







One of the first things I did when I started my zero waste journey was search for sustainable alternatives to my everyday household items. I admit that I was a shopaholic once upon a time and the thought of shopping for shiny and new "eco-friendly" products was exhilarating.





However, I quickly learned that being zero waste was about decreasing my shopping trips and focusing on up-cycling what I already had (feel free to refer to this post to learn more about why this is important). I had become accustomed to the single-use revolution, so at first the thought of using and reusing things seemed too time consuming. I distinctly remember thinking of my grandmother washing out zip-lock bags and reusing them repeatedly.





Now I realize that all the "silly" things my grandmother did were not only cost effective, but environmentally friendly. When she purchased products, they were expected to last generations and any "single-use" items she acquired generally withstood multiple uses. Having lived through the Great Depression, she appreciated all of her possessions throughout life. This is a lesson I look back upon and wish I'd taken the time to understand sooner. But it's never too late!





Cherishing your possessions is an important step in becoming zero waste. Everything you bring home adds value to your life, whether it's a new car or a toothbrush. Just take a moment to appreciate your belongings and see them as something other than disposable.





When you first transition to zero waste living, consider what you already have. You can go zero waste today, if you'd like. You don't need to spend any money to make the change. In fact, here are my favorite zero waste alternatives that are absolutely free.





Free Zero Waste Swaps





1. Reusable Shopping Bags

Eight states in the US have banned plastic bags in the last 5 years. For those of us that live in one of those states, we can generally come upon free reusable shopping bags by attending community events, as they are one of the top free hand-outs.





However, there is no need to attend events to get your hands on a reusable shopping bag. If you don't already have hundreds of plastic bags under your sink, your grocery or department stores generally hand them out like hot-cakes! Don't feel any shame in reusing a plastic bag until it is in tatters. Most fancy reusable shopping bags have plastic in them anyway. We're all using plastic bags. The only difference is our perception of what's "disposable".





Some other things that you can use as a shopping bag are paper bags, cardboard boxes (I've seen plenty of Amazon boxes being used), and even pillow cases! Use them with pride. If anyone asks, chat with them about consumerism and its impact on the environment.





2. Reusable Produce Bags

Shopping in the bulk section at my grocery store is so much fun! I love that I can load up on as much or as little of an ingredient as I'd like. These days I mostly avoid the middle aisles and only visit the bulk and produce sections. And if you spend any amount of time in those sections too, you know that stores always provide plastic produce bags. There is no produce bag police stopping you from reusing them and, in fact, there is at least one benefit in using them. Many stores don't have the ability to remove the tare (weight) of the bags, so the lighter the bag the less expensive the bulk or produce item will be.





If your store clerk is able to subtract the tare, then perhaps bring some empty pasta sauce jars with you. Really any plastic/glass jar would work well (pickle, peanut butter, etc). If you prefer bags, another great option is zip-lock bags. Something else to consider is whether or not you even need a bag. Most fruits and vegetables come in their own form of packaging and really don't need to be put in a bag (bananas, avocados, onions, etc).





3. Food Storage

I am notoriously good at making WAY too much food when I cook. I often have a lot of leftovers and have to store my food for a day or two while I chip away at it. I have always hated foil, it hurts my teeth just thinking about it (I hope I'm not the only one that gets that feeling!). So before I purchased my Pyrex food storage containers, I stored my food by simply putting a bowl over a plate of food or a plate over a bowl of food. Simple but effective!





Pasta sauce jars reappear! Yes, any plastic/glass jar that contained food at one point would work, as well. They contained food once before, so why can't they do it again? If you are out at a restaurant and have leftovers, throw them in your jar. You could also wrap sandwiches and pastries in a napkin.





4. Reusable Water Bottle and Tumbler

Somehow I've always had 2 or more reusable water bottles sitting in the back of my kitchen cabinet, but that doesn't stop me from using alternatives when I'm in a pinch. You may *face palm*, but I love to use pasta sauce jars for water, smoothies, tea - you name it! You can even wrap a washcloth around them with a rubber band to make a hand cozy for any hot beverages. Honestly, keep your pasta sauce jars, they are so useful.





If you need your daily fix of Starbucks and don't have a pasta sauce jar on hand, grab a mug. Sure you can't do cartwheels while carrying your coffee, but what are the odds of that happening anyway? For any other cold beverages or water, you can always reuse plastic water bottles, Gatorade bottles, etc.





5. Reusable Napkins, Paper Towels, and Sponges

Now that I've been living zero waste for a while, I find it funny that we have so many different products that serve similar purposes. You don't really notice it until you start trying to lower your waste. Like you've seen, pasta sauce jars can be used for almost everything, except we have hundreds of different products that can do exactly what they do. But I promise we're done with pasta sauce jars.





I'd like to talk about cleaning. When you clean your home, dishes, and face you generally reach for a different cleaning product for each one. In reality, a washcloth or hand towel can be used for all of these things. Some devoted zero wasters even use them in place of toilet paper!





6. To-Go Utensils

I worked somewhere that had a full kitchen with reusable plates, cups, and silverware. However, anytime there was a potluck, disposable plastic utensils were put out. It was considered the most convenient way to cleanup after the party was over - just throw it all away. This out of sight out of mind mentality just doesn't cut it for zero wasters.





This is why I always opted for the silverware hidden away in the kitchen drawers. If I wound up being given a disposable utensil, I'd wash it so it could be used again. Who says they can only be used once? If you are able to plan ahead and know you'll need silverware, just grab it out of your kitchen drawer. You can always wash it when you get home.





Do you have any free zero waste swaps that have worked for you? Share them in the comments below! If you have up-cycled the living daylights out of your Free Zero Waste Swaps and are in the market for a sustainable alternative, feel free to visit my shop by clicking here.







