ZERO WASTE SWAPS// Do You Really Need It?

By getting curious about why we use certain objects, we can investigate whether they’re something we actually need/use… and if we decide that we don’t need something, then we probably also don’t need the “eco” version.

NU GROCERY// Two Stores in Two Years

When I moved to Ottawa in 2015, hardly anyone had heard of zero waste, there were no “package free” shops. Thanks to the folks at Nu, now there are two stores specifically dedicated to this kind of grocery shopping.

THE REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE// A Love Story

The truth is, I didn’t start using a reusable bottle because of the environment or to reduce plastic pollution, but rather because making the switch ended a conversation.

THE SAFETY RAZOR// Keep Well Kept

I've had the Safety Razor on my list of zero waste swaps since 2015. Why did it take me so long to get one? For one thing, I wasn't sure what I wanted my razor to look like. But most of all, I still had plastic disposable razors to use first.

SHOE REPAIR// Fixing What You Own is Part of "Sustainable Living"

Repair is one way to reduce waste. For some people, repairing may be second nature, but for others, repairing or mending might be a new practice… Even if you decide you don’t want the thing anymore, repairing it before you sell, trade, or donate it increases the chances of it being used again.

DONATING CLOTHES// There is No Somewhere Else

When I started writing about why donating clothes is not sustainable without introspection and change, I got asked “what do you suggest that I do with older clothes that I’ve had before I went zero waste?”

Fast Fashion, Stuff and Happiness, Zero WasteLeah WilliamsMay 7, 2019Life Made Light, lifemadelight, life made light, Waste, Consumption, waste, consumption, waste and consumption, Waste and Consumption, 2019, garbage, transfer station, zero waste, zerowaste, Zero Waste, clothes, clothing donations, clothes donation, offloading, Kon Mari, kon mari, Kon Mari Method, decluttering, choices, resonsibility, video, video of garbage, vimeo, garbage video, truck dumping, Vancouver, Vancouver Landfill, vancouver landfill, donation center, minimalist, downsizing, consciousness, fast fashion, worn out clothes, consignment, sell, trade, mend, repair, becoming, becoming zero waste, going zero waste, Leah Williams, leah williams, leah williams instagram, Leah Williams Canada, leah m Williams, Leah M Williams, VancouverLandfill, donating clothes, donating clothing, donation, donating, there is no somewhere else, Vancouver Transfer Station, Vancouver Waste Transfer StationComment

ZERO WASTE SHOPPING// A Business is not “Zero Waste” Because it Offers a Reusable Container Policy.

Does the bulk store you shop at recycle their packaging? Do they compost? What happens to their food waste? Is there compliance with labor laws? What happens behind-the-scenes of a business is just as important.

Plastic Pollution, Zero WasteLeah WilliamsMarch 18, 2019responsibility, cashews, peanut butter, peanut, mason jars, mason jar, jar, jars, bulk, bulk shopping, life without plastic, Life Without Plastic, plastic, single-use, single use, reusable, reusables, disposable, stickers, pens, habit, habits, doors, Zero Waste, March, march, 2019, shopping, bulk food, Bulk Barn, bulk barn, plastic free, plastic-free, empower, empowering, empowerment, responsible, discouraged, discouragement, mindset, attitude, opportunity, compost, labor laws, compliance, harvesting, nut harvesting, chocolate chips, chocolate almonds, walnuts, pasta, matcha, medjool, medjool dates, dates, hemp, hemp protein powder, almond butter, stainless steel container, container, stainless steel, pesticides, behind the scenes, oceans, ocean, the enironment, nature, environment, waste reducing, disposables, travel mug, mug, reusable mug, bag, utensils, consumption, zero waste lifestyle, zero waste living, do better, make a difference, be informed, get informed, improve, Leah Williams, leah williams, leah williams instagram, Leah Williams Canada, leah m Williams, Leah M Williams, lifemadelight, Life Made Light, PopularComment

ZERO WASTE// It’s Not Really New

The idea that taking care of the planet, is new or only for certain people is not true. And the way some ethical movements are getting marketed makes it seem like there’s a rule book or that using what you already own is not good enough…

Zero Waste, Stuff and HappinessLeah WilliamsFebruary 27, 2019zero waste, Zero Waste, dish soap, zero waste and social media, consumerism, marketing, lifestyle, using less, minimalism, planet, idea, less waste, happiness, The Soap Dispensary, soap dispensary, mason jar, brushes, reusable, plastic free, no plastic, compassion, social media, instagram, February, 2019, the zero waste movement, Life Made Light, lifemadelight, life made light, Zero Waste and Media, Social Media, Instagram, february, Minimalism, low impact movement, low waste, ethics, discomfort, representation, appropriation, unlearning, branding, green washing, greenwashing, new to you, respect, the planet, empathy, unpacking, it's not really new, not really new, Leah Williams, leah williams, leah williams instagram, Leah Williams Canada, leah m Williams, Leah M Williams, leah williams zero waste, leah williams vancouver, Leah Williams Vancouver, sustainable consumption, eco-friendly businesses, zero waste movement, marketing sustainability, zero waste is not new, Zero Waste Isn't NewComment

DELUTTERING IS A WASTE PROBLEM// A Theory about Objects and Clothing Attachment

There are many aspects of our relationship to objects and consumerism that I believe are problematic; like the illusion that something external, like physical possessions, will bring lasting happiness.

Fast Fashion, Stuff and Happiness, Zero WasteLeah WilliamsJanuary 19, 2019waste and consumption, Waste and Consumption, objects, object, consumerism, consumption, posessions, external, happiness, kon mari, Kon Mari, declutter, decluttering, get rid of stuff, donation, second hand, thrift, garbage, zero waste, reduce waste, attachment, objecthood, thingness, culture, meaning, intrinsic, clothing, sweater, objectification, plastic pollution, plastic, single use, apparel, acquisition, fashion, Fast Fashion, fast fashion, style, shopping, January, organizing, organization, clutter, minimalism, emotions, Life Made Light, lifemadelight, life made light, Waste, Consumption, waste, january, natural fiber, second hand shopping, throw away, let it go, spark joy, Spark Joy, Kon Mari Method, cultural meaning, objectifying, disposable, 2019, slow fashion, on clothes, decluttering and acquisition, Leah Williams, leah williams, leah williams instagram, Leah Williams Canada, leah m Williams, Leah M Williams, On Clothes: decluttering and acquisition, Objects, ObjecthoodComment

REPRESENTATION// Zero Waste Instagram and The Responsibility of Image-Making

Images represent ideas, and on Instagram, where images can be posted with little accountability, it means that big concepts like “#zerowaste” get represented by whoever makes images.

Social Media, Zero WasteLeah WilliamsDecember 15, 2018Zero Waste, Social Media, vegetables, plastic free, groceries, zero waste shopping, Zero Waste and Social Media, representation, accountability, responsibility, image culture, instagram, Instagram, intention, mindfulness, content creation, content making, conscious, branding, green washing, sustainability, inadequacy, ideology, ethics, the medium is the message, food inequality, privilege, supply chain, excess, real food, good, grocery shopping, vegan, vegetarian, foodie, December, art, image makers, artist, Life Made Light, lifemadelight, life made light, zero waste, zero waste and social media, Zero Waste and Media, social media, 2018, december, rainbow, content creator, what's it really about, Leah Williams, leah williams, leah williams instagram, Leah Williams Canada, leah m Williams, Leah M Williams, The Responsibility of Imagemaking, The Responsibility of Image making, Zero Waste Privilege, Zero Waste Instagram, Content Creation, taking responsibility, responsibility for making images, Greenwashing, How to identify GreenwashingComment

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