What i really don't like about that mason jar pantry aesthetic is people throwing out their matching set of plastic Containers and buying all new mason jars. You already had those perfectly good containers and threw them out for what? Instagram worthy pantry?
Not everyone has plastic already has containers. I had just finished the Peace Corps and didn't have any kitchen supplies when I bought my glass jars and containers. I mostly furnished my house 2nd hand but I did by some reusables new. This was 10 years before the zero waste movement, I just knew after seeing the pollution during my traveles that I was done with purchasing plastic if there was a natural alternative.
It's not just microwaving thats a problem. Putting away any hot leftovers in plastic can do the same thing. And even cold foods still leach plastic into them if they remain in the plastic containers very long. So, for health reasons, the best route is to switch to using the plastic you already have for non-food items instead. But throwing out perfectly good containers is definitely not eco-friendly. So, sometimes, you just have to choose one area to focus on even if it's at the expense of another. For example, my local bulk stores don't let you tare the weight of your container and subtract that. So, rather than purchase cloth bags and a bunch of jars in order to buy my bulk foods and transfer them to plastic-free containers, I've kept my refillable plastic containers and still use them for those items... at the expense of my health. But I've sent home holiday leftovers, etc. with guests and gotten rid of my plastic tupperware containers that way, replacing them with glass alternatives along the way, if needed. I also gave most of my other plastic items to my grown kids to start their own homes with. It saves them money at the expense of health, but they currently have less money and better health to trade with. And they aren't really into health or zero waste at this point, anyway (unfortunately), so they would have just gone out and bought the plastic themselves. So it's an acceptable trade for me. But everyone's situation is different. Also, I received a ton of old mason jars from my husband's grandmother. But, through that, I found that the regular-mouth jars were really only useful for liquids for me. When I dehydrate fruit (a staple part of maintaining a sustainable PBWF diet for me, year round) and store it in them, it's really hard to get it out, later. Like dried pineapple slices are basically impossible. So I still had to go out and buy wide-mouth jars, anyway. Unfortunately, they are harder to find at Thrift stores, too. Then, since I didn't need so many of the regular jars, I filled them with cookie mixes and homemade bath products and things like that and gave them away as gifts over the course of 2 years or so. So the key is just to find an acceptable use for whatever you have and to only buy things that you will actually use. But that can be different for everyone. And judging others based on our own circumstances is definitely not a sustainable way to live, so I definitely try to avoid that, pretty much above all else.
I still use plastic tupperware, plastic produce bags, and plastic zip lock bags. I just wash and reuse them until they break. Once I run out of this stuff I'll by the "zero waste" versions. It bums me out when people throw out their perfectly good plastic stuff in favor of a aesthetically pleasing and expensive item.
I do that too! I would feel like such a phony throwing away all my perfectly usable plastic items just to buy new replacements. It doesn't make any sense!
@@caitlinbriggs3891 I bought grated parmesan cheese from Whole Foods. It is packed in a plastic container, and I have used all my glass jars and need a container for my salad toppings. I don't see the good of using that container once and throwing it out and buying a glass jar to hold parmesan cheese again.
@@effytraveler6155 I bring baked good for my mother in law in a cardboard box from my local bakery/cafe and she reuses the boxes for a really long time to compartmentalise some produce in her fridge and freezer. I also reuse my plastic bags for the next time I buy stuff and glass jars from sauces and jams for a variety of purposes. I don't buy pen holders or watercolour pots because I just use these.
Me too! I raid my friends place and find platic items they want to get rid of and just use them. There is no point of buying new stuff when you have something you can use.
I completely agree. Eventually you should switch out your single use plastics with more sustainable products, but definitely use what you have first! If you throw away them before they are broken that’s Essentially the same as wasting them
I’m Latina . We have been using mason jars, mermelada jars. Coffe jars etc since forever. Sometimes you open your fridge and see an ice cream and when open it it’s COOKED BEANS or something like that. We Latinos even use the jars as cups jajaja I love that and also we “recycle” old cloths . For example If you have and old t shirt , for sure your Latina mama is going to cut it and use to clean... hahaha
I get asked a lot about my plastic tupperware and how it's zero waste. Well I've had my well-loved tupperware set for 6 years. No use buying new metal stuff just for the sake of it.
@@hannahkathleen1876 Well, I'm perfectly healthy. For a container that holds my food for a couple hours in the morning before I eat my lunch, I'm not overly worried to be honest. I rarely eat hot food at lunch that needs re-heating. It has served me well for the whole of uni. Obviously when the time comes to buy new, I'll invest in plastic-free.
I'm using Tupperware branded plastic my mother bought before I was born, I'm in my 40s. It's still going strong, having survived my siblings and I, and also survived my kids
@@hannahkathleen1876 That's a myth, I know that because it's my field of study. They only way plastic can release toxic substances is by heating it in really really high heat, practically melting it
@@vegemitegirl1971 for real!!! My mother has old Tupperware too and it's still soldiering on after 45 years of use!! I LOVE some of the containers so much that I request to use certain ones when I vist!!
Reusable cotton rounds were €10 for a set of 5. My mum found pink flannel maternity pyjamas in a charity shop for €4, and we made 60 padded double sided ones! 30 for me, 15 for her and 15 for her friend. I also used the elastic from the waistband to rework an oversized vintage t-shirt, I saved the buttons in my button jar, and all scraps were given to my friend who works in a production company for stuffing puppets. Doing it yourself or being truly zero waste is so much cheaper and if you put thought and effort in can be just as "aesthetic" is buying specific products!
I absolutly fell into this trap when I went zero waste.... and I purchased a metal straw 🤨 I thought I was helping, I thought oh this way I'm doing a good thing and then of course I realised.. I don't actually use straws HARDLY EVER to drink my drinks!!! Why did I buy this?! I keep it (of course) as a reminder to never make a silly purchase again, and boy has it worked!! LOVE the videos, hugs from the UK ✌💚🌍 x
I bought a plastic bento box almost two years ago for three dollars at a yard sale and use it almost everyday during the school year. I find it works great and have no need for a stainless steal one.
Nah, I use my metal straw everyday at home, at work and even when eating outside. But only because I have a huge walrus moustache, that I want to keep dry.
To be eco friendly, at least in my opinion, you should use the things you have until they have been used to the max and then by the eco-friendly products. I know it is tempting to just get rid of everything and replace it with eco-friendly products, but you have to wait. I myself wen into a phase where I just wanted to replace everything with eco-friendly products. What I did to prevent that is create a list with pictures (if you can) of all of the eco-friendly swaps. So that way, when you run out you already know what to buy instead.
Thank you for making this. "Zero waste" consumption is still consumption. Why buy a reusable straw when you can just... not use a straw at all!!! Modern capitalism has convinced us that so many modern products are useful and/or needed, and sustainability movements can't just replicate that falsehood with a sustainable flair. We need to rethink what is actually needed!
When I think about all the fuel and packaging that goes in to shipping this stuff to people it makes my brain hurt. What's more damaging to the world; Me going to the store I'd need to go to once to get my everything or me ordering toilet paper, bar soaps, tooth brushes, and trendy coffee cups and glasses and other zero waste & green washed items all in their own little packages delivered from all over the place to arrive days or weeks apart? I've had the same plastic dishes since I started dropping things when I got sick nearly 20 years ago. I've had the same straws for about 5 years now and they are standard disposable plastic. My shopping bags were my mothers trendy leather "hippie crafts" bags in the late 60's or my old book bags from like grade school on. Plastic containers get used as planters and crafting materials as do paper packaging. Oh and old tooth brushes get used to clean things before they too are used in crafts and sometimes become other useful items like the mat at my back door that keeps mud off my floors. Perhaps we should hunt down some boomers that were hippies and figure out how to reuse some of this stuff until we can buy it all locally. My mom throws nothing away until it's in tatters and even then she looks for ways to save it. And I'm nearly as good at it as she is. Honestly, I sometimes wonder if this movement wasn't (in part) created to create demand for things to be sold at crazy prices by online retailers who have to ship each order direct to the consumer. Why don't they sell this stuff at local retail shops? Why don't they open their own stores? It would cut down their foot print with less shipping and packaging... Just seems a bit odd don't cha think?
