Category: Free Inquiry

This blog post is going to be dedicated to coronavirus and how it has impacted my zero-waste journey. The coronavirus has presented many issues for everyone around the world. Once we started to realize how serious this virus is and how it might impact our daily lives now and in the future, I like most people decided to go get enough food to help support myself and family during this unknown time.

This meant that I had to put aside a lot of my zero-waste habits that I have picked up during this journey. Bulk Barn switched to using single-use plastics only, coffee shops also banned people from using their own cups and as the grocery stores has limited supplies I find that I am having to opt for products that have more waste  than what I normally would feel comfortable with purchasing. Regardless of Bulk Barn and coffee shop policies, I don’t feel comfortable going to these places anyways, as I feel like they would be of a higher risk to spread the virus. I know that I can sanitize things purchased at the grocery store, whereas a cup of coffee and a jar of beans I can’t.

Right now, I feel that our main concern is keeping safe and healthy. So, being zero-waste is unfortunately not as important. Here are a few tips that I have been keeping in mind during the pandemic:

• Buy only What you Need: (this is hard, because of how unknown everything is right now. I also hate going to the grocery store because I feel like everything I am purchasing has the virus all over it…)
• Use What you Have: this goes in hand with the point above. I have enough food that I can use without going to the grocery store for awhile. I think planning on doing one bigger grocery shop a week is a good plan and something I use to do normally before coronavirus)
• Avoid Food Waste: I currently have quite a bit of food in my fridge right now and I have been making a meal plan to ensure that I do not waste any food!
• Grow Veggies at Home: Before everything basically closed, I went to a garden store near by and purchased kale to grow on my balcony. Planting made me feel less anxious about what is going on in the world and also made me feel better to know that I should have kale to eat in a few weeks!
• Up-cycle: I have already been  collecting household items (egg cartons, toilet paper rolls, etc) to use for future crafts or learning activities for the two children at home that I will be looking after during the school closure.

These little tips have been making me feel better about what is going on and I also feel that with quite a few negatives around COVID-19 there are also positive things that should be noted with regards to the environment. There have been articles suggesting that Venice’s canals are crystal clear from the decrease in boats, there has been a significant decrease in air pollution due to travel restrictions and quarantine. Although, these changes are likely temporary, perhaps people will begin to recover from the pandemic with the environmental crisis in mind and shift the ways that we operate without crippling our economy.

This is my final blog post related to my zero-waste journey!

I am happy with the progress I have made over the last few months, but also feeling somewhat disappointed, as I felt I had to give up a lot of my zero-waste habits due to the coronavirus. Being mindful of waste is always in the forefront of my mind when making any purchase, but I had to make a few changes with regards to buying bulk and opting for bigger packaged items with more waste. Although I feel guilty about some of these purchases, there wasn’t much I could do about it and I just have to consider this part of the journey!

Overall, I feel that this inquiry has been successful. I found new resources that were relevant to living in Victoria, BC,  lots of tips and tricks from other bloggers following a zero-waste lifestyle and information related to some of the challenges that other people face due to location, cost and lifestyle.

Ultimately, I learned that being completely zero-waste is not something that I feel is possible with my lifestyle. I will continue to make as much of an effort that I can with reducing waste, but I think my mindset is moving more towards minimalism rather than zero-waste.  I really enjoy clean and clutter free space and with all my lifestyle changes to reduce waste I feel that these two concepts align nicely together. I have made a very big effort in donating and selling items on VarageSale that I no longer need or feel that I get enough use out of. I find that by selling things it makes the process of letting items go easier. Now that I have reduced a lot of my household items and clothing, I find it much easier to really consider future purchases and whether or not I truly need them.

Advice that I would give for people starting a zero-waste journey is to start with small accomplishable goals. There are sooooo many things to do to help reduce waste and we have many resources available in front of us to help us along the way. Something as small as not buying coffee unless you have a reusable mug to use is a great first step. When I reflect on all the changes I have made I feel quite happy with my progress! I hope that because of the environmental crisis happening globally right now, more people will also be reflecting on their lifestyle and try and come up with ways to do their part. That being said, I feel that the Government and large corporations have a responsibility to look at how they can make a change and in a way force people to adapt to these sustainable choices.

Sustainable Items I would like to try

Last week I went over some of the items that I have been using to try and make my lifestyle more sustainable. This week’s post is about items that I would like to potentially try in the future or related to things I would like to start doing!

