MY LOW WASTE JOURNEY MISTAKES | top 5

[@SustainablyVegan]

Hey everyone hope you enjoy the video - for those of you interested here in my goodreads :) www.goodreads.com/user/show/86056823-immy-lucas xx

[@hellanistpunk3282]

I've been using old freezer bags and washing them out when I can

[@tejaswinipolepeddi337]

Love your videos. You are a bliss to mother earth. Just subscribed. Woohooo!

[@ticimar]

About the books I think you would like this one “to have or to be” Erich Fromm. regards from Uruguay 🇺🇾

[@houseasyouseeit]

I wish they taught this stuff in schools. Imagine learning as a child about needs and wants. Couple that with a lesson on financial budgeting and I think it would help so many. Sad the things I have and my friends and family have spent on in the past.

[@AshleyUphues_]

Bite Smaller we can be the difference and influence those who are willing to learn and watch how our own actions can reflect these ethics 😊🤗❤️

[@TheChickenRiceBowl]

Large companies and corporations have far too much influence over our children's education, and "testing standards" for that to ever happen. I workat Chick-Fil-A and every day-every other day we're forced to make up to 120 sandwiches and 70 cookies so CFA's marketing team can hook children early. A woman had a baby in a CFA bathroom and they gave her "free chick fil a for life, and a guaranteed job when she's 16". I thought "That poor child" when they told us that in orientation.

[@582tird]

In the US education system they teach consumerism. Go out get a job and a paycheck and send it on products you don't need but feel empowered by.

[@lauraquinn7889]

Bite Smaller As a teacher who DOES teach this, I can tell you that the change starts at home, and with big companies.

[@allybangel]

Funnily enough we live in rural Australia and our kids school is a waste wise school. So my kids are way more aware then I was at their age. My daughter makes us reuse everything. It's great. My son insisted on of shopping for his school art smock and backpack at the op-shop because his teacher was teaching his class about cheap fashion and the real cost. Amazing wish every school did it.

[@alwaysbekind382]

I LOVE that you use the term ‘low waste’ and not ‘zero waste’. Thank you for being realistic 🤗 ♥️

[@SarahNathanielOber]

"Caught up in the esthetic" that’s such a great way to put it. that sums up the modern minimal and vegan lifestyle. It’s become about how nice it looks on Instagram not about the real intentions of consuming less.

[@Al-mq1pr]

If a large amount of people aren't attracted to the way the "lifestyle" looks for those of a higher class on social media, then they are less likely to follow it. Unfortunately.

[@HelloMsAnny]

@@Al-mq1pr I agree, however I'd argue that the people who literally only do it for the way it looks, are also the ones who are likely to drop out after a while.

[@Nick-ei8lt]

I just wanted to throw out that modern is actually a blast from the past (circa 60s) and minimalism is also an art from the 90s that was transformed into a living with intention lifestyle. I follow all of these “trends) but I was raised that way and so are my kids. My parents raised me as a minimalist and MCM is what styles my home as my grandmother gave me all her vintage original items. I get what you’re trying to say but I want to express that some of us on Instagram shouldn’t be lumped into that category bc it simply isn’t true. I would rather live without people’s assumptions of me based on no evidence.

[@ExLibris-Alys]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻

[@HannahTheWeird]

"buying something new is inherently paradoxical to living a low waste lifestyle" That is what I needed to hear today. I wanted to sew my own shopping bags, because I have all this fabric that I never use, but as I got started on this project, I realized I didn't really have the right kind of fabric, so I wanted to go out and buy new fabric, even tho the whole point of the project was to use the fabric I had! I have no reusable shopping bags in my car, so I need to search the house for some bags, because I know we have some, instead of buying new ones like I keep wanting to do.

[@dogasindar1148]

Thank you for your sincerity.

[@Nanabanana464]

Doğa Sindar I switched to clear glass mugs about 15 years ago because often when a mug looses it luster and has scratches it may be leaching lead into your coffee because it's the glaze that is wearing off. I took my "painted" mugs and recycled them by using them for pencil holders, paint brush holders and for small planters, etc. 😊

[@LunaMoonah]

Love it girl!! I also found I hate shopping with people!! Theyyy pressure you to buy sooo much. I find myself constantly telling them I don’t need to buy anything because I don’t need anything!! Keep up that no spending girl!!

[@julianeelter8159]

Thank you for the tupperware one! I was recently given some pretty dirty looks for using my old plastic lunchboxes for buying bar soaps and chocolate from a zero-waste/bulk store. Why would I throw them out if they can still be used -at least making the waste that they will inevitably become "work off" some of it's negative impact in longevity of use? Just so that I can parade around a fancy newly bought stainless steel box? No thanks for the hipster judgement. Also like some of the others here I'd love some input on christmas presents and ideas? What do you think about giving digital consumer goods like a year worth of streaming or e-books or even tickets to spend time together at a show or concert- even local ones. I have no idea how much invisible/indirect waste I'd be a accountable for with those!

