The term “zero waste” freaks people out.
Here’s the thing to remember: There’s no such thing as zero waste.
Every zero waste guru has a list. A list of things they still use even though they’re wasteful. I know I’ve talked about bad days where you can’t muster up enough energy to maintain a zero waste lifestyle, but today I’m going beyond these occasional discretions to talk about what I regularly and intentionally use that’s wasteful.
Deodorant
I sweat. A lot.
When I became zero waste, I was first intimidated by what to do about deodorant. Or maybe I should specify “antiperspirant.” There are many zero waste ways to de-odorize your sweaty armpits, but none that actually keep you from sweating. So rather than submit to pit stains on every piece of clothing I own, I allow myself one plastic tube of antiperspirant that I use to the very last crumble.
If you want to make your own zero waste deodorant, more power to you. But if you’re like me and refuse to give up antiperspirant, here are a few ways you can cut back on your trash.
- Buy men’s deodorant: We’ve all heard of the pink tax but when it comes to deodorant, it goes beyond how much you pay for a stick. In my experience, women’s deodorant is not as strong, so you have to use more of it and the containers are usually smaller to give them a “slender” look so you get less deodorant for the same amount of packaging.
- Never EVER buy “travel size” deodorant: If all else fails, always buy the largest container possible. Buying in bulk is almost always the best solution when you can’t avoid packaging altogether. While a Costco size stick of deodorant wouldn’t be practical, there’s never a reason why you would need a mini-stick either. You don’t even need travel sized deodorant when you fly. The TSA allows the normal sized deodorant.
Flying
Speaking of the TSA, flying is the most wasteful form of transportation. However, I’m not going to give up traveling to faraway places just to avoid airplanes and the waste they create. In addition, I live over 2,000 miles away from my hometown, so unless I want to travel 6 days by car or 4 days by train, planes are the only practical way for me to visit family. There are a few little ways I’ve tried to cut back on flying:
- Don’t knock other forms of transportation: Flying may be necessary to get across an ocean or two, but once you’ve arrived consider thinking outside the box for getting from city to city or country to country. Buses, trains, boats, ferries, or renting a bike can be a rewarding travel experience, save you money, and be more energy efficient. Plus I find nearly all these alternatives less stressful than flying due to their lack of the aforementioned TSA.
- Make other forms of transportation part of your trip: When I went to China with my aunt, she insisted that we fly to Beijing and then take trains for the remainder of the trip, which led us all the way along the Silk Road to Kashgar. I could write a whole book on why this was the best decision we could have made (and maybe one day I will), but for now let me just say that by considering the journey as part of the vacation, we were able to experience the immense landscape from the land itself rather than flying over it in the blink of an eye.
Medical Stuff
I don’t think you should ever put yourself into harm’s way because of a moral lifestyle choice. Unfortunately, most drugs come in plastic or disposable packaging. Here are a few ways to curb the trash, if only a little bit.
- Take care of yourself: Prevention is the best way to reduce medical waste. That’s why so many insurance programs have wellness benefits. Get sleep, eat well, exercise…these healthy habits will mean less medication needed in the long run.
- Buy general medication in bulk: During my period, I need Ibuprofen once or twice a day just to function. Rather than buy hundreds of little bottles, I buy a value size and put it into smaller containers that I can carry in my purse, for instance.
- Read this article about expiration dates on medication: While you should avoid some medications that expire, a lot of them are really sell-by dates.
Condoms & Birth Control
This is really an extension of my comments on medicine above, but I’m not about to give up condoms or birth control to satisfy a zero waste lifestyle. Healthy sex means preventing STIs, which comes before preventing waste.
But honestly, using condoms and birth control goes beyond good health practices. They’re a pro-zero waste action. If there’s one thing that’s bad for the environment, it’s humans. Family planning is essential to reducing waste on a planetary level. In the grand scheme of things, a few condoms and birth control pill packages in a landfill is nothing compared to the carbon footprint of a brand new human being.
Of course, the most zero waste choice is celibacy. But my experience with abstinence-only education has taught me that expecting people not to have sex only results in more unwanted pregnancies.
Underwear
I can’t bring myself to buy second hand underwear, swimsuit bottoms, or anything else that will touch my hoo-ha. Enough said.
Remember, living “Zero Waste” is really about reducing your waste
At the end of the day, “zero waste” is just an aspiration. As humans, we are doomed to create a carbon footprint even if we do everything perfectly. And perfection is also impossible since as I said, we’re human.
If you’re as crazy as I am, you’re bound to come across naysayers who point out all the flaws in your proclaimed lifestyle and write you off as a hack. I get asked about all of the things listed above and more, but rather than give up on zero waste altogether, I see it as an opportunity to think critically before making a purchase. Is this really something I want to add to my list of exceptions, or is it something I can find a reasonable zero waste solution for?
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But What About Toilet Paper?
