The biggest Zero Waste challenges I expect to face

I have had enough of living life at the expense of the planet, and I want to live sustainably, producing as little waste as possible. It’s merely about making the right choices, I thought. I would need to change where I shop and the products I buy. But, doing that might not be as straightforward as you’d think. Here are some of the biggest Zero Waste challenges I expect to face.

The reaction of others

I have not yet told my friends and family about the challenge I have set myself and I am not sure how they will respond. The Zero Waste lifestyle will be unknown to many people. I will have a lot of explaining to do! It will be tough if someone close to me can’t understand my decision because it would be disappointing not to have their encouragement. Besides, most of us do care what others think of us to some extent!

The biggest challenge for many might be bringing members of their household on board. When I first told my boyfriend that I wanted to go Zero Waste, he was supportive. He too, had been struck by how throw-away our culture has become. Though after some consideration he said, “What about meat? Will we have to become vegetarian or vegan?”

Zero Waste Meat

It is hard to buy meat Zero Waste. All meat products seem to come wrapped in plastic or shiny greaseproof paper, and there doesn’t seem to be a way around it. The layers of plastic packaging on many goods are unnecessary; however, for food hygiene reasons meat really does need to be protected.

My boyfriend and I happily eat vegetarian food and have already increased the number of vegetable-only meals we have in a week, but I could tell he wasn’t ready to give up meat. My boyfriend is happy to come on this Zero Waste journey, but he still wants to have sausages for tea on occasion, and I can’t blame him. I didn’t really want to become vegetarian either. I was happy with the idea of having organic meat on occasion as a treat rather than giving it up altogether. But how was I going to live Zero Waste whilst still eating meat?

It occurred to us that we could try taking reusable containers to the butchers. If they would place the meat directly in my boxes, then I could minimise the waste. It is particularly tricky at the moment because of social distancing and the extra hygiene precautions everyone has to take. I am worried that they might not accept my containers because they are not sanitised. I will have to try and see what is possible.

Dairy Products

The second Zero Waste challenge is dairy products. My boyfriend was quick to realise that it would be difficult to get conventional cows milk, cream and crème fraîche. Nearly all recipes seem to require dairy products of some sort and most come in a plastic container. Also, Zero Waste shops don’t stock them because they are perishable. It looked like we would need to go vegan.
“Will I spend all my days milking almonds?!” he protested. “How do you even milk an almond!”
I laughed.

Almond milk is quite nice, particularly in coffee, but there are many alternative kinds of milk that I could buy. A vegan cafe opened close to my office in the last year and I have been a regular customer ever since. Before going there, I had never tried almond or coconut milk, but I now definitely enjoy them as a change. Long-life dairy-free milk is available in Tetra Pak packaging in most supermarkets, which, while a convenient option, is far from Zero Waste!

I am yet to find anywhere to buy Zero Waste milk nearby. Alternatively, close to my flat a few miles away I know that there is a shop that sells local cows milk in glass milk bottles, and if you rinse them, you can return them for money off your next pint. It makes sense to refill milk bottles and reuse them. When I was small, the milkman would deliver milk each morning and would collect the old bottles we had left on the doorstep. It is good to see a similar scheme in the city centre!

The only problem is that I’m not sure whether the milk is organic. I made the switch to drinking organic milk about a year ago. I wanted to know that the dairy cows providing my milk had a good quality of life. Did you know that the EU organic standard assures animal welfare? Finding out about the farms which supply the milk will help me decide, and I can find out whether I can get organic milk in glass bottles. Maybe I could look at getting these products directly from local farms.

Favourite Brands

Of all the Zero Waste challenges, one of the biggest might be products that you can’t get any other way. There are several brands that we regularly buy at the moment for which Zero Waste causes a problem. One is Ribena. My boyfriend and I have a habit of having a glass of Ribena every lunchtime. Now that I am going Zero Waste, what should I do about the plastic bottle? This is a problem for most drinks as I haven’t seen any refill options at the zero waste shop. The Ribena bottle is made from recycled plastic which makes it better than it could be, but the question is how many times can it be recycled?

It would be better if we could get Ribena in a glass bottle. Glass can be endlessly recycled without losing quality. Although, of course, it depends on the quality of the recycling batch and whether there is any contamination. Hoping I would find I could buy Ribena in a glass bottle, I investigated the Ribena website. Sadly there isn’t a glass option, but I did find it interesting that the brand name comes from the Latin word for blackcurrants, “Ribes Negrum”!

For branded products that I don’t want to give up, I will try and contact the manufacturers. When I understand more about the process I can make an informed decision as to whether I keep buying the product in the short-term. It is very difficult to measure the environmental impact of one packaging type over another until you know the details. I will also make it clear that I will stop being a customer in the longterm unless they start to provide a Zero Waste solution for their product. For drink brands, I recognise that will be quite challenging!

Going against the flow

Going Zero Waste is going against the flow. One Zero Waste challenge is that you can’t take the easy route of doing what everyone else is doing. This might mean some embarrassing situations! I shall learn to embrace the attention that comes from being a little different.

Takeaways

I need to dare to be different when ordering takeaways. More businesses nearby are starting to open now that the lockdown is relaxing and it seems essential to support them. Lots of restaurant owners now are opening their doors just for takeaways and with that comes lots of disposable packaging. It has made me feel conflicted when seeing people stop on their daily walk and order take away coffees in disposable cups. The cafes need the custom, but the planet doesn’t need the waste!

So it was not entirely guilt-free, that I went to collect a takeaway from our local brunch spot this weekend. I was going to use a reusable bag I had brought with me, but when I got there it was already waiting in a paper bag with my name on it. My heart sank! Next time I shall have to ask for no packaging when I order if that is possible. Maybe I could even take my own containers to be filled if I asked. At least the paper bag can be recycled.

Shopping

It also takes quite a lot of courage to make unusual requests while buying groceries. Now that I’m super conscious of waste, as I stand in the line outside the shop, being careful to keep the 2m distance from the next person, I’m wondering how the conversation will go. “I’ve brought my own container with me. Would you be able to put the meat in here?” In my mind, I imagine the confused expression of the shopkeeper, not understanding what I am asking. I picture the impatient faces of the people waiting in the line behind me.

Asking for different treatment in shops seems presumptuous somehow, and like you are putting them at an inconvenience. However, I try to remind myself that I am the customer and that it’s their job to provide a service or product to me. I am always friendly and polite, and maybe I just make their day more exciting with my strange requests. Going against the flow may be tricky, but I have a renewed resolve to keep trying.

Unknown challenges

I’m sure that there will be many challenges that I haven’t even considered yet, but that’s what makes trying new things interesting! I’m excited to learn about a more sustainable way of life and solve the problems as I go. What have been some of your biggest Zero Waste challenges, and how have you overcome them? Whether you’re just starting like me or have been actively reducing your rubbish for years, please share your experiences in the comments below.