Zéro Déchet
I've always been sensitive to the need to respect the environment, but it all started almost a year ago when I was walking my dog in the street. I must have passed it dozens of times... I read on a manhole in front of our house " no dumping go directly into the ocean " with this adorable little dolphin who looked so happy. I looked up and saw our house, and it clicked!
But where did the water go when we did our washing? In the ocean too? and our garbage? I'd always been skeptical about recycling in Los Angeles, everything went into that blue bin-paper, plastic, glass and aluminum. So I started researching on the Internet. Goal number 1 was to find a recipe for homemade washing powder. I was obsessed by this water that was pouring out just a few kilometers from our home, where our children used to swim and surf on weekends, in the very place where we used to see that dolphin swimming on the beach among the sea lions. I soon had in my hands the bible for all beginners who want to reduce their waste, la Maison zéro déchet. The story of a Frenchwoman, Bea Johnson, who lives in California, she had this ecological awakening in 2008! Their annual waste for a family of 4 was a jam jar! I was blown away. I thought recycling was THE solution, but I was wrong.
So my first step was to empty our 2 garbage cans in our garden and take stock. There was no denying it. Plastic, plastic and more plastic. Everywhere! I was appalled. I thought I was doing the right thing by putting my vegetables in reusable cloth bags, but that wasn't really enough. We had to change our habits. Consume less but better, consciously.
The next day I tackled the kitchen. Everything went in. I took stock of the glass containers we already had, added fabric bags and the adventure began.
The easiest change was the household cleaning products. A simple base of white vinegar, baking soda and Marseille soap. And that was it. No more big cans of detergent, no more chemicals, no more bleach to disinfect everything. Back to equally effective natural products and home recipes. After a bit of trial and error, I experimented with volcanoes - there were a few spills, much to the delight of the children! I've got my 2 or 3 magic recipes. Now I spend a lot less time in the supermarket buying gallons of detergent and washing-up liquid. I can prepare 2 large cans of washing powder in 10 minutes, and in less than 5 minutes I've replaced my household spray and dishwashing liquid with a bar of Marseille soap, which I also use to wash my hands. The house smells just as good as with synthetic perfumes, thanks to the essential oils of sweet orange, lavender and lemongrass.
Fast, efficient, natural and economical.
Tested and validated recipes that are becoming increasingly popular. I'm sure you know at least one person in your circle who does their own laundry!
The 2nd stage was more chaotic, the world of bulk... In the beginning, I was always buying too much or too little. I'd pour it all over my jars, and there'd be as much in the jar as on the floor, and I'd forget to tare it. The true beginner. I seemed to spend all my time in bulk stores, sometimes going 3 or 4 times a week. I was desperate, discouraged by all the trips. I wondered what it was all for. It's true, after all, the people around me kept telling me that it was a drop in the ocean! In the end, the children were just as happy with their packet of industrial cookies, but I held firm and the routine set in. I wanted to be that drop in the ocean and make things happen. I got the hang of it, buying only what we needed for the week. We've limited our organic waste, there's almost no packaging in our kitchen, just glass jars and the occasional splurge on a pleasure purchase! We consume much more consciously. This little drop has inspired some of our friends who have also decided to become more aware. It's this snowball effect that will make things happen!
Nowadays, we never leave home without our "survival kit" - 1 water bottle, bamboo cutlery and a doggy bag. We apply the precious 5Rs rule (reuse, refuse, rot, repair, recycle) to the maximum. Refuse a bag at the checkout, try to repair the toaster before rushing off to Amazon to order a new one, reuse containers to store food, compost when possible, recycle that old toaster with the appropriate organization.
Our children have become real plastic hunters! They spontaneously refuse straws or single-use cups. They never leave home without their water bottle. I'm very proud to have raised their awareness and made them conscious.
We can't get rid of our bad habits, but we can replace them. You don't have to go that far right away. I wanted to change everything at once, but that's not possible. You have to adapt and see what's feasible to change in each person's life. For us, it was food. It coincided with my career change. I'd just gone back to school to become a nutrition coach. All the planets aligned to support our life change. The shift had begun.
As you'll recall, beauty was a real love affair and as a result our bathroom cupboards are the hardest to "revolutionize". They're filled with products brought home by my husband. I've always been lucky enough to get all the new products before anyone else. I've come to realize that the most important thing is to have few products, but quality products that fit in with my new philosophy of life.
At the moment, the aim is to sell off our stock, which is worthy of a drugstore. It's not a question of throwing everything in the garbage can, but of finishing what we've got or giving it away and no longer keeping it "just in case" - I'm sure you know that phrase by heart. It's the first step towards a fair and lasting awareness.
I tried making my own creams, but I was never satisfied. I couldn't find the deliciousness of fragrances that weren't always very natural, or the smoothness of a cream stuffed with petroleum... You quickly become "addicted" to this comfort.
The zero waste bathroom stage is the most frustrating. I'm always on the lookout for THE brand that will combine the generosity and comfort of its formulas, the efficacy of its natural ingredients, the transparency of its manufacturing methods and, most importantly, its commitment to the planet.
More than a way of life, it's a veritable philosophy of living, which often has an ultra-positive impact on who we are. Awareness of our planet cannot take place without awareness of ourselves. We are what we eat, what we put on our skin and, above all, what we want to do with our gentle blue planet. Being conscious is a whole. You'll see: to try it is to adopt it!