{"id":2123,"date":"2022-02-24T09:14:28","date_gmt":"2022-02-24T09:14:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coolboxsolutions.co.uk\/?p=2123"},"modified":"2022-02-22T10:16:58","modified_gmt":"2022-02-22T10:16:58","slug":"zero-waste-living","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coolboxsolutions.co.uk\/zero-waste-living\/","title":{"rendered":"Making the switch to zero waste living"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” bottom_padding=”2%” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\u201cZero waste\u201d is a relatively new phrase in our ever eco conscious world but one that has potential to have a big impact on the environment around us. Attributed originally to Daniel Knapp as part of the Total Recycling movement, living under a zero waste ideology has been around a lot longer than we\u2019ve been saying the words, but it has only been in recent times that it has become part of normal living. Let\u2019s face it, we all like to live in a convenient world, but convenience and saving the planet don\u2019t tend to marry well, but it\u2019s definitely time that convenience takes a step back and lets zero waste come into its own!<\/p>\n

So, what does \u201czero waste<\/em>\u201d actually mean, because it\u2019s a daunting prospect for most of us when you look at how much we throw away just in our every day living. Does it mean that you literally keep every crisp packet and let them clutter up your house? Not at all \u2013 we can\u2019t just live with our rubbish, so the idea of zero waste is to recycle, repair, reuse and where possible reduce the number of items we buy in, which in turn reduces the total waste output we produce.<\/p>\n

Now we\u2019ve cleared that up, let\u2019s turn to how we make the switch from usual practices to living a zero waste lifestyle. Some people choose to address an area at a time \u2013 i.e., they may choose to start recycling if they don\u2019t already, or they may look at how much food waste they produce and reduce where possible. Others go the whole hog and aim to reduce waste entirely across all areas, which can be a big undertaking depending on your lifestyle, so really the method in which you choose to work towards a zero waste style of living depends entirely on how passionate you are to reduce your waste output, how practical it will be to try and cut waste all in one go, and which area or areas you intend to address. Even changing one aspect of how you live to reduce waste has a positive impact on the world around us, so please don\u2019t feel daunted by the prospect \u2013 as they say, \u201cevery little helps!<\/em>\u201d[\/vc_column_text][image_with_animation image_url=”2124″ animation=”Fade In” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\n

Food waste<\/h2>\n

Food waste refers to food you throw away. Not only is it hard on your wallet to buy food you then dispose of, but it also means that the energy that went into producing (and cooking) the food has gone to waste but has still had an impact on the environment regardless.<\/p>\n

For example:<\/strong> You may have bought yourself some fruit or veg which then you didn\u2019t eat, and it\u2019s gone mouldy. That fruit and veg has still been produced, it has been picked and transported, it has often been placed into packaging to be sold in a supermarket (and that packaging may or may not be recyclable), and then you may have used your car to bring it home (or it may have been delivered to your door, again by a fuel powered vehicle). All of those steps in the process from original planting to the time it goes into your bin have had an impact on the environment, and it doesn\u2019t stop there. If it goes in the general waste bin, it may or may not be sorted for composting (depends on your local council as to whether they check the waste before it ends up in landfill). If it\u2019s wrapped in plastic like many vegetables in particular are, most likely not, and then the plastic wrapping will prevent it decomposing down to biodegrade. If it does end up being transported to a composting facility, it still then has an impact on the planet in the transport. The same applies to other food items including bread, eggs, meat \u2013 we\u2019re all guilty of buying food and then throwing it away, but it is definitely time to be mindful and change this (and there is no better time than now, with the sharp increases in food prices ongoing).<\/p>\n

Preventing food waste in a few different ways:<\/strong><\/p>\n