For good or bad a lot of us live in the city where the #zerowaste lifestyle is challenging but not impossible : )
In this article I’d like to share the tricks which’ve helped me to overcome this challenge:
How to survive the every day city commute #zerowaste style?
We all need food and beverages, no doubt. But do we actually think about the packaging in which they come? Even during the favourite lunch break when we’re enjoying the good weather in the company of beloved people it’s good to turn our attention to these “small” packaging details.You might wonder why? Well, the average European generated 492 kg of trash in 2014 (Simon 2014). This is more than the weight of a 4-member family…
What can we do?
Go for lunch at restaurants/cafes which serve food and drinks in eco-friendly plates & cups and offer sustainable cutlery. Unfortunately, only a small part of Plovdiv’s cafes and restaurants offer mineral water in glass bottles which is why I carry my thermos flask everywhere. It helps me during the days when I get thirsty on the road because it maintains the preferred temperature of my beverages-cold water in summer and hot coffee in winter.
Another option is to cook your lunch at home. This way you know where every ingredient comes from and what its packaging is made of. You can take your lunch with you in a container + a spoon and a fork from home and you’re set : )
I love carrying my stainless steel straw too, I support the people who refuse to use straws but I can’t join them. I like the exquisite look and feel of sipping my cocktail with a straw. When I carry my straw with me everywhere I can enjoy any beverage guilt-free and without getting my teeth stained because stainless steel straws also prevent that because there is no contact between the beverage and the teeth when one sips with a straw.
ATTENTION! The waiters in Bulgaria almost always bring a plastic straw with your drink so tell them that you don’t want one when ordering. They’ve brought me all sorts of beverages with a straw like juices, coca colas, cappuccinos, etc. so I prefer to let them know that I don’t need one in advance.
What else?
If you’re a sandwich fen and you’re sick of getting your sandwich wrapped in paper that you toss afterwards, you can get a beeswax wrap. I always keep one in my backpack, I use it for all sorts of food that I get from bakeries and cafes like muffins, cookies, pies, sandwiches and more.
I love going around the city with a backpack, it makes carrying a lot of stuff as easy as child’s play. That way I don’t worry about whether I’ve taken my reusable bag or not if I decide to buy something spontaneously, I am just putting it in my backpack. Also, because I put it on my back, I don’t feel the weight of the stuff I’m carrying and I can happily march around the city.
What #zerowaste tips and tricks do you have to survive the city commute? Let us know with a comment below.
Smilies,
Vera