10 ugly sustainability habits // realistic zero waste hacks (that are also free)

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[@Gittemary]

What was the most and least ugly zero waste hack in your opinion? 💚 btw lots of love and happy Monday 🌿

[@donaukinder1995]

Be less selfish and speak about Ukraine 🇺🇦

[@leonielaperriere6571]

​@@donaukinder1995 If you followed her on Instagram, you wouldn’t say that. And even if she wouldn’t talk about it, it’s not her fault what is happening there, so stop shaming people.

[@roxy_de_mulambo]

None of them are ugly to me. I love your videos and your vibe 💚

[@FrogeniusW.G.]

Most of them I do exactly the same. What was new for me, was the idea of writing former places a shipping box has been to. :)

[@lifeasandrea280]

Can I ask you, how do you save things for sustainability but don't get overwhelmed by stuff? Due to some psychological issues I get really stressed in a cluttered environment or if I feel like I have too much stuff. This often prevents me from saving things (like giftwrap or containers). Do you have any tips?

[@Sunha1229]

When I was in college, I saved all the paper that students left on the printers that were only printed on one side and blank on the other side, and one-sided handouts from professors. I used the blank side for scratch paper, to do lists, notes, etc. before recycling. It’s been 4 years since I graduated and I still have tons of paper left that I still use

[@juliaiwaszczenko]

That’s cool!!

[@spikemogy]

Yes, I do this!

[@amandawarry6151]

I did exactly the same thing.. all my maths and physics problems were done on this paper..

[@debbiekoortzen1154]

You are very cool.🌻

[@BankruptMonkey]

My mom gave me the blank side of printed paper to draw on as a child, and she would also cut them up to be notecard sized.

[@jeannettelee2806]

I’m a 60 yo Afro American woman from Winterville NC USA and I been doing everything you do, I learned from my grandmother, I’m retired and have a very good pension, some people call me cheap but I live a life in comfortable luxury. Thanks grandma for teaching me common sense.

[@PeachyBunzFitness]

❤🥹

[@brendalauts8473]

If people call me cheap, I take it as a compliment. 😂 "Oh, you like my dress? Got it for $3 at the thrift store!"

[@Hannahrose26853]

All this time I thought I was just poor for reusing everything. Turns out I’m sustainable!

[@Jurisrachel]

You're also more _self-reliant_ than average (like some rural folks still are). These habits will also serve you well if/when you do make a higher wage, because can choose to work _less_ and get by just fine. 🙂

[@meretriciousinsolent]

Some of the thriftiest people I know are that way because they had to be, but they made it work. They're also interestingly the people who focus on experience over stuff.

[@Iworkwithnitwits]

I grew up working class poor so I feel the same too.

[@Winter_user-qb6jx1rg1n]

We do all of these! A few more: I make and gift junk journals out of paper, cardboard and tag board waste. There is a 49 cent rack of clothing in my local thrift store. Anything that doesn’t sell at 49 cents is thrown into the trash. I purchase all the clothing I can and turn it into cloth napkins and quilts that I donate to our Free Store. (The Free Store helps victims of domestic abuse set up their new, safe homes) I use thrifted sheets and blankets to back the quilts, flannel shirts are especially cozy for quilts. Cotton and linen fabrics make terrific napkins. I often embellish them with a bit of pretty embroidery.

[@lizmednick3842]

Ugly sustainability tip: When my pajamas or cotton shirt wear out I tear them into rough squares or rectangles and use them as handkerchiefs. I don't bother hemming them. They're always super soft, easy on the nose, iron up nicely and I get decades of use out of them. When they're finally in complete tatters, I compost them.

[@mirabellegoldapfel6256]

I do the same and they are much nicer to the skin around your nose than paper. I used threadbare duvetcovers. Also, when you have year round allergies (cleaning out dusty shelves with dust allergy, yay), you can just wash them and have fresh handkerchiefs 2 h later and don't have to run to the store. I throw them in the dryer though, because hanging up 150 little pieces of cotton is really, really annoying. I have a bunch of pretty hankies though, inherited from my grandma and my parents that I use in my handbag and are nice enough to offer a friend. Everyone over the age of 50 or 60 has probably a stack of those in an less used linen closet and I talkd quite some people out of theirs, lol.

[@coralovesnature]

I do the same! For fabrics that are too rough or thick for nose usage, I use them as cleaning rags instead.

[@jessicavallee3831]

Glad to know I'm not the only one that does this!

[@asterismos5451]

That's a really great idea....Do you have any tips for washing handkerchiefs? I am a bit concerned with throwing snotty rags in the wash with my regular clothes.

[@mirabellegoldapfel6256]

@@asterismos5451 Indeed I have: Have a lot of them so a load of only hankys is not so wasteful. One old duvet cover alone cuts A LOT of pieces. I have maybe 150 or so, they fill one wash bag. If I had only allergy sneezes (it's hayfever sseason, yeah) I just stick them together with any 40° or 60° celsius washing items, like bedding or towels. If I had an infection I wash all of them alone at 40° and eco program, maybe I'll put my white linens and pillow cover in it too (should be changed after having a cold as well). I use normal washing detergent, not the color one, it's a better desinfectant- I'd recommend scent free ones. I looked it up, these temperatures and detergent are also the ones recommended for the cloths you use to wipe babys mouth or make them burp XD.

[@micivalantincic8227]

Also adopt the black cat/dog. They are less desirable, in my local shelter they are always left. And they are just as nice as the white/beige ones. Go look for perosnality not the looks. Our black dog sleeping next to me agrees:)

[@thechroniclesofkweencoth]

we don't have a black doggo but he turned out to be a tri-coloured trimasu mongrel rescue who's very vocal in what he demands. Personally, I would love to have a black cat from a shelter (unless I know someone who has a cat who gave birth to kittens) because a) i have so many brianstormed names which may include lucifer or salem 🤣 and b) 95% of my clothes are black so it's great for my black hair and their black hair shedding... 😬 I agree with the 'black pets' rescues being less than favourable though. This includes senior and older adoptees too!!