1. Biodegradable Floss: I had never considered what impact floss has on the earth, as it seems so small, however after doing some research floss apparently only starts to decompose after about 50-80 years. So, if you consider all the floss that you have used in your life and know that it still exists, plus all the other floss being used be everyone else that can add up to a lot of floss! I did some research of alternatives and came across floss made out of silk. The floss referenced in the photo above was found on Amazon and comes in a glass container that can be refilled once done. After you use the floss it can be composted (this is convenient because almost all bathroom garbage bin waste can be recycled except for floss). I still have a lot of regular floss to be used up, so once that is done, I will start using this!
2. Moss Street Market: The Moss Street Market is a local market that is held on Saturdays from 10:00am – 1:00pm. I would like to make a conscious effort to go to this on Saturdays to support local and stock up on what I need for the week. I do notice that some of the vendors use plastic on certain products, but I could likely get them without the plastic.
3. Compostable Ziploc: These would be used as a last resort when I can’t use my Stasher bags. Sometimes there are things that need to be put in a plastic bag like this for whatever reason, so these would be a good alternative, as they can be composted once used!
4. Elate Cosmetics: The makeup that I use now is from MAC and it is definitely not a sustainable company and I also believe they test on animals, as their products come from China and China requires animal testing. One reason why I did like to use their makeup is because they provide a recycling program. Elate Cosmetics provides refills (more sustainable than recycling) and their packaging is made out of plastic that can be recycled and bamboo that can be composted. This company is a more sustainable option, as their products are cruelty-free, they use ethical marketing and sustainable practices.
5. Thrifting: Thrifting does reduce waste and pollution, which I obviously think is very important! I think I find this one to be the most difficult switch for me, as I am pretty picky when it comes to clothes and I also don’t like buying things that will not last. I often find that when I do go to thrift stores the quality isn’t great and the price isn’t very reasonable considering it has already been used. There does seem to be a lot more thrift stores opening up around Victoria and people seem to be switching into the mindset of thrifting first. That being said, I have cut back significantly on my shopping (also a money saver) and I hope that in the future I can start thrifting more. I also always donate my clothes or consign once I do not have any use for them!
6. Silicone Baking Sheet: These are from Amazon and I think that they would be useful for baking, as I usually use tin foil and parchment paper. Tin foil can technically be recycled, but it needs to be clean and when you are using it for baking purposes it is pretty difficult to achieve that. Most parchment paper is not recyclable as it has a wax layer, however there are compostable versions that are available on Amazon. I think I would still like to try the silicone mat, as it will likely save me money and still avoid waste.
7. Reusable To-Go Cutlery: I have seen a lot of places around town selling little cutlery to go packs and I would definitely like to purchase this. Sometimes I will get to school and realize that I have forgotten a fork or spoon and will have to resort to using plastic cutlery. Although it is my fault for forgetting to bring cutlery, I also feel frustrated that UVic claims to be striving for environmental sustainability in everything that they do yet there are only plastic options available when it comes to take-out food around campus. Most places around Victoria offer compostable options in a take-out setting, so I find it odd that UVic doesn’t have stricter policies in place around this!

My Sustainable Essentials

Below is a list of the products that I have been trying out over the last few months to help reduce my waste.

Zero-Waste Products

Here is a  compiled a list of the products that I have been trying out over the last few months to help reduce my waste:

1. Silicone Stretch Lids and Reusable Bowl Covers: I bought these as I found that trying to fit the beeswax wrap on items that were large didn’t work well and these came in a variety of sizes!
2. Reusable Mesh Produce Bags: I purchased these bags on Amazon and have been trying to use them to keep produce in them, however I have noticed that the produce that I put in the bag (broccoli, kale, etc.) usually gets wilted after a couple days. Apparently if you get them a bit wet before putting your produce in them that helps, so I will give that a try.
3. Full Circle Suds Up Soap Dispensing Dish Scrub: This scrub sponge is 100% biodegradable. The sponge is non-toxic and made out of plant plastic, cellulose and recycled plastic. I purchased mine a few months ago at Cook Culture and think it is great that once the sponge is done it can be composted, opposed to the one we had before which had to be thrown into the garbage.
4. Stasher Bags: These bags are a good alternative to plastic bags. The bags are made out of pure platinum silicone that is made from natural resources, such as sand. The company is B-Corp certified and a member of 1% for the Planet, which is always great to see companies support. I usually use them for snacks, but they can be used for a variety of things!
5. Abeego Wrap: Abeego is a local company (always good to support the local!) and I have been using it for about a year. It is an all-natural beeswax food warp and can be composted once finished (it usually lasts up to a year). I use it for wrapping over bowls, avocados, cheese and anything that I would have normally used plastic saran wrap on. I have noticed that when using it for cheese the cheese usually doesn’t last as long if comparing to putting it in saran wrap, but it is still a great alternative to plastic wrap. It also could be because the cheese I buy is vegan.
6. Reusable Bamboo Cotton Swabs: I use these daily for face products and overall, I find them to be a good alternative to regular cotton swabs. Most cotton swabs can be composted, but in an effort to reduce any waste these are a good option. I have noticed that I have to use a bit more product in order for it to absorb properly, but I still believe I have reduced waste by using these! Once I have used them I just wash and dry them in a laundry bag in the washing machine!
7. Swedish Dishcloths: These cloths are 100% natural cellulose (natural fiber) and can be used as an alternative to paper towels or dish cloths. They can also be washed in the washing machine and used again. Once they have reached their lifespan (approx. 1 year) they can be composted!
8. Mason Jars: These are super handy for using when buying things in bulk! I don’t buy any bulk in plastic anymore. As I eat primarily a vegan diet, I am often purchasing bulk items.  I also use these for making salad dressings.