[@saschasstorychamber]

Your first point already means so much to me, because I feel like in the ZeroWaste Community everyone has new metal boxes etc,. and I was thinking: but I already have the plastic Tupperware... so why buy something new just because and leave my other stuff unused? It's not just about the ZW aesthetic :)

[@moncielvariable]

And, sure, plastic is bad. But if you already have Tupperware, they are already produced. Resources were already used to make it. You might as well use them until they break apart (which can take a long time if they are real Tupperware!)

[@morganelcz]

Caroline Beaulieu that's what I was gonna say. If it's the real tupperware, it's gonna last long. I still use a set a three tupperware that my father bought in the late seventies!!! They're still perfectly good and I use them every week with more recent glass containers. But they're amazing.

[@DaylaCole]

I love your discussion of language and privilege

[@wiebelziel]

Thank you for this great video! It frustrates me that a lot of zero waste videos encourage people to buy new things like travel cups or cutlery, while people could easily use things they already have or at least try to find a second-hand option.

[@moncielvariable]

Yes! It always annoys me as hell when people try to sell you things with the idea of those things being zero waste. Buying new stuff is not zero waste! The thing had to be produced!

[@brookemauck6033]

Yes! Especially with cutlery. Like just take one from your drawer in the kitchen or go to a thrift shop and they have random silverware. You don't need to buy a bamboo fork.

[@lanakranz9227]

I really like how you mentioned invisible waste such as food shipped from South America. It doesn't even just affect the planet. The *people* from the places we buy food from are affected. For example quinoa. It's a staple food for the people where it comes from. Or it was. Now that we people in the privileged position eat craptons of it those people have now lost their ability to use it. We really need to be global and ask ourselves "if we are eating this food. What happened to the individual who this was made for?"

[@angelicamori5986]

I'm convinced that eating seasonal and local food or buying meat from the butcher around the corner has a lower impact than buying quinoa and cashews that were shipped from the other side of the world and are stolen from poor countries.

[@ipod102007]

When I first tried to go low waste I thought you had to buy so many things like zero waste paper towels and cotton rounds etc. so I went out and bought a ton of fabric and made everything I thought I needed. I didn’t even think that o could have used old cloths or towels.

[@gundimytube]

Please make a series on invisible waste!

[@AlexaLikes]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="568">9:28</a> yup. The aesthetics and attempt of glamorization (almost)... That and throwing out the things (mistakes of the past) are such valuable points.

[@HayleyTief]

Super helpful video. I am not zero waste but have been very inspired recently to make changes in my life. The amount of things I feel like you "need" to do to be a successful person in society now is overwhelming. Vegan, minimalist, zero waste, do yoga, have a capsule wardrobe, live in a tiny house, the list goes on... I think it's important to remember that even little things can make a difference

[@TheCaraaraC]

If you truly need mason jars, check out your Goodwill. Mine has them at a dollar a pop which is kind of expensive, but at least you are refusing existing resources.

[@Mom-ng7iu]

Cara Page mine was 50 cents a piece this week and I had 20% and a 25% off coupon total purchase. It made my day for sure. I have plenty larger ones but like the small ones for herbs and spices and I was able to get a dozen for less than $4. I’ll be good for quite sometime!

[@Anna-tc6rz]

I feel like my goodwill always overprices things. Especially furniture and kitchen appliances so I end up stalking craigslist and apps like letgo

[@gabrielekennedy7587]

Cheaper new... :-\

[@v.m.4453]

Also try the Salvation Army and local or church thrift stores. You're bound to find a good deal (and reuse items before they go to the landfill)

[@jmessick8163]

Thanks for another great video!! Here in the US the plastic bags are made so thinly that even those can barely make it to the car or home let alone be reused anymore sadly. If communities can just come together, giving out a few reusable bags to each family & ban those horrid single use bags instead of just recycling them. In my opinion it seems recycling is used as an excuse to keep consuming as usual, at least here in the US. I try to repurpose before recycling as much as I can & I am teaching my children the importance of it. At ages 5 & 7 whenever in contact of others like at the supermarket they share their knowledge with others about being sustainable. It’s so cute. One proud momma here😊

[@HayleyTief]

I do really like the bags from HEB. They are made from recycled plastic, made very sturdy so that they can be resued like a tote bag, have handles, and are recyclable. I only get them when I forget my tote bags but I do like them for what they are.

[@Uapa500]

In Italy we have sort of compostable bags at supermarkets, but they break easily and if it rains they sort of melt on the way back to the car 😒 I agree with you, sometimes it looks just like a way to keep using more, just in a different way. So good you taught your kids so well 😍

[@greenknitter]

In Ireland we were the first country in the world in 2002 to introduce a plastic bag tax in supermarkets and shops. Works very well, customers pay 22cent each for plastic bags if they forget or didn't bring their own bags and the money collected goes to environmental projects. It's meant a drop of 90% on the use of plastic bags and now everyone uses cloth or 'bags for life'-stiff plastic and cloth bags designed to be durable and reusable. Some supermarkets now also have free compostable bags you tear off from a roll when you want to bag your looses fruit or veg. I love them because it means I can reuse them as waste bags from my kitchen scraps that go in my organic brown bin.

