10 Tips for Staying Zero Waste at Work

It can be difficult to stay zero waste in the workplace especially if your job is wasteful. I’ve received many emails and complaints from nurses to house flippers lamenting that their jobs produce A LOT of trash.

And, while there are small things many of us can do in our personal lives it can be difficult to translate those to the workplace because many of us lack the control and authority to see these types of initiatives implemented.

But, first I want to say that trash happens. And sometimes, especially in the medical and science fields that waste is necessary to keep everyone healthy.

I used to work in a print shop which is a pretty wasteful industry. The shop I worked in did a great job of promoting eco-friendly materials and sustainable alternatives, but I was shocked by the number of negative emails I’d receive telling me, “You can’t be zero waste you work in a print shop!”

I’m sure a lot of us work at jobs that don’t 100% align with our values. Yes, there was a lot of waste at the print shop, but I felt like what I was doing was important. I was helping people choose better alternatives.

In fact, when you want to start living a more eco-friendly lifestyle, I don’t think you should run out and start applying to only sustainable companies. We need sustainably-minded people to work in the most wasteful industries to work on changing them from the inside out.

Think about it, you could be responsible for tons of waste reduction. Making changes from the inside out will be slow and difficult, but gosh how rewarding will it be when all of it finally pays off?

All that said, no matter what your job is, there are ways you can keep your personal waste to a minimum. But of course, I'll be sharing ways you can reduce waste in the workspace as a whole from shrinking your landfill output, ditching single-use plastics, beefing up your recycling program, and maybe even starting a composting setup.

start with breakfast:

Lots of us grab breakfast on-the-go whether that’s hitting the drive-through or grabbing a snack bar wrapped single-use plastic. These habits result in a lot of packaging waste added up over time.

Instead, take a smarter approach and plan ahead. Making breakfast at home is a super-easy way to avoid single-use plastic.

Most of us don’t have time to make a sit-down breakfast happen, consider making some overnight oats the night prior.

Store them in a jar you take with you to work and heat it up there or just eat it cold. Of course, there are lots of other breakfast options you can make the night before as well, like granola bars, parfaits, muffins, and more You just have to think ahead a bit.

As for coffee and tea, if you want to grab-and-go, make sure you have a travel mug and ask the barista to put your drink in there. 

RELATED POST: Tips for Creating a Zero-Waste Coffee Routine

pack a trash-free lunch:

Packing your lunch is an easy way to avoid a lot of the trash associated with takeout. At the office I used to work out, almost everyone got their lunch to-go from nearby food trucks and cafes and brought it back to their workstations. This resulted in so much packaging waste, and was super expensive!

If you want to save some money and packaging waste, pack your lunch in reusable containers like glassware, metal tiffins or stasher bags. 

Instead of brown-bagging it, invest in a reusable lunch box or bags. I love my little two-tiered tiffin, but if a bag is more your style, you might like this organic cotton lunch sack.

If you don’t have an office kitchen with real cups and cutlery on hand, don’t forget to include those with your lunch sack.

As for your actual meal, try and opt for something plant-based. It’s even better if you include in-season and locally grown foods too.

RELATED POST: How to Pack a Zero Waste Lunch + 10 Meal Ideas

make a compost plan:

If you’re trying to live a more sustainable trash-free life, you’re probably going to be eating a lot more produce. After all, what’s an easier zero waste snack than an apple, orange, or banana?

So, you’re probably going to wind up with some compost. If your office is super green and progressive, they might offer composting on-site which is awesome!

However, in my experience, it’s more likely that your office doesn’t offer composting so bring an extra container from home. I brought an old plastic tupperware container and kept it in my freezer at work. I’d store tea leaves, banana peels, and other food scraps in it, and once it was full, I’d take it home and add my scraps to the compost heap in my backyard.

RELATED POST: Ultimate Guide to Composting in an Apartment

stock your work kitchen:

If you have an office kitchen, and it’s not stocked with reusables consider bringing a set of dishes for you to use.

At my office, I brought a few plates, bowls, flatware, and tea strainers that I picked up from the thrift store for a few dollars. I always encouraged everyone to use the dishes and it was great to see many of my office mates opting for reusables opposed to disposables.

