You don't have to go Zero Waste to reduce your waste

Here are a few things you can do to reduce your waste without going full-on zero waste

(Though we would love to see the Zero Waste community growing).

Our Mantra is:

• Buy less. Ask yourself: Do I need this? Does it have to be new?
• Extend the lifecycle: recycle, upcycle, give it a new life or owner
• Choose plastic-free products, choose compostable products
• Go paperless with your bank, bills, contracts
• Walk, cycle or use public transport

And here are very easy but important steps you can implement in your life:

• Use soap and shampoo bars: these days the quality of soap and shampoo bars are exceptionally good. They will reduce your waste and save you some money.

• Don't buy wrapping paper for gifts. Just reuse old paper, newspaper or drawings to wrap your gifts. The traditional Japanese Furoshiki fabric wrapping technique is beautiful and ecological friendly too.

• Shop loose vegetables and fruits on local markets and try to avoid plastic-wrapped items in supermarkets.

• Bring your own bags to shop. Our mesh bags are a great replacement for paper or plastic bags for your fruit and veg shop.

• Don't throw your old clothes away. Make your own beeswax wrapping cloth with them, use them as cleaning cloths or if they are just stained, tye-dye them and give them a new life.

• Go thrift shopping and bring your unwanted clothes to a thrift shop too. We like what these guys are doing: Circularwear. Why don't you organise your own swap party with friends?

• Did you gain weight and think your Jeans and pants are too tight? Worry no more! Get or make some waist extenders and keep wearing your favourite pair of jeans!

• Regrow your own vegetables. You can literally regrow any kind of fruit and veg. For example: cut the bottom bit of your celery off and put the stems into a bowl of water until it starts sprouting again, then plant it in a pot and watch it grow back into a beautiful plant.

• Use metal or bamboo straws if you really need to. Just keep them in your bag for your next cocktail order.

• Bring your own cutlery when you know you eat out every day for lunch. There are lightweight and pretty items out there. Check our Hippus cutlery set too.

It is fairly easy to make a small impact. But the greatest impact you could make would be to educate your friends, parents and children about waste reduction.