Downsizing: Basics for Beginners

Hey, beginner! ?‍♀️?‍♂️

How wonderful that you’ve joined us on this amazing journey toward a clean and green planet. ? “Zero-waste”—or as we call it, “reductionism” (because we’re reducing waste and overall consumption—cute, right? ?)—is sure to broaden your horizons. You’ll discover that just as there’s a flower for every ailment ?, there’s also an eco-friendly alternative for every plastic product. At the same time, you’ll notice that there’s a huuuuge (really huuuuuuuuge??) amount of diverse information on numerous topics related to a reductionist lifestyle.

So you don’t get lost in the details for too long and can set off on new adventures as quickly as possible, read below for some basic guidelines and tips that are useful for every beginner (and veterans, too). ?

Plastic Fantastic

? Not all plastic is the same—from an environmental perspective, it’s important to know that mainly types 1 and 2 are recyclable (check out the image below ?).
? If plastic is biodegradable, that means it can be broken down in an industrial facility under very specific conditions—not just at home; the exception is products labeled with the “home OK compost” symbol (e.g., compostable trash bags).

What about plastic and health? ?‍⚕️

This might surprise some people, because we all sort of “know” that plastic is bad for our health. But the fact is, we actually DON’T know exactly how it affects us or to what extent it can be harmful.

Still, just to be on the safe side:

• If you’re heating food in the microwave, transfer it to a glass container first.
• Don’t expose plastic to heat, but you can freeze it without any problem.
• Be careful not to damage plastic containers or utensils with sharp objects.

Although the effects of plastic on our health are still shrouded in mystery, its effects on our environment are as clear as day, and recycling alone won’t solve the plastic problem—whetherlike it or not, we’ll have to find ways to limit its use as much as possible. ❌

?AN IDEA FOR BEGINNERS IN REDUCTION?

Instead of looking for an alternative to a plastic eyeglass frame or a label you buy once a year, make a list of ten items you buy daily or weekly and rank them based on how easy it would be to find a replacement.
Then, each month, pick one (yes, just one?) and look for an alternative that works for you. I suggest you start with the easiest one—or maybe one that will challenge you—but I’d advise against starting with the hardest one, so you don’t lose motivation right from the start. When you run out of ideas on the list, make a new one or try to improve on the alternatives you’ve already mastered.

Where to start with food?

Food is an area where “zero-waste” beginners can make a big difference . That’s because a huge amount of single-use packaging is used here, and at the same time, the changes are often actually quite simple. Below, you can read some practical tips that work for me:

Shopping:

• Choose local and seasonal produce as often as possible; it’s better for the environment, better for you, and better for your wallet.
• Buying vegetables, fruit, legumes, and bread in my own containers has already become the norm. I’ve even taken sea bream, Gouda, chicken wings, and a chocolate cake home from the store this way. And so far, no one has minded—in fact, I’ve even received some compliments . Oh, and zero-waste grocery stores already exist too . #tip
• Buy larger quantities at once; for example, swap 500-gram packages of chicken breast for 3-kilogram ones—you can get these if you ask for them directly at the fresh meat counter, since they receive them in that packaging themselves.
• In many well-stocked stores, you’ll already find a section with nuts and seeds sold in bulk.
• You can get chocolate wrapped in paper.
• You can get Coca-Cola in a can or even in a returnable glass bottle. Or you can choose healthier kombucha, which you can pour into your own bottle right at Rifuzl.
• Many home delivery services package their food in biodegradable packaging and even mention this on their websites. If you’re not sure where or what to order, pizza is a pretty safe bet .
• Don’t give up on everything—and definitely not on your favorite foods. I’m convinced there are plenty of areas where you can easily swap out the products on your shelves for more sustainable alternatives—start with these: .

Preparation and Storage:

• Use what you have. Simple, but sometimes it’s easy to forget.
• Plan your meals. Oh, I know it can be impossible sometimes, but it REALLY makes a difference—your food will spoil less often in the fridge because you won’t forget about it .
• The freezer is your best friend. You can store leftovers from lunch, vegetables from the garden that you didn’t manage to eat while they were in season, or that huge amount of chicken you bought a while back—and so much more.
• You can use vegetable peels (and chicken or beef bones) to make a wonderful broth, which you can then simply pour into small jars and store in the freezer .

Other Purchases

It’s nice to be able to make your own deodorant or cleaner, but it’s no longer necessary—many companies have listened to our desire for less waste, and now we can choose from a wide range of great solutions . You can buy deodorant in a stick, a creamy version in a jar, a refillable spray, or you can still make it yourself. The choice is yours. We zero-waste beginners are really lucky here, because zero-waste living is becoming more and more widespread, and there’s a huge selection of products available that you used to simply have to roll up your sleeves and make yourself .

And here are a few more great zero-waste alternatives for commonly used products :

• You can buy laundry detergent in a cardboard box, and some stores (including Rifuzl) have stations where you can fill your own container with powder or liquid detergent.
• Be careful when buying dishwasher tablets—even if they’re labeled as more eco-friendly, they usually still come in plastic wrappers. It’s best to use powder or gel instead of tablets and measure it out as needed.
• If there isn’t a store nearby where you can fill your own container with white vinegar, buy the largest size available at the store and, if necessary, pour it into a smaller container you have at home.
• Baking soda and vinegar are a great combination for unclogging drains.
• You can buy shampoos and soaps in solid form or refill them at a refill station.
• More and more toothbrushes are made of wood, and the most eco-friendly dental floss is made of silk.
• You can replace tampons and pads with a menstrual cup and washable pads.
• Instead of a regular razor, you can use one with replaceable metal blades and simply swap them out as needed. And if you use wax, you can make it at home from a mixture of sugar, water, and lemon juice; instead of strips, just use an old sheet cut into pieces.

How to stick with it?

It’s perfectly normal that, over time, you’ll stop paying as much attention to this; sometimes it might even seem like a hassle or too complicated. So how do you stick with a zero-waste lifestyle?

• The most important thing is to realize that a completely zero-waste lifestyle is hard to achieve. What matters is that you try to create as little waste as possible—and only you can decide to what extent that’s achievable for you!
• It’s not an all-or-nothing principle. If you buy chocolate at a gas station, that doesn’t mean you’re no longer a minimalist. One purchase where you didn’t make the best decision doesn’t mean everything else is ruined. We all make mistakes; we all find ourselves in situations where we’ve created unnecessary waste. And that’s okay—we’ll do better next time.
• You don’t have to change everything all at once. In fact, it’s better to tackle changes gradually. That way, you won’t feel like you’ve turned your whole life upside down.
• Don’t overcomplicate things!!! The simpler your solutions are, the more likely you are to actually use them. Every step counts. Even if the only thing you’re doing right now is buying fruits and vegetables in your own bags. You have to start somewhere, and over time, in your quest to reduce waste, you’ll most likely take other small steps that, together, will make a huge contribution to a better environment.

Finally, let’s emphasize that a zero-waste lifestyle doesn’t have to be a hassle—on the contrary, finding eco-friendly alternatives can actually be a lot of fun. Find out which solutions fit perfectly into your lifestyle, and you’ll be able to act in the best interest of our planet anywhere and anytime.