On birthdays or holidays we’d often have food catered, and instead of opting for disposable dishes, I’d grab my reusable plate and was able to avoid a lot of trash.

But, if you want to take this one step further, talk to your boss and see if they’d be willing to stock the work kitchen with reusable plates, mugs, cups, and utensils so everyone can have access to zero waste alternatives.

I’m working on a blog post about starting a green team at work. And, if you already have a green team that’s dedicated to helping the office be more sustainable this would be the perfect project to start with.

eco-friendly office supplies:

The most eco-friendly thing you can do is use the office supplies that you already have because don’t we all have a drawer full of plastic pens? No, just me?

Once you’ve used all of the supplies that you have then consider switching to eco-friendly alternatives. One of the things I LOVE about my desk is how few office supplies I have and how easily everything stays organized.

I keep two pencils, two fountain pens, a bottle of ink, a pencil highlighter, a notebook, a calendar, a stapleless stapler, and scrap paper I make from single-sided misprints and that’s it! I also have a few cloth napkins and rags stuffed in my desk drawer and of course a cute mug and 32 oz mason jar for water.

My desk is free and clear of clutter which helps to keep my brain active and I LOVE it.

Of course, if you want a new thing to tackle with your green team at work add switching all of the office supplies over to their eco-friendly counterparts.

RELATED POST: The Ultimate Guide to Eco-Friendly Office Supplies

reduce your paper use:

Try and give your printer a little break. If you’re used to receiving presentation decks from every meeting, ask for digital versions to be emailed out instead of printed versions. Everyone can take notes in a notebook instead of on the printout.

This will save a ton of paper and will help keep everyone more organized. And, I mean really…. how many times do you actually reference your notes from a presentation?

And, if you need to print something out print double-sided!

And, if you’re looking for more tips for your green team, try and get your workplace to stock 100% recycled paper because if you’re not buying products made from recycled materials… are you actually recycling?

RELATED POST: 10 Tips for Reducing Waste in your Office

commute greener:

It’s no secret commuting takes a toll on the environment – especially if you drive. Instead, why not commute greener by carpooling to work or taking public transportation?

If you’re close enough to your workplace, consider walking or biking! I personally have a 30-minute rule. If it’s under a 30-minute walk, I choose to walk or bike. This makes getting around town super easy and saves on emissions.

This is also a great task for the green team to tackle - set up a carpool program. Pass along sheets to see where people live and who can conveniently pick up who on the way to work and them organize days of the week people can come into work together to reduce overall emissions.

advocate for recycling and compost bins:

How is your recycling in your office? Is it pretty much non-existent? What about composting?

I’m going to guess that a lot of people don’t know what your city accepts for recycling and probably crosscontaminate the recycling and trash bins.

Set up a presentation and get signage that clearly states what goes in each bin, and it’s always best to include pictures! Then make sure you chat with the janitorial staff to make sure they’re keeping everything separated.

And, if you’re feeling extra bold, maybe you can even get a composting station set up. I find that performing a waste audit is a great way to show your boss how much is being unnecessarily thrown out.

Businesses, pay for trash pick up whereas recycling pick up is normally free. So, if you can prove that you can divert x amount of pounds from the landfill you could potentially be saving your company some megabucks!

RELATED POST: 7 Tips for Getting Your Community Involved in Green Practices

be a leader in sustainability on your job:

Once you master the art of reducing the waste you create on the job, it's time to take it to the next level.

Most companies have a long list of sustainability goals and/or greenhouse gas emissions targets, but most of them aren't succeeding. This is where you come in! Create a list of ideas that can improve your companies environmental impact to help them actually achieve their objectives.

In this blog post, I’ve offered tons of suggestions on ways that you can spread the sustainability message beyond just yourself and influence the company, but here are a few more to get the wheels of your brain turning!

• get electric hand dryers installed instead of paper towels

• get bike storage setup to encourage biking to work

• get electric vehicle chargers placed

• chat with the catering company or cafeteria about reducing food waste and offering more reusable options

• recommend a sustainable living book for book club

And, as always, being zero waste at work and authentically living your values pique other’s curiosity and start conversations about eco-friendly living. Leading by example can inspire change quicker than you think! 

What are some ways you keep your workplace zero waste?