[@monicabeck3289]

❤Are these all mistakes or just beginnings 😊 I am trying not to beat myself up for things I did before I knew better - like buying a nylon bag to reduce my plastic bag waste, or making my own soap using palm oil to reduce packaging. When my nylon bag wears out I will switch to something more sustainable. When it's time to make more soap I will replace the palm oil with the tallow I now have waiting in my freezer skimmed from the homemade bone broth from bone purchased from a farm withing walking distance of my house. Maybe by then I will have given up the consumption of any animal products? Don't know where my journey will take me next, but it is definitely a process not an event. Thank you for your content, I love your channel!

[@MsSneaky0815]

Awesome. I am very impressed and inspired. :-)

[@alexc632]

Hey, I would firstly like to say I think it’s amazing you are trying to make more sustainable choices and even make your own soap! I don’t mean this in anyway to judge you and start an arguement, but I wanted to point out something very important. In our society, things are often promoted as ‘sustainable’ even when they are not, especially in the low waste/zero waste community hence this video. I just wanted to point out that swapping palm oil for tallow is not the most sustainable choice and may very well be worse. This is because even local, organic or advertised as sustainable animal flesh is in fact takes a huge amount of resources to produce, more land, more crops, more pollution (GHGs, manure etc) and has a larger impact than just growing crops. In fact it most likely causes more deforestation or habit destruction than palm oil and kills more animals as a results just not orangutans in the other side of the world but many wild local species of animals and the animal that the product is made of as their habitat is destroyed or they are intentionally culled to make it possible for farmers to conveniently animals (otherwise predators would harm livestock or animals would take up the land needed to farm the animals in the first place) . A better choice would be to use a plant oil such as rapeseed, olive oil, grape seed oil etc of which the first can be extremely local and the second two at least in Europe or locally depending where you live. I hope that makes sense and you can make better choices in the future ❤️🌎🌱

[@aob6033]

Totally agree here! I have decided to start reducing waste as much as possible, but I realized that at least for the first month or so, I'm not going to necessarily change anything, I'm just going to pay attention to what I'm using, buying and consuming. Slowly replacing things as they get used up. It's going to be a process. I find that things are more sustainable when done that way anyway, rather than trying to change everything all at once.

[@moncielvariable]

@@alexc632 If she's making bone broth anyway for her food, using the tallow (which would be a waste) for her soap is the best option, in my opinion. If she is making broth just for the soap, yes, plant oil would be better.

[@nikkineal6431]

We have a can of WD-40. I was complaining about our can opener that is about 25 years old. It was really hard to use. My husband didn’t want to get rid of it because it’s so useful, so I had him use that stuff on it and it feels brand new. He’s from a small town in Maine. His family and he has helped me learn a lot about non consumerism. I’m moving to Maine in a few months and I’m looking forward to learning from his ninety year old grandma.

[@laurakleimann7400]

Very well put, especially the compartmentalising 👌 I think this is the single biggest reason that stops people from going low impact. It's not as easy as just buying this instead of that and boom! you're living sustainably. You have to want to change, because you need to change. But if your motivation isn't strong enough you're not going to stick to it. And that's another issue: the majority of people isn't (as) interested in living sustainably, because they aren't as emotionally invested (yet).

[@sambo1450]

I really admire your honesty on this topic, i feel there is a lot of grandstanding in minimalism which is tied in with the zero waste movement. Your really a blessing to this movement and a lot of people wouldnt know where to start without you ☺

[@jackhart3645]

Love these videos, it's nice to see that the idol still made mistakes. I think it shows that you're still a person behind the camera, not just some pop culture youtuber that's jumping on the bandwagon. Your videos are so genuine and sincere, and it's so nice to know that you truly do care about all of this, because I think a LOT of people that do this purely do it for the aesthetic, which stinks. Thank you so much

[@eviiep9914]

Please do a shopping with me!! Where you take us with you when you go grocery shopping!

[@emily2555]

You earned a lot of respect from me at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="390">6:30</a> . Not many people talk about that, being widely researched and considering opposing viewpoints, in regards to anything. Major respect that you brought that up! First video I've clicked on of yours, but I think I'll check out a few more :) have a great day!

[@lizbranson215]

I love how your videos have changed over the last couple years!! It’s amazing to see your growth as a person and an activist

[@eiwagarciabrito495]

Thank you so much for your video. I started my transition to low waste 6 months ago and I've been feeling very overwhelmed with the things I''need'' to ''buy'' to be zero waste. To be honest its hard because I don't have money to buy all those things like I would love to, but I just don't have the money right now and it makes me feel really bad about being an environmentalist. I have never thought that I don't ''need'' those cloth produce bags to be zero waste, I can just reuse the plastic ones until I find the money to buy the cloth ones!!!!! that's so genius, but I never thought about it because of the aesthetic of zero waste as you said. Thank you so much for the advice and the eye-opening concept!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@eiwagarciabrito495]

@@MsSneaky0815 yeah! After this video I watched videos like that and they're so cool and and smart!! Thank you for the idea!!

[@katsyoutube]

Great video love. This was a very articulate retrospect on your journey, and it's not easy to share mistakes. However, in sharing these mistakes, you can help those who are interested in the low impact movement move forward. You're an inspiration as always and I hope you are doing well!

