Well, I think I achieved about an 80% reduction in waste – I did not reach my goal, but this is just the beginning. Taking a zero waste pledge has been an important step in my journey. In fact, the zero waste pledge continues to inspire me to make better choices.
The festive period, of course, was the source of many additional waste – but even so, I still managed to only have half bag of household (non-recycling) waste , and half-full recycling boxes for the last collection of the year – and of course, much of this was from gifts and packaging which I was not in control of. I am quite proud of myself! I honestly think that if I had set this goal earlier, without the festive period, that I would have achieved the 85%! Making this commitment to a pledge for zero waste has made me more mindful in everyday situations.
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
What is in place
- Avoidance of ANY purchases with plastic packaging
- Up-cycling of anything possible
- Re-use of boxes and envelopes
- Slow integration of alternative products with waste reduction and environmental friendliness as core motivations for choice. My zero waste pledge underpins every change I make.
Outstanding
- There are still so many items in my house (e.g. olive oil bottles, lotions etc) with plastic packaging, which are still not empty. What is reusable, will be. What I am unable to use, will be placed in the recycling where possible. As these gradually get used, my waste will decrease further. Making progress is tied to upholding my personal zero waste pledge.
- I still need to find better alternatives for:
- Household cleaning products
- Sanitary towels
- Tampons
- Toothpaste
- Mouthwash (this is particularly annoying, as I currently only like the one brand that comes in a bottle)
- ….
…. the list – surprisingly – goes on. Every week, when sorting my rubbish and recycling, I find something else that could be reduced or avoided. Therefore, my zero waste pledge is still driving progress in my household each day.
So my Final Progress Report is NOT THE END. My efforts, and the blog (I am not managing to write up reviews for many products due to time constraints, but will aim to do so at least once per week) will continue. As always I welcome your feedback and any suggestions that you have! This entire project continues because of my commitment to the pledge of zero waste.
I wish you all a happy New Year!
Key Takeaways
- Achieved an 80% reduction in waste, with hopes of reaching 85% without the festive period’s excess.
- Implemented strategies include avoiding plastic packaging, up-cycling, and reusing materials.
- Identified items with plastic still in the house, aiming to reduce waste further as they are consumed.
- Seeking better alternatives for various household products to continue the waste reduction journey.
- Final progress report marks a commitment to ongoing efforts in the zero waste pledge, inviting feedback and suggestions.
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