• You don't have to have that – simple zero-waste rules
• what we don't have to buy if we want to be zero waste

Zero waste and reducing waste are terms that are increasingly emerging in public consciousness. Zero waste is both an idea and a social movement whose goal is to minimize and limit waste production as much as possible. While the past few decades have been a time of social prosperity and excessive consumerism, we are slowly approaching a situation where more and more of us realize that this consumer-oriented lifestyle must come to an end, as our planet's natural resources are limited.

For years, it has been said that human activities contribute to climate change and the disruption of the entire natural ecosystem. For societies accustomed to living in abundance, it has become the norm to buy new clothes, furniture, cars, or household appliances and electronics not when they break, but when they get bored and become more modern, better, and trendier. This makes it increasingly difficult to make room for the growing amount of clothing, furniture, and other waste produced each year.

You don't have to have that – simple zero-waste rules

Applying the zero-waste philosophy every day can therefore help us reduce the excessive production of unnecessary waste. It's worth knowing a few simple zero-waste rules:

• Reuse: Many items can be reused. Let's take care of the things we already have and extend their lifespan. When something breaks, don't throw it away; instead, try to repair it first. If we truly no longer need something, we can sell it or give it to someone else.
• Reduce: Less consumption means less waste. This applies to both material items and electricity and water consumption.
• Recycling: If we follow the rules of waste separation, a lot of waste can be recycled.
• Compost: Food scraps and coffee grounds can become a natural fertilizer for plants.

What we don't have to buy if we want to be zero waste

When starting our zero-waste journey, we can try to avoid buying items we don't really need but just think we can't live without. And it turns out there can be quite a few of them. Here are some examples:

• Paper kitchen towels – they end up in the trash after one use. Our mothers and grandmothers managed perfectly well without them, using traditional reusable linen and cotton cloths.
• Cosmetic pads – instead of disposable pads, you can buy or sew pads that can be used multiple times,
• Liquid soap – sold in plastic dispensers or sachets, which are usually not recycled. Instead, a bar of soap packaged in a cardboard box is a better choice.
• Shampoo in a plastic bottle – Shampoo bars packed in a paper packaging are already available in every drugstore,
• Excellent wax cloths (HYPERLINK "https://biogo.pl/pl/p/Woskowijka-rozmiar-L-36x36-cm-BeePack/37439") are reusable cloths impregnated with natural wax, with the properties of aluminum foil. They can be washed, wrapped in sausages or sandwiches, covered in salad bowls,
• Fruits and vegetables packed in foil and trays, salad in plastic bags – it is better to choose loose products packed in reusable linen bags.
• Plastic bags - let's go shopping prepared, with a supply of material bags,
• Water in plastic bottles – it can easily be replaced with tap water, and if we are not sure whether the tap water in our city is suitable for consumption, we can filter it,
• Coffee to go – these are more unnecessary plastic and polystyrene cups – we can always take the coffee from home in a thermos cup or a thermos flask,
• Foil-wrapped teas – leaf tea bought by weight in teahouses is healthier and tastier,
• Rice and groats packed in separate plastic bags of 100 g – it is better to choose a larger package,
• Sponges for washing dishes – we don't think about the fact that they're actually made of plastic every day. Eco-friendly washcloths and cloths made of bamboo, cotton, and natural bristles are available in stores.

These are just a few suggestions; there are many more. For example, you can reduce your book purchases and visit the library more often or swap books with friends. Before buying another pair of trousers, consider whether you already have too many in your closet. And if you don't wear half of them, consider donating or selling them instead of throwing them away. You can also buy secondhand clothes. Buying secondhand clothes is environmentally friendly. This gives clothes a second life instead of ending up in landfills. In this way, you also limit your purchases from chain stores where the clothing on offer is manufactured in low-income countries. Mass-produced clothing is shipped all over the world, with negative consequences for the environment. Clothing production consumes hectoliters of drinking water, contributes to water pollution, and is responsible for 10% of global carbon dioxide emissions.