[@snoopyscul22]

This video really resonated with me and I am so glad you made it. I have found myself falling or almost falling into some of these traps that sustainability has to look a certain way. When I first started watching your (and others') videos I had this urge to buy all of these new eco-friendly products without putting much thought into it. Luckily I am lazy and cheap when it comes to shopping and didn't end up buying many new things. I am slowly starting to learn how to navigate through all of this and I have found that your videos really do help me. It has been amazing to see your growth and progress in your videos as you try to consciously learn more and dig deeper into these issues. I always come to your channel when I need some inspiration. Keep up the good work!! (:

[@kriw5658]

I noticed the Kite Runner is on your to be read list. It's one of my favorite books. I'm reading another right by the same author, a Thousand Splendid Suns, from a young woman in an arranged marriages perspective. Thanks for sharing your goodreads link!

[@Uapa500]

Shop at home, before you go shopping out ☺ when I moved to England and I re-sized my wardrobe and craft room with just the essentials I needed and few fancy bits, going back to my old bedroom in Rome was so overwhelming. That big wardrobe and the drawers so full that you can't move around the stuff to see what you have, things with labels still attached, things I didn't want to get rid of and kept there, almost hidden, everything was and still is almost suffocating. Keeping this feeling in mind makes it so much easier for me to not buy new stuff, unless I really need it or really want it, cos it's been stuck in my mind for weeks, if not months. I'm also a bit tight with money to save for the future, so probably that helps. As usual, very informative video and very recharging! I'm far from perfect and probably always will be just average, but thanks to you and people like you I'm more aware of my mistakes and of what goes on around me. Sometimes it's painful and disappointing, especially with our often bad footprint or with careless or giving up people, who just don't want to try to change, but I wouldn't go back to not knowing, just to have a lighter life. Thank you!

[@raphaelle2698]

What a refreshing speech. Your videos are always so positive and soothing. It can sometimes be discouraging to hear about all these environmental problems, but I really want to underline the way you address it and make it so easy to grasp. You definetely have a way of delivering your message the right way!

[@lalizilla]

wow, i never considered reusing the plastic bags i already have. thanks!

[@theclumsyprepper]

Hello from your new subscriber. I just want to say thank you for making this video. I've had so many arguments over the years with people thinking they need to throw everything away and buy all the fancy and trendy 'zero waste' stuff to show they are sustainable and who tended to bully anyone who dared to tell them they are being wasteful I stopped associated myself with the movement. Listening to you being honest about that is so refreshing. Thank you again xxx

[@TheKduke]

So true about need and want! I convinced myself that I need a set of bamboo cutlery to keep at work, but I already have a metal second hand fork that I bought for that reason, so if I buy an entirely new set of something, that completely negates reducing my carbon footprint. So really if I buy a second hand metal spoon and knife I’ll be set. And lll save like $20!

[@ssedarius]

I love this video. You come across as balanced and articulate. I'm a low waste mum and I'm married to a plastics engineer. We have children. I'm so glad you mentioned your Tupperware. Only this morning, my husband and I were discussing how the general public are misinformed about plastic and lump it all into the 'bad' category. There are many different types of plastic and some are completely recyclable, using less energy than other options. Not all plastics are down cycled. Not all plastics are single use. I'm just starting to understand more about my environmental footprint and completely agree with you about getting caught up in the aesthetics. Once again, great video.

[@sarahcatherinebillups1621]

Thanks for making great content! Yesterday I bought a humidifier, but then realized I could get a gently used one second-hand. I returned the original one to the big box store in favor of the lower-waste, less expensive option. Thank you for helping me think more about these kinds of things in my daily life!

[@MsSneaky0815]

That is also a perk of 2nd hand - the items are way cheaper...

[@ZenDebbie]

Just found your channel and wanted to tell you what a wise young woman you are. Thank you for sharing your insight with the world!

[@Candisias]

Your last point hit me RIGHT on the head! I literally just purchased a freaking Keep Cup because I felt like I "needed" it...it's almost like marketers are developing "zero waste starter kits" and enticing us to buy MORE when in actuality, what we need to do is REDUCE our purchases, reduce our need to buy and cause more waste (through packaging, plastic, bubble wrap, etc.) Gosh...and the fact that I am just now striving towards the low waste journey, the one question I had the most was "what do I do with all this plastic stuff that I have?" and I read an article where a woman basically said, "USE IT!" And that took so much weight off my shoulders. Because immediately when I made my decision to reduce my waste footprint on this Earth, I thought I had to pretty much trash everything I had and re-purchase all new things. Now I know I don't have to do that. All I need to do is be more conscious of my decisions and my future decisions when it comes to buying, purchasing, discarding, decluttering, etc. Great video! New Subbie! :D

[@jennydunlop5572]

I have just started watching your videos, (following on the heels of watching David Attenborough’s A life on Our Planet - so inspiring )!. Love your attitude and your humility - admitting your mistakes and encouraging us all to just try to do the best we can with what we have already got. Thank you!

