There isn’t a magic formula to go zero waste, it’s all about being creative and shopping wisely. That said, there are some cool ideas you could try! As a consumer, you just have to pay attention to the things you buy and throw away. Although some people think that having a zero waste lifestyle is expensive, it can save you money in the long run! Additionally, it isn’t a difficult habit. If you don’t know how to start, below you will find 20 easy ideas to become a conscious consumer and achieve your zero waste goals! 20 Ideas to become a conscious consumers 1. Replace Disposable Items with Reusable Options Take a look at the disposable items you usually waste and start replacing them with reusable and durable alternatives. But more importantly, try to avoid single-use plastics like straws, bags, cups, and bottles at all costs. For example, instead of buying several plastic water bottles each week, invest in a reusable bottle that will last for years! You can also replace other disposable items, like plastic food bags for zero waste packed lunch boxes, batteries, cotton pads, and more. 2. Prefer Compostable Alternatives There are some disposable items you can’t avoid. For example, you will need to discard your toothbrush after a few months of use, whether it’s a plastic one or not. For those products, a better idea is to choose compostable materials. You can use bamboo toothbrushes, biodegradable sponges, bamboo plasters, and many other products to compost at home. 3. Give Second-hand Stores a Try Do you need to buy something? You probably don’t need it to be completely new. Buying second-hand products is a great idea to reuse useful items that otherwise would end up as waste. Besides, you can find unique things! 4. Prepare a Zero Waste Kit One of the most common mistakes of zero waste consumers is forgetting their reusable products at home when going out. A great idea to prevent this is to carry a zero waste kit with you every time you go out. You can include items that will help you avoid waste on the go, like a travel mug, reusable cutlery, a bamboo straw, and others! 5. Go Paperless Another good zero waste idea is to reduce the amount of paper you usually discard. You can refuse to accept promotional brochures, ask for no receipts when possible, replace tissues with handkerchieves, use cloth napkins, and so on! 6. Repair Damaged Items When something breaks or is in bad condition, most people would buy a new item to replace it. But a better zero waste option would be trying to repair it first. If you can’t repair something on your own, find someone who can help you. For example, tailors, cobblers, carpenters, and others! 7. Donate Things You Won’t Use Any More If you have items that you won’t use any more and they’re in good condition, donate them instead of sending them to landfills. Remember that other people might find them useful. With this idea, you will support a market where nothing is wasted! 8. Buy Local Products Keep in mind that goods transported over large distances require more energy and packaging than local products. As a zero waste consumer, you should give locally made goods a try to reduce waste and support local businesses! 9. Prefer Loose Veggies and Fruits Food packaging is the most problematic waste to avoid. An easy idea to start cutting down on food packaging is choosing loose veggies and fruits instead of buying them wrapped in plastic. 10. Give Ugly Fruits and Veggies a Chance If you want to fight food waste, you could start buying some “ugly” fruits and vegetables. Think about how many people avoid them just because they don’t look perfect. If nobody buys them, they will end up as waste! 11. Store Your Food Properly to Prevent Food Waste Once you get home from food shopping, make sure to store your food properly to avoid spoilage! Separate foods that promote ripening, like bananas and tomatoes, from sensitive foods like apples and leafy greens! 12 When Buying Online, Ask for Plastic-free Packagin...