This is What I Hate About Zero Waste Living
Zero waste does not equal perfection
I’ve made several posts along these lines over the years, but there is one thing that has been bugging me in particular these days: how many people think that zero waste = perfection.
Back in the day, yeah, I can see how that stereotype formed. A decade or so ago, zero wasters used to do the trash jars and sell their cars and overall just be really intense. But over the last 5 years or so, many of us have been cultivating a new movement that allows imperfection and focuses on the blame on the real culprits: wasteful companies and governments.
So over the years, inside the movement, we’ve changed to give up that perfection, but outside the movement still seems confused on what zero waste is. I cover it in full in this video.
In short, zero waste is simply reducing what you send to the landfill. The movement was created for businesses, but was co-opted by individuals. It’s not a bad goal for individuals to have, but we have to remember that even the most wasteful companies are only held to the standard of diverting 90% of their waste from the landfill. If Amazon and Kroger can do that, so can you. You don’t have to be perfect!
I’ve gotten so many comments, this year especially, from brands and individuals alike that they don’t like that I use the term “zero waste.” They want to join the movement, but they claim they’re not perfect enough. Well, neither am I! But I still fit the definition of zero waste. Plus, it’s the most searchable term, so that’s another reason I prefer the term.
I’m making this post to bust the myth that zero waste = perfection. Perfection is impossible in any movement. It’s impossible to be a perfect vegan or a perfect environmentalist or a perfect activist or perfect at your job or at school or — you get the idea.
I guarantee you try that new hobby while knowing that you won’t be perfect at it the first try…or ever. It’s the same for zero waste! You can try this lifestyle, you can join this movement, without being perfect. If you never reach perfection, that’s fine! I’ve been trying this thing for about 8 years, and I’m still far from perfect.
And there is no such thing as failure. If you try to live zero waste and don’t reach perfection, that’s not a fail. You’re still trying so much harder than most people in the world. 1% zero waste is better than 0% zero waste!
Zero waste is too narrowly focused
Another issue I’ve gotten quite upset about over the last 1-2 years is how narrow the zero-waste movement has gotten. I equate zero waste to environmentalism. As an environmentalist, I care about all things impacting our planet, not just physical waste. I care about our public lands, stopping war, mining overseas, and things of that nature. I’m not saying every environmentalist needs to care about every single thing to the same degree, but I wish more people saw how interconnected this all was.
For example, it’s totally fine if hiking isn’t your jam, but you should still understand the dire consequences of Trump opening mining on our public lands. And I know that this is not the fault of everyday environmentalists who don’t dedicate their lives to researching this stuff and getting news alerts. I see that as a big part of my job, making environmental content.
My call-in here is to other environmentalists. I want to see zero waste become more intersectional. I want to see other content creators sharing petitions on their stories, supporting Palestinians, calling for the end of wars, and things like that. All of these things impact the planet. In fact, they impact the planet much more than your single disposable water bottle.
Zero waste is too political
I did a deep dive into the history of US climate policy here. I wanted to pinpoint where this divide happened. It started with Reagan in the 1980s, widened in the early 2000s with Bush Jr, and we are now on two sides of a canyon under Trump 2.0. It feels like we may never go back to seeing environmentalism being a nonpartisan issue.
But in the 1960s and 1970s, both republican and democratic administrations started to create positive change in terms of clean air, clean water, protecting endangered species, moving to green energy, and so forth. Everyone cared about this during these times!
I’m not bringing this up to blame you or me for this; it’s just something that makes me sad about environmentalism. It’s sad that people distrust science. It’s sad that some people are willing to choose to pollute our home. It’s sad that some folks don’t want to see a clean future for their children and grandchildren.
I simply can’t wrap my mind around that some people DON’T care about the environment.
So you are welcome here no matter your political ideology…honestly, unless you’re a self-proclaimed fascist like that one guy on Jubilee. If your politics is based on hatred, I don’t tolerate hate. But if your politics is based on kindness and compassion, and we just have different views on how to achieve that acceptance and success for all people, by all means, let’s find a way to work together.
It’s seen as too hard, expensive, and boring
I get so many comments to this day that zero waste living is like a full-time job or it costs too much. Guys…this is why I started my channel in the first place! It’s in my YouTube intro: I’m trying to prove that zero-waste living can be free (or low-cost), easy, and fun for everyone. My mission has always been to make zero waste accessible.
Yes, it CAN be hard if you make it that way. It CAN be expensive if you make it that way. But you don’t have to flip your life on its head to live zero waste. You don’t have to pick up sourdough and meal prep and composting and sewing your own clothes overnight. You never have to do any of this stuff, actually, to be zero waste.
You don’t have to buy all the fancy swaps and gadgets and buy solar panels and get an EV now or ever to be considered zero waste.
It honestly makes me sad that these stigmas around zero waste still exist in the public, but also from within this community I’ve built on my socials. I got comments like this when I asked my audience why THEY hate zero waste.
If you can’t manage to make food from scratch this week and have to resort to freezer meals, you have to do what you have to do to survive. Try upcycling or recycling the packaging or focus on a different area of your life to eco-fy. Maybe it makes more sense for you to make your bathroom routine zero waste as opposed to your kitchen. Maybe it works out better for you to walk instead of driving a car, instead of stressing about giving up your cherished coffee routine.
Bringing it back to perfection, you don’t have to live the zero-waste life that I (or others) portray online. You don’t have to buy every swap, you don’t have to implement every habit, etc. Do what works for you in this season of life. My zero-waste life looks so different from it did 1 year ago or 2 years ago, or 6 years ago. Roll with the punches, work with what you’ve got, and remember that baby steps matter.
Still unsure? Check out these videos
Full playlist with over 400 ways to live zero waste for free
Greenwashing EVERYWHERE
As zero waste becomes more popular, it’s actually gotten quite problematic. What I mean is that brands wanna hop on the bandwagon. They want to make a quick buck with their falsely eco products. It’s a prime breeding ground for greenwashing everywhere!
And it can be hard to spot a true eco product from a greenwashed one. Thankfully, I have this full video guide here as well as this downloadable PDF you can check out to help you get started telling them apart. But here are a few quick tips:
Is the company transparent in honest?
Does the company have any 3rd-party certifications?
Is everything the company makes eco-friendly or just a few options?
Does the company donate any of its profits to environmental organizations?
And more!
Zero waste can be overwhelming
From not knowing where to start to looming climate anxiety (you can cope with eco anxiety here), I get it, it can be a lot to take on. So here’s my best advice:
First, focus on what you can change right now. Simple things like turning off lights, conserving water, and reusing things instead of throwing them away count as zero-waste habits that you can implement right here and now.
Second, try not to stress stuff that is out of your control. If you have to buy medication, don’t sweat it. If you don’t have access to a refill store, that’s not your fault. It can be easy to be caught up in perfection and self-blame, but we can’t let it get that far.
Third, keep learning! There are so many aspects to a zero-waste life, from shopping to using reusables to reading books to learn more. And I have the perfect place to get you started: my Zero Waste in a Year Guide. This e-book will take you through 360 days of eco living. Every month we focus on a new topic, and yes, you can start it right now. It’s not built around the calendar, so you can pick it up and put it down and restart as you need to. Not sure if this is for you or not? Learn more about the Guide here before purchasing.
Thanks for reading along! I appreciate your time, and I hope that this busts some myths and you can resonate with things about the movement that make us angry. What do you hate about the zero waste movement?
As always, remember that your small actions make a big difference in the long run :)