[@anastasiacorbine1494]

Talking about mindfulness, and that there is a person or animal behind everything we consume is refreshing ❤️ I am in my first steps, I appreciate your channel very much!

[@thebatridesagain]

I love my plastic tubberware. Treat it like a queen. Hand wash only and never put it into a microwave. It will last me at least 10 years, if you treat it right.

[@Ari35485]

I have mason jars and other jars that still smell like what was in them even after I washed them several times, and let them soak. I mostly stopped using plastic. Especially getting water bottles, I haven't bought water bottles in a month or so

[@Garoky1]

Arielle Davis Have you tried soaking with lots of baking soda? That’s what I do and it usually works (though there are some scents that have been very difficult to get rid of).

[@shutupsavannah2195]

Using a baking soda paste to scrub them out works really well! Good luck.

[@Uapa500]

@@Garoky1 😍 I'll try that immediately! 😍

[@salvagemania]

If baking soda doesn't work, you can try putting a piece of charcoal in the jar, closing it, and letting the charcoal absorb the odors. I never tried this with a jar, but it worked well to take a lingering odor out of my aunt's freezer when food went bad during a power outage.

[@carolynhance5588]

I use concentrated white vinegar with super hot(or boiling) water. I brew kombucha and it's the best way to sterilize everything while still being food friendly. Baking soda also works too! Both have removed the smell of kimchi, which is one of the hardest smells to get rid of.

[@TheBerryShow2000]

I love what you said about compartmentalizing. Since some months now I've had this idea of how we humans tend to think of life, or better phrased, what we tend to ignore about living. We grow up and we live and we think we can just do that as freely as we wish with no consequence. I know so many people dream of having an impact in the world and in others' lives, but it's curious, how almost no one cares about their impact in the environment and in life itself. One cannot only live, use resources, buy stuff, eat, and have no concern about what they're leaving behind. Every action and decision we take has a consequence, and we should start caring more not only about the nearby consequences of our actions, but also about the further consequences our lifestyle may have on the planet and the society. I've tried to switch my mentality the past few months and it's been a bigger transition than the physical ones I've endured recently (I'm vegan). Therefore, I fully agree with you on how we should stop compartmentalizing sustainability and we should attempt to perceive it and apply it in every aspect of our life, especially our mentality.

[@Angie_978]

We create the market for sustainable practices. The demand of customers is a powerful thing. The market rises to meet the demand. Understanding this is understanding how the concept of the power of one person making 10 small choices can add up fast especially when you consider that 'no person is an island' and it's never about the choices made by one single person. It's more that each person makes several small decisions today, and tomorrow, and the next day and so on... And each of those decisions added with the decisions of thousands of other people add up to big things. If you and ten thousand of your closest friends all decide that today, and every day forward, when you bring lunch to work you're bringing a set of flatware instead of using the single use disposable kind, that does make a difference. Similarly, if you and all those same people decide that you simply must buy something that essentially replaces a perfectly good item you already have, but you like the aesthetics of the new thing, so you get it. That creates a market for that new thing. That tells the companies "this is popular, we should make more of these. If we make more we will sell more because people really like them." A lot of people don't consider the philosophy behind a minimalistic mindset in a capitalist society. The idea is to use your purchasing power to streamline and simplify your life while making better decisions for the earth and using your purchase as a vote to tell companies what you want to purchase in the future. When you buy a sandwich from a shop that sells all organic food and pays it's employees a living wage, you're voting for all of that. You're telling the industry that there is a market for that. That customers are willing to pay for that. When you buy fast food in the drivethru at 6pm for your family dinner, again you're telling the industry that there is a market for that. When you buy from a secondhand store, you're voting for that. When you buy ingredients and cook yourself breakfast, you're voting for that. 30 years ago there was basically no large companies making eco friendly cleaning products. Then there were a few. Now there are a lot, because people have made it clear that they are willing to buy them, that they want them and they voted for that with their purchase. Our economic system makes decisions based on money. We to a large extent can control where our money goes. When we buy something sustainable it sends a message not only to the company/person we bought from, but to the other companies/people we didn't buy from. This ability to change the market itself is basically yet untapped (as far as I'm concerned, regarding the massive potential) and is our biggest weapon as low waste customers.

[@Eucis93]

I personally think zero or low waste doesn’t have to be huge changes, atleast not immediately. I’ve very recently got into it myself and I’ve made small changes here and there. Like buying garbage bags made from sugar canes, changing my toilet paper and paper towels to ones made from 100% recycled paper, cooking smaller quantities of food, freezing food in portion sized batches, emptying my fridge and cupboards as much as possible before buying new food, switching from items wrapped in plastic to items wrapped in paper or cardboard, sorting my waste thoroughly, give my old clothes/things to friends and family (or a charity of some sort) instead of throwing them away etc. It doesn’t have to be a gigantic lifestyle change if you can just hit the keypoints that actually make a difference. If you’re new to it, don’t throw all plastic or other ”wasteful” items away, that’s part of the problem. Use what you have until it breaks or can no longer be fixed before you buy a new item. And obviously, if you’re in the market for something new, buy the one that’ll last a very long time. I personally live in a country that doesn’t offer bulk bins in shops so lessening my plastic use is a bit harder, but I try to make up for it in other areas while also recycling the plastic. And if zero or low waste sounds boring or useless to you, let me tell you that in this past month of me trying to cut my waste I spent 40% less money than I usually do!