[@micivalantincic8227]

@@thechroniclesofkweencoth same with black clothing:) your doggo sounds interesting! I'd have a cat in a heart beat but my bf is very alergic. Also yes, senior dogs need more attention, if I ever get to have a house I 'd adopt one. Where we live now we have many stairs and no lift so when our previous dog was old it was very hard. Sending kisses and pets to your rascal!

[@thechroniclesofkweencoth]

@@micivalantincic8227 ah yeah, that’s true! Especially if you have stairs at home. A friend’s family had their older dog predominantly stay on the ground floor due to her arthritis pain, so she couldn’t just go up to the rooms to say hello anymore. (Just meant her humans stayed more on the ground floor more often aha.) Our doggo is a Hong Kong Mongrel rescue (mongrels here still get a bad rep, most still get pets from unethical pet shops just cause they have pure breeds blahblahblah), but I’m sure ours is part husky from one of his unknown parent. He’s a 2020 pandemic doggo and I measure the pandemic era based on his age. 😂 sending hugs to your doggo! Shame about the cat allergy bf. 😅

[@micivalantincic8227]

@@thechroniclesofkweencoth unfortunatly we live in apartament building:( so no ground floor. Oh I didn't hear about this breed yet, I always think it is not the breed that is bad, it is the owner who os at fault if a dog is agressive. My best friend has a pitbull and he is a sweet heart with her small kid. Our dog is so mixed it is hard to say what breed she comes from. She was from a romany camp, lived in horrible conditions, has scars bot mental and pysical. She was 2years old when we got her. I tend to go for adoult dogs, cause they are usually left in shelters. She has loads of fears. We adopted her just before pandemic hit and it was a great time cause we worked from home and she got realy relaxed with us. To see her blossom still makes me tear up. This is my second rescue and I am never going to buy again. Sorry for the long post, I am so passionet about this theme:) I am glad you took in a "problematic" breed. ♡

[@kiraboslet4777]

My favorite cat and soul mate was black. I def agree to adopt the black ones. 💕

[@dreamingscarlettm5415]

Some of my ugly & free sustainability habits: 1. Saving showerwater and the water of the spinning programm from the washing machine in buckets to flush the toilet 2. Reusing plastic joghurt cups and empty food cans as pots for propagating my houseplants or for growing vegetables from seeds 3. Using food scraps to make homemade vegetable broth 4. Donating jars I no longer use to bulkshops (for custumers who might have forgotten their jar at home) 5. Saving and resusing every cardbordbox/envelope as packaging for my old clothes, books etc. that I sell at online second hand platforms 6. Using the water from washing homegrown food for watering the garden/houseplants 7. Making a "Frankensoap" using small soup scrapes Not really ugly ones, but: - making art out of trash - upcycle old clothes, furniture, etc - propagating housplants instead of buying new ones (you can even have a plant party with your friends to exchange plants with each other)

[@sustainfem]

Love the idea of donating your glass jars to bulk shops. We only have one bulk shop in my area, but I'm sure they would appreciate them. 🍀🌼🌹

[@PetagZakarian]

Awesome! I apply some of your mentioned tips as well 😊 To add a couple more: •I save all water in a bucket while waiting for hot water, and use that water to fill the water bowl of stray pigeons in my balcony, to clean the bathroom/balcony and to water houseplants. •I have pet birds flying around in my house, so I use rags to clean their poop (instead of using paper napkins). •I use the water in which my pet bird bathes to water the houseplants 🙌🏻 Small things really matter!

[@sheilablain8948]

Could you include shredding paper waste and using it for kitty litter?

[@coralovesnature]

@@sheilablain8948 good idea! Do you do this currently? I wonder how well it would work. Right now we us Okocat, which is basically sawdust-like little wood pieces that are sourced as waste material from other woodworking companies. It works really well! I bet if you found a local woodworker they would even let you take their sawdust for free if you offered to come pick it up.

[@sheilablain8948]

@@coralovesnature Yes, I do currently do this. My husband complains about the smell and you have to sweep up what they track out. I will ask about the saw dust, though. I bet your house smells good.

[@AnuschkavanDijke]

My grandma used to cut up envelopes and cardboard boxes to have little pieces of paper for quick notes, shopping lists. I think she did it because she knew scarcity during the war, not from an environmental point of view. Either way, I find I have assumed this habit from her and am grateful she lead by example whatever her motive was.

[@pixireads]

I thought I was the only one who saved napkins! So glad to find I'm not alone after all. My friends think I'm crazy for saving them all.

[@Saforra99]

For sure :) Hooray for finding our napkin-saving-tribe! :D I like to use them to wipe up (+ compost) greasy food spills or wipe off plates with grease on them before washing them :)

[@iamthatiam7523]

Same here! 🤣

[@joannakirli8921]

Same!! But when I’m the only one with a tissue the are always socked and thankful haha

[@annak5484]

I always safe them in case im out in piblic toilet and there is no toilet paper 😉

[@Jurisrachel]

I also gather plasticware that I've used, or from others in my group. (My peeps know me and EXPECT weird, at this point. 😉) I always have an old ziplock bag or two in my bag, for WHO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS IN YOUR DAY. 😄 I just wash them well, and now I have a container of them, kept in a lower cabinet. I have all I ever need for gatherings, and I keep a set in the car.

[@fannya3444]

For years, I brought old paper bag to my tea shop so they can refill it with tea in bulk. But due to the pandemic, it's not allowed anymore. So I got a new bag and new piece of metal to close it each time. And I use them to stake my tomato plants. I also use big plastic yogurt pot to transplant my seedings or to gift some plants to friends. I reuse chopstick, paper towel (also stored on a zipbag), wrapping paper (+ ribbon, rope...), dog treats containers, candle jar (to make home made candle), I cut old print paper into square to make notes, convert old linen cover into wrapping bag/produce bag/ tissues. Berries cardboard containers are turned into drawer organisers, and I keep safety pins, cardboard... I also buy the ugly vegetables at the farmer market, the produces that are about to go bad at the grocery store I do not reuse glass jar because I already have a ton of jars, but I wash them and bring them to the charity shop, I give them to friends and neighbors...and I bring back metalic hanger to the dry cleaner's. So, sometimes my tiny appartment can be a little bit messy, but sustainability do not need to be pretty.

