20 Things I Don’t Buy Anymore
Following zero-waste and minimalist way of life
Ever since I was interested in minimalism and zero-waste I decided to stop brainless consuming. From there I watched every product I was going to buy, thinking about its influence on the environment.
If there is any way to replace a product packed in plastic or stop using it I do it. Avoiding plastic is the main reason why I changed almost every product around me.
1. Disposable razors and shaving foam/shaving gel → Reusable razor + bar soap
2. Shower gel and shampoo → Shampoo in bar and bar soap (packed in the paper)
3. Earbuds → I’m washing the ears while washing the hair
4. Toothbrush and toothpaste packed in plastic → Wooden brush + toothpaste in glass
Toothpaste is probably found in every bathroom in the world. It is estimated that people throw away about 1.5 billion used tubes after it every year. This is a gigantic amount of plastic garbage. That’s why I use toothpaste packed in glass. It’s more expensive, but you save the planet.
5. Ketchup, mayonnaise, and sauces → Every product I consume I do it myself if possible, don’t buy food that was processed. And I don’t eat this kind of food at all.
6. Juices, carbonated drinks, bottled water, syrups → Home squeezed juices, tap water, Yuhme bottle
A year and some time ago I was overweight almost 40 Ibs (+/- 20 kg). I changed my life, say no to carbonated drinks, sugar, sweets. With applied workouts, I managed to become fit and healthy after a year. And I don’t feel sick inside my body anymore.
7. Alcohol → Being sober is much more fun
If only I knew how much better I can feel when I’m sober, I would have stopped drinking earlier than a year ago. I can’t see any reason to drink more than a glass of wine for dinner.
8. Ready meals → I cook at home
Quite good I must admit. I don’t buy any processed food, which means I don’t buy ready meals also. They don’t even tasty and are packed in plastic.
9. Sweets → I control my sugar level by eating fruits.
Most sweets are packed in plastic and what’s ‘inside’ of every sweet terrifies me. And the possibility of being overweight again, the memory of my look in the mirror, it reminds me that it is better to avoid sweets as well.
10. Jams, pasta → I can always make home-made jams. Same with pasta, but I don’t eat it much.
11. Glass cleaner, wood cleaner, dust cleaner, floor cleaner → I use water or water and universal soap
Some time ago I visited my friend in Brazil and I saw a closet at his place, full of detergents. Every surface has its cleaner packed in plastic. What’s the point if water, or water and universal soap is enough?
12. Napkins → Waste of money packed in plastic
13. Aluminum foil and sandwich foil → I use lunchboxes made from rice husks, and I use plates to cover food in the fridge. Foils are nonrecyclable at all.
13. Home decorations, trash things → I decorate the home with flowers and things I use every day. It’s also less cleaning. Not to mention how much money you can save.
14. Washing liquid → Washing powder you can buy packed in paper, not plastic bottles.
15. Count of plates, glasses, and mugs equals the count of people at home
16. Plastic bags → To pack my groceries I use my rucksack, and if I need bags, I have few material bags at home.
17. No fast fashion, no sales, no polyester,
It’s about cheap, trendy clothing you can find in shops. I always look for wool, cotton, or flax. If not in second hands, I look for environmental and labor-friendly companies like Jack Wolfskin, Fjallraven, The North Face, Toms, Veja.
18. Paper press/books → Kindle books, digital press
19. Batteries → If something must be using batteries I use rechargeable ones.
20. Things I don’t need / already own
Before any purchase, it’s good to take a while to think. If I already own something, like jeans, there’s no point in buying new ones. If I wonder do I need this new iPhone case I look at the one I own and ask myself, what will I do with the old one. Thinking twice before any purchase saves me a lot of money.