Have you ever heard of the "Zero Waste" movement? This philosophy, that encou-rages the redesign of resource life cycles to ensure that products are reused, is becoming more and more popular and accessible in different areas of the world. But what does it entail exactly? How is it different from recycling?

　Zero Waste is a way of living, that often starts with a series of tiny changes. People who choose to adopt the Zero Waste philo-sophy have to adapt the different aspects of their lives to reduce to nothing (or close to nothing) the amount of non-recyclable or non-compostable trash they produce at home, at work, and on the go. The materials they do not need or use are removed from their lives, donated or re-used by o-thers, so nothing ends up in the landfills.

　Zero Waste is based on a few core principles: eliminate single-use items from your life (plastic bags, disposable cups, etc.), use durable containers that can be constantly re-used (glass bottles and jars, cloth bags, etc.), avoid pre-packaged and mass-produced chemical products (make your own cleaning products, make-up and personal care products, etc.), compost as much as possible, shop local and opt for organic and naturally-produced foods.

　For example, Zero Waste adepts will shop in farmer's markets and buy-in-bulk stores where they can use their own contai-ners (cotton bags, glass bottles and jars, bread bags, etc.) to pack their groceries. They will also carry a tumbler at all times, so there is no need for disposable paper cups at the coffee shop or plastic bottles at the sporting events. They will also choose to use handkerchiefs, fabric napkins and tea towels, to avoid single-use products like tissues and paper towels.

　One of the enemies that zero waste adepts are battling is plastic. They are constantly looking for alternative to plastics, even in the smallest details of their lives. For example, they will choose bamboo toothbrushes that can be compostable, ra-ther than their regular plastic counterparts. They will also opt for glass or stainless steel food containers rather than plastic ones.

 

　The idea behind Zero Waste is to manage waste in a way that focuses on prevention rather than end-of-pipe waste management. When we recycle a product, we are dealing with it at the end of its life cycle. Zero Waste aims to avoid, or reduce to the minimum, the production or consumption of items that will sooner or later make their way down the waste management cycle. In a nutshell, if we avoid using a product in the first place, it will not have to be recycled later on. By refusing to use a paper cup, we automatically eliminate the need to recycle that same cup, and by choosing to use a glass jar that can be reused countless times, we contribute to move the waste management system from a linear system (production - consumption - waste) to a cyclical one, where materials and products are used as efficiently as possible.

 

　We all know that our planet is facing some serious challenges; changes must be made to our lifestyles if we want to fight global warming and the dangers of a constantly growing global population. Beyond the benefits that the environment will reap from their eco-friendly choices, Zero Waste adepts will tell you that they also gain a lot on a personal level: they save money, connect more profoundly with their community, and live simpler and less stressful lives, where they eat and live better.

　It is understood that the Zero Waste movement is not something that everyone is willing to embrace. Nonetheless, we can all learn from this philosophy and implement small changes in our lives, to come closer to this ideal. Remember that with every plastic bag you refuse, and with every refill of your tumbler, you are improving the way materials flow through society and you are contributing to a more sustainable and responsible life for all.

　 Prof. Natalie Thibault

 (M.A.College of Liberal Arts)