[@marycharlebois6627]

Sadly, the “disposable era” of the past few decades has established a mindset of “toss out the mess… hassle-free”. This needs to change!!!!!! Thank-you Gittemary for addressing the “ugly” aspects of living a low waste lifestyle. I grew up in a home where my Mom dyed and cut old nylons into strips to make “yarn” for knitting slippers, laundry was hung on an outdoor clothesline, milk bags were washed out & used for snack bags or sandwich bags, everything was re-used and upcycled. “Ugliness” and repurposing saves money and saves the planet!! I loved this video and am uber-thrilled to see how you adopt these practices into your daily living!! 🌎💦Ⓜ️ary💕

[@jemma50]

Hi Mary! I agree, this was a great video, as Gittemary's usually are. :) I can remember washing out those milk bags, too!! I have to say that I hated doing it, but I love Mama Earth! ♥ Now I am mostly vegan, so I don't drink milk and I do my best to eliminate plastic bags from my life. When I can't avoid it, I use them until they literally fall apart! :D Have a wonderful week, fellow Earth lover. ♥♥

[@marycharlebois6627]

@@jemma50 Hey Jemma, thanks for being so uber-awesome. We are plant-based in our home too, so it is oat milk for us… but gee I hated washing out those milk bags when I was a teenager!! My younger brother used to always leave 2 little dribbles of milk in the bottom of the bag just so he didn’t have to wash it out 🤣. No plastic bags in our house either, unless, of course, they are old ones that are being repurposed and kept out of the waste stream. Fellow Earth Loves unite!! 🌎💦Ⓜ️ary💪

[@jemma50]

@@marycharlebois6627 Thank you, Mary. You always give me such lovely compliments. ♥ And I use oat milk, too.:) We are definitely united in our love for Mama Earth. Yay! ♥♥

[@jacquelineclauson4891]

My mum also washed out bread bags to use on our lunches.

[@marycharlebois6627]

@@jacquelineclauson4891 I can relate to this. Bread bags were used for all kinds of things in our household too. Ⓜ️ary

I just wanted to add that the part of reusing the plastic containers is very common in Latin America. This means that you're probably will get very disappointed if you find an ice cream container in the freezer... it may have beans or other food in them 🤣🤣🤣

O la infame caja de galletas finas que tiene todo menos galletas.

[@silver5515]

Ah, the feeling of opening a tub of ice cream, or a butter box labeled cloudberry jam, only to find it full of homemade cat food.

[@meretriciousinsolent]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@damnbro_idc]

Used a piece of cardboard from an old Broth packaging to organize my embroidery threads and yarn yesterday. Not the cutest but fastest, most practical, most sustainable and cheapest

[@Szynszula]

For chopsticks - I've bought stainless steel ones and I'm taking them with me every time I go for sushi. Some places in warsaw with korean food like Yache or Hesu have stainless steel chopsticks, but everywhere else I saw wooden single-use ones. I also try to write opinions on google maps which include suggestion that it would be cool if they had stainless steel chopsticks. I encourage you to write it on google maps too, the more of us, the bigger possibility they'll listen to us.

[@merrivideo]

Great idea about the Googgle map comment. I also have brought my own chopsticks to eat. However, if you aren't well prepared and say no to the cutlery at the end, it would be send to the garbage anyway. I need to remember to refuse cutlery since the beginning to avoid any single use.

[@theuniquerina]

My chopsticks is also stainless steel 🙌 We always make homemade sushi and on vacation i have a pair in my bag 🙌

[@dazedneptune]

The metal chopsticks Koreans use have drawbacks that makes it not always appropriate for every dish. There are reusable plastic and wooden chopsticks too.

[@trinity2580]

Yes! I always keep a pair in my bag and theyre great for other foods on-the-go too. Even if i look like a total nutjob for pulling chopsticks out in a Chipotle it takes up way less space than a silverware set and theyre easier to clean and are so versatile❤

[@skyspring7704]

Also, a couple of bamboo skewers, oiled and air-dried, could make good reusable chopsticks, couldn't they? Or would the sauces ruin the oil?

[@janetstonerook4552]

I use water that I have cooked my veggies or pasta in (no salt added) to water my plants with. I dilute it a bit if it's too potent. So there are usually jars of dirty water sitting in my window sill waiting for the next watering! Life is messy and that's okay. 😻👍

[@Jurisrachel]

Love that last sentence. I feel it needs to be cross-stitched or t-shirt-ed. 🙂

[@eiramu]

I recently started watching videos on this topic to get inspired but this video showed me that my hoarding character has been doing ALL of your “ugly” things without knowing there’s a movement behind it. Wow.

[@cassandrapope3495]

Our family has always done some of these things - save and reuse tissue paper, gift bags, plastic containers, cardboard boxes, etc. The problem is that there is a fine line between saving something with the intention of using it again and hoarding! We always had piles and piles of empty boxes that we were "saving for something" but never used, same with plastic food containers, and so many other things. We weren't living sustainable lives, so a lot of junk came into our house but never went out because we didn't want to waste anything. It's been a challenge to change some of those habits so that there isn't an overwhelming amount of stuff to save and we are able to functionally reuse what we have.

[@Saforra99]

Good call! Saving but not using is just filling your space that you are trying to live in and/or space you might prefer to use differently. :) Dana K. White talks about the Container Concept, meaning, choose a container + then make the things fit in it (+ get rid of the rest) -- the container is the limit of how many of that thing you can keep (how many plastic bags, how many boxes, etc.) It's definitely not always easy to stick to, but I find it a useful guideline. And then, as you rightly said, finding ways to **actually** use the stuff :) OR get rid of it/pass it on. For example: I finally listed a whole bunch of gift bags, ribbons + tissue paper for free before Christmas and someone was SO happy to get it (because I had finally realized, nope, just not going to use it all, cuz not really a big gift giver! (Kept a few just in case ;) ) And then we use the plastic packaging that the TP or the diapers come in as a trash bag in the bathroom + kitchen..they work just fine :) Hooray for creative + smtms ugly but practical solutions :)

[@jannertfol]

A very good point.