[@emeraldfern6135]

I just found your channel recently and I love your videos so much. You dont guilt people into feeling bad about making mistakes or making that "zero waste essential" purchase they regret. You've genuinely gave me so many good tips. Besides lavendair your channel is definitely my favorite low waste channel ❤

[@MsKateish]

Especially the point about not needing to buy new stuff to be low impact resonates so much with me! I'm glad more people have been pointing this out recently. When I got interested in creating less waste, it seemed like you "need" all these things, because so many people promote certain brands and stuff. And buying all new containers etc really defeats the whole purpose of it. I can see the need to choose more sustainable brands when you need to replace something that's broken, but other than that, I think everyone should start thinking about what they can use that they already have. I bought a few cloth bags myself, but then I realised I could just as easily make some myself from fabric scraps or old t-shirts that I have lying around. I also have tons of different glass jars because I make a lot of jam in the summer, so I really don't need to buy any of those either. I am in no way near where you are, but I'm trying little by little to be better :)

[@simpletriskell3665]

Love this! It’s so true. You don’t need to buy things to be minimal or zero waste!! I definitely lost my way for a bit when I took up quilting and bought a lot of new tools and fabric. But I’m back to buying it all second hand, and keeping it down to just what I’m working on. Great video! People get so caught up in appearance, and it can cause extra consumption to make sure you have the best, newest, matchiest ‘minimal’ items.

[@booksandbordercollies]

It's so important to hear someone talk about the "esthetics" and the privilege behind the minimalism. Thank you!

[@mysterymidnightcharm]

I appreciate it so much that you talk about the "invisible" waste that you produce! I feel like people always talk about what's directly in front of them but forget the pollution by shipping things long distance or wasting power or water or little things you do in your life that people don't often pick up on. Love your videos doll!!!!!

[@juchinchou]

I hope your message spreads! It’s a journey and though there are simple things everyone can do, there’s not quick fix.

[@MrsLadyLiberty]

I really loved your analysis of "need". It's easier to justify a "need" purchase than a want purchase. One thing I've been doing to slow down my impulse to get things I "need" is to keep a list (on a basic memo app) of things I need, like clothing, low waste swaps, etc. Then I just let it sit there and see how long it sits on the list. If it's a real need then it won't be on the list long. The act of writing it down helps me to become conscious of obvious alternatives. There's a bit of manifesting in it, too. Once something is on the list, it's amazing how often I will find the item for free or be gifted it.

[@sho0oka]

Hey you really strengthen this notion i had for a while. for me its a slow process - i did not one day woke up and changed all my possessions and stuff i had. but its an ongoing growth into this life style. also for me, i live with my partner and we are not on the same page about everything, of course. I needed to introduce him with the implications of plastic and waste. and its taking shape gradually. so anyone feeling not quite there - put on your STAMINA pants and keep going! you're great!

[@emilycatherine5068]

Thank you for talking about focusing on the difference between need and want, I feel like my head has been getting really caught up in this lately. I really needed to hear it from someone else to put it in perspective.

[@its_my_my]

I’m so glad I found this video-and you! I’ve been on a journey towards minimalism for four years, but has mostly been in reducing the number of things and trying to buy more eco consciousness when I do make purchase. My next step in 2019 is to live aligned to my values, like you said. I want to reduce the amount I’m buying packaged goods. It’s a small amount of most people, but I need to figure out how I can make this feel good, while challenging, my own comfort. Thank you!

[@tictachikes6156]

Don’t be too hard on yourself! You’re doing great AND making videos to help others.

[@ms1295]

That was exactly my thought! Thank you for sharing your learnings with us, Immy, but don't call them mistakes! ;) You're a beautiful soul with a big heart!

[@lianne6056]

You are amazing. I love your honesty. It is so easy to buy into the aesthetic of low waste that you forget the reality of it. I made this mistake too. I chucked a load of stuff and bought a load of fancy stuff and now I realise I was a plonker x

[@Efair208]

I was so moved when you spoke about the word “need”. I whole heartedly agree. Thank you for reminding me. Xox

[@paperdolls6000]

Love that you mentioned reading. I’m a librarian and that made me smile 😊

[@janaiibarlow1726]

I'm studying environmental science and majoring in sustainability and I'd just like to say I absolutely love your approach to sustainability, it's more holistic and effective. So much of what sustainability is about is lost with this trend of "zero-waste". Keep spreading the knowledge gurl ❤

[@Laurenlee87721]

I do the same thing with my discolored/old-looking plastic containers that are no longer used for food storage. The best way to support a low/zero waste life style is to use up whatever on hand before buying/acquiring something new

[@amyclay8961]

Thank you for sharing this and helping me with my journey. I'm feeling quite stuck for a few reasons. However I feel like you're being unfair on yourself. Changing a whole lifestyle is hard and this just shows how much you've learnt and grown.

