It’s Time To Be Optimistic – But Sadly, There’s a Dark Side To The Zero Waste Movement
This is a Guest Post by Jonathan Davies of eco-
The Zero Waste movement is gaining momentum.
We globally start to understand that the environmental situation is getting close to the point of no return, and that what we do individually does actually matter. We’re also realizing that recycling is NOT the solution, but only part of it.
That’s why more and more people are shifting towards a zero waste lifestyle. And that’s amazing!
But we live in a world driven by consumerism, and well, it looks like we can’t always fight it. Because in fact, consumerism has made its way into the zero waste lifestyle as well.
And that’s the dark side of the Zero Waste movement.
The Wrong Question
When reading blogs and forums, one question always seems to come back amongst motivated zero waste newcomers: “Now that I’ve joined the movement, what zero waste products should I buy?”.
Wrong question.
Open your books, time for a fast catch-up theory class.
The core concept of zero waste living is based on the 5Rs (introduced by Bea Johnson), that are probably stuck on any Zero Waster’s fridge by now.
Everybody knows them and yet, we tend to forget the first 2 ones: Refuse and Reduce. Even though they are the most important.
- “Refuse” is about not buying stuff we don’t actually need in the first place.
- “Reduce” is about reducing consumption of things we DO need.
How To Avoid The Dark Side of the Zero Waste Movement
The first thing to do, instead of asking “what should I buy”, is to take time to go through our belongings at home and assess if we really need everything we have.
Then, when it comes to the things we really need, it’s time to consider the next R, “Reuse”. Do I have in my possession, or can I find, anything that could do the trick instead of buying something new?
The easiest example of Zero Waste living is good old glass jars. They can be used to store items, to preserve food, as decoration or even as fancy cocktail glasses. And if we don’t have any, our friends and neighbours will have for sure.
You’ll be surprised what you can find and do with some creativity. And for even more inspiration, the internet (Reddit, Pinterest, Facebook groups…) is full of amazing ideas.
It is astonishingly rewarding to turn something old into something new.
The Broader View of the Zero Waste Movement
These before-you-buy-anything steps are fundamental, because let’s not forget:-
Why The Dark Side of The Zero Waste Movement Is No Surprise
Despite all that, people shouldn’t feel too bad about asking themselves the “wrong” questions.
We’re living in a world where consumption is praised. We’re educated in such a way that we believe buying more products is the solution to our problems.
After all, we all are guilty of feeling excited when getting something shiny and new. Therefore it’s not really surprising if zero-waste consumerism is a thing.
The excitement of buying new things is only temporary, and that feeling of happiness rapidly fades, giving way to the need of buying something else. We collect things, thinking that they make us happier – but we always end up wanting more.
This is a vicious circle, and ultimately, we certainly live with the wrong definition of happiness.
That’s why we can find many testimonials from minimalists claiming that their life is easier since they got rid of unnecessary stuff. They even feel happier!
Less is more, right?
Society is also part of the problem. Too many of us still consider that buying second-hand or reusing “old” stuff means being cheap. And amongst the ones that don’t feel that way, many are afraid of judgment.
What we really need is a friendly slap on the back. A shift in education and a reminder that it’s our world at stake. There isn’t space for that misplaced pride.
Avoid Extremism and the Dark Side of the Zero Waste Movement
Don’t read us wrong, this isn’t a hardcore anti-consumerism post, and we certainly don’t say minimalism is THE way to happiness.
When you believe it’s really time to buy something new, go ahead and buy it (and go for the eco-friendly alternative, obviously). It’s all about making clever choices and weighing the pros and cons before buying.
But let’s be honest, do we really need those fancy foldable reusable straws? How often are we actually drinking from a straw? A “No straw please” at the restaurant should be enough.
Also, why get rid of our (washable) plastics cups and replace them with a stainless steel one?
The point is, when you already have a plastic item, no need to replace it directly with a zero waste alternative. That doesn’t help.
And of course, waste isn’t the only element to consider during the buying process. As an example, we would never advocate reusing a PET (plastic) water bottle again and again, and compromise your health due to microplastics and chemicals, instead of buying a stainless steel reusable bottle.
No need to be that extreme…
And hey, as highlighted in eco- ‘s complete guide to zero waste, zero waste living is a journey and we are here to learn.
Remember, zero waste isn’t a science, there is no good or wrong way. Every step in the right direction matters.
Now, let’s try to break that consumer circle!
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Warm regards,
P.S. Don’t forget to download your free green living handbook “Live Well, Live Green” here.