[@cherryjuice9705]

The fact, that all of this "messy and ugly" things are my aesthetic. Like, my mom always made us safe napkins, plastic and glas jars and buy "ugly" food (as long as it is not expired), so this is nor quite something new for me, but this is definitely helpful for others :)

[@jacky-zoederode6877]

Same for my family! This is normal for me and one of the first things I learned to do 'sustainability-wise' because it saves resources and it's great for your wallet. I don't even think we should be calling this 'ugly'. The aesthetic of so many zero waste Instagram accounts/KZbin influencers is completely elevated, to a level of minimalism that doesn't match what most people's homes (can) look like. Besides, minimalism and the idea of ditching 'whatever does not serve you in the moment' is not a sustainable way of living, long-term. Saving empty jars, empty plastic containers and napkins is not 'ugly' zero waste, it's simply zero waste! I really feel the movement should be about practices that are accessible to many people, not overdone minimalism and buying the perfect range of pastel-coloured products.

[@maryiakiddie4188]

Following my daughter’s ethical approach when buying stuff in the supermarket packed in the cardboard boxes I pick up the one that is bashed. The contents is the same but if people don’t buy a bashed box it will go to waste.

[@MzEllaful]

When I was in college I got all my food from a dumpster. All that ugly produce you see. I think the staff knew because all the food was neatly place in the dumpster and the bathroom trash was always double bagged. This was a time before excessive surveillance cameras. I had to do my dumpster trips at 3am, which can be exhausting. One week the store wasn't throwing any food out, so I had to go back to the dumpster every single night for a week. I had to get very creative on how I ate. It's a shame that some companies will go to great extremes to keep people out of the dumpster, but that's how some people feed themselves. Dumpster diving is the ultimate zero waste activity.

[@Anna_ForFutureAdventures]

YES and also gardens that are more sustainable and less neat, many people call them ugly but I love the look. It's just more natural in the purest sense. My grandpa calls this aesthetic "wild-romantic" and I adore this 😂🌿

[@composthog4332]

I think I'm in love with your grandpa! And from now on, when my baby food forest is disparaged, I will say that I find it "wild-romantic". Thank you AnnaCelia! 😊

[@NattiVal]

I love that term! Will use it now- thanks to your grandpa!

[@TheMyCave]

In our home in Norway, our most ugly thing is a big bag of single use plastic containers/bags etc. that we collect instead of letting it go in the bin with unrecyclable trash. Over the years we have collected quite a lot and will celebrate when the municipality starts sorting plastic - and will then hand in our private collection ;)

[@Lady-Seashell-Bikini]

I like to stuff 2L plastic bottles with plastic until they're very dense. Eventually, I'll be able to use them for construction.

[@TheMyCave]

@@Lady-Seashell-Bikini Wauw, great idea :) Planning a kind of earth ship type of house with the bottles as isolation?

[@YSLRD]

I already do most of these; not the cardboard, though. It attracts spiders and is easily recycled. I like the variety of unmatched dishes. My little daughter was assigned the responsibility of steadying the container of vintage plates my mom gave us. She was surprised. " Mommy! These are all the same plate!" 😊

[@blancaluna572]

I love mismatched tableware! You get more options, sometimes you feel like using a colorful bowl, sometimes a plain plate, sometimes fancy, sometimes rustic, it's a lot more fun, i prefer it this way :)

[@soliriarte7687]

in case anyone struggles with taking the labels off jars try applying a paste of equal parts of baking soda and coconut oil and leaving it for a couple hours, it always works ;)

[@aline6721]

Letting it sit in a bowl (or the sink) with hot water for some minutes also works :)

[@blackmber]

Some labels will peel right off when you warm them with a hairdryer! So satisfying.

[@wildhrushka]

good tip. in most cases, if soaking in water didn't do the trick, any vegetable oil alone will do the work. and in some hard cases the baking soda with a bit of oil (or some other grainy/powdery substance that doesn't melt easily) will help remove the stubborn spots

[@jannertfol]

Soak overnight in water, and the paper will come off really easily. If there is glue left on, you can scrape it off with a butter knife, and polish with a steel wool pad, if you have one. All of my storage jars are used food jars ...some of them are well over 40 years old and belonged to my mother in law!

[@lilred312benett6]

I do all of these. For wrapping gifts that I give to friends and family I put them in my reuseable tote bag and tell them I want my bag back. We laugh and they use the same bag to give me stuff. It's fantastic. We always act surprised when we see the bag again and again. I like the idea of writing inside a box where its been.

[@HurairaHerbals]

I use packaging that ricotta cheese, or fresh mozzerella, etc. comes in to grow my microgreens in the kitchen, or to store seeds for my garden, or to keep toasted pine nuts in lol. I reuse the paper packaging that comes from stores when they wrap up ceramics and glassware as wrapping for when I deliver or mail my artwork. I plan to use them as wrapping for Ramadan and Eid as well, with the help of a handmade custom stamp (and blackberry ink!) to make them pretty. I find that the more I pay attention to every minute detail of the things I bring into my life, the more use I find for them. I also do the paper napkin thing (I've gotten some weird looks from fancy places for slipping a few unused napkins into my purse) And I reuse old sauce and jam jars to store random things in as well as to make my infusions or vinegars. It makes me happy to be throwing less things away.

[@natkutcher5150]

I also have mismatched dishes, and I love them! My ugliest zero waste thing that I do is reuse bread bags (I'm not in a place to bake my own bread all the time right now) to scoop my cat litter into. Not cute at all, but I'm so glad that I'm not using a new plastic for my bread and a different new plastic garbage bag for my cat litter.

[@sherribell4032]

I do that too along with any other bag that is going straight into the dumpster. I wish they would come up with hemp or cornstarch bags that were truly biodegradable. I still feel guilty using plastic bags to scoop with....

[@thursday4428]

I think that the most ugly sustainable thing are my socks, mended many times :D I also cut boxes from tea into rectangulars and the reuse them for my grocery lists or notes. This is something that my grandma tought me. Also if I got plastic bag or silver foil I try to wash it, air dry and use it few times :)

[@casieperry9047]

I've said this a million times... old sheets as bum wipes instead of flushable toilet paper or wet wipes. I keep a small wet bag in my purse for my wipes and portable bidet, so I literally can't remember the last time I used TP.

