100+ zero-waste practices: Good ones

 

This entry is a continuation of what I started in my previous one: listing 100+ zero-waste practices that I've tried out myself (and a few that I plan to implement) since 2010 when I stepped on a path of simple, slow, minimalist, and zero-waste living. 

In the previous entry, I briefly discussed 39 practices (and products - without naming any brands) that I personally love. In this entry, I will focus on those practices and products that I find generally good, but with which I have some problems, too. 

These are my personal experiences. I appreciate it that some of those practices and products work well for my fellow humans. As I said in my previous entry, even my partner and I (we practise this mode of living together, and plan to run our zero-waste space together, too) disagree on some practices. 

1. Shampoo bar. Over the years, I've tried many of them, but I haven't found the one that works well for me and that I would recommend to my friends and family. Though formulations of shampoo bars seem to have come a long way, and there are so many options available, I generally find that they don't clean my hair as well as liquid shampoos do. Oftentimes, they are heavily scented, too. Those shampoo bars that are true soaps don't work well in hard water areas. I live in Copenhagen where water is hard, and shampoo bars that are true soaps leave a waxy residue. As someone living with a skin condition, I prefer my shampoo to wash off as fully as possible. Early on in the zero-waste movement, fellow humans would often recommend using vinegar rinse after using shampoo bars that are true soaps. I've tried this many years ago, and I noticed that it wasn't very helpful. I would also spend much more time in the shower than necessary. Having said that, there are several shampoo bars (formulated with detergents) that have worked well for me, but they were rather expensive, and my partner was not willing to use them. These days, I use the same natural shampoo he is using (and I'm trying out a new shampoo bar, as this is something we would like to have in our shop). At times, I use just water to wash my hair. In soft water areas, I used for my hair the same soap that I used for my body and face, and it worked well. 
2. Toothpaste tabs. I don't dislike them as much as some fellow humans do, and I use them occasionally, but I generally prefer natural toothpaste in a tube. When I was very young, my family would occasionally have powders to clean our teeth, and I liked them a lot. 
3. Cellulose sponges. I like them much more than plastic sponges, but they are more expensive and don't last very long. I try to use brushes instead. 
4. Produce bags. They were one of my first zero-waste swaps. I like solid ones made from organic cotton, and I still use them. I use them mainly for storage though, but I would use them in my own zero-waste shop too for things like pasta and beans. In the beginning of my journey, I bought many mesh produce bags, but I don't love them. Though I find them beautiful, I just don't separate my produce. And if I must, I'd rather use solid cotton pouches than mesh bags. 
5. Baskets. They are incredibly beautiful, but they are not practical here in Copenhagen. It rains often, and it's often very windy. I can't imagine using baskets in winter, either. I use cotton tote bags instead. Having said that, baskets remind me of many hours of my childhood spent in forests, foraging mushrooms and berries. They are useful for this purpose.  
6. Second-hand shopping. I'm in two minds about second-hand shopping. My partner and I buy second-hand technology (e.g., phone, camera lenses), but apart from that we avoid second-hand shopping. I find it time-consuming, and I dislike shopping more generally. I'm happy with the items I live with and don't want more or anything different. I also wear the same outfit every day, so I don't shop for clothes and shoes often at all. Finding something unique, from many decades ago, at a price of a fast fashion item doesn't bring joy to me personally. Because buying second-hand is more environmentally-friendly and often less expensive, there is a chance that a human being doesn't challenge themselves to question their thought and consumption patterns (e.g., assuming that they are not enough, or what they have is not enough). Having said that, I do believe that if a person, for example, is trying to find their style, it's better to buy second-hand. There are also plenty of things that one can get second-hand without spending too much, including craft supplies and kitchen items. And while I don't love second-hand shopping, I certainly use second-hand items (inherited, borrowed, passed on to me, etc.). 
7. Travel soap dish. They can be useful, but I often simply use an old plastic bag to transport soap, or a piece of fabric (such as a cloth diaper). 
8. Soap dish. Some of them look beautiful and can last forever, but I simply use a small plate. I don't find that my soap bars dry better in a dedicated soap dish. But if I was to invite a dedicated soap dish into my life, I'd go for a ceramic one and avoid wood and bamboo (in my experience, they don't last long and are more difficult to clean). 
9. Reusable water bottle. This was one of my first zero-waste swaps. And while I do find reusable water bottles better than single-use ones, there are many problems with them, too. In my experience, many of them (including expensive ones) rusted. I also find them difficult to clean properly and to dry fully. Insulated water bottles are very heavy for the (often small) amount of liquid they hold. Companies overproduce reusable water bottles instead of encouraging sufficient consumption and keeping the same item as long as possible. Simply put, reusable water bottles became fashion accessories. These days, my partner and I have only one water bottle, made from glass, which is my favourite material for water bottles. Oftentimes, I don't take it with me, though. Here in Copenhagen it's easy to find a place (e.g., a café) that will refill one's water bottle, and I bring a food jar with me. 
