Or my first steps towards zero waste

• Use fabric bags

Like tote bags or pouches. Keep one or two in your bag for shopping and other unforeseen events. I always keep one in my handbag, especially since plastic bags were banned in shops. So, no more excuses! For those who want to go further, do your bulk shopping (that's the next step for me ^^); use pouches and fabric bags of different sizes to carry everything. And tell reluctant shopkeepers that it will save them money. (And one less plastic bag!)

• STOP advertising!

If you haven't already, stick a "STOP ADVERTISING" label on your mailbox. We are all glued to our tablets and phones; apart from non-connected elderly people, who still needs to receive advertising by post? In addition, avoiding receiving advertising also means avoiding being tempted to buy things we don't necessarily need. So, we say STOP! More info on Stop pub

• Use washable wipes

For babies as well as for removing make-up, we forget disposable cotton pads and impregnated wipes that cost an arm and a leg and are not very eco-friendly... Besides, we don't really know what's in them. We prefer washable wipes that we use with our own product (that's even better ^^) and with pretty patterns that we can even match to the colors of our bathroom ^^ In the 4 years I've been using them, I must have thrown away a maximum of 5! It's an initial investment that quickly pays for itself!

• Replace paper towels with washable alternatives

In the same vein as wipes, paper towels are a real "scourge". It's true that today it's an essential part of our daily lives for cleaning stains, absorbing any liquid, as a makeshift tissue... But there are other alternatives; such as going back to washable tissues (Grandma wouldn't contradict me!) or using reusable microfiber cloths. No more disposables!

• No more plastic bottles

We prefer tap water, with a filter if the water is very hard like mine, still or sparkling (thanks to Sodastream!) and "purer" than some well-known mineral waters (cf. UFC-Que Choisir studies). If you find that your water has a chlorine taste, try filling a glass bottle with water and placing it in the refrigerator for a few hours. Generally, this removes the taste. When you're out and about, take your good old water bottle; there are some with retractable straws, more practical for children. With sports caps and/or design, today there's something for everyone! (my favorite ^^, the GOBI bottle) Tap water is also 6 times cheaper on average than bottled water; we'd be wrong to do without it, wouldn't we?

• I make my own cleaning products

Homemade laundry detergents, multi-surface cleaners, dishwashing liquid... Today, you can find many simple and easy-to-make recipes with pantry staples. All these products are made with the same basic ingredients, which optimizes purchases and saves real money! With just a few ingredients like baking soda, Marseille soap, lemon juice, and white vinegar, you can replace all household cleaning products. Imagine the savings! Some simple recipes to test on the L'Internaute website

• I make my own homemade cosmetics

In the same vein as cleaning products, you can also try homemade cosmetics. You can also find many recipes on the web, but you should know that they require a lot of initial investment in equipment and supplies. So, if like me you want to embark on the adventure but without too much initial investment, you need to choose the cosmetic(s) you want to replace. For example, I started by testing a homemade face serum by mixing aloe vera gel (which also helps with burns, sunburns, insect bites... it's really a miracle product!) and a vegetable oil (sweet almond, or jojoba, or argan...) You can add essential oils and flower hydrosol, but it's not mandatory. Here's the recipe. I also replaced chemical deodorant, which is very controversial today, with THE homemade deodorant. Here's the video tutorial from "On n'est pas des cobayes"







You can also start by replacing shower gel with a bar of soap (for me, donkey milk soap, which is very moisturizing), usually without unnecessary packaging, lasts longer, is more eco-friendly (and above all, is less aggressive on my dry skin). I even managed to convert the whole family and we've reduced the number of bottles around the bathtub ^^. Little by little, it's possible to change your habits to reduce your daily waste. It makes you want to get started, doesn't it?

And you? What are your little "zero waste" tips?

Leave me your comments, so we can expand the list ^^