10 Easy Ways to Save Water

I’ve spent quite a lot of time living in both California and Texas. Most of those years have been drought years so conserving water has always been drilled into my head.

Even though I didn’t grow up in the most eco-conscious household, turning off the lights and shutting off the water were discussed frequently.

One of my most vivid memories from childhood was being at my grandma’s house when an ice cube fell on the ground. Instead of picking it up and putting it in the sink, she placed it in a gorgeous hand-painted pitcher. She kept that pitcher near the sink to collect any rogue water which she’d later use to water the plants.

I remember thinking how clever she was - that even something as small as a single ice cube didn’t go to waste. And, I mean, we all know our grandparents were the original zero wasters.

I’m super excited to be partnering with Nebia for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own for more information please see my disclosure policy.

Nebia’s mission is to fundamentally change the way we interact with water. The Nebia Spa Shower 2.0 saves 65% of water compared to conventional showerheads.

Instead of a stream of water like with traditional shower heads, Nebia has developed a superior shower experience through atomization, the process of breaking up water into tiny droplets. This solution creates the sensation of more water while actually using much less.

I’m from the south, and cannot abide by flat hair. When I first learned about Nebia , I was intrigued but a bit worried about hair volume.

Low flow tends to = low volume, but Nebia’s engineers have figured out a way to save water while keeping my hair as bouncy as ever!

I’ve been using the second-generation of Nebia’s award-winning shower system, the Nebia Spa Shower 2.0, for a little over a month now and am so happy with its performance. Nebia is a bit different from other showers. Because the billions of water droplets are spread out over a greater area, the shower head provides 2X fuller coverage than a standard shower. Add some eucalyptus to the shower, let the steam build up, and boom - instant spa. (Also great for cold season!)

According to Nebia's Calculator , between Justin and I, we’ll be saving $177.13 as well as the equivalent of 102,200 glasses of drinking water and 23.6 days of heat for the average home each year!

My favorite part about the Nebia 2.0, besides the massive water savings, is it’s designed to be used by people of different heights. Its arm glides 25 inches up and down so you can always position it at the perfect height for you. As a bonus, this means it’s SO easy to jump in the shower for a quick rinse without having to worry about getting my hair wet.

The Nebia Spa Shower 2.0 is currently available with free shipping on North American orders through November 1.

Now, I know we’ve all heard that we should conserve water, but have you ever thought about why? Water is a renewable resource so what’s the big deal?

71% of the Earth’s surface is covered in water, but only 3% of that is fresh water. And, of that 3% most of it is locked under the Earth’s surface, in ice, the atmosphere, and the soil.

Only .007% of the water on our planet is available to fuel and feed its 6.8 billion people. (source) As our population rates climb this water is spread out among more people. As our climate changes, droughts and water scarcity are becoming more common so we’ll have even less water to split among us.

Average daily indoor water use in the US is around 60 gallons per person per day, but our virtual water use, in other words, how much water goes into the food we eat, the clothes we wear, and the products we use every day, is in the thousands of gallons.

Don't believe me? Check out the Water Footprint Calculator - it's very eye-opening. The US Average is 2,220 Gallons/Day think you can beat it?

My water footprint came 1,262 Gallons/Day which is still a lot. I would love to try and cut it down.

Seeing how much actual water and virtual water I use each day has inspired me to re-think my water usage. Here are 10 easy ways to reduce your water footprint.

1. turn off the tap:

Whether you're brushing your teeth, your hands, or the dishes. Turn the water off when you’re not using it. Keep a basin in your sink to catch excess water or to rinse dishes.

2. shower better:

Hate the idea of low-flow showerheads but want to dramatically reduce your water usage? Consider switching out your old shower head with the Nebia Spa Shower 2.0.

I rent and the two things I always do when moving into a new rental is change the lightbulbs to LEDs and switch out the shower head. It only took about 15 minutes to install Nebia and the uninstallation is even easier so it will be really easy to put the original shower head back once we move out.

These two simple swaps can save you hundreds of dollars and lots of water!

Beyond switching your shower head, you should also try showering less frequently.

Most people shower WAY too much. You shouldn't shower daily unless you're very sweaty or very dirty. It's not good for your skin so if you're prone to getting stinky just wash your body and skip washing your hair.