I think some thing people don’t talk about a lot is utilize your family and friends!! My mom isn’t zero waste but she saves her old glass pickle jars and other things she would throw away for me. You kinda help the people you love become low waste also if you take and use there jars and what nots instead of thrift shopping!
That's really good advice and I am sure many people can benefit from this! Also, it sparks a conversation between you and your family where they are actively involved and not just watching you do your things, makes for a much better impact 😎
When grandma passed away, we found napkins, rags and towels neatly folded and categorized: new and unused, good enough to be visible (hung in kitchen or bathroom), the not so good stained/faded/ripped and repaired stash, and the almost gone pile that got so much wear and washing. I slowly going thru the pile using the same system and I'm probably set for my entire life. Some fantasies on napkins are horribly dated, but isn't the 70s style coming back?
Excellent points. I've been living a low impact for many years. I've noticed how very commercialized the ZW movement has become. There are so many shops selling products that many of us don't need, and usually at ridiculously-inflated prices. It amazes me how many people buy these products online, as this is not a sustainable or carbon-friendly option. It's just another way to encourage people to buy products and contribute to waste.
I've been seeing so much hate on plastic free straws. I used throw away straws all the time because of tooth sensitivity issues, so I felt like they were a great purchase!
It is not at all to say that reusable straws are bad, but the "hate" is more directed towards how the straws are marketed and how they often become a sort of guilt-free pass. I also have several practical uses for my straws, but there are just so many other ways of reducing trash and those are often overlooked when one product begins to symbolize a movement. I hope it makes sense :)
Because a lot of people tend to buy them and find they don’t use them. If you use a lot of straws then these are a good alternative but if you rarely use straws anyway you just don’t need to buy these.
I use my stainless straw like, everyday. Especially when I'm drinking my turmeric, ice tea, or any kind of beverages that potentially stain my teeth. It's different for some people. Use what works for you.
I never understood the whole cotton round thing, I just use an old soft tea towel (so much less work when you wash and hang it haha) or simply buy a cleanser that doesn't need cotton rounds to work :) love this and all of your other videos xx
I buy a specific brand of tomato sauce for pasta and they actually sell it in the classic mason jar. So if you want a mason jar and really yummy pasta I recommend buying it and reusing the jar.
I love my mason jars but.. I am a canner so I have them here all the time anyways. I use them to store so many different foods I'm over the top paranoid of mice and ants getting in to my food so everything is in mason jars, recycled jars or popcorn tins all purchased at the thrift store of course. I collect vintage thermos's the ones that are made out of glass inside and keep things super hot.. I have ones for soups and one for coffee. I don't use the ones for soups anymore since I retired but keep them in case we travel in the winter and want to take lunch with us they are "wide mouthed" and I do not like anyones coffee but my own so wherever I go I take a thermos of coffee with me. My thermos's are all from the thrift stores I rarely buy anything new. Anna In Ohio.
Would love to see you make a fantasy self vs reality video. E.g. my fantasy self has a morning routine where I journal, do yoga and have a somewhat productive morning. In reality I’m a night person who loves journaling but only do it when I feel like it every couple of weeks. Hope that gives you enough of an idea. Younger fantasy selves are also fun 😂
Caroline Xenia P my fantasy self has a night ritual where i have dinner at 7, read a book after that, do my skincare at 9, brush my teeth at 9:30, write notes about my spending that day and my plans for the next day, go to sleep at 10. My true self lie on my bed and play with my phone til 1am
Totally with you about the straws! I bought one in stainless steel that I do use from time to time but I could also have done without. Great that we can learn from each other :)
I'm in my process to learn and learn more about zero waste and what I found is that our latinamerican culture actually make us practice some zero waste activities without knowing and that's amazing!! We reuse and reuse and reuse packages and jars, same with clothes that have different stages from going clothes, pijamas and then cleaning clothes ☺️
I reuse my empty 16oz. glass peanut butter jars for legumes and things like that. They're wide-mouth (IMO), straight-shaped, no tapering and work great.
@@aa-tt5yy I've never really tried. I don't use them in the freezer because the lids don't create a tight enough seal for my liking (I can taste freezer burn at 50 paces). They're great at storing dried beans and rice and other grains though. Flour, too. The wide mouth of the jar lends itself well to scooping the contents directly with a measuring cup. I also use them to make iced tea in batches since they're like 32 ounces.
I started gifting my friends bamboo or stainless steel straws, especially boba straws! I love being able to give people something that will help them make better habits and consider the things they’re wasting. Plus, many places are starting to get rid of plastic bags, straws, and boba places are selling stainless steel straws too, but they’re usually more expensive than me buying a pack from Amazon to share with my friends. You’ll be more likely to use them if they’re free. Maybe consider gifting your friends some clean unused straws if you have any? Or clean used straws, if they don’t care lol. I bought sets of wool dryer balls and mesh produce bags to gift as well.
Finally found video about logic think of zero waste. I really hate if we need to buy something that we actually can reuse it or use it until it literally break
My favourite place to find glass jars is the thrift store. I found a big set of of matching traditional glass mason jars and now my pantry looks Instagram worthy and actually is sustainable 😍
Agree 100% with all of these. I don' use straws except for smoothies, so I only have one jumbo straw. Mason jars - my family has been canning for 70+ years and kept glass jars from all kinds of things, so I just commandeered jars rather than making them "single use" and recycling them after one use. Napkins - I bought a couple packs from thrift shops for around $5 for 20. Metal lunchbox? Just get a kids' lunchbox. It's fine and is probably insulated. Thermos - I've been using the same reusable cup for over 5 years, with a few other scattered in there. Just buy a good one and take care of it. Many people miss the point that EVERYTHING has a footprint - when it's made, when it's used, and when it's disposed of. If you can make less things, use less things, and throw away less things, then VOILA! Smaller footprint.
I’m glad you brought up straws bc a lot of reusable straws are plastic too and when they are thrown out they take even LONGER to break down + they are stronger. I see people buying reusable straws in packs smh
I want people to realise that having less clothes isn’t Eco-Friendly, not buying new ones is. So only because I didn’t throw away my clothes bought in 2014, doesn’t make me worse than the people that have very few clothes only because they throw out more.
Having less clothes is called minimalist. when its up to clothes i think being eco friendly is when you give your clothes to people in need instead of trow them ( like alot of people are doing).. to be honest i dont trust eco friendly brands like in soap, champoo, bottles, food and others because they are too expensive and people prefer to buy plastic than wasting money they realy need, if these companies realy care about the invironment they would make things more affordable for people
I only just found you and I binge watched half of your videos in last 24 hours ( which isn't easy with 2 small kiddos in the house :D). Just wanted to add to the glass jars story that I really like drinking the Douwe Egberts coffe and this particular coffee comes in a beautiful glass jars with sealed lids. I use those jars to store all my dry goods and, as I prefer to buy the full product in a jar rather than the refilling packet (plastic btw) I make the use of the jars so almost no waste except for the label.
I made a massive supply of cloth napkins out of an old king sized flat sheet that I wasn't using. Best napkins we've ever used and didn't have to buy them, yay!
I have fabulous lunch containers in plastic I have no intention of replacing. Glass is just too heavy for me and I can’t put steel in the microwave, plus I like my exisiting stuff. One day I might have to replace them but until then I’m sticking with what I have. I get a lot of use out of handkerchiefs. I carry 4-5 a day because I have bad allergies and it makes no difference to my wash. For me the work great and I put them in a pouch when used.
Great topic, it seems as if we're getting there in stages, with us all still struggling to ditch the spending ethic as well. I do like flasks, usable for hot and cold weather. I also do some thermal cooking in a flask, e.g pasta, grains, and use my metal straw as a stirrer when cooking. I love finding new uses for things I already own, that feels like a win/win. I use leftover jars, but do have at least one zero waste product I haven't yet used regularly. I like the idea of passing things on to others who want them.
