5 ways zero waste didn't make sense // don’t make these mistakes when going green 

The mantra I keep chanting in my head whenever I start overthinking is “we don’t need a few people being sustainable perfectly. We need a lot of people being sustainable imperfectly.” Fear of imperfection is what drives away so many people from environmentalism. It has driven me away at times as well. We do not need the elite few who have managed to completely cut out plastic from their entire lives, while everyone else in the world continues to go on as normal. We need more and more and more people TRYING, and EDUCATING THEMSELVES, and CHANGING. There is no perfection required.

I never felt comfortable with internal products. But when they started to sell reuseable pads with wings and either velcro or snap on butttons, I switched from disposeable ones. I found them more secure, never had leaks. Today, I am one year into menopause, and I dont miss my periods for a second. Very nice video, I applaud your openness. I think we are all trying, but far from zero waste. The easiest route is the personal hygiene and laundry. There are so many products to choose from, and the waste goes straight into the nature, so it is where I have focused the most.

I really love the mental switch from a "don't leave that with me" to "if it's left with me at least I can reuse or recycle it properly." My parents do not recycle usually but when they're at my house they started letting me recycle or compost their single use stuff which at least meant it didn't immediately end up in the landfill!

Sustainability includes your energy. . . If a habit or practice is draining your energy beyond your ability to renew it, then it's not a sustainable habit.

I felt so SEEN when you started talking about disregarding the discomfort and then spiraling down the "bad zero-waster, bad environmentalist, bad person"-line. I didn't experience it much with changing my personal hygiene habits thankfully, but I definitely got close to a burnout when trying to rapidly change my habits around doing plastic-free groceries and cooking sustainably and meal prepping and packaging my lunches - I really couldn't keep all of it up, but "it's better for the environment so I should do all of it anyway." (Edit to clarify: I lived in an area where plastic-free groceries or shopping just wasn't possible at that time, so...)

I am a pretty chaotic person (adhd) and it happens quite often that I forget to bring my own food/water/bottles/cups/cutlery when I am spending a day out. When I just started trying to be zero waist I felt so guilty about buying food in any kind of package that that would sometimes mean that I would just not eat for a whole day if i would not have the opportunity to get someting package free that i could afford. Absolutely bonkers lol.

The way you talk about the mindset of putting the environment ahead of your own needs, makes me think of vegans who won't take medicines or seek proper medical guidance and detriment themselves for the animals. It's really sad, I completely understand, but then if we're not taking care of ourselves how can we help the animals and help the planet? I love that we all care so much, I think I'd rather care too much than not at all but definitely need to be finding the right balance for ourselves ❤ Also period underwear has changed my life, I am scared of menstrual cups and think I'll stay away forever but my underwear has lasted me YEARS so far and aside from horrid panty lines in my activewear.. they are perfection

All the guilt I felt for using dog poopbags. 😂 I just want my dog to be happy and my neighbors not to hate me, so a girl's gotta use poopybags and yes, they are made from plastic. 🎉

absolutely I had let go a little bit of the obsession of being completely plastic free I do my best but sometimes there's no other options and sometimes there are options but I'm too drained to do them so I am more forgiving

I was trying really hard at the beginning do a capsule and when I purchased stuff to try and do it sustainably like new sustainable brands items. after a while I realized the most sustainable thing is to buy something you will wear forever and you really really like and that's how I reduce my on used clothes and materials and I started drifting more sustainably. doing a heavy research every time I need to buy something was just wearing me out

The best thing about being human is that we can learn things and change our mind. Once we know better, we can do better. And that is everything. 😊

I have always used pads. The first time I used a tampon was traumatizing it was with an applicator. Than I started using to tampons without the applicator. But after having a bartholin cyst and having a traumatizing pelvic exam I stopped using them. I haven’t used them since my senior year of high school. I was already using thinx and reusable pads.

wrt plastic bags - 90% of the time, I remember my reusable bag for groceries or any other type of shopping, BUT I always use them and actually steal plastic bags from my friends to reuse as trash bags/ liners (why buy brand new plastic bags just to put trash in when they appear in my house for free?), something to put dirty laundry in when traveling, something to put my gym sneakers in to separate them from my clothes in my gym bag, etc etc etc. I've also started setting aside clean plastic bags that bread products and frozen items come in because they are convenient to wrap opened blocks of cheese in; then I don't have to purchase a specific container for that purpose or dirty my glass jars/tupperware and so on, or I reuse them to put smelly trash in in my kitchen so the kitchen trash can doesn't stink up the joint before I take the trash out (think saucy stuff, oily stuff etc that cannot be composted). Also, on rainy days, the postal service puts packages in huge clear plastic bags that are perfect for the large kitchen trash barrel, or for donations (versus the trend of putting donations into new kitchen trash bags).

the mesh produce bags. I bought some and have NEVER used them. Since a lot of produce is wet it will just seep through the bags, so what I do is save my bread bags and put a piece of reused duct tape over the barcode and use those for my produce bags if I need them. Most of the time I really don't bother. i plan on washing everything when I get home anyways or I don't eat the outside, like bananas, and kiwis.

