The Health Benefits of a Zero-Waste Lifestyle
Are you familiar with the “zero-waste movement”? It was a popular trend a few years back where people would try to reduce the amount of waste they produce as much as possible in order to preserve the health of the environment. Everything that they use in their daily lives can either be re-used, recycled, or composted, with an emphasis on items that can be re-used for almost forever, and/or composted at the end of their lifetime. This means ditching disposable products in place of more sustainable or longer-lasting items like those made of glass, wood, stainless steel, and organic fibers like cotton and hemp. Some people have been able to collect only a small mason jar worth of garbage in a month’s time. This is impressive and although not attainable for everyone, we all can take small steps toward reducing our waste and helping the Earth to become less polluted.
Most people start a zero-waste lifestyle to save the environment, but what they may not realize is how amazing it could be for their health as well! As a nutrition practitioner, it makes me happy to see people embracing this lifestyle (or at least taking steps toward it). As for me, I’m far from being completely “zero-waste”, but I’m embracing it wherever possible. Here are some of the reasons that a low-waste lifestyle will benefit your health and why I love this movement.
Saying goodbye to plastic food containers. We have all heard of the dangers of chemicals like BPA and phthalates leaching into our water and food through plastic bottles and containers. The scary thing is that even BPA-free plastic may contain alternative chemicals like BPS that is even more dangerous than BPA. Following a zero-waste lifestyle means ditching plastic altogether (for the most part) and using glass, stainless steel, or compostable food containers. Not only will glass and stainless-steel containers last forever and save you money in the long run, but they’re much better for your health (and the environment!).

It forces you to do more cooking and less eating out. While we are starting to see a lot of healthier options when it comes to eating out, in general it is much healthier to cook your own food and eat at home. You can control every ingredient, which is especially important for those with allergies or sensitivities. You can also eat organic foods at a much lower cost than what you would pay for organic at a restaurant. Not to mention that it’s very hard to find a restaurant that serves organic food!
It forces you to make more foods from scratch and buy less processed foods. Highly processed foods that are usually loaded with salt, sugar, unhealthy fats, preservatives and other chemicals, are one of the biggest culprits that contribute to weight gain and disease when eaten often. These foods also come with a lot of packaging that must be thrown out. When wanting to follow a zero-waste lifestyle, eliminating these foods will also provide a huge benefit to your health!
It encourages you to make some of your own beauty products and cleaning products. Toxic chemicals aren’t just in the plastic that we are exposed to every day. They are also in our beauty products and cleaning products. When trying to reduce the amount of waste you create, you will probably want to start making some of your own products. Some basic household items such as vinegar and baking soda can be used to create some healthy cleaning products that won’t harm your health. Incorporating essential oils into your homemade cleaning and beauty products can add additional therapeutic benefits and a great natural scent!

It encourages you to buy local foods. Someone who is truly passionate about reducing waste will also be aware of reducing their carbon-footprint. This means reducing the amount of energy you use through driving, transportation of goods, manufacturing, etc. One of the best ways to do this is through shopping at your local farmers market, which supports your local farmers and economy. Supporting your local economy in this way helps to build and support an ecological system that is sustainable and more resilient to potential disasters that would impact food availability.
It encourages growing your own food. Growing your own food, even if it’s a just a few herbs on your windowsill, can reduce your environmental impact as well as encourage you to eat whole foods at a much lower cost. It’s a win-win for your health and the earth.

Lastly, one of my favourite elements of the zero-waste lifestyle is that the products are really beautiful. Part of my design philosophy is that every item in your home that is out on display should be both functional and beautiful! Sure, there are some exceptions, like the occasional knick-knack that is really only there for decorative purposes. But whenever possible, I like to combine form and function. The zero-waste products that are designed to replace more disposable items usually look gorgeous when sitting out on a countertop or on a shelf. Things like a wood dish brush, refillable soap pump, stainless steel water-bottle, linen dish towels, and terracotta pots are healthier and more beautiful! An organized pantry of glass jars filled with dry goods makes cooking feel a little more inspired and creative. Anything that inspires cooking is going to be a huge plus for anyone!

Not being able to find the time and energy to cook from scratch in our busy lives is one of the reasons many people don’t do it, or don’t do it as often as they would like. But when you open your pantry doors and it looks beautiful and organized, cooking suddenly becomes more of a joy and less of a burden. This means you will be much more likely to eat whole, unprocessed, healthy foods!
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