I recently read that the bamboo utensils/straws etc are treated with formaldehyde - anyone more if that's true? I don't own any (thank God) but I was pretty shocked - and my next thought was, what about the toothbrushes? to be honest that's been my biggest problem. I can't really buy them locally and my last one would lose its bristles while I brushed - nor just one or two but an entire section of bristles would come loose in my mouth and her such between my teeth. I can deal with pretty much anything but if I'm completely honest, I prefer the aesthetics of the bamboo brush but never found them to be a true replacement for my regular toothbrushes. The head was completely different as the head was thinner across yet much longer than what I used to use. I've used them for 2 years now and still hate them and struggle because I can't just go out and buy a toothbrush. So I would end up using it longer than I normally would have and I'm pretty sure my dental health has suffered from using them. I'm starting to wonder if making your own tooth sticks wouldn't be easier! thanks for any feedback. Cheers.
I have always used cotton tissues/towels (don know the name in english ;pañuelos;) but for when Im sick with mucus,however in my school everyone is disgusted by that, they said it is antihigienic and my sciece teacher even said it keeps bacteries and made me more sick.Some friends even were disgusted by the typical plastic reusable bottles of coca kola that you return to the store frightened that they were contaminated by other persons, I feel there is a big road to go in enviromental practices.I didnt do those things for the enviroment it was just the way I was raised,but thank you for spreading the word.
Are bamboo tissues available in your country? These can be used in school, and then maybe the fabric ones you use at home could be washed hot to kill germs.
I totally agree with you! For me, this is all about using things to the end of their useful life! Not throwing it out and buying something new! I don't even buy my own jars, I reuse ones from the grocery store that contained salsa or marinara. This way I can be a lot more mindful about upcycling things that would otherwise be shipped to a recycling facility. Money saving and life saving haha.
It's interesting how it can vary for people. Like for example metal straws. We use them constantly. But we also have a little child and I guess they love straws so much. But also I enjoy them from time to time. I tend to drink very fast and a straw slows me down.
As a fellow non coffee and tea drinker, I use my reusable travel coffee mug gifted to me for times I need to get take out things. Like I'm in a rush and it's just easier to get some hot chips and gravely right now. I ask if they can put it in the travel mug instead, they are about the same capacity as the large single use ones. Most places are fine with it. Or, when staying in a hotel or at a restaurant, they are great for storing leftover pasta, salads, and soups. I might eat it for dinner or lunch the next day. I just find it easier to carry around then a empty container. And I can get hot chocolate as well. Or even juice. Have a extra drink alongside my water.
I don’t necessarily buy mason brand jars but use them if some product is in them I might buy that product over a product in a plastic container or glass jar that has a lid that has limited uses. Whereas mason jar lids can be replaced when they wear out. I love glass jars for a replacement for Tupperware. Plus I can see what in them when it’s in the ref. I love a hot tea on a cold day so I do take my travel mugs with me all the time instead of buying them at Starbucks. And Starbucks if I do go can make the product in my mug. I never don’t have a reusable mug or three with me. But you are right, there are already things in our environment already so we don’t need to buy a recyclable item when there are already that very thing in what we already have. I do use straws cuz my work keeps me on the road. So it’s easier to drink and still see the road when I drink from a straw but reusable ones are perfect. But that’s my life. So many ways to recycle and make zero waste.
The Ball Mason company is still active.... They have never gone out of business. They patented their design in 1857 and they are still sold on grocery store shelves for the purposes of canning. They aren't trying to pretend they are something old they are just being themselves. Apparently some older jars are not safe for canning/food purposes because the lids were zinc and some older designs aren't air tight.
It appears that in Gittemary's experience, one can freeze foods in glasjars, if the glascontainer to be used, is thick enough to resist freeze-expansion of foods' watercontent; & the glasjar (mason-jar) is tall enough to allow for the freeze-expansion of the food inside. Good to know. I will try it as well.
My pantry is mason jars; I’m a long time canner so I have them. I use other jars to carry my lunch, keep leftovers; etc. but you cannot can in those jars, they are not heat safe.
I totally agree with straws and special thermos or special water bottle. Just have one Good thermal cup 500ml like contigo - in Summer I Carry water in it and it stays cold for the whole Day. In autumn-winter I use it for a tea. No need to buy SPECIAL cup for that... And I would add that you dont need any kind of wipes while washing your makeup. Just use a proper product, it dissolves makeup and then you wash it with water and your hands. The perfect example for that is "polny warkocz" but probably it is only available in my country. You Gotta do the research what is available in your area
I think buying all new to make it look a specific way is better than alternatives like plastic contains however still wasteful but whatever it takes to motivate people to do better. We have a huge mason jar collection but my coffee comes in ball jars and then I have other generic mason jars from things like salsa and pasta sauce. The thing I like about mason specific jars is you can get replacement lids. When metal lids rust the use of the jar is compromised but with mason style jars the lids can easily be replaced for continued use. I wish all products that came in jars used a universal lid system I specifically look for them while shopping and if greatly influences my shopping
I had a stroke a few years ago, now I actually need a straw to drink, I have been using the same stainless steel straws for several years, but for someone to buy them just to 'look' the part makes no sense.
I love my Tiffin too, but find I only ever use the top tier, (primarily for leftovers at resturaunts). So the bottom just sits around. Also yes glass coffee/tea container! I am terrified that I (or the barista) will break it and then I'd be THAT person. I use my stainless one all the time though it is battered as heck but so useful.
A thermos can still be very useful depending on your lifestyle. I’m a student and I use my water bottle every day, but sometimes I go to get a warm drink and my water bottle is full so I use my thermos. Also your water bottle may not be made to hold hot drinks. But I don’t disagree with her I’m just pointing out a view she didn’t say
I bought a keepcup just to show OTHER people that I was trying to be zero waste, even though I previously used an old metal camping cup for the last 2 years and it worked even better for me.. yes I regret doing that
Maybe loads of people have written this already, but since you don't drink tea or coffee... there is nothing worse than your coffee tasting like liquorice or ginger or your water tasting liking coffee. I used to use the same bottle for each and now have a separate tea thermos from a charity shop and was given one of those small glass bamboo ones, would never have bought something that small myself, but now realise that it is honestly the best thing to carry around with you as your 'glass', not just because it's the perfect size for a cup of coffee, but also for a glass of wine or beer or other things that are so often handed to you in plastic or polystyrene.
i wonder why she didnt mention bamboo cutlery, it really been a pet peeve of mine personally because they can crack, theyre sometimes rough, you could get splinters, plus who doesnt have metal cutlery at home that they could have easily brought along? come one people
Never thought about the mason jar point. Thanks for sharing your insight. We came up with some tips on going zero waste on our channel if you're curious to learn anything new. :)
As a zerowaster as well, I can't agree more!!! Especially for straws (except when i need to drink bubble tea), jars, cotton rounds etc. The ideas of "zero waste privilege" yes so true, a lot are about aesthetics but in the truest essence of zero waste, we can probably find and reuse so many existing things. BUT unlike you, I am a coffee drinker (and bubble tea drinker), and I LOVE glass cups so much and i use them so much.... but i already accidentally broke 2, and like what you said I can't help but always think about did I use it enough times to offset the carbon footprint that was used to make it? Also in the end i would like to say, a lot of these items I realised NOW that I probably don't need, I wouldn't really know for sure until I've tried it. So thanks for making this video I think will be really good advice for new zerowasters!
I have and love mason jars. That being said, I mainly use them to can things initially and then, once they are empty, I may fill them with other things. I also don't buy many products with glass jars and so without mason jars, I wouldn't have anything but my glass containers for food (which are always full of food like leftovers and what not). For me, they've been essential. I don't understand why people hate them so much? I think I would like to phase them out for weck jars when I can because you can reuse weck jars lids again and again whereas you can't reuse mason jar lids. At the end of the day though, they're glass. I'm sure that you buy some product in glass and recycle the jar because there is no need for it! You can always gift or recycle the mason jars as well, so I don't see the harm in buying them. They're also not that expensive? It's not really that unattainable. You can get 12 big jars for like 10 dollars!