10. Cotton tea bags. While loose tea is something I grew up with and find to be one of the best zero-waste options, I have struggled to find a perfect option to brew loose tea. My grandmother used to have a tea pot where she would make enough tea for the whole family, and that worked well. My own family is very small, and my partner and I have different preferences when it comes to tea, so I look for options that allow me to brew a small amount of tea at a time. Cotton tea bags worked well for me, but they take a long time to clean, as tea leaves stick to the surface. They are also easily lost in the washing machine (it's best to handwash them), and may degrade quickly if not dried well. 
11. Well-made wooden brushes. Some fellow humans who visit my home are surprised that I still use brushes made from recycled plastic. I do it because they are very durable, inexpensive, and after a brush is no longer suitable for the kitchen, I wash it well and use it in the bathroom. This way, it lasts for many months. The next best option, in my opinion, are brushes made well from wood. Yet, they are very expensive. They don't last as long as plastic ones, either. It helps to dry them thoroughly, but it's not always possible, as I wash my dishes often. 
12. Snack bags. The ones made from silicone seem to be very popular in the zero-waste movement. And they are certainly better than single-use plastic ones. Personally, I much prefer food jars or easy-to-store snacks. When I go out, I avoid taking snacks with me that require sophisticated packaging. For example, if I go to the beach and want to take a piece of fruit with me, I would rather take a banana without any packaging than a few slices of melon in a silicone bag. Perhaps the second option would look better, more zero-waste in a picture, but the first one is much more practical. 
13. Sunscreen in cardboard packaging. Sun cream is one of the items that I struggle with when it comes to my zero-waste practice. I've recently finished a sun cream packaged in cardboard. I enjoyed using it, but it was too scented for my liking. In my pregnancy, I found it challenging to use very scented products, especially the ones that are not washed off. 
14. Safety razor. A good quality safety razor is a wonderful zero-waste swap. My grandfather's safety razor lasted for many decades, and it still looks like new. I tried it, and it was very easy and comfortable to use. It was relatively light but very well made. The safety razor that I bought when I lived in Finland was not well-made. It was too heavy, and the rose gold coating came off quickly. It started to smell strongly of metal. After an online search, I came to the realisation that it could be so that many companies buy from the same supplier (who doesn't seem to care about the durability of their product) and label it as their own product. Moreover, using a safety razor was not good for my mental health. In the future, I hope to find a good quality safety-razor, though, and give it another go. 
15. Send-back containers. Some companies are experimenting with more circular business models by inviting their customers to send back the containers to be refilled. While I believe that it's certainly a step in the right direction, I personally don't want to spend my time on sending containers back. I don't appreciate the environmental footprint of shipping. I would rather use a local zero-waste shop to refill my bottles, perhaps even with products from different companies. And I generally prefer solid products over liquid ones, especially package-free solid products. 
16. Beeswax candles. I like them much more than candles made from paraffin, which is derived from petroleum. But I generally avoid using candles in my home, both scented and unscented. I want the air in my home to be as fresh and clean as possible. 
17. Lip balm. There are plenty of zero-waste options, and over the years I've tried many lip balms that come in metal, glass, and paper packaging. While I've enjoyed using some of them, I also noticed several issues. When there is too much product in the tin, oftentimes lip balms go rancid. I prefer to use multi-purpose balms, too, rather than ones dedicated to just one area of the body or face. Something that helps me avoid using lip balms is applying to my lips the oil that I use on my face (these days it's argan oil). 
18. Deodorant in paper packaging. In my previous entry, I mentioned that, for me, crystal deodorant was one of the best zero-waste swaps in terms of packaging, performance, and longevity. I also mentioned some issues with crystal deodorants. Deodorants that come in paper packaging are, in my view, the second best option. But I haven't yet found the ones that works as well for me personally as the crystal deodorant. Some of them irritate my skin. Unlike crystal deodorant, deodorants in paper packaging are often made locally, and this is something I find appealing. 
19. Biodegradable hair ties. I use such hair ties and generally like them, especially because they can safely return to the Earth. Yet, they are very expensive and don't last as long: they stretch out very quickly. 
20. Cotton pouches for gift-giving. They can be very beautiful and last forever, but they only seem to work well when they are reused by the recipient either for gift-giving or for other purposes (e.g., storage). Some fellow humans simply keep them because they are beautiful, but they are functional items that need to be reused.