Totally relatable! I would drive myself crazy trying to be plastic -free 😅. Now that I live in a place where being plastic -free (and sane at the same time 😂) is impossible, not to mention unreasonably expensive, I've learnt to do my best and not sweat it 😊

i'm se glad to hear you phrase how it's helped you rather that what someone else "should" do. thank you.

Love this talk about expectations and reality. We all need to be more gentle on ourselves and each other.

Uhhh the menstrual cup story... Relatable 😬 When I bought my first one (after years of using tampons) I thought I had good information, that cup was recommended for beginners because it was soft but would pop open easily... Well guess what, it pops open easily because despite the softness of its body, the rim is like super extra firm, so much so that the Put a Cup In It chart classifies its firmness as 5/5 😂 it was soooo painful and difficult to use - it wouldn't want to come out - I honestly can't imagine what kind of body this cup was made for! I wholeheartedly recommend the PACII website and facebook group to anyone considering using menstrual cups or discs 😊 you can find all the info you need there! Edit: I forgot to name the cup, it was the Lady Cup

wrt to period products; I hated diva, luna, and one other typical tulip shaped cup, but I LOVE the nixit cup. I've discontinued using my Thinx (so glad I invested all that money, naht) and now I use 100% cotton pads with snap closures from an Etsy shop. I have also found that one of the best period products is not a period product at all - I cut up an old flannel shirt and I fold it to use as a liner or thin pad or as a thin topper on a cotton pad in the evenings that I ditch before lying down to go to bed. Since it's "single ply" and just folded, it washes out incredibly easy, versus soaking and scrubbing the thick cotton pads (which is fine; I rather like care taking my belongings in this way). I have been the low-waste guinea pig, as my sister is a frugal minimalist who will not spend money to "try" items she might not like, so I have wound up getting her the nixit cup for Christmas (lol) and a comically large overnight cotton period pad for her birthday, to allow her to try them out and ditch plastic period products. My sister would never tolerate being uncomfortable, so consider the fact that she has gotten at least 3 other friends to try nixit and just asked which Etsy shop I used for the cotton pad - and trust that it is superior to so many other options. I no longer have to purchase any period products or store them in my bathroom and only hang onto my old stash of tampons for when someone has an emergency at work lol

I'm sitting here being happy that I'm post-menopausal. No menstrual cups for me. I do what I can otherwise. I can and do recycle glass metal and paper. I also recycle fabrics.

I think as long as you're trying, you're doing great! No one should ever make you feel bad for trying. Whether it's getting healthier, reducing waste, all kinds of things. And if you're having a tough time with anything, and you're giving it your all but it only feels like 50% well guess what! In that moment, 50% is your 100% right now and that's okay!!

Girl i use a big reusable makeup wipe and water to take off my makeup and it works wonders, and my skin thanks me for it. Ideal af! Dont worry about it! Your skin looks A+

Love this evolution and maturity. Same with me!

I tried the menstrual cup back in the 1970s and just didn't like it at all. My periods were so heavy nothing seemed to work well for me, even tampons. I ended up having a hysterectomy at 30 years old so I didn't have to worry about any of that anymore. I really like the way you are open and well versed about this subject and share with all of us.

I have a suggestion for make up remover: if you have mixed skin, buy a zero waste charcoal based face soap specifically for your make up remover/ face cleansing. It will make it easier. I have a similar routine because you know what? Face cleansers clean make up just as well as make up remover.

Raise your hand if you let yourself become dehydrated because you refused plastic water bottles 🙋🤦

I use a Saalt menstrual cup and period underwear, they also have a menstrual disc. They give back 2%, education girls and women about period care and how to use them. All of their packaging is recyclable. They also have wonderful customer service and a RU-vid channel with helpful info.

I love how your experience with the menstrual cup really hones in on how our practices need to be something we can commit to long term and how not every “sustainable” product is for everyone (and that’s ok). As someone who’s allergic to silicone, period underwear has been such a great alternative to menstrual cups. The importance is finding something that works with your life.

I’ve struggled with having kids and eating, shopping, planning to be plastic free is so hard!! I live in a remote area where everything is barged in or flown in sooooo that makes it hard to plan good deals, plastic free or anything like this.. My family brings cut fruit in plastic containers to my house…. I was frustrated so a while until I realized I could start plants in those shell containers and it was like a little green house!

id wake up with 34 zits if i didn’t take off my makeup ur so lucky! i even slept with my eyebrows done and woke up with literal pimples in my brows its crazy.

