There is no longer any doubt that it is important to do something to reduce our ecological footprint and preserve our planet. But where to start and, above all, what small actions can be taken on a daily basis? 

First, it is important to identify the source of the waste we produce so that we can reduce or even eliminate it. This is the basis for conscious consumption and a more eco-responsible lifestyle. 

The main principles of Zero Waste according to Bea Johnson

In her book "Zero Waste, 100 Tips to Lighten Your Life," Bea Johnson shares with us the main principles of zero waste as well as many practical tips. She starts with a 5-story pyramid to illustrate her approach.  

1. Refuse: To avoid generating waste, it's important to limit everything that comes into our home. If something is offered to you, ask yourself, "Do I really need it? ". This will prevent you from cluttering up your home unnecessarily. 
2. Reduce: In order to embark on a zero waste approach, we must first and foremost change our consumption patterns. Nowadays, we worship consumption with the credo "I have, therefore I am". Don't hesitate to give second life to items by buying second hand or reselling/donating what you no longer need. 
3. Recycle: Before you throw something away, take and recycle what you can. 
4. Compost: This step can be done at home via a compost, either by adopting chickens or by taking your organic waste to a sorting center. 

Practical tips to get you started

Below we will detail the actions you can take in each room of the house. The goal is not to become perfect, but any small action is already a step in the right direction. 

Changer ses habitudes d’achat

To reduce our production of waste, it is important to change our purchasing habits. Opt for bulk, paper packaging and returnable jars. 

To limit packaging, it is advisable to buy the rawest ingredients or raw materials and process them yourself. For example, most cookies are packaged in plastic, yet flour, sugar, butter and eggs are easily found in paper containers(recyclable). While we're on the topic of shopping habits, I'm going to invite you to take a tour of your closets, stockpiles and pantries. We are in the habit of storing a good number of goods "just in case...", but this reflex causes clutter in our homes and requires packaging resistant to time and storage conditions. We are far from tending towards zero waste. So let's forget about the "3+1 free" super promos and rethink our purchases, with the zero waste lifestyle advocating to consume less but better.  

Le zéro déchet en cuisine

The second step in our transition, after shopping, is cooking. Indeed, this one is a room in which we produce a tremendous amount of waste. Have you ever filled your trash can just by putting away your groceries? So this is an important piece in your journey to change to a low-waste lifestyle. As mentioned above, let's rethink our consumption by buying less but better. This will require a small investment of time in the kitchen, but it is worth it. Work as much as possible from raw products and process them yourself. Snacks, marinades for your meat and poultry, preparation of vegetarian burgers will soon have no secrets for you. "Impossible! I don't have time," you might say. It may be time to look into the concept of " Meal Prep " or the " Batch Cooking ».

Another issue to address in the kitchen when talking about transitioning to zero waste, is the topic of drinks. Don't buy plastic water bottles anymore and opt for a stainless steel gourd or glass bottles. You can also filter tap water with carbon filters. 

Juices and milk can be purchased in glass bottles or made at home. You'll gain in waste but also in health benefits.

Le zéro déchet dans la salle de bain

Cosmetic products are a great source of waste. But did you know that it is possible to buy them in a more planet-friendly form? Bar soap, solid shampoo, solid toothpaste, solid deodorant... You can also opt for homemade cosmetics. For that, feel free to check out our articles on DIY recipes to make shampoo, scrub, toothpaste, massage bar, ...

(DIY: Make your own shampoo-solidDIY: Scrub with homemade sugar-coconut)

In the bathroom, it's not just cosmetics that are a source of waste. Toothbrushes, cotton swabs and wipes or make-up remover pads are consumables, source of plastic. But there are zero waste variants. You can buy bamboo toothbrushes, wooden Q-tips and reusable cotton makeup remover wipes. In a flash, your bathroom is transformed into a zero waste bathroom! 

Le zéro déchet dans la buanderie

Our laundry room is usually overflowing with various products for laundry, cleaning, ... Unfortunately they are all as chemical and packaged as each other. Our solution: A handful of products from which we can make all the products we need: baking soda, vinegar, soda crystals, and Marseille soap. These are found in bulk or in recyclable packaging(cardboard or glass). "Nothing more? "you might ask? And no! You will find all our recipes in the following article:

My organic household.

Astuces au quotidien

The zero waste is part of a global approach to change. For this, it is important to think about all our forms of consumption. Many people like to change their wardrobe regularly. If this is your case, consider checking out second hand sales sites. Many people sell their clothes after only a few months. Some are even new!

Also, avoid buying cheap appliances that may be cheap but have a very short lifespan. Opt for durable, certainly more expensive but you will have to change it less often! Another important point: the gifts!

While it's nice to give or receive gifts, know that many times they rhyme with "waste". You can minimize the impact bywrapping your gifts in scarvesor pieces of fabric, but you can take it a step further by giving intangible gifts or bundled gifts, getting together with several people to give a bigger gift together.

This avoids unnecessary gifts or gadgets doomed to the bottom of the drawer a few weeks after receiving/giving it and limits waste. We could continue this list of small changesbut this seemed like a good place to start. Once the process is underway, you'll quickly get caught up in the game and the next steps will follow.

As you can see, this is not very difficult, but it does require a little thought. You need to settle down and take stock of the good and bad habits of daily life. Then choose the steps that seem easiest to start with and work step by step without rushing.

Take time to appreciate each change and create new habits. And in a few months, take stock of how far you've come, analyze the contents of your trash cans, and you'll be happy to see that not only have they been reduced, but that, icing on the cake, your expense budget will have been reduced. 

So, what are you waiting for to get started?