The Ultimate Zero Waste Swaps for Beginners (or anyone!)
It’s been nearly 6 months since I’ve done a low-waste swaps for beginners round-up. This is a great time of year to reevaluate your eco goals and see what new changes you can implement into your life. So, let’s get into 20 more zero-waste swaps for beginners, but really, anyone can try these whether you’re starting your zero-waste journey today or you’ve been living an eco-life for a few years. If I missed any good ones, let us know below, and don’t forget to check out part one here.
Deodorant in cardboard or refillable
Deodorant is something we all use every day and their containers are usually not accepted for recycling making them quite unsustainable. But, we want to be stink-free. Here are my favorite options:
Wild deodorant refills in their reusable deodorant case (use code WILDSIMPLE)
Native deodorant in cardboard
Bar soap for everything: hands, dishes, body, shaving
That’s right, there is a bar soap for everything! In part one, we talked about shampoo and conditioner bars but let’s talk more about the other options. I think it’s pretty common for people to use bar soap and body soap in bar form so if you haven’t tried that yet, you can find some just about anywhere. This is really popular to find from small and local businesses so try to find one near you!
But, there are other kinds, too! First, a dish soap bar. I like this one from Earth Hero. It’s not my favorite way to wash dishes, but I get the hype. It’s waterless, comes in recyclable or compostable packaging, and is easy to use with a sponge, brush, or rag. It’s not all that common, but it’s a fun one to try out!
You can also try a shave soap bar. Traditionally created for men’s facial shaving, it works for any area as a low-waste shaving cream. You rub it with a shaving cream brush and it turns super foamy. Apply with the brush and shave as normal.
Lotion bars are also unique but quite popular in the zero-waste world. It’s a concentrated, solid lotion that melts just enough when you rub it on your body. It’s waterless, comes in paper packaging, and makes carrying lotion on a plane a breeze.
You can also get solid perfume and cologne! It usually comes in tins which are recyclable or compostable and is super easy to use. Here’s one from Lush.
Library card
This should be my #1 swap of all time. I love libraries. Of course, what they’re most known for, they provide free books. Not only do they provide free books in person, but also digitally through apps like Hoopla and Libby. But, they also provide more than books: magazines, board games, digital games, printers, computers to use, and sometimes other things to borrow like tools, craft supplies, and they even host classes and events. They are a true gem in this capitalist world so get your library card to support them, save money, and reduce waste.
Image from Squarespace
Learn how to mend
Another skill that is very important to a zero-waste lifestyle is learning how to mend. This could be fixing small holes and rips and even sewing buttons back on garments. You don’t have to become a full-on seamstress, just learn the basics of sewing so that you can fix minor malfunctions in your clothing. My mom taught me as a child but I’m sure there’s plenty of good tutorials on YouTube!
Period swaps
Reusable period products are easily one of my favorite zero swaps ever. For me, my favorite is period underwear as well as menstrual discs. I’m sure you’re sick of hearing me say this, but this swap, of course, will save you money and save waste. According to the National Health Institute, on average, a person menstruates from 13 to 51 years, every 28 days, with a 3 to 7-day range meaning over 10,000 menstrual products in their lifetime. Think of how much money you can save as well as the vast amount of waste you can save by switching to reusable products.
Here are my favorite brands:
Modibodi period underwear
Period. Co period underwear
Saalt menstrual cup and disc
Hankies
It might be bold to put this as the first one in this category since some folks find this one gross and weird, but it’s one of my favorite swaps that I wish I tried sooner! Now, when I’m really sick, I use regular tissues as I simply cannot keep up with that much laundry while I’m sick, but for everyday use, they’re amazing. I use them on my nose, of course, but also to take off makeup, wipe my face, clean my glasses, and clean my reusable floss pick (that’s a swap for another day, I couldn’t possibly fit every swap in this post).
Anyway, don’t knock it til you try it! I love this swap. My favorite brand is Boaty but these are super easy to make yourself out of an old t-shirt.
Try composting
Composting is one of the most important things that I think we can do as individuals when it comes to climate change. Sending food to the landfill creates a vast amount of methane. You can learn more about the environmental impact of food waste in this video. There are also so many different ways to compost from worm bins to a compost pile to a composter machine to compost pick up from your city. Find what works best for you, and you can learn more about the different ways to compost in this video.
Try some vegan food
Speaking of really impactful individual actions, cutting out some meat, dairy, and eggs from your everyday diet can actually have a really big impact on the planet. Animal products are the most environmentally intense foods that we can consume so the fewer that we consume the better for the planet you can go fully vegan or vegetarian or just cut out a little bit here and there such as doing meatless Mondays or choosing one vegan meal per day who knows you might try a new food and learn to like new things.
Learn how to spot greenwashing and avoid it
While you’re at it, also learn about greenwashing, what it is, and how to avoid it. In short, greenwashing is companies trying to be more eco-friendly than they actually are and marketing themselves that way to get more sales. It’s sneaky and dirty. So, watch out for it! You can learn more about greenwashing in this video and download my free guide to spotting greenwashing here.
