When banks start offering lower mortgage rates for greener homes, and the pain at the grocery check-out seems to grow each week, there’s never been a better time to start looking around the home and the ways we can reduce waste.
There’s not a need to make massive changes all at once. It can pay to take a look at each room and see if there’s any way to make better choices.
Let’s start in the bedroom.
A Zero Waste Bedroom
If you’re thinking about upgrading your bedroom furniture, can anything be recycled? Upcycled? Donated? There’s also a range of new mattress materials that are both eco-friendly and recyclable to consider for your next purchase.
If you aren’t making the most of your heating and cooling, that’s energy and money being wasted every day. The solution could be to consider ventilation, insulation, window glazing and energy efficient bulbs.
Many fashion brands now make ethical manufacturing and sustainability a priority. It’s not often that we consider what our clothes and bedding are made of; who they’re being made by; and how they’re being made. Now is a good time to start checking labels to see if your wardrobe represents how you feel about sustainability.
A Zero Waste Bathroom
Home owners are starting to make the change from gas hot water systems and moving across to solar. That might not be in the budget right now, but checking the current system is set to the right temperature can save on energy wastage in the meantime. Comparing the length of showers against energy bills can sometimes reveal a way to reduce water waste, while also saving money.
There’s an idea that toilet paper that feels good for the environment… doesn’t feel so good when it’s being used. New products use recycled and bamboo materials to make for a more luxury experience, if you’re ready to give it another chance. Purchasing shampoos, conditioner, washes and cleaning products that come in reusable packaging can minimise the amount of plastic that heads to landfill too. Soap and shampoo bars are also a great way to reduce waste in the bathroom.
Zero Waste Laundry
Washing machines that save on water and energy can be more expensive at the time of purchase, but offer cost savings in addition to reducing wastage. Especially when combined with waiting until there’s a full load before doing the washing and using eco-friendly laundry detergents. Many of these now come in recyclable or reusable packaging, without needing to sacrifice on the quality of the clean.
Sometimes there’s no way around it, but using the clothesline over the dryer is another chance to reduce the amount of energy used. The energy rating of the dryer can help too.
Zero Waste Kitchen
Plastic containers and disposable wraps are finding that there’s now a range of replacements that are sustainable, recyclable and reusable. To keep the fridge plastic-free, Veggie Saver offers a one-size fits all crispers 100% natural vegetable storage bags that is scientifically proven to keep fruit and veggies fresh for up to 2 weeks. Not only do they reduce the number of plastic products in the kitchen, they can reduce the amount of food that goes in the bin or to compost. Keeping things colourful and crunchy until it’s time to cook.
Looking at the energy rating of electrical appliances and considering moving the stovetop away from gas and towards a solar powered electricity source are ways to reduce energy use in the kitchen too.
Practice makes perfect
As you look around your home and start finding ways to minimise waste, it is important to remember that even just trying is a great start. Looking for packaging that is recyclable or reusable immediately reduces the amount of plastic destined for landfill. Products that keep food fresher for longer reduces wastage in the kitchen and saves money at the checkout. Energy efficient appliances and solar power are becoming more affordable and are a great way to start moving towards a zero-waste home.