Today we are starting a new series focused on your home. Wherever it is that you call home, small changes you make within your daily life do make a difference. Food is one way, which is what we’ve been discussing over the past few weeks; however, there are many other areas where changing one or two things can have a positive impact on you, your community, and our planet.
Joining us today are Mindy Bergstrom and Brie Walker from Z.W. Mercantile in Ames. Z.W. stands for Zero Waste. This shop is a locally owned and operated eco-conscious business striving to help beginners and experts alike transition to and maintain as close to a zero waste lifestyle as possible.
There are many eco-friendly alternatives to choose from. As cited in the Business Insider article by Mara Leighton, April 22, 2021, “It’s surprisingly simple to make positive changes to your lifestyle just by figuring out where to start. Instead of using a K-Cup, swap it for a reusable coffee filter. Out of laundry detergent? Try one with better ingredients. You don’t have to subsist on whatever your backyard garden grows to make a difference or feel guilty that your trash doesn’t fit in a mason jar. Try to shop local when possible, only buy what you need, bike or walk or use public transportation when able, fix what you own before replacing it, and eat less meat.”
Small steps, mindfully taken, can transform your home into a place where you are making a positive difference.
Tune in to the podcast to hear Mindy & Brie inspire you to make a few changes in your home!
Key Takeaways from our discussion:
- The concept of zero waste is focusing on using less stuff
- Use things in your home that make you happy
- Find products for your home that are package-less or at least packaged without plastic bottles
- Try ‘un-paper’ towels – durable, washable, re-usable cloths
- Low waste products have been mostly subscription based in the past but buying from your local eco-conscious, locally owned merchant is even better
- Buying local allows you to see and ask questions about the products you are buying
- Bulk filling stations allow you to try out products before buying a large amount
- Local owners love to educate their customers and be there to give them direction
“Refuse what you do not need;
Reduce what you do need;
Reuse what you consume;
Recycle what you cannot refuse, reduce, or reuse;
And rot (compost) the rest.”
~Bea Johnson
“We don’t need a handful of people
Doing zero waste perfectly.
We need millions of people doing it imperfectly!”
~ Anne Marie Bonneau
Thank you for listening to today’s discussion. Let’s continue the conversation and learn from each other.