[@sarahosszu1586]

I am using my clothes fancy-printed tags as bookmarks for years! They have lovely shapes and colors, even textures, and normally people just throw them away immediately.

[@vashtanerada13]

Oh yes, ribbons! My family does this as well, we usually keep and reuse gift ribbons 🎀 Last Christmas we noticed an especially festive one and realized that it was one my grandmother had bought already 40 years ago 😊

[@Jurisrachel]

Ooh, I actually came to comments section to note something about this. Lots of ribbon that's been made into bows and other knots actually irons out quite well (start with a lower heat 😬), and can then be used for a greater variety of things. That's very cool, though, about the grandmother-ribbon. 🙂

[@ylime133]

Love all of these! I have a basket full of rags and cloths on my kitchen counter instead of a paper towel roll. Some of these rags used to be my husband's underwear so....yeah 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@yutiekadalal6744]

Thankyou for making such a relatable video. I don't live zero waste but am a middle class indian whose family tries to save up even if it means doing tiny things. Since childhood I've been taught to practise a bunch of things like saving cardboard boxes for reshipping, saving jars from the store, packing for wrapping gifts and so much more. Since I'm a design student we also need a ton of material for creating models and I usually use plastic bottles or waste to create my mockups and models, they're super handy!!

[@ducksnaps]

Thanks so much for sharing this! The internet needs more of how diverse low waste lifestyles and habits can look :D. My favorite 'ugly' sustainability habit is buying products at the supermarket that are on sale because they're 'about to go off' (usually they are more than fine and not about to go bad at all). Usually wrapped in plastic and with an ugly 35% off sticker that you cannot remove but it saves food waste and if I have to buy something that is packaged in plastic, I'd rather have it be an item that I can save from being wasted!

[@irenero8932]

I do that with meat

[@bijismythe551]

I also save the plastic wrap on those items to try to reuse those too, say for wrapping odds and ends and making freezable sauce packets of tomato paste

[@sydneyrigsby462]

One thing I heard was that single bananas at the store often get thrown away. I like I grab a few of those instead of grabbing an "intact" bunch so maybe I'm saving some bananas🤷🏼 also, I really don't like the taste of bananas that have brown spots on them, so I'll cut them up and put them in a bag in the freezer to use in smoothies later 😍

[@tuanoini]

I pick the single ones too! Where I live, some grocery stores even have them on lower price than the regular bananas. Mine doesn't, but somehow I feel compassion for those outcasts 😅

[@fannya3444]

I do the same ! I also buy the single banana !

[@stephersali]

I always buy the orphan bananas too! I like that I can get a few at different ripened stages so they don't all freckle at the same time.

[@desereetouchet9294]

The bananas with brown spots are the sweetest so they also work the best for banana bread and to sweeten oatmeal if you’re trying to use less sugar.

[@cacciatore_5320]

ohhhhh I didn't know about that I'll start doing it too !!

[@kathleen6288]

How can you not love someone who feels sorry for ugly veggies…Gittemary, you’re the best! I didn’t find anything ugly in this video, it’s real life. Great video.

[@colettemcwilliams1325]

I don't think anything was ugly either. I bet you have a very beautiful collection of dishes.

[@annak5484]

I thought the same there is nothing ugly about any of this and leaving in Poland in 80s when there was not much goods in the shops my mum always was reusing plastic containers from cosmetics and food,jars to use for making jams or pickles, ribbons from gifts, plastic shopping bags also It’s not ugly it’s common sense

[@kathleen6288]

@@annak5484 Hi Anna, I’m doing all the things your mom did in the 80s after realizing how wasteful we are as a society. I love old jars & love looking at all the different shapes & sizes in my cabinets & refrigerator. I often hold up a beautiful old olive jar (or other jars) & say to whoever is around, “Does this look like garbage to you?”

[@Little_farmhouse]

Yes! The drawer of chopsticks and napkins for sure! I also have a jar of twist ties that I use with different things as well.

[@nicolesullivan5587]

I have a jar of twist ties too! And rubber bands.

[@Jurisrachel]

Goodness, yes; twist ties are SO helpful. I'm forever baffled by people who toss them. (An extra, neat thing to use them for: if you're perfectionistic/OCD enough to want little flower bouquets to look and stay JUST SO, add a subtle twist tie - or a couple, twisted together for length.)

[@faithjx3]

LOVE that idea of writing on boxes where it’s been, so cute

[@360shadowmoon]

I reuse plastic containers for storing pantry items instead of buying new ones. Same with glass jars and sturdy plastic bags. Anything is “reusable” if you reuse it, regardless of material!

[@Jen.shack93]

One of my fondest childhood memories is doing the food shop with my grandma. She’d have her list written on scrap pieces of cardboard, always

[@SoylentGreen2011]

What a charming idea to write down the places, where a cardboard box has been in it's life so far. I will definitively do that in the future!

[@clairewright8153]

I’m in my 60’s and my parents and grandparents reused everything they could. They taught us well to be frugal and not wasteful. They went thru wars and depressions were every cent counted and were in my opinion the best at zero waste.

[@samb94]

I feel the struggle of not falling into the "aesthetic" of zero waste - I always have to remember I have functional, good objects, and buying a new one is NOT part of the solution. I also get the feeling that zero waste is "trendy" right now, which doesn't help the constant aesthetic appeal. But I also hope this isn't just a trend, that this is a lasting mindset people carry with them.

[@marilynroberts6644]

My sentiments exactly. 💜

[@gmommie2]

I keep napkins from takeout in my car for “emergencies.” I also keep spice packets, like red pepper flakes, from takeout and either put in the fridge for later use, or I add the contents to my spice jar.

[@janetstonerook4552]

I have my groceries put in a medium sized cardboard box at my neighborhood store. The clerks are happy to do this for me and then I use that box to pack up donations for charities etc. It's so much easier than trying to lug things about in plastic totes and each one is just the right size for me to carry and I can seal it up well and just drop it off. No waiting for the thrift store clerk to empty and return my container. Then they can use it in their storage!

