rid of what you don’t need
FIND IT:
- FREE with Audible Trial
- Kindle or second-hand paperback on Amazon
NOTES:
- Some of the ideas in the book might be considered a bit EXTREME. But it supports the claim “where there’s a will, there is always a way.”
- A lot of the information and suggestions are based on Bea Johnson’s locality, which is the USA. Just keep that in mind.
7. More from Less: The Surprising Story of How We Learned to Prosper Using Fewer Resources
by Andrew McAfee
OPTIMISTIC, INSIGHTFUL, EDUCATIONAL
The central point of this book is that 4 factors in our modern times are changing humanity for the better, and living in better harmony with the planet.
This book gives a useful framework of these 4 factors, which are: technology, capitalism, popular awareness, and government.
There is more interesting information, such as the fact that the economy is changing, as it uses fewer and fewer resources because of technological progress.
This book is for you, IF:
- You want to find how we’re starting to use fewer resources to sustain ourselves
- You are interested in finding compelling data on agriculture, paper consumption, and energy usage
FIND IT:
- FREE with Audible trial
- Second-hand paperback or kindle book
8. How Bad Are Bananas?: The Carbon Footprint of Everything
by Mike Berners-Lee
ENGAGING CARBON FOOTPRINT ENCYCLOPEDIA
The book describes the environmental impacts of a BUNCH of activities, foods, and lifestyle choices in much more depth than what you can find online.
It is an exciting way to understand your carbon footprint.
The book will give you tons of ideas on how by changing some behavior/consumption habits, you can live a more sustainable life.
The book is based more on facts; however, it is not dry, but instead well researched, and presented with a perfect dose of humor.
The book starts by explaining what the carbon footprint means; then it begins from things that have a small footprint to more significant (such as flying, volcano eruption, forest fires, etc.)
This book is for you, IF:
- To learn how much greenhouse gasses different things cause
- To find quite exciting ways to reduce your footprint. For example, did you know that a plastic bag causes fewer greenhouse emissions than a paper one?
(I don’t mean that getting a plastic bag is better, but simply that paper bags are not as environment-friendly, as they are perceived.)
- You want a massive list with information about the footprint of each one of them
- You want simple and know that known ideas to lower your carbon footprint
FIND IT:
- Paperback or Kindle
NOTES:
- Some things might be a bit outdated since the book was published a few years ago. It still is a significant carbon footprint encyclopedia!
ZERO WASTE AND OVERCONSUMPTION:
9. A Life Less Throwaway: The Lost Art of Buying for Life
by Tara Button
INTRIGUING & ACTIONABLE
Do you want to learn how to stop spending your money on THINGS, just because they make you “happy”? Then you will probably like this book.
The author shares are 10 steps to master mindful shopping, using techniques that will free yourself from external advertisement manipulations.
You can find mindfulness exercises, that will help identify triggers for impulse spending, and others, which will teach you how to prioritize spending on essential things in your lives.
This book is for you, IF:
- you want to determine priorities and identify your core style
- you want to learn about fast fashion and its impacts
- you want to declutter your home
- you don’t want to be manipulated from ads
FIND IT:
NOTES:
- The book will show you how to reduce excessive consumption and how to approach mindful living.
- It also includes how to care for the things you own, so they last longer.
10. Big Green Purse: Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World
by Diane Maceachern
HOPEFUL & INSPIRATIONAL
This book will show you that being a mindful consumer is the easiest, but most powerful way that can generate positive change.
The book will raise your awareness about environmental issues, while it will provide options for small, medium, and more significant changes and steps to help the planet.
It is an inspiring book because it reminds us that when corporations do not sell their product – they will 1) change or 2) their business will die.
In a nutshell, it will help you to believe that buyers CAN change the demand and provoke suppliers to improve their (bad for the environment) products.
This book is for you, IF:
- you want to know how your personal choices can encourage a more sustainable market
- you want to get motivated and find which little things you can do to start contributing to a greener world
- you want a list of resources for different types of green products and organic clothing suppliers (the US market)
FIND IT:
- Kindle and second-hand paperback
NOTES:
- Diane McEachern understands that not everybody can afford some of the green changes. Therefore she suggests going green when you can.
11. The Story of Stuff: How Our Obsession with Stuff Is Trashing the Planet, Our Communities, and Our Health-and a Vision for Change
by Annie Leonard
INFORMATIVE, HUMORISTIC, POSITIVE
Did you ever wonder what happens to all that trash set out on your street on garbage day?
Where does it go? What is the real cost of extraction of raw materials, production, distribution, and disposal of all that stuff?
The book talks all about it.
It shows how much our lives have changed in the past century with all these new compounds. It observes how much damage these changes have done, too.
Bear in mind – this isn’t a self-help book. Yet, it can be life-changing, for anyone who reads it.
This book is for you, IF:
- you want to see how overconsumption, pollution, and similar actions affect the world
- you want tips on how to make your stuff, your home and your community safer
FIND IT:
NOTES:
- The book is not a depressing read, even if it shares a lot of mindblowing information. The writer has good humor and points to simple examples that can make a real positive difference.
