1. Loose leaf tea

Buy loose leaf tea. Buy it in bulk and in paper packaging. Especially in the winter, I drink a lot of tea and I’m sure I’m not the only one. Loose leaf tea isn’t just better for the environment, but it tastes better too!

2. Bring your reusable bag

When you go shopping, bring your own reusable bag(s). These days, I never go anywhere without my reusable bag. It’s just a matter of turning something into a habit: always take a bag with you when you go out.
Tip: Buy seasonal products.

3. Reusable water bottle

Buy a reusable water bottle. These bottles save tons and tons of plastic bottles. And all you need to do is refill it! In Europe, in most countries you can refill with tap water. In countries where this isn’t an option, you can buy big water jugs and refill the bottle that way.
Tip: You can also buy a reusable travel coffee mug.

4. Soap bars

You can replace a lot of shower products by bars. It saves a lot of plastic and usually the ingredients are natural, without any chemical additives, so it’s better for your own health and body too! There are shampoo bars, shaving soap bars, bars instead of shower gel, etc.

5. Reusable lunch box

You can either buy something in the cafeteria or buy a reusable lunch box, a biodegradable one. We Dutch people love our sandwiches, but of course lunch boxes can be used for a lot more. Most people bring their lunches in plastic bags or in a plastic lunch box. Time to invest in a biodegradable, reusable lunch box I’d say.
Tip: Or use bee wraps! These are getting more and more popular!

Extra tip: small reminder

When you get excited about going zero waste, you will want to invest in changing everything, but you don’t always have too! For example: I have been using my plastic comb for as long as I can remember. I could buy a bamboo one now, but what’s the point? Now my plastic comb is being used. It’s better to keep using the plastic stuff you already have than let it end up on a landfill.