[@benyhadid]

I loved your video! You took zero waste to a very practical and down to earth place!

[@Lucidd85]

This “rambling” made me subscribed to your video. My friends and I (in Malaysia) were just talking about this. The zero waste/ low waste pitfalls and how to avoid them :-) Thanks!

[@Justsomemist]

This is an awesome and thoughtful video. Thank you! I’m getting into the low impact movement it’s really helpful to remember the deep roots of WHY I want to do this because that creates the HOW. There’s so many levels to it and I want to keep learning and growing! That’s all you can hope to do

[@kathrynsargent5769]

Thank you for the thoughtful analysis. I, too, am guilty of wanting to buy all the new, sustainable products, without using up what I already have. I have so much to learn from people like you! Working on it!

[@sixxlee890]

So humble. Thank you for sharing your mistakes so that others can learn.

[@ulrikas]

Thank you for another great video! I think that these are some common mistakes that many people do when they start their zero/low waste journey. I really like your point about collecting information and reading a lot. I just wanted to add a comment about the importance of critical thinking when reading, no matter if it's books or scientific studies. For example where does the information come from, who have founded and completed the study, can this really be true, etc. Thanks again for your amazing work! You're such an inspiration for so many of us out here! Take care!

[@Jasmine-hy9vn]

I got a zero waste ad for this video!:)

[@PhiliH88]

J asmine - I got a KFC one 😫 interesting ad-generation YT 🙄

[@PhiliH88]

And whilst I have had KFC before, it would have been over 20 years ago - so not relevant to my other videos either!

[@juicedboxes]

I'm starting to move towards sustainability and that whole throwing out/buying more to be sustainable is surprisingly challenging. There are so many messages within the community about not using plastic bags or plastic, and that shame attached makes me just want to shed those items and start fresh. But "starting fresh" means disposing of a mass amount of things at one go, still not using them for their intended purpose. It's hard to adopt these new life practices and feel that shame simultaneously, but it's v important I think to process those feelings

[@renatakozakova4955]

Don't be too hard on yourself. No one becomes guru over night. It's a learning path and everyone is expected to make mistakes or wrong decision because simply you don't know until you learn it. I've been hearing about zero waste now and then and always inspires me although I haven't found courage to actively start living like that yet. I cannot imagine turn into the way you live overnight but I could start with small things and see how I feel about it and hopefully one day I will be able to share my experience with zero waste too. Thank you for inspiring.

[@charlenebunt342]

Thanks for your honesty i made almost exactly the same mistakes and find im still making them. I upcycle jars, bags and boxes, ect as much as possible. Im finding it hard to live a predominantly zero waste lifestyle when there are other members in the household incharge of materialistic shopping and consumerism. I guess the important thing to do is make small changes where ever possible and build on that.

[@crazykatiekates]

Thank you for mentioning the oh-so important but often overlooked action of reading the original science rather than someone’s opinion in an article!!

[@MsSneaky0815]

Thank you, Immy, for the very gentle reminder of the difference between needing and wanting. Just because I like smt doesnt mean I need it in my life. But this realisation takes time and willingness. Also, I appreciate that you consider your position in life and realise your privilege. Also, a big step is to take responsibility for ones actions. So cudos to you and thank you for the video. I am learning by doing and trying to do better each step of the way...

[@LauraMartinez-lb4gi]

I started using coupons in my shopping, so I started buying more stuff. More shampoo, dish soap,laundry soap, body wash. Even though I already had enough. I started looking up to people who had these large stalk piles of stuff. So I made a smaller size stalk pile. Which I am still using up, but then I stumbled onto minimalism and zero waste videos. Now I realize what I'm doing, my eyes have been opened. It took time and binge watching all the plastic bags and animals being affected by all of this. I absolutely never thought about how my actions were causing all of this.

[@LIVEKINDLY]

It's so amazing how you create videos that are so inspiring and thought-provoking - every time! Thank you! 💜

[@user-rm4yd2cl2k]

I also love how you said the word ‘need’ depends on the person or situation. So for example for my mom, living low waste is scary to her and very very associated with drab, colourless, and primitive living, so getting her something like an attractive cup, is much more necessary for her not only to use the thing, but to actually open her up to the fact that there are beautiful options and that you can live beautifully this way as well. And then for me I can buy compostable pads, but we don’t yet have a compost bin or system in my area, and so I bought the most affordable period reusable pads kit. It was initially incredibly expensive for me, and my mom thought it was too much, but I still use them and love them and they were necessary, and I highly value that investment. So yeah I loved the way you said the ‘need’ really will be different for everyone.

[@simini1837]

Hi Immy, this was a really eloquent, clear, intelligent and interesting video, well done! Because of your previous video i didnt throw away my Tupperware but donated iT to charity and kept Some for Reusing as storage etc. I did buy new Ikea glass food storage boxes because i read an article in the newspaper where is was said that keeping cooked food in plastic is a really bad idea. It was an interview with a toxicologist. Anyway zero waste is a difficult journey, especially if you make a reasonable amount of money and like clothing for example, like me. Its hard to resist the temptation to not buy things. What helped me in my efforts is watching documentaires like The true cost and Plastic ocean. Once you have seen a bird with its stomach full of plastic you never want to buy or waste plastic anymore!!!