I think the stainless steel tins are quite useful and not as heavy to carry around as the glass containers. In my case I believe they are very much worth the investment :3
Hey Gittemary :) Thanks for the cool Video. I actually love my glass straws because I use them all the time! I would be so interested in a video where you try a zero waste flaxseed gel/leave-in-conditioner. I think it would leave your hair in amazing condition as you´ve got wavy and damaged hair :)
In my family my mum make jam and my aunt make preserves and my grandpa jars fish so in my household we always have mason or mason type tempered glass jars so I find them very convenient to my personal life style
I wanted to know what you think about the brand mon bento that has become quite popular internationally. It's a French company and their main and original bento box is now made in France and has many different characteristics and properties that make it sustainable, zero waste friendly, clean, etc etc and you can purchase all of the pieces that it comes with separately. I use to have a glass lunch box but too heavy and then a stainless steel one and as you said tend to be hard to close sometimes and it's not leak proof contrary to monbento boxes. Thanks for this video, I also agree when it comes only to zero waste and saving money I agree that you should buy second hand or re-use jars that contained food before (like pickles etc) and I've done that for years but now when it comes to the minimalism and simplifying your life dimensions I prefer doing like Bea Johnson and investing in the same brand and reference of jars like Le Parfait or Ikea because I always had to transfer the excess pasta or grains or whatever that was in my bulk bag in different containers because the main container that I wanted to use didn't have enough room for the all the pasta that I bought for examples. So that means having the same food in 2 different jars and always having bulk bags still filled with dry goods next to all my jars and in terms of voluntary simplicity and minimalism it's just unbearable in the long run. And thanks for nuancing your stance on all these "zero waste friendly" items, Bea Johnson also has that stance even though she's more strict about it. But yeah, it must be hard to be the pioneer of the zero waste/minimalism movement and so on and see how companies and other influencers just don't understand all the dimensions of the whole movement and just fall back into another form of consumerism and fall back into similar old habits if that makes sense. I tend to follow very few people that provide zero waste friendly content etc because you can easily get influenced or waste time watching about all these items you don't need. And thus twice a year I re-watched some of Bea Johnson's videos especially the Google talk to just make sure I'm still on the right track and it really helps to reshape your mind and how creative you can get about finding solutions that help living a zero waste friendly, minimalist and simplified life.
I just give away/donate whatever I don't want to use anymore (anything plastic or just anything in general). That way it's getting reused but I don't have that clutter or have to look at it anymore. It helps my mental health when everything is organized and uniform.
I agree that zero waste has become all about aesthetics like wax wraps and mason jars. Just more stuff to market and sell. Like all different types of soap bars: conditioner, shampoo, face, cleaning. Our consumer tastes are inexhaustible, hence the environmental crisis we are in. When will we go back to the simple life?
I love my huge mason jars for my pantry but I wasn't going to shell out big bucks for them. So once I was able to sell/donate all my old containers/baskets I no longer want, I went on OfferUp and found a guy who was selling his big mason jars for $1 a piece! These are usually $5-$7 retail but I try to buy 2nd hand as much as possible. But yes, I really hate some of these greenwashing products and especially if ppl just throw away old containers/items to replace them with something new. Like some ppl got rid of their cutleries for bamboo like wtf? There was nothing wrong with those stainless steel cutleries 😐🙄
You have lots of straws😄😄. Stainless steel lunchboxes are kind of cheap here. I used one for 14 years during school. Unfortunately I can't find it now😭
I am very pro zero waste but by no means perfect. We don't mind having small amounts of trash because our local waste plant burns all trash and they use the energy to heat the hospital, university, and a couple of other places. I use my reusable straws all the time because I have mobility issues and tend to spill if I don't have a lid or straw. I literally only use disposable cotton rounds or qtips for cleaning piercings, other than that, we never really use them. I agree on not buying new jars. I reuse old pasta sauce jars all the time and they're a consistent tare weight at the bulk store. I've never used a glass thermos because I have so many other reusable coffee mugs.
I have a durable plastic straw that I have been using for years. I don't see the point in buying a metal or a glass one since I already have one in a very good condition
Not at all related to the content, but I was not even 2 minutes into the video and I was "like wait a minute!" She sort of looks Scandinavian and I could also hear in your English that you sounded a bit Danish. So I went into your channel and boom! I was right! Hello, fellow Dane! Så hej! Virkelig god video - og dit engelske lyder ret godt :)
One way to ruin your teeth is with acidic drinks, I'd like to add a lemon and vinegar to my smoothies so a reusable straw is pretty much a must if I want my teeth to have a bright future.
I regret buying the Sistema cutlery set and wish I knew beforehand to bring my home utensils and keep reusing a plastic knife. I didn't buy a stainless steel straw because I don't drink cold drinks but water. But I do love my metal chopsticks. I've bought a pack and seen my roommates use them. I bring a pair to use at Chinese restaurants, sushi spots, or when I am eating my lunch. I was thinking about buying a set of mason jars until I realized I need different sizes and containers. Plastic is fine as long as you keep reusing them and don't throw away.
Eh, it's a bit extreme to call these the "worst." I use my reusable straws every single day. (It's better for your teeth if you like lemon water.) If you have kids, straws are also developmentally much better for toddlers than traditional sippy cups (which can cause speech problems). And if someone doesn't have extra fabric just lying around, there's nothing wrong with buying cloth napkins. A well-made napkin with serged edges will last much longer than a cut-up old t-shirt.
And, cloth napkins can be found secondhand in enormous quantities. A secondhand table cloth can also be cut and sewn into enough napkins to last a family a lifetime and give some as gifts as well.
What i really don't like about that mason jar pantry aesthetic is people throwing out their matching set of plastic Containers and buying all new mason jars. You already had those perfectly good containers and threw them out for what? Instagram worthy pantry?
Yes that has always been super weird to me. The damage has already been done so just make use of it!
Not everyone has plastic already has containers. I had just finished the Peace Corps and didn't have any kitchen supplies when I bought my glass jars and containers. I mostly furnished my house 2nd hand but I did by some reusables new. This was 10 years before the zero waste movement, I just knew after seeing the pollution during my traveles that I was done with purchasing plastic if there was a natural alternative.
I am using Tupperware brand plastic my mother bought 50 years ago. I agree, why throw away what still works fine.
@Barbara Sheehan Just as well we've chosen not to own a microwave then.
It's not just microwaving thats a problem. Putting away any hot leftovers in plastic can do the same thing. And even cold foods still leach plastic into them if they remain in the plastic containers very long.
So, for health reasons, the best route is to switch to using the plastic you already have for non-food items instead. But throwing out perfectly good containers is definitely not eco-friendly. So, sometimes, you just have to choose one area to focus on even if it's at the expense of another.
For example, my local bulk stores don't let you tare the weight of your container and subtract that. So, rather than purchase cloth bags and a bunch of jars in order to buy my bulk foods and transfer them to plastic-free containers, I've kept my refillable plastic containers and still use them for those items... at the expense of my health. But I've sent home holiday leftovers, etc. with guests and gotten rid of my plastic tupperware containers that way, replacing them with glass alternatives along the way, if needed. I also gave most of my other plastic items to my grown kids to start their own homes with. It saves them money at the expense of health, but they currently have less money and better health to trade with. And they aren't really into health or zero waste at this point, anyway (unfortunately), so they would have just gone out and bought the plastic themselves. So it's an acceptable trade for me. But everyone's situation is different.
Also, I received a ton of old mason jars from my husband's grandmother. But, through that, I found that the regular-mouth jars were really only useful for liquids for me. When I dehydrate fruit (a staple part of maintaining a sustainable PBWF diet for me, year round) and store it in them, it's really hard to get it out, later. Like dried pineapple slices are basically impossible. So I still had to go out and buy wide-mouth jars, anyway. Unfortunately, they are harder to find at Thrift stores, too. Then, since I didn't need so many of the regular jars, I filled them with cookie mixes and homemade bath products and things like that and gave them away as gifts over the course of 2 years or so. So the key is just to find an acceptable use for whatever you have and to only buy things that you will actually use. But that can be different for everyone. And judging others based on our own circumstances is definitely not a sustainable way to live, so I definitely try to avoid that, pretty much above all else.