[@arzanifuchsia1452]

I love the ugly food one. I actually am lucky enough to be able to get my produce from a company called "Rübenretter". They buy the ugly veggies and fruits that can't be sold in the supermarket (too small, too big, spots on the peel, things like that) and resell them. Also usually locally sourced and way cheaper than what I would currently pay in a regular supermarket. By the way Rüberretter means basically "turnip/beet saviour" 😂 I love saving food

[@Mimijona]

I do most of those things and actually have been doing most of these things(except the napkins) since I can remember. Growing up in post-com country makes all of this normal.

[@gabriellabetarrini3176]

My part of ugly sustainability: I wear my shoes until they definitely don't work as shoes anymore. My ones look pretty ugly because the material is worn.. but this way I need to buy new shoes one or two years later. Thank you Gittemary for attracting our attention on the true sustainably, even if its ugly ❤🌱

[@meretriciousinsolent]

Mine would get relegated to garden shoes. Side note: Dr martens wear out way too fast!

[@katelawrence7445]

I like the idea of listing where the cardboard boxes have been to. It like they have their own passport.

[@xongkkerije]

"Waste isn't waste until you waste it." I love that!

[@neta565]

I love having mismatched stuff! It's unique💙

[@LaineyBug2020]

Haven't had to do the mix & match plates since ours is Blue Willow China passed down from Great Grandma. Heirlooms count as free zero waste!

[@mariajackson1734]

What you said was so beautiful! I was raised by a marvelous mother who lived through WWII in Europe. Yes, I am in my 60's! Everything you spoke of was so familiar to me! I raised all my children to reuse as much as possible. I suppose it shows that wisdom never changes it just puts on a fresh dress! Thank you for keeping the truth alive!

[@marajaidhauser3080]

I love all of your hacks! :D my „ugly“ zero waste hack would be buying regular makeup via vintage/second hand apps, where you can get perfectly fine, unopened cosmetics for cheap, just because someone else bought a wrong shade or forgot to return an item.

[@ellabanker3862]

There’s a website called glambot that is essentially Like thredup for makeup where everything is second hand and sanitized on like mass scale And I’m madly in love with it

[@sustainfem]

@@ellabanker3862 Wow, I had no idea such a site existed. Thanks!

[@meganschramm5395]

Love the idea of writing where a box has been when using it to ship stuff! Totally doing this!

[@Jurisrachel]

Same!

[@laurensova05]

I LOVE my mismatched jars! I used to work at a cafe where we went through a LOT of large pickle jars, and instead of throwing them out, I'd take them home with me (because they're PERFECT for larger/bulk storage!) We also buy a lot of salsa from a friend who makes it locally in our area and i just take off the labels and reuse them for storage, overnight oats, etc.

[@janetstonerook4552]

Me too! It's hard for me to throw out any of them because there are so many uses for them. I love being able to see what is in a clear glass container in my fridge or on a shelf! I use them for food storage, canning, flower vases, suncatchers, coin and button containers etc. And for candle making! My friends and family trade Mason jars back and forth come canning season. I have hundreds of Mason jars and never have to buy any. If somebody wants a jar of my famous jams or salsa, they just bring me some empty jars as payment. 😻👍

[@Lady-Seashell-Bikini]

I did the same with the large pickle tubs we would get. I had to be a lot more patient because it's harder to get the smell out of plastic, but it was worth having large buckets around.

[@hazelpineda7169]

I'm just halfway through the video, but I the fact that you were so honest about the "ugly" part it's something that I can relate to. I was finding hard to relate to the other tons of videos that I have watched about sustainability...and yours, so honest and open and simple. Thank you for that

[@nongnong1031]

My ugly zero waste habit might be somewhat unconventional, and I definitely do not recommend it unless you have your own bathroom or you are really comfortable with your roommate... Me and my husband do not flush the toilet every time we pee at home. We probably flush it after 3-4 times we use it. This saves a lot of water. We also do not shower every single day, especially during winter when we don't sweat much. Again, not conventional, but works for us.

[@katerinaonassis9923]

Not showering every day helps if you have dermatitis or other skin conditions.

[@theresa78201]

I often use the toilet several times, then flush with used bathwater, water from handwashing a garment, or mopwater from cleaning the floor.

[@ladywytch129]

I have to flush, but I have a bucket under the sink to catch water(undid the pipe lol) and use that. I don't shower every day but I do take an old fashioned sponge bath. I also don't wash my hair every day, just use either cornstarch or chickpea flour as a dry shampoo.

[@meretriciousinsolent]

When I was a parent of a young child I showered way less out of practicality. Nobody noticed. A friend did it too, and was never stinky. As long as skin is fine and not being harmed, it's fine. (Maybe TMI but the more skin creases, cleavage etc the more it's need to wash.)

[@peifenglee5800]

I keep all clean leftover napkins too in my regular outing bag 🙌🏻 But i have OCD with labels that i can spend sweet time removing them off the bottles, jars & even zipper bags before putting into my reuse storage. I'm really impressed with your good intention to pick ugly produces, my current effort is buying apples from the clearing section in supermarket with 50% discount.

[@simplychaotic1029]

Yep, I've a spot in my kitchen drawers for napkins as well! And of course a spot for wrapping paper, jars and boxes. We don't have a compost at home, but a "green bin" that gets picked up every two weeks. Instead of also having a smaller bin in the home, we have a Tupperware (on the kitchen counter) for all "green" waste. At least once a day (more often in summer) it gets wrapped in newspaper (brought in from work) and put in the bin. The "green bin" stays relatively clean and thus bug free, no leaking through of the newspaper, because everything has time to dry a little and (now going on three years) no smells in the house. The Tupperware just goes in the dishwasher for cleaning. Pretty? No. Handy? Yes. No extra waste either. Will be doing the same for our future compost pile.

[@ashleytaylor7210]

I have a tissue holder on my visor in my car…I keep all the extra napkins I get from restaurants in there for my kids’ snotty noses and messy faces. That way I avoid purchasing wipes.

