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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.

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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!

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


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