RELATED: 8 Tips for Eco-Friendly Apartment Living

3. shower with a bucket:

Even if you have an amazing water-saving showerhead like Nebia, you probably still spend a minute or two waiting for the shower to heat up. Keep a bucket in the shower so you can catch the extra water. You can use it to water your plants or flush the toilet.

4. run it full:

When it comes to washing dishes or a load of clothes, run it full! It’s the most efficient way to run your appliances.

5. change your landscape:

Unlike these other swaps, this isn’t a quick change. It will take some time to update your landscaping but if you’re up for the challenge you can make a huge impact in this area.

Try to reduce the amount of grass you have. Manicured lawns aren’t the most sustainable choice. Instead opt for drought-friendly lawn space or convert it into an edible garden so you're able to grow local food!

6. keep it real:

Now, the majority of the water we use, we don’t even see. It’s called virtual water and it’s used mostly on the industry side of things. The next half of my tips are going to focus on the other side of water use.

Use real plates and cloth napkins. You might think more water is used to wash these items, but it actually takes 8 gallons of water to make one paper plate whereas the average dishwasher only uses 6 gallons of water. 

7. watch what you eat:

Agriculture accounts for 65% of the world's freshwater. It takes 1,910 gallons to produce just ONE pound of beef. (BCRC)⁠ One of the best things you can do is to limit the number of animal products that you consume.

If you’re just starting out on your eco-friendly journey start small. Try incorporating one or two meatless meals a week or start with vegan breakfasts and lunches.

Here are a few other low water crops you can incorporate in your diet: corn, sweet potatoes, amaranth, and black-eyed peas.

8. watch what you wear:

Did you know it takes A LOT of water to grow cotton? According to National Geographic, it takes 2,700 gallons of water to make ONE cotton t-shirt.⁠

One of the most eco-friendly things you can do is shop for clothing second hand, be happy with what you already own, or host a clothing swap with friends. Not only will you save $$ but you’ll also save lots of water!

9. opt for recycled:

Did you know it takes 37 gallons of water to create ONE roll of toilet paper? (source) When it comes to toilet paper, opt for recycled content instead of virgin paper.

Another great way to reduce the amount of toilet paper you use is to get a bidet attachment. They're fairly inexpensive starting around $35 and will pay for themselves in a month or two. They're really easy to install at home, and it's honestly been one of my favorite zero-waste swaps!

10. choose reusables:

I know this sounds similar to keepin' it real, and it is, but I want to emphasize disposable "convenience" products like water bottles and paper coffee cups.

It takes 3 liters of water to create ONE liter of bottled water⁠. (Academy of Sciences) ⁠Instead of choosing disposables, invest in one nice reusable bottle that's insulated. You can carry your water and get a coffee when you’re out.

Since it’s insulated, it’s perfect for keeping hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold so you only have to carry one bottle with you.

How many of these tips have you implemented in your life?

I want to give another shoutout and thank you to Nebia for sponsoring this post.

If you’ve been looking for an easy way to save water without sacrificing your shower experience, Nebia 2.0 is for you. It’s currently available with free shipping on North American orders through November 1.

6 Easy Ways to Reduce Ocean Plastic Pollution

Three hundred million tons of plastic are produced every year, and over 8 million tons of it winds up in our oceans. There is currently no landscape that hasn’t been touched by plastic. Even remote islands without any human inhabitants have beaches filled with plastic.

It’s actually raining micro-plastic pieces now. Plastic has been found in the arctic, in salt, 84% of drinking water worldwide, and as deep as the Mariana Trench. Plastic is everywhere.

And, plastic doesn’t ever go away. Plastic doesn’t biodegrade. It won’t turn back into soil. Instead, over time, it becomes brittle, and it breaks up into smaller and smaller pieces until it’s so small it’s a micro or nanoplastic.

A microplastic is a tiny piece of plastic on average 3mm-5mm. Some plastics are created small like microbeads and glitter while others become microplastics - think your leggings shedding polyester fibers in the wash, tire treads slowly wearing away, fishnets being thrown overboard, and common types of plastic like water bottles, plastic bags, coffee cups, etc. breaking apart due to rough ocean conditions.