[@OhioWolf94]

we had a blankt years ago, it was christmas plaid, but it got torn and thin so we couldn't use it as a blanket. My grandma cut it up into smaller pieces and we've used it as gift wrap, tying it off with nice ribbon and maybe putting bows on it. Looks great, and we've had the same wrapping, for some of the gifts, since I was a kid (now almost 28)

[@FelicitasBRose]

I would love to see more of the "ugly" side

[@rutananivadekar7696]

Using cardboard boxes to organize drawers. I have some drawers of lids, rubber bands, small kitchen tools, and I needed to get it organized. Cutting up some cookie boxes/tea boxes helped organize everything beautifully!

[@greenspirit4229]

This video was very well put together. However, my favorite line was the part were you expressed that you feel "bad" for the produce that doesn't get picked. I have always had this mentality too. When I was child my favorite color was, "orange", not because I particularly liked the color, but simply because no one ever seemed to pick it. It is the first time I have heard of another person who feels this way. Thanks.

[@justsomeone64]

Exactly, it's not always about being "the best" or spending money. It's about spending less and using and reusing what you got :)

[@shescraftea9107]

I save restaurant napkins too. Good for wiping oil from my cast iron pan or for cleaning up the occasional cat barf/hair ball.

[@k.w.1459]

Great video. I do most of these. I also have the same skull glass without a handle from hot sauce. It's awesome; bought a pair. Anyways, my ugly zero waste idea I just put into action last week was I had a 100% soft cotton fitted bedsheet that ripped. I def didn't want to toss the cotton and to get it to a fabric "recycler" where I am is just: UGH! So I decided to cut it into 8x8" squares and use them as tissues. They are so soft on the nose and I just toss them into the wash in my delicates bag. I haven't serged the edges yet, but I'm not sure if I'll actually get to that part of the project. For now, they are working well

[@kiraboslet4777]

I had a similar situation and I turned them into placemats 🙂

[@Jurisrachel]

Someone in this thread recommended using pinking shears to prevent unraveling. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Old sheets - and even very worn/ripped sections - also make great fabric for rag rugs.

[@kysmik8214]

I'm a doll clothier and I use old cereal boxes as templates for my patterns. When I purchase a pattern, I don't like to cut them out because that ruins the pattern an d it's a one and done deal. I copy those on my printer and cut the copied pattern out and paste it onto the cereal box cardboard ensuring that I have a hard copy and return my original pattern to it's envelope keeping it pristine that way. Quilters can use the cereal box cardboard for templates or pretty much anything that requires a pattern can be adapted to the cereal box method.

[@violetgreen121]

Love this. Sustainability is never ugly to me. It shows thoughtfulness and practicality. Thank you for this post! Tip: use empty flour bags, empty sugar bags, etc. for gift bags. And you can always iron your used wrapping paper if it gets too wrinkly - an old tip from my mother :)

[@bndergltd3053]

I laughed throughout the video because I do all of the same things 😂. One tip if you have very young kids: use baby blankets as “wrapping paper”. We save gift bags but not wrapping paper, the latter of which is being used less and less in favor of the gift bags

[@ChristopherDraws]

This was really good to watch. Many of these things I already do, because I really dislike throwing anything away! I enjoy collecting up and reusing wrapping paper - when I next come to wrap something, it almost makes it weirdly nostalgic, reminding me of a gift I received whilst preparing a gift for somebody else. The only caveat I'd make about buying "ugly" fruit and vegetables: this is good if you plan to use them quickly (within a week, let's say), because if the ugliness is due to cuts/scuffs on the skin, it could lead to more rapid deterioration if stored as long as it's unblemished sibling. So, buy ugly; but use quickly (to avoid it going into compost).

[@zelamventurini7710]

I do those things too. I love seeing the glass jars full of things. Unfortunately something come is plastic jars. I try to use those for dry beans. Love this video. Normalizes what we do.

[@susan_e]

I was happy to see I do many of the same things you highlighted - love your suggestion of writing where a package came from to encourage others to continue the trend. My grandmother reused envelopes for notes or lists, so she influenced me from a very young age to not be wasteful. I read somewhere that a bookmark should never cost more than your country's lowest value paper currency - because you could just, otherwise, use the currency as your bookmark :) I've recently started searching for the 'ugly' produce because it's still going to be delicious, and like you, I think I feel sorry for it. :) LOVED this video! I felt encouraged that I AM making good choices. Subscribing now so I don't miss any tips/hacks.

[@SimcredibleProduction]

I love that you make little notes with the thin cardboard box packaging, I use them for my kids to draw on. I basically do all the hacks you mentioned, but so great to point out that ugly produce is just as good, it was a reminder for me that its okay to buy the less than pretty produce. Some people laugh at me for bringing my own utensils at restaurants that provide plastic ones. My most ugly zero waste hack, that wasn't in your list but in my life, is cloth diapers. I can't recall dealing with a more grose thing than cleaning diareah off a daiper, I definatly would use disposable diapers if it wern't so bad for the planet.

[@audreysavard3248]

Before moving back to my parents house (ouf, it's hard on substanbility with them), I had a drawer of ugly stuffs: paper napkings, wooden chopstick, bread attach (we don't know what to do with, but we collection them), bread plastic bags we used for trash (too much bags), elastics and tyrap. All those that can't not really be put in the recycle bin but can find a use in the future.

[@neurolotte2406]

Love mismatched things! Besides in the kitchen, also in furniture, to me unique pieces are more special and interesting than sera. And I also go for ugly/small/strange veg when grocery shopping! They taste perfect and they are funny!

[@dinosaur3126]

None of my furniture matches but I am sticking stickers from events to totes and bookcases so that they last longer and are visible cause they kept wearing off water bottles and laptop

[@mbrady199]

I don't love my mismatched jars. But they do have so many practical uses and if I break one it doesn't ruin a set. I never thought about ugly veggies. I'm going to adopt that one.

[@norawotton5440]

I love all of these - I think I’ll start collecting an unmatched set of dishes! My ugly tip is using empty boxes from crackers or cereal etc as a place to keep my compost until it’s time to take the full box outside. It’s ugly on the counter, so if we have visitors, I’ll try to fit it under the counter.