[@stdavidofthestage]

GIRLFRAAAAN!!!! Thank you !! gods honesty. You’ve helped out family a lot

[@planty4204]

I Love how authentic you are 💚

[@ethanwhite222]

I went into it headfirst. Don’t get overwhelmed and do what you can. Those really are the main ones. I obsessed so much over it that it actually ended up taking a toll on my mental health. Nobody’s perfect. I get that now.

[@in0love0w0it]

I think that not having enough money to spend on new things has helped find ways to reuse things i own instead of purchasing "low waste" items which is part of your point here. Thanks for this mindful video, loved it.

[@anitamusayo9865]

I remember the first stupid mistake I made: I bought a plastic keep cup thinking that I would have "needed" one to go zero waste, while I really rarely have a coffee to go. so now I'm stuck with that, I use it for storing food or kitchen stuff 😅

[@nataliepescud339]

Great tips, especially about eating locally. I used a lot of my old plasticware to store craft items, for organising things in the garden shed and things in my classroom, rather than food.

[@imaka833]

I just heared "zerowaste" recently and I started low waste life. I have watched a lot of videos, instagram and blogs about zerowaste and I felt I had to buy something new for zerowaste life. However your video taught me it's not true and I realized I can start low waste life with simple goods that I already had. Thank you so much ! I will enjoy my low waste life with your cool videos :)

[@cygnusolor]

I love the part on compartmentalising. Keep up the great videos. You have a positive vibe for positive change.

[@kalllineczka1132]

Oh I'm sooo guilty of the last one... The minimalistic aesthetic that I saw online made me crave all those pretty bits and pieces that, of course, can help you reduce your waste but aren't necessary. Especially if you have similar things on hand, like I did. Well, I learnt my lesson after all 😅

[@ninapeyrot8765]

Hello from France ! I really enjoyed your video and I totally agree about all the stuff we think we must buy to start a lower waste way of life... The paradoxe is really scary when I think about it. Although I use my pretty cotton reusable bags almost every day, I could have kept my old plastic and paper bags, use them with care and it would have reduced my waste even more...This is a mistake I hope I won't do again :) We will need to be more carefull in the future because a lot of company enters the "zero waste" market and try to sell us stuff that we don't "need"in the end (what you said about the difference between need and want is so true)...

[@janeavila8674]

I really appreciate the fact that you admit that sometimes you still make mistakes from time to time, it's really unrealistic how some other environmentalist KZbinrs act like they got it all down in the first try.

[@jeanneroche8190]

Thank you so much for your honesty!! and for talking about the "aesthetic" fo zero waste that sometimes gets over the fundamental concepts behind zero waste 👌!!!

[@marjigferg6060]

I like your note about not buying new things to be in the aesthetic of zero waste. I recently ordered silicone bags for food which I don’t “need” but will help replace my families addiction to plastic snack and sandwich bags.

[@jjay6432]

Yes damn it I kinda did the same still have a few Tupperware that I recently been gathering to get rid of I will reconsider.

[@Becca410]

You seem like the absolute sweetest person omg. I recently got into this whole kick about "I need to start eating less meat, and be more sustainable, and reduce my carbon footprint, and become more green" and etc. And therefore I'm really glad I was able to come across your channel, because you help to introduce these ideas in such a simple way, and without any kind of kickback or judgement towards those still not into your way of life. I really appreciate this.

[@judymeow8646]

My deepest respect for all your thoughts, you put in that topic and that you are sharing them now in this personal kind of way

[@stephaniebyrne1022]

Glad u brought up need versus want. First time I’ve heard it addressed in minimalism videos

[@mckellow811]

if you have the time to do you can upcycle old t shirts into cloth bags for shopping it doesn't take much effort to do, we did it with my cousin and used old odd earrings to decorate it, she loves her own reusable bag and she can change the decoration as much as she like on it too :)

[@helenmahood6082]

Such an insightful video, thank you! :) I find that I get in a frenzy and donate lots of my things to charity, only to find that I have to do without or am tempted to repurchase clothes etc when an event comes along... it pays to do things mindfully!

[@yamisanchez4106]

I love your honesty... Thank you for sharing videos like this, you make me feel that it is possible and that I do not need to put pressure on myself❤️

[@HelloMsAnny]

I feel like the first one is SOO common though. I know several people who've gone out of their way to throw out of their plastic stuff, which is pretty counter-productive. If you've already purchased it, half the waste is already done. You can't undo it, so make the best out of it. A large part of why we have to focus on our waste so much today is because we've learned to throw out perfectly useful stuff. Super good video!

[@Sarahlenea]

I wish more ppl were watching this video. You're absolutely right when you say that it's important to read and make some research, especially when it comes to avoiding greenwashing traps. When I started adopting a more eco-friendly lifestyle, I bought products that were not that "green" and started using a lot of essential oils. I also had the ambition to make my own cosmetics and bought many products that I had to discard before I could use even half...