To be honest, the microplastic problem seems distant and foreign to me. Yes, even someone who talks about the plastic problem ALL. THE. TIME. can have issues with grasping the actual scale of the problem since I’ve never experienced it in person. This is why it’s been AMAZING to follow along with The Vortex Swim.

photo provided by The Vortex Swim

I’m very excited to be partnering with Icebreaker who sponsored The Vortex Swim to raise awareness around these issues. All thoughts and opinions are my own. For more information, please see my disclosure policy.

The Vortex Swim started in Hawaii where Ben Lecomte, a long-distance swimmer, spent 100 days at sea swimming (YES. SWIMMING!) through the Pacific Ocean right through the heart of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch AKA the Plastic Vortex.

He was followed by a crew on a boat to study these problems. He swam 350 nautical miles collecting 45,000 microplastic samples from the Vortex to raise awareness around plastic pollution in the ocean, and to collect data for scientific research.

I got to meet Ben and talk with him about the experience, about some of the most common types of plastic he found. And, some of the weird things he found too like toilet seats, crates, and a surprising amount of laundry baskets.

One of the things I admired most about the trip (beyond an incredible human SWIMMING from HI to CA) was the entire crew tried to keep the boat plastic-free and zero waste! How amazing is that! They used Super Bee Wax Wraps to avoid plastic wrap, Plaine Products shampoo that comes in a refillable aluminum bottle, and Avasol sunscreen that comes in a compostable tube! You can see more on their Instagram Feed.

Getting to see Ben swim under the Golden Gate Bridge was so inspiring. There was so much energy at the beach on Saturday morning. I was surrounded by news crews, the Icebreaker team, and so many people there to cheer him on.

After he arrived, I got to meet the ten person crew. I was honestly shocked so many people fit on that teeny-tiny boat. There was a photographer, social manager, even an on board doctor!

The goal of this mission was to shine a light on the microplastic Every day the team would skim the waters for 30 minutes to collect and count the microplastics in that area. All of the data was sent off to be studied and used to create legislation to prevent these problems in the future.

Another reason they took the trip was to debunk the idea of a garbage island floating in the middle of the ocean. It’s not an island rather a chunky soup filled with microplastic pieces

One of the things I found interesting was how marine life created habitats out of the plastic. You can see all of the crustaceans living on the baskets, and schools of fish nesting in old nets. It was so odd to see them living in pollution which could eventually kill them.

The crew often saved marine life from being entangled in plastic, and they talked about the dichotomy of being excited to save them at the same time as being horrified that it’s a problem in the first place.

Icebreaker is selling the official crew shirts if you want to check them out. I love that Icebreaker sponsored this incredibly eyeopening expedition.

One of the reasons, I love their clothes is that they’re made with natural fibers. Icebreaker offers an average of 84% natural raw materials one of the highest documented in the clothing industry, and they’re taking it even further to completely remove synthetic content from their collections by 2023. Including switching from plastic bags in shipping to a water-soluble bag by the end of the year.

Learn more about how Icebreaker is reducing plastic

photo provided by The Vortex Swim

1. reduce single-use plastics:

It should come as no surprise that my first suggestion is to reduce single-use plastics in your life. After all, that’s kind of what this blog is about…

But, I think you’d be surprised how much plastic you can eliminate from your life just by being conscious of the plastic you use. When it’s time to make a new purchase, a quick google search will turn up tons of sustainable, plastic-free swaps so you can switch out items like your toothbrush, disposable coffee cups, and water bottles etc.

Ben said one of the most common household plastic items they found were bottle caps. Bottle caps are made of a lighter plastic so they tend to float and stay near the surface, where the bottles themselves tend to sink.

Most plastic isn’t recycled. Only 9% of all the plastic ever produced has EVER been recycled.

And, to make matters even worse much of the plastic we “recycle” is dumped in countries that don’t have access to waste management infrastructure. Which means a lot of the plastic we’re “recycling” is actually winding up in the ocean.

This is why it’s so important to be mindful of the materials that you bring into your life. First, REDUCE what you you bring into your home. REUSE what you have, and then after you’ve reduced and reused all that you can - then and ONLY then… recycle!