Thank you

Aso good for taking off make up is coconut oil. in the past i used mineral oil or baby oil to take mine off. Although now we know these are not great for your skin. So now i use coconut oil to take it off. we even used crisco to take it off if we didn't have anything else! I also made natural tampon sponges out of natural silk sponges gathered from the ocean. you can find them in art stores. I threaded a piece of heavy floss through it and tied the end. you can use them, then rinse them wash with soap then soak in water vinegar mix to sanitize them .. let them dry & good to use over and over.

When I was in high school, I used to be too lazy to fill in my brows every day. I would fill them in in the morning, and for the next few nights, I would wash all of my face except my eyebrows. To have to fill them in every day felt like a waste of product and time lol.

oh, the silk sponges can be trimmed with a scissors to "fit" you better, if necessary. Good luck!

I use a microfibre cloth for removing makeup, the few times a year I ever wear it. Same one I use for my hair 😂 It’ll take off even the most stubborn product, and a lot of products just won’t come off with soap and water.

Hey Beautiful! Love and hugs from Florida! Love your videos!!!

I have a menstrual cup now, that I really like. But because I had to test a bit I now own 3 cups. I feel bad about having two I don't use and you can't really resell them...

Менструальные чаши точно не для меня! Я даже не умею пользоваться тампонами, лол. Тем более недавно я узнала, что у меня эндометриоз.. 4 года назад я купила чашу и она до сих пор лежит в моей сумке, у меня просто не получается ею пользоваться! Очень жаль, что на это были потрачены ресурсы, тем более такой предмет никому нельзя отдать, потому что это негигиенично. Многоразовые прокладки моя любовь! Мне очень комфортно использовать их. По поводу последнего пункта - Вы очень помогли мне. Я стараюсь быть идеальной во всём и очень часто довожу себя до истощения.. Ваши слова подбодрили меня. Спасибо.

I have a medical condition that makes having a plant based diet impossible for me, and I know that there are others in the same situation. My biggest recommendation is to switch to less impactful animals, such as chicken instead of beef, and to just do your best wherever you can!

Gittemarie, I'm super curious what you think about the donut economic system, and whether you think it's sustainable or realistic. I think your views on it would be super insightful!

I waited months after my first menstrual cup attempt as well. But eventually I tried it again and then didn't look back.

What's the source of the chart for the food impact? I would love to show it to my boyfriend!

My skin would have rebelled big time if i ever once decide to not wash off my make up 😅 literally produces acne when the wind blows the wrong way. There are special face wash soaps, no need for plastic packaging. But it always depends on your skin type what kind of soap you can use. I used one of the soaps that where designed for the face but i did break out when i used it every time. At the moment i use the black african soap dudu osun and it works for me but it's more for oily skin. Helps prevent acne for me but everyone needs to find what works for them.

When I found out how awful fast fashion is, I decided to get a shirt from a fair fashion brand. But I ordered it from the USA and I live in Europe 😅 It wasn't even anything super special, just a white shirt with a print but I just wanted to buy something fair fashion SO bad. Back then I still thought you could just buy your problems away 💀

Reusable pads for the win. Washes with laundry. No discomfort! I don't think it's comfortable to be walking around with silicone or tampons wedged inside, it just doesn't feel comfortable for me 🤷‍♀️ I stopped using disposable pads years ago when I realised that in landfill somewhere is a load of period pads just polluting, plus the possible carcinogens from scented pads. The reusable pads are made of cotton and bamboo fleece and they wash perfectly.

Few days ago I was on my groceries shopping and I'm trying to not to buy vegetables and fruits in plastic containers. (I do shopping in big shop like Kaufland, bc it is the nearest one and I don't have any kind of market at my place) But this time I bought three-set of bell peppers in plastic bag, bc these free container were absolutely enormous. On one hand I felt guilty, but on the other... I dont think that any human being needs the gigantic bell pepper. (Probably GMO, lol)

Did your friends say anything? I would be weirded out about the plastic bag thing...

Could you provide a source for the stat about 5% of food's environmental impact being from packaging? Thanks!

ive bought the menstrual cup and tried to use it and just couldn't put it in there. maybe it's too big? idk... i havent had anything in there yet so the feeling inside is soo uncomfortable. tried tampon once just to go swimming and even with tampon i dont think that i had put it correctly.. could it also be that your v*gina somehow is anatomically different and not suitable for an internal menstrual product? i just think its not for me but i'd like to use them because even compared to period undies they probably are more sustainable because of easy cleaning and overall product footprint, material- silicone is much more lasting.. do you guys have any tips on how to actually start using the cup, or if you really struggled how you got to use it?

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Gittemarie this make up section was STRESSFUL. Hand soap? Sleeping in make up? No SPF? GIRL

GitteMARIE FTW!

One more comment; these sponges are natural silk sponges grown in the sea. DO NOT USE REGULAR SPONGES FOR THIS!! Do not use a regular sponge you use on dishes!!! No! Make sure these are NATURAL SILK SPONGES from nature!! O.k. i'm done!