Let us be the first to welcome you to the Zero Waste Lifestyle and Zero Waste Community!

We’ve covered what Zero Waste is and what Zero Waste & Sustainability are, now how does one go Zero Waste?

Going Zero Waste is not about achieving perfection, it’s about making better choices and working together as a community.

There is no perfection in Zero Waste, no one is perfectly Zero Waste, we live in a world where if we work together as communities and be the change we want to see in the world, we can achieve the goal of being Zero Waste.

One thing you can ask yourself before going Zero Waste – Why are you doing it?  Why have you decided to go Zero Waste?

When we ask ourselves something, it causes us to pause, think and reflect, sometimes it can be helpful to write down the answer.  Write down why you’ve decided to go Zero Waste as it will help as reference whenever you’re looking for motivation or trying to make a decision in regards to a purchase for you or your home.

One of the first things you can do on your journey of Going Zero Waste is to look around your home and think about eliminating single use items first.

Single use items can include the following:

• Paper Towels
• Napkins
• QTips
• Disposable Cotton Pads
• Plastic Water Bottles
• Single Serve Coffee Pods
• Paper Coffee | Tea Cups
• Tea Bags
• Plastic | Disposable Utensils
• Plastic Baggies
• Plastic Wrap
• Aluminium Foil
• Produce Bags
• Feminine Care Products (Disposable Pads | Tampons)

Those are just a few of the everyday single use items we use, the list would grow to be surprisingly long if we were to include everything.

Take a look around your home and you’ll begin to notice how many single use items you actually have,

Working on replacing these items first with Zero Waste options is an easy and affordable way to begin your Zero Waste journey.

Monsieur Vrac offers the following options for you:

• KLIIN – a paper towel replacement
• Eco Friendly and Compostable Kitchen Accessories
• OLA Bamboo reusable cotton pads
• Silicone Ear Cleaners & Ear Scrapers
• Fabric Food & Snack Bags
• Reusable Feminine Care Products
• Fabric Bowl Covers
• Beeswax and Vegetable Wax Wraps
• Reusable Glass Jars
• Mason Jars

In short, we offer a great many items that can help you with your transition to Zero Waste, including beauty and hair care items that can be purchased without packaging and chosen in the amount that you would like to buy, which saves you money and saves on the amount of trash that one person | household produces.

If you have the opportunity to come into the store, take a look around or ask for a tour, our friendly and helpful staff would be happy to show you how you can transition to Zero Waste without feeling overwhelmed.

Another step in going Zero Waste is a really great free one. The next time you’re out shopping, there are a few simple questions you can ask yourself before making a purchase:

• Do I really need it?
• Is it really necessary?
• Can I make do with something I already have?
• Do I need it or just want it?

Buying less is one of the next steps in going Zero Waste, it helps reduce the amount of trash that one person | household can produce and this benefits our environment.

Being conscious of what you are purchasing and where you are purchasing it from can also help you on your journey of Going Zero Waste.

Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Compost!

Make a To Go Bag that you can take with you when you leave the house, you can include a reusable cup for your morning drink (or make your morning drink at home and take it with you) handkerchiefs can replace tissues, bring your own produce bags, take along reusable straws, there are plenty of Zero Waste options.

On a special note, we understand that during these times of COVID-19 some of these suggestions may not be an option, but do keep them in mind for the future.

Reuse as much as possible when you can, breathe new life into the old with a makeover or some fabric. Everyone loves a good DIY which we will also be covering in future blog posts. There will be lots of fun projects that you can try out at home.

Recycle whenever possible, this is an old tip and a good one. It keeps waste out of our landfills and uses raw materials to create new materials.

Composting is a fantastic way to reduce waste and help you on your way to a Zero Waste Lifestyle.

If you don’t have a compost bin or a garden, now is the time to start! Compost bins can be made very easily and can be made from materials that you probably have laying around the house. The nutrients from your own DIY Compost are better and healthier then the compost | growing agent that can be purchased from big chain stores.

If you live in an apartment, try composting and container gardening. It’s the perfect way to make use of your balcony (if you have one) or add greenery to your home if you do not have a balcony and it’s also such a rewarding feeling to grow your own food.

There are also multiple options for Zero Waste entertainment:

• Go for a walk
• Go for a bike ride
• Go to the beach
• Stargaze
• Picnic
• Cook at Home
• Build indoor or outdoor forts with your kids.
• Get close to Nature

Going Zero Waste is not only about benefitting the environment and your health, but it’s also about taking you back to living a more relaxed, simpler, minimalist lifestyle. It’s about bringing communities together toward a common goal and working together to achieve that goal, the goal of a greener, cleaner, healthier earth and lifestyle.

Take the time today and look around your home and in your cupboards, your bathroom, your bedroom – Take note of how much single use plastic you have, take note of how much plastic you have in your home, we bet it will surprise some of you.

Start making a list of ways that you can begin to replace that single use plastic and how you can start making plastic free choices and alternatives in your day to day life.

Come visit us at the store, we’re happy to help you start your greener, cleaner Zero Waste Journey!

Please feel free to leave your comments and questions, we look forward to seeing and hearing from you.

The Monsieur Vrac Team