What is the Zero Waste lifestyle?

      Let`s be greener!

Zero Waste is the future. It is a lifestyle, a goal, and a vision for a sustainable world. A world where concious consumers make thoughtful decisions, choose to live naturally and have escaped the ”throw-away” culture.

Zero Waste focuses on waste prevention and suggests the reuse of material and products until the optimum level of consumption. 

The way we buy our personal care products, from fashion items to technology, our household items, or gadgets, shape the world we are living in. 

To keep trash out of landfills, incinerators, or the ocean, we need to make small changes in our daily life. 

The definition adopted by the Zero Waste International Alliance (ZWIA)[2] is:

Zero Waste: The conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of all products, packaging, and materials, without burning them, and without discharges to land, 

water, or air that threaten the environment or human health.

  10 tips for a Zero Waste living 

1. Think of the drink bottle you use.

Refill it and reuse it again and again! Be sure that you carry with you a quality water bottle, and suitable for hot and cold drinks. 

2. Choose reusable coffee cups and travel mug. 

Whether is a modern, hand-painted, designed cup or a stainless steel mug, it will be your best friend on the way!

3. Forget the cheap plastic forks and try something new!

Pick a fork, a spoon, and a knife from your kitchen drawer.
There is for sure a great offer of Zero Waste in the market, but what comes first is waste prevention, remember? 

A simple question can make the difference!

5. Buy locally. 

Consider the fuel emissions from shipping products and the Zero Waste philosophy. They do not match each other, right? So, think twice! 

6. Is there a chance of finding your desired item second-hand? 

Check small shops in your neighbourhood, village, town. Circular economy and sustainable development go hand in hand! 

7. Straws! 
How handy would it be if you have your own, a couple of 

 Zero Waste straws, wouldn`t it? Made of wheat, or steel is definitely a great plan to invest in!

Zero Waste shopping bags to buy yourself, but if you really want to make a 
difference, create one yourself! 

Use material that you already have like a textile from a cloth, an old T-shirt or a skirt that you do not wear any more, and create your new, handmade, shopping bag! 

10. Use Zero Waste products for your personal, home & family care. 

From sanitary pads to Zero Waste soaps and baby wipes, you can please yourself and make conscious and affordable choices for your everyday needs! 

Throw-away culture VS Zero Waste lifestyle

As ethical consumers, we need to adopt a Zero Waste lifestyle and rethink over the products we buy and use, their material selection, manufacturing processes, and even their packaging design!

When we use repaired, reused, and recycled products, we protect the environment, due to the reduced need for raw materials.

Zero waste minimizes pollution and plays an important role in environmental sustainability. 

In a Zero Waste system, the elimination of waste and the reconstruction of production and distribution systems are of high importance. 

                           Which is the difference between                                                     Zero Waste and recycling?

Recycling is about managing waste while Zero waste, as the word speaks for itself, means eliminating of the waste. 

Let`s consider the ecological, social, and economical implications of the 

‘’throw-away’’ culture, think of the consequences of the climate change and make responsible decisions.
Starting today! 

Greece plans to ban disposable plastic products  

The Greek government proposed a bill which incorporates Directive 2019/904/EU planning for reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, starting in July 2021.

According to the proposed legislation, a number of products that decompose into microplastics (oxidizable plastics), such as plastic drink mixers, straws, plates, cutlery and containers, styrofoam cups & food containers will be prohibited.

At the same time, in order to reduce the use of plastic water bottles, municipalities will provide free water to public drinking fountains and water taps in municipal sports facilities and playgrounds. 

A deposit-return system will be implemented from January 2023, as a reward for the participation of the citizens in recycling.

According to this plan, a small deposit will be included in the price, when buying a product.

For every empty plastic bottle that will be returned to the point of sale, the consumer will get back a refund of the deposit paid.

This measure will stimulate citizens to adopt recycling practices as a way to live more sustainably. 

The goal for 2025 is to separate the 77% of the plastic bottles and for 2023 the 90%.
Moreover, to reduce the consumption of plastic cups and food containers 

by 30% for 2024 and by 60% for 2026. 

Product redesign is necessary for the successful application of the aforementioned plan. New labelling requirements will be set, as well as restrictions for product producers and food and beverage companies. 

In particular, by 2024, the plastic bottle caps should be attached to their bottles and there will be a mandatory contribution for the bottle producer as eco-modulation fees. 

From 01.01.2022 food and beverage companies will not be allowed to use disposable plastic products to serve seated or take away customers.  

All disposable products, covered by Directive 2019/904 / EU, will have from January 2022 special labels that aim to inform the consumers whether they are intended for recycling, reuse, or composting, and minimize the amount 

of garbage they produce annually. 

              ‘’There is nothing permanent except change’’. Heraclitus

Every year in Greece there are used 2,000,000,000 plastic bottles and more than 300,000,000 plastic coffee cups.

An enormous amount of disposable plastic ends up in the sea and affects negatively the marine ecosystems and the planet. 

We all love Greece. We do want to live in a world free of chemicals, in a waste free planet. It is time to live healthier, and let love lead our gestures.

If we embrace new habits, if we make daily small gestures of caring for ourselves and the world around us, we can be sure that we have at least tried.

We stand together in this. All citizens of the world.

Where self- responsibility meets global solidarity, deep down the aim is the same; to live harmonically with each other and the natural world.

What we people often forget, is that we are part of the nature. The way we take care of ourselves relates with the way we treat the others and the earth we live in.

It is never too late to bring a change. Because change, after all, is a natural process and part of our living.