Family Encyclopedia >> Beauty & Style

Zero waste, what is it?

Zero waste is an environmental approach which aims to reduce waste in the house. The idea is to think about the lifespan of our purchases and their impact on the environment. For example, solid cosmetics will have less impact compared to conventional cosmetics. A stainless steel water bottle will be used for years while a water bottle will end up in the trash at the end of the day. Initiatives and efforts are to be made throughout the house:from the bathroom to the garden!

Zero waste, what is it?

Why reduce waste?

According to a study conducted by ADEME (Ecological Transition Agency), in 2017 households produced almost 40 million tonnes of waste . That is about 580 kilos per inhabitant. This waste is then recycled, when possible, reused to create compost, buried or incinerated. Unfortunately a good part of the waste is also found in our streets, in our seas and oceans but also in our forests and our parks. They pollute our beautiful planet and kill hundreds of animals every year.

Reducing waste must be a common concern for all human beings, individuals or companies. Over the years, there are more and more of us on Earth and this leads to a considerable increase in waste. The quantity of garbage cans to be buried becomes unmanageable because there is not enough space. Incineration eliminates waste but also produces waste and pollutes the air.

Giving a second life by recycling or recovering waste is still something difficult because the sorting of garbage is not done well.
waste reduction is then offered to us as a viable answer to all these problems. Rather than finding a solution to eliminate them, we must reconsider the consumption circuit from the start and think about the impact of a product before it even hits the market.

Zero waste focus

Very popular movement for a few years, zero waste is a real way of life ! Brands, big and small, are stepping up their ideas to offer products with a nice design and an extended lifespan. Plastic bags are replaced by beautiful tote bags or shopping trolleys. The stretch film is replaced by "bee's wrap" and the classic straws by pretty straws in stainless steel or recyclable cardboard.


Within the home, all disposable parts now find sustainable alternatives . Exit purchases to troubleshoot on the moment T, we think quality and durability!
Reusable or ecological objects may represent a higher cost to purchase, but they are items that you will keep for life. Think of them as a long-term investment!

How to reduce waste

There are lots of different ways to reduce waste. If you are not at all a fan of zero waste, start with small changes! For example, why not get yourself a kit of zero waste essentials? Then, little by little, you make more advanced changes such as installing compost in your garden.

Household waste

You can reduce your household waste in several ways:

  • To avoid unnecessary ads in the mailbox, place a label “ STOP ADS “ on the latter. No more waste of sheets and envelopes and the mailbox full to bursting in two days.
  • For the household , think minimalist! White vinegar, a few drops of essential oil, black soap and baking soda are enough. This way you avoid accumulating household products in your cupboards and using products with unknown compositions that are potentially dangerous for you.
  • Do your own laundry ! Same as for household products, you will not need many ingredients. Marseille soap shavings, a little baking soda and drops of essential oil (not essential) for the perfume and your homemade laundry detergent is ready. As for the softener , it can be replaced by white vinegar. Make your mixes and store them in glass bottles, voila!
  • Remember to sort it out :recyclable packaging should be put in the yellow bin. Glass bottles are to be brought in the glass container. The more you sort your waste, the more it will be recycled!
  • Do not throw your peelings or old leftovers in the household trash. Make yourself a compost or ask around if anyone might need it. If you are in an apartment, know that there are composts for apartment! In some cities you can also find shared composts.
  • Buy in bulk to limit unnecessary packaging. All you need to do is make or buy a few bulk bags and store your dry food in glass jars at home.

There are still plenty of tips for limiting the amount of trash to throw away, don't hesitate to share yours with us!

Food

Food waste leads to waste that fills a good part of our garbage cans. To avoid this, we buy and cook in reasonable quantities ! Better to do small errands every week rather than big errands twice a month and throw away expired food.

In the evening, cook a little more to be able to fill your lunch box for the next day's meal. This allows you to save money but also to eat healthy, balanced, anti-waste and without waste! To preserve leftover meals or fruit, consider “bee’s wraps”. These are pieces of fabric soaked in honey that can replace the stretch film. You can also make some kind of charlotte (like the one for the hair!) to put on top of your dishes and bowls!


Drink level, buy a water bottle or a thermos to carry your hot and cold drinks for the day. If you don't like drinking tap water, you can use charcoal sticks. They are to be placed in gourds or carafes to purify water and filter it.

Beauty products

When it comes to beauty products, consider solid cosmetics ! They are a great alternative to more conventional beauty products and offer you similar effectiveness. To replace disposable cottons, we turn to washable cottons, which are softer and have a prettier design. They are real decorative objects in a bathroom! The zero waste cosmetics and accessories brand Lamazuna is ideal for avoiding waste! Washable wipes, oriculi (to replace cotton swabs), deodorant and solid shampoo, they have thought of everything. More ecological, they are also more economical.

Zero waste, what is it?

Solid cosmetics:healthy and ecological

Solid cosmetics are committed cosmetics . By using organic and zero waste cosmetics you use products with fair, gentle compositions and without controversial ingredients. In addition to doing good for yourself, you are doing good for the planet. Solid products generate no waste except for their packaging, which is most of the time recyclable and made from recycled materials.


If you buy online, consider making a bulk order or taking reserves for several months! If you buy in store, take reusable jars or bulk bags to avoid taking the packaging.

Each of us is capable of taking action to avoid or recycle our waste on a daily basis! We are all the actors of tomorrow and therefore we must start to consume more fairly and in a thoughtful way . Small steps by small steps, by acting on our scale and talking about it around us, zero waste will become more than a lifestyle!