Change your coffee or tea routine
If you’re a coffee or tea drinker, change up your routine to reduce some waste. Traditionally, coffee and tea can be kind of wasteful even if you do make it at home in the form of tea bags, K cups, and coffee filters. A lot of the stuff surprisingly has plastic in it and cannot be recycled or composted. Instead use a reusable K-cup, a French press, a reusable coffee filter, looseleaf tea, and a reusable tea infuser. You can also do tea and a French press. And if you decide to get coffee out and about make sure that you bring a reusable cup.
Line-dry your clothes
One of my favorite zero-waste swaps of all time is line drying my clothes. I just found it so much fun to hang them up and I feel like they lasted a lot longer. When we had to switch back to using a washer and dryer living in an RV park, I found out my clothes were fading so much faster drying them on high heat. And using a laundromat it’s not always possible to change your heat settings. Anyway, I love this swap because it saves electricity which also means we’re saving money as well. And as I said, it can also help reduce wear and tear on your clothing. If you’re a homeowner or even a renter (we just put one up without asking) you might be able to raise one outside, but that may not always be the best-case scenario, you could also just get an indoor drying rack to use as well.
Want more zero waste laundry swaps? Check out this full guide to low waste laundry!
Plan your grocery list
I’m no meal-prepper but I am a meal planner. I like to know exactly what I need at the grocery store to, surprise surprise, save money and waste. If I went to the grocery store without a plan, the chances of some of that food going to waste is much higher than buying exactly what I need for the week and exactly what I have a plan to use that week. And, food waste is literally throwing money away! Learn more about the importance of not wasting food in this video.
Learn to avoid impulse purchases
Something very important about living zero waste that I don’t think people think about enough is to resist impulse purchases. Of course, once again, this can save you money but also waste. If you buy things that you don’t truly need or want, they will go to waste. Sure, you might donate them but thrift stores shouldn’t be the solution. Instead, we should try to avoid impulse purchases. My favorite way to do this is when I think of something that I want, I write it down and if I think about it over and over again that means I truly want it and will use it. But if I never think about it again, it was just an impulse so ask yourself next time do I actually want this? Will I actually use it and what will I do with it when I’m done with it?
Rechargeable batteries
Think about how many things in your life use batteries, I can name a handful! And batteries can get pricey especially if you have to change them often like I do in my Bluetooth mouse for example. Instead, try rechargeable. It’s a bit of a cost up front, but it really can save so much waste and money over the long run. Especially since batteries are hard to and not common to recycle, it’s best to choose a reusable option when you can! They’re quite common to find in places like Walmart and Best Buy, but if you want to buy them online, you can shop here (sorry, there really isn’t a great sustainable brand that makes them, so even if it’s not perfect, it’s much better).
Silicone baking mat
This is great for bakers and chefs alike. It’s great for cookies, dehydrating fruits, oven-roasting veggies, and so much more. It replaces tin foil or parchment paper. Yes, foil is recyclable (when clean) but it’s better to reduce than it is to recycle. Plus, it will just simply save you money over the long run! Plus, they’re dishwasher safe so they’re very easy to clean and overall easy to use.
Tip: don’t cut anything on these mats! Slide it off before cutting, these mats shred easily :(
Compostable phone case and other tech accessories
This is a great and easy swap but it’s probably not necessary for everyone right at this moment. If you have a functioning and sound phone case (air pod case, iPad case, etc) use that until it’s broken and no longer useable. Only then when you need one, opt for a compostable one. I like Pela Case, I’ve used them for years and never broken a phone by dropping it, only by running it over with our RV lol. That’s my own fault, though. And, they truly decompose, check out this video here!
Plastic-free makeup
Once your current make-up runs out or expires, it’s time to opt for plastic-free and eco make-up, which thankfully is very easy to find these days. I personally like Axiology the best. It’s great quality, multi-purpose from lips to lids to cheeks, and it comes in small, recyclable packaging. It’s amazing! Here are some more options to check out.
Bring reusable containers for takeout
Among the list of reusables I think every eco person should own is a good set of containers to take when you go out. It’s perfect for take-out, leftovers, or if you stop by a bakery and need to take some sweets home. I personally like Stojo the best because they’re light and compressed which is great for traveling but they’re also not breakable and dishwasher safe. They check all the boxes for me. But, if you want nice metal tins, I also like EcoLunchBox. But, you can also just use what you already have at home if it’s easy for you.
Propagate plants
It’s surprisingly easy to make new plants out of your old plants, especially vine plants like Pothos and Inch Plants. But, you can literally propagate anything with a little education and patience, even herbs! So, quit buying plants and plant pots and use what you have or thrift pots.
Eco sunscreen
Sunscreen is such an easy swap. It’s so similar to regular sunscreen except it comes in eco packaging and is made with healthy and eco ingredients. Otherwise you apply it the same! I have a full review on YouTube from 3 years ago (that is crazy it’s been that long) but I want to make another part since there are so many other brands out there. Should I do that soon?
And that’s it! Thanks for reading along, I hope you found this helpful or inspirational. Have some more good eco swaps for beginners? Leave them below and I’ll make part three in another few months.
As always, remember that your small actions make a big difference in the long run :)
Emma
