We can all play our part when it comes to saving our planet and reducing plastic waste.
And, a simple change can mean so much, especially if we focus on reducing the waste we create. Though it may sound impossible at first, this family shows that it’s more than doable.
Together with her partner and their two children, the 41-year-old Esther Penarrubia embraced the zero waste lifestyle and they’ve done weeks without producing a single piece of waste.
In the past month, the only things that the family had to throw into the bin were a party balloon, the backing from a sticker sheet, an old T-shirt with which she cleaned their shoes, and one broken toy.
Repurposing Is Important, Says the Zero Waste Family
The family always repurposes and reuses what they can. They’ve also found their alternatives to single-use things.
The family lives in Girona, Catalonia and they made the decision to go minimal when they moved to another house. From that day on, they stopped buying tin foil and cling film and bought things in bulk or from second-hand shops.
Esther explains that there are plenty of reusable items that they had to buy just once so it’s a waste of time and funds to buy the single-use options. It’s much cheaper to go with the reusable ones.
These items will keep being used rather than put aside or even worse, thrown away.
Every Person Plays a Role in Creating a Cleaner Environment
The zero-waste family believes every person can contribute to a cleaner planet. And, it’s much more enjoyable to be helpful, rather than to complain that the current situation isn’t good.
The family’s food leftovers go into their compost bin whereas their glass containers are washed and reused.
By doing this, the family produces a minimal amount of waste. Esther is trying to avoid buying plastic at all; however, when she does it, it’s something like a 5-liter olive oil bottle that she later washes and repurposes.
The parents are proud of their five-year-old and seven-year-old kids who’re learning the benefits of recycling and repurposing. They’re taught how to minimize their waste and how life can be much better without single-use plastics.
The family goes on forest walks on a regular basis and when they spot waste, they pick it up and the kids are taught why this is important. They put on their gloves and it’s all fun and games, all while keeping their environment clean.
They have their own veggie garden and she purchases the other food items they need from local suppliers in bulk every week. Their presents are wrapped in reusable cloth instead of paper and there are rarely plastic toys.
If any do come into their home, they’re later given to another family rather than thrown away.
Esther Hopes Their Lifestyle Will Inspire Other Families too
Esther and her family want to show others that this lifestyle isn’t as hard or as expensive as others may think.
She claims that when one organizes their purchasing habits, reduces their use of unimportant things, buys better quality items, and chooses reusable alternatives, it’s actually an economic way of life.
Zero waste culture isn’t just reducing the waste we produce, but also helps us lead a more conscious lifestyle and decrease our consumption.
People need to be more informed about who made their clothes and food and where their food and clothes were made.
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