Two of the main ideas behind this 1 More Month of Zero Waste is that the challenges 1) are free (or can be), easy 2) and can be modified for all levels of zero waste.
Too often the zero waste movement is focused on esthetics and buying items to look a certain way within the movement. Helping the environment through zero waste should be multi-sectional, easy and accessible for everyone. You should not have to buy anything to join the low impact movement or become more zero waste.
Another aspect of zero waste that is very important is that you will never be done with zero waste. Once you decide to start your journey, it ever ends. Even the most seasoned zero waster has more to learn and can do better.
In 1 More Month to Zero Waste, we try to achieve both these zero waste agendas.
For March, our challenge is a Bag Swap. If you are a beginner, new to Zero Waste, try switching to paper at the grocery, or try not bagging your produce before check out. If you are intermediate, try to challenge yourself to always bring a cloth bag when shopping whether at the grocery or any other shop, don’t bag your produce, or only bag it in reusable bags. If you are advanced, remember to bring your cloth bags to every shop, and try to cut out bags else where (the food you eat, the products you buy, etc…). If you have somehow mastered how to not use any plastic bags, try educating someone else or give up some other plastic item!
All the levels of this challenge do not have to cost anything. You can run out and buy cotton shopping bags, but try to find things around the house you can use instead. You can make reusable produce bags, but try using something you already have first.
Where are you in your bag swap journey?