The #1 question to start with when choosing a zero-waste lifestyle

What is THE question?

You’ve heard it all before, I’m sure. We are overusing our resources. We are going through climate change. The temperature of the oceans is rising dangerously. It’s all old news. But we forget that it’s everyday news. We are living in a particularly interesting time experiencing this unobvious silent crisis.

What can we do?

The answer is simple: We can only do our best. How to embody the answer isn’t so simple, though. In a world where an overwhelming amount of choices surrounds us, where the norm is to have a quick solution to all our problems and a gadget to fix any inconvenience we experience, it’s difficult to learn how to do our best for the planet.

I should also mention that it’s indeed hard to remember that everything we consume is created from resources from nature. From the food we eat to the phones we hold, humans take resources from their natural state and transform them into produce and/or products that we consume. As we humans have a short life span, most products aren’t designed to outlive us. And as consumerism has become a growing problem in our society, products were even designed to have a shorter life span, to ensure people can sell more of what they make.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about creation and showing the world what amazing things you can make. But don’t you think it’s gotten out of hand? When I find food wrappers buried in the sand and coffee cups rolling down my street, I cannot help but see the neglect our society has fallen into. We have very little awareness of how our products are created, and even less what happens to them after disposal.

We have achieved “living in the present” when it comes to consuming goods.

How can we be better?

I’m glad you ask. Because we know so little about the before and after of our products, we assume that we cannot do much and we have no control. You are right, unless you’d like to start educating and teaming up with bigger companies and persuade them to change their way (in that case, please contact me, I’m all about tackling this issue). But, as simple consumers you have the power over your own consumption. One single action you can implement today to start being more aware about is to ask the following questions:

Do I really need this?

This is a powerful question. I have a bank card sleeve I’ve got from a book that asks me that very question every time I pull my wallet out. I’ve always been pretty savvy with money in term of saving. Although, in my journey to be more aligned with the planet I live on, I have noticed that sometimes I have consumed things without actually thinking. We like to think that we are intelligent beings but let me tell you, many times we fail to think in depth about the most mundane things. Here are the three main enemies when it comes to purchasing goods.

1. Emotional fix: It can be anger, despair, joy, name it. We most likely are all guilty of having caved into consuming things to feel better about ourselves, treat ourselves after an effort or a hard day or even to navigate a hard breakup. Do I really need it? Most likely, if you didn’t think about it before entering a shop, you did not need it. Leave it. Walk away. You can do it! You’ll thank yourself later.
2. Convenience: This is enemy number one when it comes to consuming goods that have a short life cycle. Disposable packaging is in all products that rhyme with convenience. When you are in a hurry, you are most likely to buy things that have a very short life cycle and that will harm the environment. Do I really need it?  Right now, yes, you need that packaged sausage roll because you are starving. But next time, you can be better and grab a few snacks before you leave the door to avoid unnecessary plastic from going to landfill.
3. Social norms: This is a tricky one. We have been raised to bring gifts to people to show appreciations and on special events. Why? Why can’t we just bring fruit? (Please, if you want to gift me something, give me fresh unwrapped produce, I’ll love you forever). We have been raised that we must give “something”. A lot of those somethings aren’t used. Think about cups. How many times have you received a cup as a gift to leave it at the back of your cupboard, dusty and lonely? To eventually send to an op-shop in the high hopes that it gets used by someone else? Don’t give people problems. Don’t give them some “thing”. Give them time. Give them an experience.

So, you really need it? No, you might not need to give a new shaving set to your father that already has 3. He’ll still love you. Take him on a hike. Help him build that shelve he’s had for weeks in his garage. Spend time with him. He’ll love you more.

In our busy lives, we must admit that everyday monetary transactions are rarely thought about. In a day, we think about the things we need to do and the places we need to be. We don’t think about our possession in that way. But this is exactly where the opportunity for change resides. When you start asking yourself this questions, you start understanding some patterns better and when you understand your patterns, you can start implementing small changes to make your life better and ultimately, make the planet a better place to live.

It’s of course arguable that a handful of plastic avoided today will not change the state of the world. And, let’s say it: change is hard! It demands us to get out of our way, give more thought to things and ultimately, its uncomfortable and can be seen as an inconvenience. But like Robin Sharma said : “Change is hard at first, messy in the middle and gorgeous at the end”. And one change you can start today is ask yourself : Do I really need it?

What’s your main enemy when it comes to consuming goods? Let us know in the comments!