I still use plastic tupperware, plastic produce bags, and plastic zip lock bags. I just wash and reuse them until they break. Once I run out of this stuff I'll by the "zero waste" versions. It bums me out when people throw out their perfectly good plastic stuff in favor of a aesthetically pleasing and expensive item.
I do that too! I would feel like such a phony throwing away all my perfectly usable plastic items just to buy new replacements. It doesn't make any sense!
@@caitlinbriggs3891 I bought grated parmesan cheese from Whole Foods. It is packed in a plastic container, and I have used all my glass jars and need a container for my salad toppings. I don't see the good of using that container once and throwing it out and buying a glass jar to hold parmesan cheese again.
@@effytraveler6155 I bring baked good for my mother in law in a cardboard box from my local bakery/cafe and she reuses the boxes for a really long time to compartmentalise some produce in her fridge and freezer. I also reuse my plastic bags for the next time I buy stuff and glass jars from sauces and jams for a variety of purposes. I don't buy pen holders or watercolour pots because I just use these.
Me too! I raid my friends place and find platic items they want to get rid of and just use them. There is no point of buying new stuff when you have something you can use.
I completely agree. Eventually you should switch out your single use plastics with more sustainable products, but definitely use what you have first! If you throw away them before they are broken that’s Essentially the same as wasting them
I’m Latina . We have been using mason jars, mermelada jars. Coffe jars etc since forever. Sometimes you open your fridge and see an ice cream and when open it it’s COOKED BEANS or something like that. We Latinos even use the jars as cups jajaja I love that and also we “recycle” old cloths . For example If you have and old t shirt , for sure your Latina mama is going to cut it and use to clean... hahaha
Same here! In Brazil we are much more likely to reuse our jars and old clothes for some other purposes!
Haha I’m Diné and my dad does the same 😂😂 we use butter tubs as Tupperware. Everything gets reused until it can’t be reused anymore
Same here in India!
Same in Italy
Latina here and couldn’t have said it better myself
I get asked a lot about my plastic tupperware and how it's zero waste. Well I've had my well-loved tupperware set for 6 years. No use buying new metal stuff just for the sake of it.
@@hannahkathleen1876 Well, I'm perfectly healthy. For a container that holds my food for a couple hours in the morning before I eat my lunch, I'm not overly worried to be honest. I rarely eat hot food at lunch that needs re-heating. It has served me well for the whole of uni. Obviously when the time comes to buy new, I'll invest in plastic-free.
I'm using Tupperware branded plastic my mother bought before I was born, I'm in my 40s. It's still going strong, having survived my siblings and I, and also survived my kids
@@hannahkathleen1876 That's a myth, I know that because it's my field of study. They only way plastic can release toxic substances is by heating it in really really high heat, practically melting it
@@vegemitegirl1971 for real!!! My mother has old Tupperware too and it's still soldiering on after 45 years of use!! I LOVE some of the containers so much that I request to use certain ones when I vist!!
@@ellnine66 I am using tupperware that my mother-in-law used and I'm 81-so far so good. Aldi salsa jars are perfect for storage!
Reusable cotton rounds were €10 for a set of 5. My mum found pink flannel maternity pyjamas in a charity shop for €4, and we made 60 padded double sided ones! 30 for me, 15 for her and 15 for her friend. I also used the elastic from the waistband to rework an oversized vintage t-shirt, I saved the buttons in my button jar, and all scraps were given to my friend who works in a production company for stuffing puppets. Doing it yourself or being truly zero waste is so much cheaper and if you put thought and effort in can be just as "aesthetic" is buying specific products!
This gave me and the planet lifeeee
I absolutly fell into this trap when I went zero waste.... and I purchased a metal straw 🤨 I thought I was helping, I thought oh this way I'm doing a good thing and then of course I realised.. I don't actually use straws HARDLY EVER to drink my drinks!!! Why did I buy this?! I keep it (of course) as a reminder to never make a silly purchase again, and boy has it worked!! LOVE the videos, hugs from the UK ✌💚🌍 x
That's why you bought it then ;) a reminder to always ask yourself if you use this item/how often you will use this item
I bought a plastic bento box almost two years ago for three dollars at a yard sale and use it almost everyday during the school year. I find it works great and have no need for a stainless steal one.
I also have one of those and its great! I'm using fewer plastic bags and I'm more aware of what vessels I put my snacks in.
Nah, I use my metal straw everyday at home, at work and even when eating outside. But only because I have a huge walrus moustache, that I want to keep dry.
And they're saying that straw is not for real men...
To be eco friendly, at least in my opinion, you should use the things you have until they have been used to the max and then by the eco-friendly products. I know it is tempting to just get rid of everything and replace it with eco-friendly products, but you have to wait. I myself wen into a phase where I just wanted to replace everything with eco-friendly products. What I did to prevent that is create a list with pictures (if you can) of all of the eco-friendly swaps. So that way, when you run out you already know what to buy instead.
Thank you for making this. "Zero waste" consumption is still consumption. Why buy a reusable straw when you can just... not use a straw at all!!! Modern capitalism has convinced us that so many modern products are useful and/or needed, and sustainability movements can't just replicate that falsehood with a sustainable flair. We need to rethink what is actually needed!
your vibe is similar to Emilia Clarke's
It's the eyebrows, the big smile and the lovely accent and way of talking 🌹
That's why she looks so familiar!
probably that's why Ive got a GOT ad
Yesssssss... Agreed this
Yeah lol. The way she speaks is similar to Emilia Clarke
If you don't need it then don't buy it.
What I hate most about zero waste is people throwing out their plastic containers and such to go “zero waste”
LOL yeah, isn't that "waste"?
When I think about all the fuel and packaging that goes in to shipping this stuff to people it makes my brain hurt. What's more damaging to the world; Me going to the store I'd need to go to once to get my everything or me ordering toilet paper, bar soaps, tooth brushes, and trendy coffee cups and glasses and other zero waste & green washed items all in their own little packages delivered from all over the place to arrive days or weeks apart?
I've had the same plastic dishes since I started dropping things when I got sick nearly 20 years ago. I've had the same straws for about 5 years now and they are standard disposable plastic. My shopping bags were my mothers trendy leather "hippie crafts" bags in the late 60's or my old book bags from like grade school on. Plastic containers get used as planters and crafting materials as do paper packaging. Oh and old tooth brushes get used to clean things before they too are used in crafts and sometimes become other useful items like the mat at my back door that keeps mud off my floors.
Perhaps we should hunt down some boomers that were hippies and figure out how to reuse some of this stuff until we can buy it all locally. My mom throws nothing away until it's in tatters and even then she looks for ways to save it. And I'm nearly as good at it as she is.
Honestly, I sometimes wonder if this movement wasn't (in part) created to create demand for things to be sold at crazy prices by online retailers who have to ship each order direct to the consumer. Why don't they sell this stuff at local retail shops? Why don't they open their own stores? It would cut down their foot print with less shipping and packaging... Just seems a bit odd don't cha think?
I think some thing people don’t talk about a lot is utilize your family and friends!! My mom isn’t zero waste but she saves her old glass pickle jars and other things she would throw away for me. You kinda help the people you love become low waste also if you take and use there jars and what nots instead of thrift shopping!
That's really good advice and I am sure many people can benefit from this! Also, it sparks a conversation between you and your family where they are actively involved and not just watching you do your things, makes for a much better impact 😎
When grandma passed away, we found napkins, rags and towels neatly folded and categorized: new and unused, good enough to be visible (hung in kitchen or bathroom), the not so good stained/faded/ripped and repaired stash, and the almost gone pile that got so much wear and washing.
I slowly going thru the pile using the same system and I'm probably set for my entire life.
Some fantasies on napkins are horribly dated, but isn't the 70s style coming back?
