Mykonos 2018

A beautiful week spent in Mykonos - June 2018.

Minimalism + Less Waste

Image by Sarah Lazarovic

Most likely you've come across the term 'Zero Waste' before. In the past year I've been doing more research into the topic and figured out a way to make my lifestyle more sustainable. In all honesty a fully zero waste lifestyle is unachievable and unrealistic for the majority of people. If you've got the funds, resources, and time to lead a fully zero waste life then kudos to you, I definitely couldn't do it.

There are a few reasons why I've decided to become more minimal and less wasteful in my life, and the biggest is that I have too much stuff. It's so easy for me to hoard sentimental items and keep things 'just in case'. I think as I become older I am becoming more aware of the impact my life has on the environment and on other people. I also just want to be more responsible with where and what I spend my money on, and in this thread, I'm trying to buy more from small local businesses.

The plastic bag charge has been in effect in Scotland since 2014, so I am very accustomed to bringing my own reusable bag or one of the many plastic bags that live in my kitchen. I've only ever bought one canvas tote bag, the others have been freebies from various events and organisations. If I can promote a student society around town whilst carrying my books then I definitely will. I make sure I always carry a reusable bag if I know I am going to go grocery shopping, and even if I don't have one I usually wear a backpack which holds a lot.

I recently became the owner of a KeepCup (hooray for freebies from training days!), and I also have a thermos which I love. I love my Contigo travel mug, it is definitely pricey but it is the best travel mug I've ever had. I can make my coffee at 8am, chuck it in my bag, go to class and it will still be hot when I get home at noon, and it hasn't leaked all over my notes! Although I don't trust the KeepCup to not leak in my bag, it has been great to use instead of a throw-away cup in coffee shops.

Since I've been at university my stuff has been split between my home and my student house - which means I have way more items than it seems. I've gone through all my clothing and donated multiple full black bags to charity shops, and I've sold stuff online. I used to buy sale items all the time in the hope that it would one day suit me, fit me, be warm enough for it etc, but I've since stopped that bad habit and try to only buy clothes when I need them. 

I've not quite got a capsule wardrobe - in the sense that I only have 20 items, but I do have a small number of pieces that I wear all the time and in all seasons. I still have pieces such as nice dresses and summer clothes that don't get a lot of wear but are important parts of my wardrobe. The same goes for shoes - I wear boots for the majority of the year and have the essentials ie, trainers, sandals and nicer shoes for when I need them. 

I've also made an attempt to be less wasteful in my make up and skincare, which has mostly involved me trying to use up all my half empty bottles before I buy new ones. I'm still using cotton wool rounds, mostly because I have a lot to use up but also because I am yet to find a good replacement.

Whilst this isn't necessarily related to minimalism or a less waste lifestyle, I have been trying to live in a healthier, and cleaner space. This means I've got plants in my bedroom and I've been using a humidifier - and I've noticed it's made a significant difference with my asthma. I've also been using chemical free cleaning products, namely Method, in all rooms of my house. I've noticed my productivity and general mood improves when I am working in a clean and tidy space, thus I've got into the habit of making my bed everyday and tidying up each evening. 


Although I have made a conscious effort to be less wasteful there are some exceptions. When I am on excavations baby wipes and plastic bags are my saving grace for travelling and keeping myself clean where there is no running water. For the same reason when I am in Greece I buy and throw away many plastic bottles as there is not drinkable tap water and, on the islands I was on, there was no means of recycling plastics. 

One of the standout issues that I have noticed with the 'zero waste' movement is the idea that in order to start you have to buy a number of items such as canvas bags, metal tupperware, or beeswax covers. Whilst the ultimate goal should be to use these reusable items instead of single-use or plastic items, it is much more eco-friendly and economical to first use up the single-use items first. As with any social movement there are the trendy and idealised items and products that are popular, but old jars and other re-used items are just as useful with no extra cost. Now this isn't to say that I won't eventually buy metal food containers or a nicer water bottle, rather I will use the items I currently have until they can be used no more, and then I will buy the new shiny items.