Don’t get stuck on “zero waste” perfectionism. Instead, think “low waste” and focus on becoming a better shopper

Striving for the goal of no-waste can be overwhelming to the point of paralysis.  Treehugger.com writer Katherine Martinko recommends a number of strategies for reaching more attainable goals.  She points out that "The idea of zero waste can set expectations too high and make the task feel impossible. Don't get hung up on perfectionism. Think "low waste" instead. Focus on becoming a better shopper, on using a critical eye to assess different forms of packaging, on weighing the pros and cons of a purchase. Make small incremental changes where you can, in ways that you can sustain, and you'll find over time that a small effort makes a big difference."*  These strategies include comparison shopping to choose products with less packaging, or buying in bulk and creating smaller portions at home.  Her personal approach is to "make constant comparisons between how one brand packages its food to another. That is the main factor in deciding what to buy, though I also consider the unit price, the origin, and the ingredients.  For example, I'll choose a paper bag of potatoes over a plastic one, the loose bunch of radishes over the bagged one, a bare head of broccoli over a plastic-swathed cauliflower. I shop with cloth mesh bags and fill them with whatever loose seasonal produce is cheapest; sometimes it's apples, other times pears."*  This approach acknowledges that everyone has accessibility to different resources.  She concludes that "the goal, after all, is to make smarter shopping decisions and establish practices that are sustainable for us, as individuals, with our own unique resources and living situations."*

*Katherine Martinko, April 7, 2021, "Forget Zero Waste: Just Become a Better Shopper," treehugger.com
Original article can be found here Treehugger.com