Excellent points. I've been living a low impact for many years. I've noticed how very commercialized the ZW movement has become. There are so many shops selling products that many of us don't need, and usually at ridiculously-inflated prices. It amazes me how many people buy these products online, as this is not a sustainable or carbon-friendly option. It's just another way to encourage people to buy products and contribute to waste.
Reusable coffee cups and straws are amazing tho when you do use them, eg buying huge amounts of to-go coffee, I genuinely use mine all the time
I use straws a lot too because I hate stained teeth and the feeling of liquid touching them
I agree. I use my coffee cup weekly, if not more.
Stainless steel straws have been really useful for my son! He's been using the same pair for a few years now.
I've been seeing so much hate on plastic free straws. I used throw away straws all the time because of tooth sensitivity issues, so I felt like they were a great purchase!
It is not at all to say that reusable straws are bad, but the "hate" is more directed towards how the straws are marketed and how they often become a sort of guilt-free pass. I also have several practical uses for my straws, but there are just so many other ways of reducing trash and those are often overlooked when one product begins to symbolize a movement. I hope it makes sense :)
Because a lot of people tend to buy them and find they don’t use them. If you use a lot of straws then these are a good alternative but if you rarely use straws anyway you just don’t need to buy these.
“eco lunchbox”
*indians who have been using tiffins forever have left the chat.*
What's a tiffin?
9melissal ~
just google “indian tiffin box” and it should come up :)
coal miners used the same thing
I have an Indian tiffin box! I just now found out what it's called!
I get my jars from jelly, olives, and salsa. I need metal straws though for my little guy.
I love that you are so transparent and honest with us 😊
ALWAYS
I use my stainless straw like, everyday. Especially when I'm drinking my turmeric, ice tea, or any kind of beverages that potentially stain my teeth. It's different for some people. Use what works for you.
I never understood the whole cotton round thing, I just use an old soft tea towel (so much less work when you wash and hang it haha) or simply buy a cleanser that doesn't need cotton rounds to work :) love this and all of your other videos xx
most people use them for toners and stuff that you swipe over the skin, not cleanser
I know, I'm not even sure what cotton rounds are for. I wash my face with a washcloth and put on makeup with brushes and my fingers.
I buy a specific brand of tomato sauce for pasta and they actually sell it in the classic mason jar. So if you want a mason jar and really yummy pasta I recommend buying it and reusing the jar.
I love my mason jars but.. I am a canner so I have them here all the time anyways. I use them to store so many different foods I'm over the top paranoid of mice and ants getting in to my food so everything is in mason jars, recycled jars or popcorn tins all purchased at the thrift store of course. I collect vintage thermos's the ones that are made out of glass inside and keep things super hot.. I have ones for soups and one for coffee. I don't use the ones for soups anymore since I retired but keep them in case we travel in the winter and want to take lunch with us they are "wide mouthed" and I do not like anyones coffee but my own so wherever I go I take a thermos of coffee with me. My thermos's are all from the thrift stores I rarely buy anything new. Anna In Ohio.
Would love to see you make a fantasy self vs reality video.
E.g. my fantasy self has a morning routine where I journal, do yoga and have a somewhat productive morning. In reality I’m a night person who loves journaling but only do it when I feel like it every couple of weeks.
Hope that gives you enough of an idea. Younger fantasy selves are also fun 😂
Caroline Xenia P my fantasy self has a night ritual where i have dinner at 7, read a book after that, do my skincare at 9, brush my teeth at 9:30, write notes about my spending that day and my plans for the next day, go to sleep at 10.
My true self lie on my bed and play with my phone til 1am
Totally with you about the straws! I bought one in stainless steel that I do use from time to time but I could also have done without. Great that we can learn from each other :)
I'm in my process to learn and learn more about zero waste and what I found is that our latinamerican culture actually make us practice some zero waste activities without knowing and that's amazing!! We reuse and reuse and reuse packages and jars, same with clothes that have different stages from going clothes, pijamas and then cleaning clothes ☺️
I reuse my empty 16oz. glass peanut butter jars for legumes and things like that. They're wide-mouth (IMO), straight-shaped, no tapering and work great.
That sounds like an Adam's peanut butter jar. I have so many of those. They're great for everything but freezing.
@@sanityisrelative does it break when you freeze it?
@@aa-tt5yy I've never really tried. I don't use them in the freezer because the lids don't create a tight enough seal for my liking (I can taste freezer burn at 50 paces).
They're great at storing dried beans and rice and other grains though. Flour, too. The wide mouth of the jar lends itself well to scooping the contents directly with a measuring cup. I also use them to make iced tea in batches since they're like 32 ounces.
I started gifting my friends bamboo or stainless steel straws, especially boba straws! I love being able to give people something that will help them make better habits and consider the things they’re wasting. Plus, many places are starting to get rid of plastic bags, straws, and boba places are selling stainless steel straws too, but they’re usually more expensive than me buying a pack from Amazon to share with my friends. You’ll be more likely to use them if they’re free. Maybe consider gifting your friends some clean unused straws if you have any? Or clean used straws, if they don’t care lol. I bought sets of wool dryer balls and mesh produce bags to gift as well.
Reusable straws
Mason jars
Canvas napkins/cotton rounds
Stainless steel containers
Glass thermos
Yeah I have the cotton rounds and I use them very rarely and could have just used a shirt, but I have to say they are cute.
Finally found video about logic think of zero waste. I really hate if we need to buy something that we actually can reuse it or use it until it literally break
My favourite place to find glass jars is the thrift store. I found a big set of of matching traditional glass mason jars and now my pantry looks Instagram worthy and actually is sustainable 😍
Going the right way around instead of buying from new, much appreciated! 😍😍🙌🙌
Agree 100% with all of these. I don' use straws except for smoothies, so I only have one jumbo straw. Mason jars - my family has been canning for 70+ years and kept glass jars from all kinds of things, so I just commandeered jars rather than making them "single use" and recycling them after one use. Napkins - I bought a couple packs from thrift shops for around $5 for 20. Metal lunchbox? Just get a kids' lunchbox. It's fine and is probably insulated. Thermos - I've been using the same reusable cup for over 5 years, with a few other scattered in there. Just buy a good one and take care of it.
Many people miss the point that EVERYTHING has a footprint - when it's made, when it's used, and when it's disposed of. If you can make less things, use less things, and throw away less things, then VOILA! Smaller footprint.
I re-use the coffee glass bottle, so I don't need to buy any jar 😀
I’m glad you brought up straws bc a lot of reusable straws are plastic too and when they are thrown out they take even LONGER to break down + they are stronger. I see people buying reusable straws in packs smh
I want people to realise that having less clothes isn’t Eco-Friendly, not buying new ones is. So only because I didn’t throw away my clothes bought in 2014, doesn’t make me worse than the people that have very few clothes only because they throw out more.
Having less clothes is called minimalist. when its up to clothes i think being eco friendly is when you give your clothes to people in need instead of trow them ( like alot of people are doing).. to be honest i dont trust eco friendly brands like in soap, champoo, bottles, food and others because they are too expensive and people prefer to buy plastic than wasting money they realy need, if these companies realy care about the invironment they would make things more affordable for people
I only just found you and I binge watched half of your videos in last 24 hours ( which isn't easy with 2 small kiddos in the house :D). Just wanted to add to the glass jars story that I really like drinking the Douwe Egberts coffe and this particular coffee comes in a beautiful glass jars with sealed lids. I use those jars to store all my dry goods and, as I prefer to buy the full product in a jar rather than the refilling packet (plastic btw) I make the use of the jars so almost no waste except for the label.
I made a massive supply of cloth napkins out of an old king sized flat sheet that I wasn't using. Best napkins we've ever used and didn't have to buy them, yay!
I use straws to drink juice or sugary drinks to protect my teeth.
OMG thank you for talking about those flippin mason jars!
I have fabulous lunch containers in plastic I have no intention of replacing. Glass is just too heavy for me and I can’t put steel in the microwave, plus I like my exisiting stuff. One day I might have to replace them but until then I’m sticking with what I have.
