I Guess I’m not Zero Waste
Well…I guess this depends on your definition of zero waste.
I’ve gotten “called out” in recent weeks for misleading people by using the term “zero waste.” I’m not perfect, I will fully admit that. But that has made people get up in arms at me for using this phrase.
I will admit, this phrase does seem to imply perfection. But, I assure you, it doesn’t actually mean that. In fact, the phrase and the movement were started to target businesses, corporations, governments, and the like.
The founders of this movement knew that it was not my fault for throwing away a piece of thin plastic, but rather it is the fault of the company for producing that piece of plastic in the first place, the fault of my county or state for not having thin plastic recycling put in place, and so forth. There are issues all up and down the supply chain that are addressed by the creators of this movement.
Now, that’s not to say we can be as wasteful as possible since it’s not our fault. We still have a role to play and a responsibility for our waste. We should still do our best to refuse, reduce, reuse, repair, recycle, compost, you name it. We really do need to rework our wasteful habits and think about the landfill as a last resort, not the first.
So, why do I use the term zero waste?
Because I fit the definition set by the Zero Waste International Alliance of zero waste, which is:
“Zero Waste is a goal that is ethical, economical, efficient, and visionary, to guide people in changing their lifestyles and practices to emulate sustainable natural cycles, where all discarded materials are designed to become resources for others to use.
Zero Waste means designing and managing products and processes to systematically avoid and eliminate the volume and toxicity of waste and materials, conserve and recover all resources, and not burn or bury them.
Implementing Zero Waste will eliminate all discharges to land, water, or air that are a threat to planetary, human, animal, or plant health.”
Zero waste is a GOAL
I’ve used the phrase “zero waste” since the beginning of my channels. Not only because it’s the most popular search term for this type of content, but also because you do not have to be perfect to be zero waste. Even when companies use the “zero waste” label, this means that the company diverts 90% of their waste from the landfill, not 100%. If a wasteful company like Kroger can use the label, so can I. I am much more zero waste than this wasteful mega corporation.
So, I will keep using “zero waste,” but I also use plenty of other terms such as “eco,” “eco-friendly,” “low waste,” and “sustainable,” to name a few. You are allowed to use any of these labels or none of them. It’s what works best for you.
But what I don’t want to happen is for people to think that they can’t be part of the movement because they’re not perfect. My preferred words might be “zero waste” on my channel, but that doesn’t mean you don’t belong here if you use the landfill. Everyone is welcome here, whether you are a “perfect” zero waster or you’ve only just begun with a reusable water bottle. You can still use the label if you want. You’re probably more eco than you think anyway!
But, I have fallen back
I do have to be honest, though. I am not as strict as I used to be. Back in the day, I was very harsh with myself about perfection. I never bought snacks, I would literally bring my own reusable plate to a cookout, I made so many foods from scratch, even though I hated how they tasted, I stopped partaking in all of my hobbies, and so forth. My zero waste life was quickly becoming sad.
So, I’ve cut myself some slack. If I want a chocolate bar, I’m going to get one. Granted, I will look for one that is Fairtrade certified and wrapped in paper so that it can at least be recycled, but still. If I go to a cookout, I will use a disposable plate without feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders.
That’s not to say I’ve given up. I still do many eco things, many of which I was unable to do when I first started, such as walking and biking everywhere, and shopping at the refill store. It’s important to recognize what works for you and what doesn’t in your current season of life. It’s okay to try new eco habits and give up old ones.
No, I’m not perfect. But I am still out here doing my best. It’s a fine line to walk, I get that. It’s important to remember that we have power and that our small actions truly matter, but at the same time, not let that be a means to guilt ourselves into being perfect (which is impossible) and bearing the weight of the world alone. Your choice to bring a reusable coffee cup to the cafe is amazing and does reduce waste, but the one day that you forget your cup is not the end of the world. Maybe you’ve gone vegan, but one day you didn’t read the label well and you bought something with hidden milk powder in it. That is not the end of the world.
We have to work with what we’ve got, and what we’ve got is a wasteful system that is not designed to be eco-friendly.
That’s why I think it’s MORE valuable to focus our efforts elsewhere. Yes, use your reusable water bottle, but that’s not fixing the root of the problem. I think it’s much more impactful should we all focus on making the companies more eco, forcing them to recycle their items and use eco materials, than it is for us to be stressed about if the package I buy because I have no choice but to buy it is recyclable or not and putting the blame on ourselves and one another.
We can be more eco in an eco world, in an eco society. So, let’s build that eco society.
How can we make change?
Well, start small. It’s going to be hard for you to change the minds of Coca-Cola and Amazon, and national governments, so aim closer to home. Go to a town hall and brainstorm with your neighbors about how to eco-fy your town. Maybe that’s better recycling or composting or community gardens or green spaces or community clean-ups, or public trash cans. You get the idea.
Start with small businesses that you love. Write to them, email them, call them, or tell them face to face what you want to see! Be kind, of course, but give them ideas on how they can be a bit more eco-friendly. Of course, you can write to Amazon and P&G if you want, but small businesses are already inherently more eco than big ones and are much more likely to listen to you.
And, truly, voting with your dollar WORKS. Tell these wasteful companies that you don’t like how they are polluting the planet with your words and with your actions. Stop giving them your money. They (unfortunately) listen to the money, and if it dries up, they will have no choice but to make the changes we demand of them.
All that to say, I’m still going to call myself zero waste. The haters may think I’m a liar, and they may not call me zero waste, but it’s perfectly acceptable for me to be part of this movement, and you as well, even if I’m not perfect.
I will use it interchangeably with low waste and eco, and you can use whatever label works for you or none at all. So, let us know what your preferred eco phrase is. And, don’t forget to check out the full definition of what zero waste is here.
Thanks for reading and sticking with me regardless of my imperfections. I work with what I’ve got, and I know you do the same, too. Just remember that that is not an excuse to overconsume. We have to break up with overconsumption, too, and not use phrases like “no ethical consumption under capitalism” as a cop out.
As always, remember that your small actions make a big difference in the long run :)
Emma
