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Zero waste and reuse packaging why it's worth choosing

Homepage Articles Zero waste and reuse packaging why it's worth choosing

Zero waste and reuse packaging why it's worth choosing

Food waste is a major problem in the 21st century... when millions of people around the world are starving, others are throwing fruit, vegetables, meat, or baked goods into the trash... fortunately, society is becoming more aware and the zero-waste philosophy is gaining popularity... many people are looking for specific tips on how not to waste food and what packaging to use... every single step, even the smallest step, can help protect the planet.

Table of Contents

1. Zero waste what does that mean?

Zero waste is a term that comes from the English language. It literally means zero waste, zero waste. It's a lifestyle, an idea that aims to minimize the amount of waste generated.

2. Refuse (reject)

Zero waste advocates are guided in life by the 5R principle. refusal to accept unnecessary waste, e.g. free gadgets, additional packaging, advertising leaflets, reduction of consumption and unneeded products that can quickly become waste, conscious purchasing, finding reuse for already acquired items or giving them away to people in need, for example. ‡ segregation of waste, recycling of waste and products obtained from recovered raw materials, ‡ waste disposal of waste materials, etc. Compost can be used in agriculture and horticulture instead of vegetables.

3. Waste of food is the cause

The problem of food waste is faced by most countries in the world, especially the highly developed countries. The idea of zero waste is popular. The society is becoming increasingly aware and many people want to take care of the planet. So where do so many food losses come from? The causes can be found at every stage of the food chain. The first is production, the main causes of food loss here are damage caused by insects, grazing or food waste (e.g. household waste, drought). The losses are also caused by the mistakes of both people and households.

4. Packaging zero waste and reuse drawbacks and benefits

A proper step towards spreading the idea of zero waste is to use zero waste and reuse packaging which can be reused over and over again. They protect goods from damage during transport and storage. They are also more economical than, for example, plastics. They also become fashionable, so the products packaged in them can be more readily and often chosen by consumers. Despite their many advantages, they also have disadvantages. However, they are most often made of glass or recycled paper, cardboard, newspaper.

5. A bottle of water

Single-use PET bottles are not suitable for reuse, so it is best to supply a reusable bottle, e.g. made of steel or glass, possibly a bisphenol A-free plastic (BPA). If tap water is tested and safe, it can be accessed. Sometimes it is also worthwhile to use filters (e.g., with an additive of magnesium or calcium).

6. Lunch boxes and ready meals

Planning and preparing meals for the next day is undoubtedly an important habit. It is worth remembering not only the proper ingredients of the dish, but also its proper packaging. Airtight containers made of stainless steel or other material allowed to come into contact with food will look great. It's important that the box is BPA-free.

7. The art, the dishes and the straw

Food waste is encouraged by all kinds of celebrations and holidays. Plastic utensils, dishes and straws are often used to produce them. Large quantities of water are used to make them, so they disappear slowly from store shelves.

8. Cup for take-off

It's hard for some people to imagine a life without coffee, many people order it regularly for a trip, like before work, so it's good to have a reusable cup with you.

9. Shopping bag

Foil bags are most commonly used for shopping packaging. Their production is cheap, but decomposition can take up to 500 years! They are toxic to every organism. The solution to this problem is reusable bags that are always worth carrying with you. Some nets can be wrapped and attached to keys or a women's bag.

10. Zero waste in the kitchen other tips

Zero waste and reuse packaging is an important part of environmental protection.. is there anything else that can be done to reduce waste?

11. Creating a shopping list and planning meals

Many purchasing decisions are made in a sudden and unthinking manner.

12. Creativity in the kitchen

Learn how to use the leftovers left in the refrigerator properly. Most of them can be used to make single-course dishes or salads. Pieces of bread can be turned into crumbs or toast, and potatoes from lunch are used to prepare chopsticks. Don't forget to freeze products.

13. Sharing with others

Food can be shared with a neighbour, a co-worker or given to a dining room. This is a place where you can leave many food products (except raw meat, eggs and unpasteurized milk).

14. Summary

It's worth taking a closer look at the idea of zero waste and creating a world without waste -- one step is to use zero waste packaging and reuse that protects against harmful pollution and helps protect the environment and health.
Source

Chalak A. et al., The Determinants of Household Food Waste Generation and its Associated Caloric and Nutrient Losses: The Case of Lebanon, „PLoS One” 2019, 14(12), epub.
Conrad Z. et al., Relationship between food waste, diet quality, and environmental sustainability, „PLoS One” 2019, 13(4), epub.
Prescott M.P. et al., Healthy Planet, Healthy Youth: A Food Systems Education and Promotion Intervention to Improve Adolescent Diet Quality and Reduce Food Waste, „Nutrients” 2019, 11(8), 1869.
Stępnicka N., Foodsharing a bezpieczeństwo ekologiczne i żywnościowe państwa z uwzględnieniem przykładu jadłodzielni, „Intercathedra” 2019, 3(40), 271–277.