an introduction to low-waste living

it seems that sustainability and low-waste living are hot-ticket trends nowadays. but what a lot of the mainstream rhetoric neglects is how inherently privileged sustainability and low-waste living is. while many bloggers and influencers preach its cost-effectiveness, the switch from using cheaper, less environmentally friendly products to low-waste or sustainable alternatives takes a lot of research and a lot of money. stores like buffalo exchange or goodwill may have bang for their individual buck, but not much can beat a cheap old navy or target sale. markets like whole foods have tons of low-waste or even zero-waste options but their prices make it impossible to shop if you're barely making above minimum wage and/or have a family to feed. the grocery stores like star market or market basket are easier to seek out and easier to afford, even if every piece of produce is wrapped in plastic.

so how can we begin our transition from high-waste, environmentally harmful living to living a low-waste, low-impact, more sustainable life? it's been a journey i've been embarking on over the last six months or so and, while my process is imperfect and flawed, i figured i would share some attainable, reasonably cost-effective ways to get started in making change.




1. metal straws

this is one of the easiest swaps to make and happens to be the one that everyone goes on and on about. carrying around metal/aluminum straws keeps single-use plastic straws out of oceans and landfills and doesn't change the taste of your beverages. aluminum straws come in many shapes and sizes, from portable/foldable to bendy, and are relatively cost-effective.

amazon: metal straws - $7.99 for 8, averaging out to around $.99 a straw.  these come with a little brush to clean them so these bad boys can really last forever. and, when you're through with them, they can be recycled.

2. mason jars, mason jars, mason jars

to be fair, i've been relying on mason jars for all of my canning, jarring, and beverage needs for years. they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and are all too easy to carry around. i bring mine to coffee shops (both for coffee purposes and water-consuming purposes), i use them to transport whatever beverage i make at home, i use them for leftovers and sauces and juices and smoothies and spices etc. etc. etc. all in all, mason jars are a really cheap alternative to single-use plastic coffee/to-go cups/plastic tupperware, they make really great storage options, and are very aesthetically pleasing.

amazon: mini mason jars $18.60 for 12 averaging out to around $0.65 a jar, 32oz mason jars $11.76 for 2 (these are most likely cheaper at places like ocean state job lot, but i've linked them on amazon for convenience sake)

3. reusable produce bags

i have a blog post on low-waste shopping at conventional grocery stores (ie. not whole foods) coming soon. but something that can be substituted regardless of where you shop is introducing reusable produce bags. these mesh baggies are really, really incredible. i can't remember the last time i used a single-use plastic produce bag at the grocery store when i shop by myself. these bags are lightweight, see-through, come in a variety of sizes, are easy to store in both your cupboard and your fridge.

amazon: purifyou reusable mesh produce bags -  $12.95 for 7 bags, averaging out to around $1.85 a bag.

4. reusable shopping bags

this, along with the metal straws, are probably the most preached-about sustainable, low-waste option. but it's with good reason! i'm a huge sucker for canvas tote bags and have an embarrassingly large collection that bring oh so much joy to my life. however, canvas bags are sometimes a little costly (ranging from $15-35 a bag), so these BAGGU bags are an awesome, cost-effective alternative. BAGGU bags fold up into tiny little pouches that can be stored in cars, purses, strollers, you name it. i, personally, have two of these that i use weekly. they fold out into really large shopping bags that can be used to pack for short weekend trips or quick grocery-store runs. these are so awesome that my boyfriend - who lovingly rolls his eyes whenever i bring up sustainability - has possession of my grey BAGGU, which i don't foresee myself getting back anytime soon.

amazon: BAGGU standard bag - $10


realistic low-waste living and sustainability is something i'll be expanding on in this space, but i figuerd this is a good place to start.

- a.