I get a lot of use out of handkerchiefs. I carry 4-5 a day because I have bad allergies and it makes no difference to my wash. For me the work great and I put them in a pouch when used.
Great topic, it seems as if we're getting there in stages, with us all still struggling to ditch the spending ethic as well. I do like flasks, usable for hot and cold weather. I also do some thermal cooking in a flask, e.g pasta, grains, and use my metal straw as a stirrer when cooking. I love finding new uses for things I already own, that feels like a win/win. I use leftover jars, but do have at least one zero waste product I haven't yet used regularly. I like the idea of passing things on to others who want them.
I recently read that the bamboo utensils/straws etc are treated with formaldehyde - anyone more if that's true? I don't own any (thank God) but I was pretty shocked - and my next thought was, what about the toothbrushes? to be honest that's been my biggest problem. I can't really buy them locally and my last one would lose its bristles while I brushed - nor just one or two but an entire section of bristles would come loose in my mouth and her such between my teeth. I can deal with pretty much anything but if I'm completely honest, I prefer the aesthetics of the bamboo brush but never found them to be a true replacement for my regular toothbrushes. The head was completely different as the head was thinner across yet much longer than what I used to use. I've used them for 2 years now and still hate them and struggle because I can't just go out and buy a toothbrush. So I would end up using it longer than I normally would have and I'm pretty sure my dental health has suffered from using them. I'm starting to wonder if making your own tooth sticks wouldn't be easier! thanks for any feedback. Cheers.
I have always used cotton tissues/towels (don know the name in english ;pañuelos;) but for when Im sick with mucus,however in my school everyone is disgusted by that, they said it is antihigienic and my sciece teacher even said it keeps bacteries and made me more sick.Some friends even were disgusted by the typical plastic reusable bottles of coca kola that you return to the store frightened that they were contaminated by other persons, I feel there is a big road to go in enviromental practices.I didnt do those things for the enviroment it was just the way I was raised,but thank you for spreading the word.
Are bamboo tissues available in your country? These can be used in school, and then maybe the fabric ones you use at home could be washed hot to kill germs.
I totally agree with you! For me, this is all about using things to the end of their useful life! Not throwing it out and buying something new! I don't even buy my own jars, I reuse ones from the grocery store that contained salsa or marinara. This way I can be a lot more mindful about upcycling things that would otherwise be shipped to a recycling facility. Money saving and life saving haha.
Yes, absolutely! I do the same, all the time and it's a money saver for sue 🌿🙌
It's interesting how it can vary for people. Like for example metal straws. We use them constantly. But we also have a little child and I guess they love straws so much. But also I enjoy them from time to time. I tend to drink very fast and a straw slows me down.
As a fellow non coffee and tea drinker, I use my reusable travel coffee mug gifted to me for times I need to get take out things.
Like I'm in a rush and it's just easier to get some hot chips and gravely right now. I ask if they can put it in the travel mug instead, they are about the same capacity as the large single use ones. Most places are fine with it.
Or, when staying in a hotel or at a restaurant, they are great for storing leftover pasta, salads, and soups. I might eat it for dinner or lunch the next day.
I just find it easier to carry around then a empty container.
And I can get hot chocolate as well. Or even juice. Have a extra drink alongside my water.
I don’t necessarily buy mason brand jars but use them if some product is in them I might buy that product over a product in a plastic container or glass jar that has a lid that has limited uses. Whereas mason jar lids can be replaced when they wear out. I love glass jars for a replacement for Tupperware. Plus I can see what in them when it’s in the ref. I love a hot tea on a cold day so I do take my travel mugs with me all the time instead of buying them at Starbucks. And Starbucks if I do go can make the product in my mug. I never don’t have a reusable mug or three with me. But you are right, there are already things in our environment already so we don’t need to buy a recyclable item when there are already that very thing in what we already have. I do use straws cuz my work keeps me on the road. So it’s easier to drink and still see the road when I drink from a straw but reusable ones are perfect. But that’s my life. So many ways to recycle and make zero waste.
I found this very helpful as I start my zero waste journey
Really nice tips darling. I will remember these when shopping for zero waste products. Have a marvelous happy day.
The Ball Mason company is still active.... They have never gone out of business. They patented their design in 1857 and they are still sold on grocery store shelves for the purposes of canning. They aren't trying to pretend they are something old they are just being themselves. Apparently some older jars are not safe for canning/food purposes because the lids were zinc and some older designs aren't air tight.
I reuse my glass spaghetti jars y o freeze foods...as cups...and for extras in the fridge.
I have my lunch box made from wheat bran which is an interesting concept and it is quite nice.
It appears that in Gittemary's experience, one can freeze foods in glasjars, if the glascontainer to be used, is thick enough to resist freeze-expansion of foods' watercontent; & the glasjar (mason-jar) is tall enough to allow for the freeze-expansion of the food inside. Good to know. I will try it as well.
My pantry is mason jars; I’m a long time canner so I have them. I use other jars to carry my lunch, keep leftovers; etc. but you cannot can in those jars, they are not heat safe.
I totally agree with straws and special thermos or special water bottle. Just have one Good thermal cup 500ml like contigo - in Summer I Carry water in it and it stays cold for the whole Day. In autumn-winter I use it for a tea. No need to buy SPECIAL cup for that... And I would add that you dont need any kind of wipes while washing your makeup. Just use a proper product, it dissolves makeup and then you wash it with water and your hands. The perfect example for that is "polny warkocz" but probably it is only available in my country. You Gotta do the research what is available in your area
Yeah, "zero waste" cotton rounds are sold very expensively, I cut up a used baby blanket for my cotton rounds, free ^^
I think buying all new to make it look a specific way is better than alternatives like plastic contains however still wasteful but whatever it takes to motivate people to do better. We have a huge mason jar collection but my coffee comes in ball jars and then I have other generic mason jars from things like salsa and pasta sauce. The thing I like about mason specific jars is you can get replacement lids. When metal lids rust the use of the jar is compromised but with mason style jars the lids can easily be replaced for continued use. I wish all products that came in jars used a universal lid system I specifically look for them while shopping and if greatly influences my shopping
I had a stroke a few years ago, now I actually need a straw to drink, I have been using the same stainless steel straws for several years, but for someone to buy them just to 'look' the part makes no sense.
Thank you! I made my own cotton rounds from old tshirt and I got 60 out of it!👍👍👍
I love my Tiffin too, but find I only ever use the top tier, (primarily for leftovers at resturaunts). So the bottom just sits around. Also yes glass coffee/tea container! I am terrified that I (or the barista) will break it and then I'd be THAT person. I use my stainless one all the time though it is battered as heck but so useful.
I deeply relate to the top-tier struggle lol, I never bring the bottom tier anywhere haha.
A thermos can still be very useful depending on your lifestyle. I’m a student and I use my water bottle every day, but sometimes I go to get a warm drink and my water bottle is full so I use my thermos. Also your water bottle may not be made to hold hot drinks. But I don’t disagree with her I’m just pointing out a view she didn’t say
I bought a keepcup just to show OTHER people that I was trying to be zero waste, even though I previously used an old metal camping cup for the last 2 years and it worked even better for me.. yes I regret doing that
gurl loving your glow
Maybe loads of people have written this already, but since you don't drink tea or coffee... there is nothing worse than your coffee tasting like liquorice or ginger or your water tasting liking coffee. I used to use the same bottle for each and now have a separate tea thermos from a charity shop and was given one of those small glass bamboo ones, would never have bought something that small myself, but now realise that it is honestly the best thing to carry around with you as your 'glass', not just because it's the perfect size for a cup of coffee, but also for a glass of wine or beer or other things that are so often handed to you in plastic or polystyrene.
My mum has plastic Tupperware older than me. Don’t try tell me it’s not zero waste
i wonder why she didnt mention bamboo cutlery, it really been a pet peeve of mine personally because they can crack, theyre sometimes rough, you could get splinters, plus who doesnt have metal cutlery at home that they could have easily brought along? come one people
Never thought about the mason jar point. Thanks for sharing your insight. We came up with some tips on going zero waste on our channel if you're curious to learn anything new. :)
As a zerowaster as well, I can't agree more!!! Especially for straws (except when i need to drink bubble tea), jars, cotton rounds etc.
