This post is part of the Closed-Loop Zero Waste series.
Nature uses what it creates in a circular way; it is not linear. Imagine a tree falling naturally in the woods. The tree slowly gets transformed by critters and decay, turning it into a useful home or nourishment for other living things. Each part is used and has a purpose.
When bringing an item into your life, keep in mind its complete circle of life. When this item and its material can no longer be used as is and also cannot made into something new, ask the question, “Can this be returned to nature?” Ideally, it can be composted, which is the last R of Closed-Loop Zero Waste. Essentially, we want a frame of mind, habits and lifestyle that utilize materials that can be used again and again, and can be returned to the earth, resulting in a circular model rather than a linear one where materials end up in a landfill. Ideally, we want to strive for a world with systems in place that result in zero waste.
Check out the diagram below to see a glimpse into the lifecycle of a natural material and to get a great visual of how you can incorporate a Closed-Loop system in your home with natural materials. Start on the grey circle and make your way around the diagram.
I’m also inspired by the fact that nature is patient with its work; this is a wonderful example of how we can live our lives as well. Think back to the fallen tree and how many different transformations it goes through, and how long it takes before decomposing completely. Compare that to our culture of disposing the materials that come into our lives quickly and conveniently, often sending them to a landfill or recycling facility. As we see in nature, quick and convenient is not always necessary. Slowing down our hectic lives and being more intentional can change our view of these materials. Some examples of ways to do this are repairing an item when broken or repurposing the materials of an item that can’t be fixed, rather than sending them to the landfill.
Nature uses a community of elements and beings like heat, bacteria and organisms to give new purpose to materials, like the fallen tree, for example. As a society, we have not properly aligned our methods with nature’s methods.
First, it is important to prioritize using natural materials that can be composted when they no longer can be reused, repaired, repurposed, or recycled.
Secondly, our current culture relies heavily on the recycling facility and landfill to manage many of our unwanted materials. Re-thinking how we manage our materials can help us move away from our over-consumptive, throw-away, waste culture. We depend on quick and convenient systems, like recycling facilities and landfills, because excessive amounts of materials are being used. We can prevent unnecessary materials by refusing and reducing much of it in the first place. Think of those “disposable” plastic bottles, straws, or cutlery. Refuse those and choose reusable alternatives instead.
Reducing the amount of materials we send to a recycling facility is important. The recycling system is limited. It creates waste, often including tape, staples, glue, etc. that come with recyclable materials (see Closed-Loop Zero Waste diagram below). It also creates waste through the process of downcycling, where a material’s quality and recyclability lessens each time it goes through the process of recycling. The recycling system is also considered a business: it prioritizes materials that are profitable.
Utilize other opportunities in our community as well, like repair shops and repurposing options such as local crafters. Prioritizing these before recycling can help reduce the amount of downcycling that happens.
A HUGE thank you to my talented husband, John Hepokoski, who helped me make the Natural Materials diagram above! And also 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!