[@jimmiepatrum]

Remember the story of "The Ugly Duckling"? Those things we might call ugly in the beginning often turn out to be quite beautiful, as in the case of finding a wonderful use for something that would otherwise be thrown away. That's how I think about the tips you gave us today. Diane in NC

[@nicolezarroc6261]

When I was moving, I refused to buy packing materials (except for the really big items) and used my clothes/towels/blankets. Saves space in the suitcase and all that single use packing materials. :)

[@dagnabbit8624]

I keep napkins, too. At home and in my car. I haven't bought a PKG of napkins in at least 15 years, unless it was for a bday party or it was requested of me for a family function. I have cloth napkins and for my youngest, I kept her burp rags so she can use them as napkins. I keep jars and any sturdy, nice food containers. My mom always had sour cream, margarine, etc containers with leftovers. Lol I keep boxes for my daughter to paint on. I could be here all day. 😂

[@AD-jj3hd]

I feel you on the napkins, we use them exclusively for cat puke as it seems too gross to use reusables for that. Some that I can add that people give me looks for it is reusable tissues for like snot, reusable ear swabs and using only gray water for watering plants as well as wearing clothes past their prime. Ive gotten looks for all of these things. Haha

[@Sanne78]

I didn't even really realise that I do some of these things and have done for years! Kinda thought I was just a cheapscate because I like to buy secondhand stuff or things on sale, like food. I now take a little more pride in the stuff I do

[@melanievincent8694]

I don’t find any of these ugly! I can also relate on every single one listed 🙌

[@Sood123456]

I've been doing everything since childhood. 1. I've been saving them as well forever. People don't like it but I don't mind it. So what if you can buy new? This activity still saves money. It's all about a mindset. It's logical to save money as that helps me to stretch money, I'm using something thats anyway going to be thrown away. I've 100s of these now. I've wipes too. I take them when we're traveling. 2. I save ice-cream sticks and chopsticks too. I reuse them as art & craft supplies and in kitchen. Using them as garden sticks is clever. Thanks. 3. Yes, I use mismatched cutlery and utensils too. Every ustensil has a story from where I oicked it up & how. It also brings a sense of accomplishment of having rescued my items. 4. Jarssss!!! Yessss!! We dont get them anymore due to excessive plastic use. Thank God I collected them as a child. Again! I love the mismatched jars as they're my collection. We paid for the jar too when we bought what was in it. And they're always beautiful with different designs. I still save them and use them. 5. Yes!! I reuse old plastic containers too to store anything other than food items. They come handy when traveling. Glass is inconvenient furing traveling die to it's vulnerability and heavy weight. 6. I reuse cardboard boxes too for the same purposes. I use pamphlets for post its. 7. It's stupid to throw the cosmetics that you already have just because they're not sustainable. I even use expired ones for art & craft. 8. Again saying- doing everything since childhood. I do the same with gift wraps and decorations. Why buy more? Unwrap them careful and theyre good to use. They're always usually so pretty to throw. Why buy the same thing that you're gifted anyway? It's like receiving a gift but throwing it away because you should buy things . Keep everything for single use then!!! The gift wrap is gifted to you toooo!

[@aariaconnect]

Love the idea of listing inside the box where it has been!

[@gaelleg3148]

Same thing for giftwrapping and cardboard. 😘Whoever had a garden knows that ugly légumes are the same !

[@Kattaccino]

I do all of these but the bookmark - that's so simple but genius! I was just looking for a bookmark the other day and ended up using a post it note that has important information on it. I have so many boxes to recycle, how did I not think to use it?! Thank you for sharing!

[@TheKatelinn]

You can also use anything that is flat, an old postcard, a piece of string, an old receipt. I have several bookmarks, but tend to use a Christmas card one of my friends sent me a few years ago.

[@FrogeniusW.G.]

Love the idea of writing the places the cardboardboxes were to!! ♡

[@coralovesnature]

I also do almost everything Gittemary mentioned in this video! My restaurant napkins aren’t all nice and neat in a bag though, they are in stacks scattered around the house in various strategic locations where one might need a napkin. I’m also quite proud of my glass jar collection, which is all reused from food I bought at the grocery store. I love finding food that comes in a glass jar of a useful size with a wide lid so that I can add it to my collection. My favorite jars are Petit Pot plant based pudding jars, which are 3.5 oz (100g), a great size for bringing sauce or dressing in my work lunch. They are so small and cute and have an cute little cartoon guy on the lid!

[@sustainablelivingschool12]

I'm a huge fan of empty peanut butter jars that I use for storage and my sourdough starter! Great video topic thanks for sharing! 🙂

[@angel_taxidermy]

I pack presents in the newspaper my mom always gets. And then I use paper tape with it. First I used to buy new wrapping paper and used plastic tape. So there is progress here.

[@celie10]

I also collect unused paper napkins, reuse supermarket jars, and I try to use what I already have before buying the sustainable alternative. My mom always reuses plastic containers to store leftovers over and over. I too don’t find any of these things ugly. Love your videos and your activism!❤️

[@lovelyflo13]

I love the ‘ugly’ produce thing! My mum and I have always bought the most bent cucumber in the store for as long as I can remember!

[@jessicahelene23]

Yes! I love the real and “ugly” side of low- waste & sustainable living. I have a tower of old shipping boxes awaiting their next journey.

[@Saforra99]

Agreed! + I love her idea of making a list of where the packaging has been :)

[@deniserodrigues1791]

omg. I use ALL of these ideas in my home because my mom taught it to me growing up. I love keeping the napkins idea because that's just so wasteful. my friends laugh but I don't care lol. I save boxes and reuse them to pack away Christmas decorations and other such stuff. I even reuse wrapping paper which come from stores when you buy breakable items. I use them to wrap presents and some are so nice to decorate a gift bag. all free! thanks for the video! ❤❤❤

[@divingdillybar2030]

Turns out, growing up in a house where we ended up doing most of these things to be “budget friendly” actually made us more “eco friendly” too! I’m so glad I grew up this way. It’s just second nature to me now!