The ideas of "zero waste privilege" yes so true, a lot are about aesthetics but in the truest essence of zero waste, we can probably find and reuse so many existing things.
BUT unlike you, I am a coffee drinker (and bubble tea drinker), and I LOVE glass cups so much and i use them so much.... but i already accidentally broke 2, and like what you said I can't help but always think about did I use it enough times to offset the carbon footprint that was used to make it?
Also in the end i would like to say, a lot of these items I realised NOW that I probably don't need, I wouldn't really know for sure until I've tried it. So thanks for making this video I think will be really good advice for new zerowasters!
I have and love mason jars. That being said, I mainly use them to can things initially and then, once they are empty, I may fill them with other things. I also don't buy many products with glass jars and so without mason jars, I wouldn't have anything but my glass containers for food (which are always full of food like leftovers and what not). For me, they've been essential. I don't understand why people hate them so much? I think I would like to phase them out for weck jars when I can because you can reuse weck jars lids again and again whereas you can't reuse mason jar lids. At the end of the day though, they're glass. I'm sure that you buy some product in glass and recycle the jar because there is no need for it! You can always gift or recycle the mason jars as well, so I don't see the harm in buying them. They're also not that expensive? It's not really that unattainable. You can get 12 big jars for like 10 dollars!
If you visit India, you could buy cotton fabrics and steel boxes for 150 which is around $2
I think the stainless steel tins are quite useful and not as heavy to carry around as the glass containers. In my case I believe they are very much worth the investment :3
Hey Gittemary :) Thanks for the cool Video. I actually love my glass straws because I use them all the time! I would be so interested in a video where you try a zero waste flaxseed gel/leave-in-conditioner. I think it would leave your hair in amazing condition as you´ve got wavy and damaged hair :)
In my family my mum make jam and my aunt make preserves and my grandpa jars fish so in my household we always have mason or mason type tempered glass jars so I find them very convenient to my personal life style
my roommate threw away my box of plastic straws because "it was bad for the environment".... now I just spill drinks all over myself
I wanted to know what you think about the brand mon bento that has become quite popular internationally. It's a French company and their main and original bento box is now made in France and has many different characteristics and properties that make it sustainable, zero waste friendly, clean, etc etc and you can purchase all of the pieces that it comes with separately. I use to have a glass lunch box but too heavy and then a stainless steel one and as you said tend to be hard to close sometimes and it's not leak proof contrary to monbento boxes.
Thanks for this video, I also agree when it comes only to zero waste and saving money I agree that you should buy second hand or re-use jars that contained food before (like pickles etc) and I've done that for years but now when it comes to the minimalism and simplifying your life dimensions I prefer doing like Bea Johnson and investing in the same brand and reference of jars like Le Parfait or Ikea because I always had to transfer the excess pasta or grains or whatever that was in my bulk bag in different containers because the main container that I wanted to use didn't have enough room for the all the pasta that I bought for examples. So that means having the same food in 2 different jars and always having bulk bags still filled with dry goods next to all my jars and in terms of voluntary simplicity and minimalism it's just unbearable in the long run.
And thanks for nuancing your stance on all these "zero waste friendly" items, Bea Johnson also has that stance even though she's more strict about it. But yeah, it must be hard to be the pioneer of the zero waste/minimalism movement and so on and see how companies and other influencers just don't understand all the dimensions of the whole movement and just fall back into another form of consumerism and fall back into similar old habits if that makes sense. I tend to follow very few people that provide zero waste friendly content etc because you can easily get influenced or waste time watching about all these items you don't need. And thus twice a year I re-watched some of Bea Johnson's videos especially the Google talk to just make sure I'm still on the right track and it really helps to reshape your mind and how creative you can get about finding solutions that help living a zero waste friendly, minimalist and simplified life.
Everything is perfect in this video
I love using mason jars because I can/ pickle food so much, so when I'm done with one I'll use it as a cup :)
I just give away/donate whatever I don't want to use anymore (anything plastic or just anything in general). That way it's getting reused but I don't have that clutter or have to look at it anymore. It helps my mental health when everything is organized and uniform.
I agree with everything and we should definitely use old t-shirts for various purposes, BUT not on the skin and face! 😬 sorry!
I use jars from jam, marmalade, honey. I've had to stop though because nw I have too many drinking jars
I agree that zero waste has become all about aesthetics like wax wraps and mason jars. Just more stuff to market and sell. Like all different types of soap bars: conditioner, shampoo, face, cleaning. Our consumer tastes are inexhaustible, hence the environmental crisis we are in. When will we go back to the simple life?
I love my huge mason jars for my pantry but I wasn't going to shell out big bucks for them. So once I was able to sell/donate all my old containers/baskets I no longer want, I went on OfferUp and found a guy who was selling his big mason jars for $1 a piece! These are usually $5-$7 retail but I try to buy 2nd hand as much as possible. But yes, I really hate some of these greenwashing products and especially if ppl just throw away old containers/items to replace them with something new. Like some ppl got rid of their cutleries for bamboo like wtf? There was nothing wrong with those stainless steel cutleries 😐🙄
I bought my old mason jars at a Fleamarket in old wooden creates but now can’t find new seals for them because they are old odd shapes
You have lots of straws😄😄. Stainless steel lunchboxes are kind of cheap here. I used one for 14 years during school. Unfortunately I can't find it now😭
Does anyone have any advice for living zero waste at college?
I am very pro zero waste but by no means perfect. We don't mind having small amounts of trash because our local waste plant burns all trash and they use the energy to heat the hospital, university, and a couple of other places. I use my reusable straws all the time because I have mobility issues and tend to spill if I don't have a lid or straw. I literally only use disposable cotton rounds or qtips for cleaning piercings, other than that, we never really use them. I agree on not buying new jars. I reuse old pasta sauce jars all the time and they're a consistent tare weight at the bulk store. I've never used a glass thermos because I have so many other reusable coffee mugs.
I use mason jars for cup/containers/sprouters, and for canning. Its like a swiss army cup
I have a durable plastic straw that I have been using for years. I don't see the point in buying a metal or a glass one since I already have one in a very good condition
Basically if you have it use it, a good reminder
Not at all related to the content, but I was not even 2 minutes into the video and I was "like wait a minute!" She sort of looks Scandinavian and I could also hear in your English that you sounded a bit Danish. So I went into your channel and boom! I was right! Hello, fellow Dane! Så hej! Virkelig god video - og dit engelske lyder ret godt :)
I got all of my stainless steel items at thrift stores, at very low prices.
One way to ruin your teeth is with acidic drinks, I'd like to add a lemon and vinegar to my smoothies so a reusable straw is pretty much a must if I want my teeth to have a bright future.
I regret buying the Sistema cutlery set and wish I knew beforehand to bring my home utensils and keep reusing a plastic knife. I didn't buy a stainless steel straw because I don't drink cold drinks but water. But I do love my metal chopsticks. I've bought a pack and seen my roommates use them. I bring a pair to use at Chinese restaurants, sushi spots, or when I am eating my lunch. I was thinking about buying a set of mason jars until I realized I need different sizes and containers. Plastic is fine as long as you keep reusing them and don't throw away.
What do you use to clean after you poop. This is a serious question....like does 0 waste mean you don't use napkins? I really don't know
water of course
You can donate those straws to places that serve drinks with plastic straws.
Eh, it's a bit extreme to call these the "worst." I use my reusable straws every single day. (It's better for your teeth if you like lemon water.) If you have kids, straws are also developmentally much better for toddlers than traditional sippy cups (which can cause speech problems). And if someone doesn't have extra fabric just lying around, there's nothing wrong with buying cloth napkins. A well-made napkin with serged edges will last much longer than a cut-up old t-shirt.
And, cloth napkins can be found secondhand in enormous quantities. A secondhand table cloth can also be cut and sewn into enough napkins to last a family a lifetime and give some as gifts as well.