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Better life with less waste - Minimal waste for beginners

Besser leben mit weniger Müll – Minimal Waste für Einsteiger

We could throw some scary statistics around right now. Or we could tell you how big the floating carpets of plastic waste are in the oceans. But then you would have a terrible guilty conscience, feel bad about it and prefer to turn to more pleasant things. This does not help. The highest principle of the Minimal Waste-er is ‘Don't lose your good mood!’ – for a reason.

Saving the world? Yes please, but with fun and style!

It is possible and even urgently necessary that we - if we are already saving the world - do it with joy and enthusiasm. You actually already know the principle from the FLSK drinking bottle. With every sip of it, one less coffee-to-go cup or plastic bottle ends up in the trash can. Do you have to torture yourself? Is it difficult, exhausting, and annoying? No! Using your FLSK drinking bottle is fun, gives you a great sense of style and brings you many advantages (leak-proof, insulating...). Well, you know what we are talking about.

The same is true for the entire minimal-waste movement. It's fun to find out where you can cut down on waste. The alternatives to disposable items are usually much more aesthetic. And the advantages? Who likes to take out the garbage ...? By the way: If you have ever heard the term Zero Waste - forget it. It's not about not producing waste at all. It's about a basic awareness of what we're actually doing. If you take a closer look it's absolute madness. We've just gotten used to the rapid cycle of consumption and disposal.

Minimal waste - 3 areas for beginners

Okay, are you ready? Here we go. Let's take a minute and figure out where most of the garbage comes from. We'll start with that, because that's where we'll get the most. I mean, garbage gets to us somehow, mostly when we go shopping. Once it's in the apartment, it goes on and on, because it makes us think it's practical and irreplaceable …

1. Shopping - refuse garbage at the doorstep

Almost everywhere the plastic bag at the cash desk costs extra. Yet another incentive to bring our own shopping bags or cartons. But also, the bread bag at the bakery, the bags for weighing something in the fruit department and any outer packaging are completely unnecessary. Just hand the bakery salesman a clean cotton bag with your order and say: ‘Please put it in here!’ Whenever possible, buy unpackaged food (e.g. including fresh air at the farmer’s market) and bag it in your own containers. For professionals: In many German cities there are zero-waste supermarkets.

That's what you need: cotton bags in different sizes (e.g. from natural bags), cardboard boxes, glass and metal containers, baskets, the FLSK drinking bottle

2. Storage - avoid waste

You can use many of your shopping containers at home afterwards. But what do you do if you still have half a pineapple left over from the smoothie mix? Instead of using cling film, just cover it with beeswax wrap. The supple tissues have a pleasant beeswax scent and adapt to any shape. They let the food breathe and keep it fresh for a long time. In addition, the reusable wraps do not contaminate your food with plasticisers.

Here is what need for it: Cotton cloths soaked in beeswax (e.g. with pine resin and jojoba oil)

3. Hygiene - clean and beautiful with sustainable products

Take a look in your bathroom cabinet. Weird, right? So many different products. The manufacturers tell us that we need all this to be beautiful and well-groomed. Of course not. Actually, soap and some oil are enough. But let's start slowly.

Washing lotion, shampoo, toothpaste: even natural cosmetics often come in plastic packaging. So, it makes sense to look out for unpackaged products here too. For example, there are great, solid shampoo bars. For DIY fans: tooth powder, deodorant, face masks, etc. can be easily made with just a few ingredients. That way, you have maximum control over what goes in your cosmetics.

In addition, huge amounts of cosmetic pads, paper tissues and feminine hygiene products are thrown away every day. The alternatives made of washable fabric offer the skin a luxurious feeling and can be reused without much effort and absolutely hygienically.

Here is what you need: Unpackaged cosmetic products such as a solid soap, soft natural sponges for facial cleansing and your period, cuddly fabric panty liners, super soft fabric tissues, silky fabric pads.

Minimal Waste is very easy to implement, and it feels good. After a short period of getting used to it, it will be the most natural thing in the world for you. Because it is. Our waste madness is not natural. In which area do you feel like experimenting?