This post is part of the Closed-Loop Zero Waste series.
In Closed-Loop Zero Waste, I prioritize “Refusing” materials that do not align with nature.
One common material that is included in the list of materials I refuse are plastics. This includes items made with petroleum and plant-based plastics. Petroleum-based plastics can take 100-400 years to properly decompose, depending on the type of plastic. During that time, it can break into microplastics, be mistaken as food by fish, and may release or serve as a reservoir for toxic chemicals in the environment.
Plant-based plastics are also included because they need the high heat of a commercial composting facility to properly break down. These plastics don’t readily compost in a home system or in the environment that uses a lower heat. They don’t quite align with nature because they don’t readily breakdown in the composting system nature provides; it’s a grey area since they can be returned to the earth through commercial composting.
See my previous post called Natural vs. synthetic to see what materials align with nature and which don’t in the Closed-Loop system.
Here are 15 items I refuse in my Closed-Loop Zero Waste home. Again, I refuse these items whether they are made of petroleum or plant-based plastics.
- Disposable plastic plates, bowls, cups
- Plastic cutlery
- Plastic grocery bags
- Take-out containers
- Single-use water bottles and coffee cups
- Plastic produce bags
- Single-use straws
- Disposable tampons and pads
- Sponges
- Trash bags and compost bags
- Ziplock bags
- Synthetic fibers in clothes (as much as possible)
- Aluminum foil
- Disposable mop pads
- Food canned in metal
I even reduce the paper compostable single-use items by choosing reusable items to use instead.
Think of those compostable paper take-out containers, grocery bags, plates, paper towels, napkins, muffin cup liners and even wooden chopsticks.
Even though these are paper and readily compostable in a backyard compost system, I still reduce the resources I use by refusing these as well.
I love Bea Johnson’s definition of Refuse in her version of zero waste: Refuse what you do not need. (Learn more about Bea here.) This is carried over into my definition of Reduce: Reduce to what you need, use, and love. I don’t need a compostable paper take-out container. I can bring my own reusable container that I already have to bring my food home.
Of course, my message is to do your best and not get hung up on perfectionism. It can be easy to carry guilt around when trying to refuse these types of items in a culture where you are constantly offered disposables. Even people who have been working toward “zero” waste for many years accidently have a single-use straw placed in their drink at a restaurant from time to time.
See my earlier post, 20 reusable items I use in my zero waste home, to learn sustainable alternatives to these items I refuse!
Photo credit: Thank you Bag it, Duluth!
A HUGE thank you to my talented cousin, Aili Juusola at Design by Aili Juusola, who helped me make this Closed-Loop Zero Waste diagram look cohesive and engaging!