Zero Waste – Low Waste – Less waste with eco-friendly products!
That's how it's done: Storage containers | Drinking Bottles | Cups & Mugs | Water & Juice Glasses | Glass Carafes & Bottles | Glass bowls
Zero Waste literally means no garbage, no waste. While this is a big problem for our society today, especially plastic waste, 50 to 100 years ago the amount of waste was significantly lower. Not only less people lived on the earth at that time and the trade flows were lower, also the purchase in the small corner shop, the general store and in the grocers shop naturally resulted in less waste. The daily and weekly shopping were done with milk can and own storage boxes and paper bags. Flour, sugar, salt, fruit and vegetables, cured and smoked foods were transported home in containers. Homemade food was cooked, both to feed the family and for the daily lunch at work. For the transport of large and heavy goods such as furniture and delicate goods were wrapped up in blankets and cloths, placed in wooden boxes with sawdust and paper. Also a piece of furniture remained much longer in the household, because they it wasbuilt robustly. If something broke, it would be repaired; more or less the same as today's repair cafés. Sounds old-fashioned? But it is part of our waste problem!
Consumption binge and wealth-waste
Fast pace and constantly changing and entertaining trends increase the exchange of products in house and home. One could also say that we are all lost souls of our time. The consumption binge superficially satisfies deeply buried feelings, such as mindfulness and respect. Stress, overburdening and laziness are further triggers that allow us to grab plastic bags, plastic cups and disposable tableware. In passing you quickly grip to plastic wrapped promotional products. It is so convenient to replace quickly the chopping board for the kitchen, take a disposable razor made of plastic and to bring joy to the child with a plastic-wrapped colouring book. The typical wealth-waste such as packaging, electronic scrap, broken toys, mobile phones and household appliances end up in the dustbin. Carelessly thrown away and incorrectly disposed plastics form huge plastic whirlpools in the Pacific.
Zero waste products at Greenpicks
The zero waste movement shows that there is another way. As a marketplace for green and sustainable products, Greenpicks supports with the range of refillable and reusable storage containers, freezer boxes, drinking bottles, coffee on the go cups, shopping bags made of organic cotton, reusable bags for fruits and vegetable the waste policy of every particular household and companies. – If you think that you can’t cause something, just take a look in your dustbin. You may be amazed to see how much waste could be avoided if you use one or the other reusable storage box, refillable bottle and eco cotton shopping bag.
All Zero Waste items at Greenpicks meet our sustainability criteria. For example, the waste prevention products are made from recyclable materials such as stainless steel, wood or organic cotton or from biodegradable ingredients such as bioplastic or bamboo. Depending on the eco online shop, local or / and climate-neutral production or Fair Trade criteria are in the foreground.
Global awareness change for environmental protection
To get a grip on the problem of waste, all countries in the world are called upon to reduce packaging, especially plastic waste. There are already good examples. The pioneer and shining example for environmental protection is the East African state of Rwanda, which has banned plastic bags and packaging since 2004. San Francisco has banned polystyrene products since 2017. These include take-away containers, coffee-on-the-go styrofoam cups, packaging peanuts, polystyrene and polystyrene dishes for meat and fish as well as water toys. Also in Hawaii there is a large plastic ban. Along the coast of Chile in 102 places no more plastic bags may be issued. A change in attitudes – this is the great challenge for environmental protection; not only in Rwanda, Africa or America. And – in 2018, the European Commission is still discussing plastic bans and looking for the best strategy.
Sustainable products that counteract the suffocation hazard of plastic waste
But in Europe there are also many good examples based on individual initiatives. In the meantime, more and more restaurants, cocktail bars, seminar houses, and catering companies are beginning to stop using plastic drinking straws. Instead, real straws and drinking straws made of stainless steel and glass are used. Of course, disposable tableware made of plastic is also taboo and will be replaced by compostable dishes made of bamboo and other natural materials. And the good old porcelain dishes are experiencing a renaissance. Disposable cups are exchanged for refillable cups with lids. The design and quality of the reusable cups are diverse and robust and just made for everyday use as well as for adventures in the open countryside.
Butchers, bakeries, the fruit and vegetable department in the discount store, the meat and cheese counter in the supermarket more and more accept brought reusable storage boxes and cotton bags. Here a visible rethinking and acting takes place. So-called unpacked shops are a symbol of the waste reduction of household refuse.
A world in which no waste arises, so called zero waste, will probably not exist for the foreseeable future. But Zero Waste also means low waste, waste prevention, conserving resources and environmental protection. Thus, we will not be snowed under with waste.