The Sustainable Minimalists Podcast is live: Listen here.
Zero-Waste Baby Steps

Zero-Waste Baby Steps

Zero-waste baby steps for absolutely everyone.

Zero-Waste Baby Steps:

Interviews with Julie Winpisinger + Laura Durenberger.

_____

Interviews are always best in audio. Listen here!


Julie Winpisinger always thought zero-waste living was attractively unattainable.

A mission trip to Nicaragua changed all that.

Everything about the trip – the simplicity, the poverty – contrasted sharply with such wastefulness inherent to life back home; the experience catapulted Julie toward low-waste living soon after.

She’s a fan of The Office + calls the East Coast home.


Laura Durenberger, a guest on today's episode, discusses her family''s journey toward zero-waste living.Laura Durenberger, a Minnesota native, signed her family up for a zero-waste challenge on a whim.

The decision was so whimsical, Laura had forgotten to inform her husband.

Laura’s application was accepted; her husband jumped on the zero-waste train soon after. In just 9 months, Laura’s family reduced their trash by over 30 pounds per week.

Laura discusses zero-waste living on her blog, The Mindful Mom Blographer.


Snag the freebies!

Figure out what you’re throwing away with The Zero-Waste Audit.

(Note: This free printable first appeared on themindfulmomblographer.com; Laura has graciously offered to the Sustainable Minimalists audience.)

The Zero-Waste Wishlist is a free PDF (with clickable links!) that highlight ten of the most innovative zero-waste swaps so that you’re ready with an eco-friendly replacement when opportunity knocks.

Get both here.


What exactly is zero-waste living?

It’s a lifestyle in which the goal is to send as little trash to the landfill as possible.

It’s achievable by creatively recycling, repurposing, composting + reusing items at every turn.

It’s forgiving in that every effort – when done consciously – is a step forward. There’s an awful lot of gray area in the zero-waste movement; that’s because the lifestyle doesn’t vilify setbacks. Instead, it embraces them.

It’s a journey in which little successes add up to collectively become a singular lifestyle change.


3 unintended benefits to zero-waste living:

– 1. It’s cheaper.

– 2. It actually reduces anxiety because you (+ only you!) control what you throw away.

– 3. It promotes healthy eating habits.


Take zero-waste baby steps:

Start slow and go slow. It’s the key to staying on track.

– Actually look at your trash. Conduct an effective yet simple trash audit.

– Swap out conventional items for biodegradable or reusable options, one by one.

Start with tissues. Remove the tissue boxes and replace with handkerchiefs or rags.


Interested?  Go at zero-waste right.

(P.S. These freebies are FREE.)


More tips from the guests:

– Meal plan at the start every week. Prep those meals, too.

– Make your own Zero-Waste Wishlist (or snag this week’s free one!) so that you aren’t caught unprepared in the future.

– Create an Eat-Me Box in your refrigerator to reduce food waste.

– Be gentle with yourself. There will be times when you do better; there will be times when you do worse.


Remember that zero-waste living is a marathon, not a sprint.


Notable quotes from the episode:

“The term ‘zero-waste’ sounds really daunting, especially for normal people (who) have busy lives … but if you take it slow it’s really not that overwhelming.”

“(When it comes to zero-waste living), everything seems so natural and not that much more effort in any way now. It’s hard to remember what life looked like before.”

“Zero-waste sounds so overwhelming at first but it isn’t … we’ve reduced our waste by 25 to 30 pounds per week.”

“Do the best that you can in the season of life you’re in. That’s all you can do.”

“Starting + going slow was the key to keeping us on board.”

“You may have setbacks … you just have to be kind + gentle with yourself and know you’ll get back on track + be on your way.”


Get more of Julie on Instagram + Pinterest!

___

Get more of Laura on her website, on Twitter, on Facebook + on Instagram!


Want the Show Notes sent directly to your inbox every week? Let’s do it! 

One thought on “Zero-Waste Baby Steps

Comments are closed.

Comments are closed.

Listen to the Podcast

The Sustainable Minimalists Podcast
Latest podcast:

Lights Out

Fossil fuels power our modern lives, and yet fossil fuels are also powering global warming. Because many of us lack the self-sufficient skills necessary to survive an extended power outage event, we are one thing and one thing only: vulnerable.

We have become over-reliant on the very thing that's destroying our planet. On today's show: Imagining the ways in which modern life, interpersonal connections, well-being and more would change in a hypothetical, fossil fuel-free world.

 

Here's a preview:

[6:00] We are so reliant on electricity that we are incapacitated without it. This is a problem!

[11:00] In the event of a 2-weeks plus outage, modernity would look a lot different

[24:00] Is minimalism late stage capitalism personified?

[28:00] Without fossil fuels, we'd be circular

[30:00] What research says with regard to the wellness benefits of working with our hands

 

Resources mentioned:

 

--



Our Sponsors:
* Thank you to HomeThreads! Use code SUSTAINABLE for 15% off. www.homethreads.com
* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/
* Thank you to Puro Air https://getpuroair.com/


Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Subscribe

My Story

Hello there, I’m Stephanie. I live a crazy, beautiful life as a full-time wife, blogger + mother to two spirited daughters. I’m on a mission to simplify eco-friendly living so as to greater enjoy life’s sweeter moments.

Want to know more? Read my story.

Sustainable minimalism for home, head + heart.

Join our community of eco-conscious women on a collective journey towards sustainable simplicity.

Join us!