Of course don’t forget to purchase products made with recycled materials. After all, are you really recycling if you’re not supporting companies using recycled materials?

2. fishnets:

Fishnets are one of the biggest polluters in the ocean. Many times old nets will be thrown into the ocean, which is horrible because marine life get trapped and are unable to escape.

One of the best ways to avoid this is to stop eating fish or greatly reduce the amount of fish you’re consuming and buy sustainable fish. Check out seafood watch from Monterey Bay Aquarium to learn more about eco-friendly fishing practices.

3. glitter:

Yep, glitter is plastic. Glitter face masks, sunscreens, festival makeup…. this is all plastic. When you go to wash the glitter off of your body, it goes straight down the drain and into the water ways. Because, glitter is so tiny, it’s often too small to get filtered and winds up in the ocean.

Before you glitter, ask yourself if you really need to use it? I’m not sure I’ve ever been in a situation, where I just HAD to use glitter. But, they do make biodegradable glitter which is made from cellulose so it breaks down very quickly once you was it off. This one donates portions of the sales to Greenpeace International.

4. microbeads:

Microbeads, thankfully, have been ban by most countries. I think you’d have to go out of your way to find products with microbeads in them now, but they were a major contributor to microplastics in the ocean. Check your labels just in case and opt for microbead free products.

5. tires:

Now, this one absolutely shocked me. According the the Guardian, “68,000 tonnes of microplastics from tyre tread abrasion are generated in the UK every year, with between 7,000 and 19,000 tonnes entering surface waters.”

Our tires go bald due to the friction of driving. As they go bald, they lose tiny bits of tire which when left on the roadway make their way to the storm drains which lead out to the sea.

Driving less is the best solution. But, even if you’re taking public busses or biking there’s still a problem with tires shedding microplastic pieces. It’s probably time for the tire to get a makeover… which is happening! Michelin has just introduced a biodegradeable and 3-D printed tire that would last forever. Let’s hope this becomes a reality!

6. microfibers:

Lastly, microfibers are a major source of plastic pollution in the ocean. Every time you wash synthetic clothing like polyester, acrylic, and fleece, plastic fibers from the clothing are shed into the water ways.

A study by Plymouth University found that a single load of clothes could release up to 700,000 microplastic particles!

Thankfully there are a few ways that we can fix this problem!

1) Opt for Natural Fibers: When you’re shopping, try to buy clothing made from natural fibers. Here’s a list of natural-based fibers:

• Wool
• Cotton
• Silk
• Hemp
• Linen
• Rayon
• Viscose
• Bamboo
• Lyocell
• Modal
• Cupro

One of the things I love about Icebreaker is their use of sustainable and ethical merino wool.

Wool is amazing for temperature regulation. It’s very breathable and naturally anti-bacterial which means you can wash your clothing LESS! Like way less - I wore the same Icebreaker shirt every day for a week, and I didn’t have to wash it once.

And, I personally love it when being eco-friendly allows me to be lazy and avoid doing laundry. Talk about a win-win!

2) Wash Less: When it comes to washing your clothes try to stretch washes. This is a great way to save water and keep your clothes lasting longer.

Just because you’ve worn something once doesn’t make it dirty. If my clothes don’t smell, then I wear them… until they do smell. And, only then do I put them in the washing machine.

3) Air it out: A great way to extend the life of your clothes is let them air out. After I’ve worn a shirt, I like to turn it inside out and spray it with this mixture, and hang it up in the open air like on the door frame of the closet.

I don’t shove the piece back into my closet, I give it room to breath so air can circulate all around it.

4) Take Preventative Measures: I do not have a 100% plastic-free wardrobe, but I would say about 80% of my clothing is plastic-free. The thing is often times you need a little bit of synthetic fibers to really maintain the integrity of a piece. All thread is synthetic, and then there’s often a bit of spandex or maybe poly to help clothing from pulling or stretching out of shape.

So, it’s always best to take a preventative measures by using something to catch microfibers. There are several different options like the guppyfriend, microfiber ball, or a washing machine attachment.

How are you helping to reduce ocean plastic pollution?

I want to thank Icebreaker for sponsoring this post and The Vortex Swim! If you want to catch the panel I attended after Ben arrived in SF, you can watch it here.