Back in the golden days, things were made to last. One day some scientist found a material that can last FOREVER. They thought it’s the best thing EVER! And they called it plastic! Forward eighty years and we see the aftermath. Plastic has infiltrated every area of our lives, and seemingly every corner of the planet. Shocking material of plastic gyres and marine life strangled by plastic is all over social media and the internet. It’s about time that things such as reusable straws, coffee cups, toothbrushes and razors found alternatives to their plastic counterparts. Reusable, green and natural products are amply available, but less so if you live in a rural area. The Northern Suburbs of Cape Town definitely doesn’t count as rural, but I had to do a little sniffing and surfing to find some eco-friendly shops in the surrounding area. here is the 3 easiest swaps to start your zero-waste journey 1. The Reusable Shopping Bag The reason this is my number one easiest swap, is because of their availability. Most supermarkets have some or other reusable version of a shopping bag. Take your own plastic bags to the supermarket or purchase (or diy) reusable shopping bags. 2. the bamboo toothbrush This was by far my easiest swop. The feel is close to its counterpart (perhaps because the bristles are still plastic). When it’s time to replace your toothbrush, you only remove the bristles and compost the handle. I bought mine from at Nude Foods, but they’re also available at faithfultonature.co.za and Clicks. 3. the reusable straw Plastic straws are a big environmental concern. They are produced, packaged, used only once, and then it is discarded. Perhaps, you rarely ever use straws. In my case, I nearly always drink coffee, or on the rare occasion, ice-tea. Both is fine to drink without any straw.
My fiancé, however, nearly always drink milkshakes. It is possible to drink a milkshake without a straw, but perhaps we don’t all want t to look like a two-year old with a milk moustache. There are great alternatives like stainless steel, glass, copper and bamboo straws. My first one burst open after a few months, after which it just went to the compost.
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Moon. Stars. Skies. Cloud-watching. Barefoot. Meditate. Inner-healing
These are all words and activities I adore. Yet, if you think about it, each word has a connotation. It might be negative, it might be positive, or it might be neutral. Most of these words, if not read in a certain context, sounds rather hippie...don't they? Not that I care to be called a hippy, or a bohemian ;) But, it's also true that these things are associated with karmas and auras and chakras and well... all things Zen. Which is Buddhist by nature. Here's the thing. I'm no Buddhist. Everything I am and everything surrounding me is created by and for the glory of God. He is the center of my being. In the beginning God created the heaven's and the earth. Gen 1:1. The first words in The Bible. God also created darkness and light. Land, sea and sky. Mountains and valleys. He created all living creatures. Everything in nature. Us humans, he created as part of nature. And we have the responsibility to look after this one earth we were given. This is the core-reason why I am on this ever evolving eco-conscious, anti-plastic, zero-waste, care-for-creation journey. What I believe is that everyone, regardless of religion, age, culture etc should do their part in reducing their carbon footprint. And although I can't claim to be completely zero-waste or plastic-free, I'm trying my best. Changing one habit at a time. In the following posts, I will share how I changed - and am still changing - everyday habits. May you have a blessed day! |