PLASTIC FREE LIVING BOOKS:
12. Plastic-Free: How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too
by Beth Terry
MOTIVATING, FACTUAL, CHALLENGING
If you are sick of creating plastic waste, then this book will be ideal for you.
Terry provides personal stories, stats about the environmental and health problems related to plastic, and excellent solutions and tips on how to limit your plastic footprint.
The guide is understandable and easy-to-read, full of ideas on how you can start cutting down on plastic use. In the book, you will be able to find lists and resources for eliminating, reducing, reusing, or recycling plastics.
You can find a checklist plan at the end of each chapter that provides information on how to take action.
This book is for you, IF:
- you are interested in learning facts, and exhaustive research on plastic
- you are up to make some exciting challenges that the author suggests
- you are specifically looking for resources, and suggestions about almost every topic someone new to living a plastic-free life could want to know about
13. How to Give Up Plastic: A Guide to Changing the World, One Plastic Bottle at a Time
by Will McCallum
EYE-OPENING, PRACTICAL, HELPFUL
This book is all about why plastic (especially single-use) is a catastrophic product and why we should avoid it.
The first pages of the book include examples of how plastic is harming the planet. Furthermore, the author provides ideas and helpful tips on how we can reduce plastic dependence in all areas of your life, such as:
- What food to buy and where to get it from
- How to reduce plastics in your home
- How to avoid plastic on the go
This book is for you, IF:
- If you know very little about ways to reduce your plastic consumption
- You want to find exciting statistics and factual reports
FIND IT:
- FREE with Audible Trial
- Second-hand paperback on Amazon
- FREE with Kindle Unlimited
NOTES:
- The author is the head of Greenpeace UK, so some of the information and tips are the UK targeted, but it is still relevant, even if you don’t live in the UK
- It is quick and easy to read with a non-judgmental or pushy tone. The author understands that it is hard to entirely give up plastic and that it depends on person to person on different economic and social aspects.
14. F**k Plastic: 101 Ways to Free Yourself from Plastic and Save the World
by Rodale Sustainability
PRACTICAL, QUICK READ, FOR NEWBIES
Are you looking for ways to reduce your plastic usage? F**k Plastic will give you 101 simple ways to cut plastic from:
- FOOD AND DRINK
- AROUND THE HOUSE
- YOUR LIFESTYLE
It is genuinely a great beginner book for people starting the no plastic revolution.
This book is for you, IF:
- You look for simple introduction for plastic-free living
- You are looking for a quick read, with plenty of ideas to begin with
FIND IT:
- Kindle or affordable paperback copies on Amazon
NOTES:
- It has a lot of ideas for anyone who didn’t think about plastic pollution
- Suitable for younger kiddos, too
15. No. More. Plastic.: What you can do to make a difference – the #2minutesolution
by Martin Dorey
INFORMATIVE, ENCOURAGING, QUICK READ
This book is a short introduction to how to start your plastic-free journey. Even though it is small, it is full of useful tips and action steps to start living (almost) plastic-free.
This book is for you, IF:
- You are quite a beginner in the plastic-free lifestyle
- You are not looking for too “in-depth” information
FIND IT:
- Second-hand paperback on Amazon
NOTES:
- Some things are more relevant to UK residents
- If you already spend some time researching how to live plastic-free, perhaps this book will be redundant
ZERO WASTE AND FAST FASHION BOOKS:
16. Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes
by Dana Thomas
EDUCATIONAL, FACTUAL, INTERESTING
This book will show what’s happening behind the scenes of the textile and clothing production chain. It demonstrates how fast fashion brands provide cheap clothing just made to wear-and-throw-away.
Fashionopolis is separate in a few parts, and it looks at the ways the fashion industry harms the environment and its employees. It also explores smaller businesses that are adopting sustainable production methods, with sustainable materials.
This book is for you, IF:
- you want to learn about designers who are trying to create more sustainable fabrics and more eco-conscious reusing of materials
- if you have a specific interest in learning about the environmental impact of fast fashion, as well as various manufacturing practices
FIND IT:
NOTES:
- The book will reveal fast fashion’s history, present, and future. The author doesn’t sound like she is judging the people who buy fast fashion. But it will inspire and motivate a change.
17. Live Green: 52 Steps for a More Sustainable Life
by Jen Chillingsworth
INSPIRING, DIY, IMPACTFUL
Another great, quick read that will inspire you to start (or continue even harder) your plastic-free life. It is a practical guide that tackles all areas of your life. It includes 52 green changes you can make to your home and lifestyle over a year.
It will teach you to modify some of your wasteful habits, how to get rid of environmental guilt (that’s a big one!), and to rediscover the beauty of living a slow, simple life.
This book is for you, IF:
- You don’t have a lot of time, and you want a quick motivating read with plenty of ideas
- You want to find lists sources of inspiration, in case you want to dig deeper
- You are just starting this journey or have been on it for a while
- You want to learn more about how to DIY cleaning products, how to declutter and hot to compost
FIND IT:
- Kindle or cheap second-hand hardcover
Did I miss a cool zero waste book? Let me know in the comments below.
I would love to update this list and to find more valuable books, with tons of information. 🙂