I originally thought it was somewhat ironic to post about products when my whole goal is to eliminate consumption and waste, but I realized that these products that I am now using will hopefully last for a long time or at the end of their life can be composted or recycled. I have overall been able to reduce my plastic consumption by a lot and that feels good!

Next blog post I will go over some products that I would like to try out to help switch out some of the products that I use regularly that could be potentially more sustainable!

Sustainability in the Classroom

Last semester we were asked to pick an inquiry on a topic related to education and my topic was environmental sustainability in the classroom.  Environmental sustainability is defined as the exploration between the social, economic and environmental factors for the well-being of all species and the earth in the future. I feel that it is important to give students the opportunity to understand how and why the environment has an impact on their lives and what kind of impact their lives have on the environment.

In the environmental sustainability inquiry, I looked at the ways that the subject of environmental sustainability can be incorporated into all areas of the curriculum and First Peoples Principles. I also looked at field trip ideas for students and resources.

Now that I have been researching zero-waste lifestyles I have been thinking about classroom waste and the connections between my previous inquiry. I don’t think that a zero-waste approach would be entirely successful in an elementary classroom, but as mentioned in my previous blog post, I think finding small achievable goals would be useful. Here is a list of ways that I would like to reduce waste in my future classroom:

1. Bike and Walk to School: Encourage students/staff to walk or bike to school if an option. I believe Victoria has a Bike to School/Work Week, but I think everyone could be encouraged to do this more often. I also think having students on some sort of class wide reward system on this would work well.
2. Staff: I think that having a discussion with staff on ways to cut down paper could be helpful. I am surprised to know that teachers still send out paper notices to parents instead of by e-mail. Not only do children often lose or damage these papers, I feel that sending an e-mail would be more time effective and help reduce waste!
3. Reuse: Finding ways to reuse the waste collected in classroom for art projects would be one helpful way to avoid items being sent to the landfill!
4. Use a class set of reusable plates, cutlery and cups: Class parties or birthday parties can create a lot of waste with disposable items. Finding a cheap set of tableware from a thrift store or asking parents to donate items would help reduce disposable items. I also like the idea of getting students to take turns washing and drying dishes, as it creates responsibility and the importance of cleanup.
5. Lamination: I don’t know how often I will need to laminate in my future classroom, but I will be making an effort to reconsider if lamination is necessary. Laminated paper cannot be recycled, so I think that this could potentially be a huge waste if you are laminating resources that students won’t use in the future. I also found an idea from a zero-waste teacher influencer who asks parents to donate empty cereal boxes and if she wants materials to last a long time, she will glue them to the back of the cardboard.

Zero-Waste Overwhelm

As I have been continuing my research and personal efforts with a zero-waste lifestyle, I have been feeling somewhat overwhelmed on the topic. It is hard to believe that my efforts will actually help make a difference in helping our environment. That being said, I know that I feel better about myself when I do take steps to avoid waste, but it is a little discouraging to know that all that plastic and waste that I am avoiding is still being produced and used by others. I also don’t think that it is realistic for everyone to adopt a zero-waste lifestyle. I know that during my research I have found ways that I could avoid waste, such as using a Bidet instead of toilet paper, using a handkerchief instead of a tissue, etc. but sometimes the thought of making those switches doesn’t feel practical or something that I am motivated to do. Also, in terms of practicality, it feels that trying to be zero-waste in a household with children doesn’t always work. I wish I had the time to make homemade school snacks to avoid packaging, but I don’t and I know that for the average parent that is also not a likely scenario. I also notice that majority of what the children bring home from school are completely non-recyclable or plastic (prizes, art, etc.) and that is something that I can’t control. I also wouldn’t ever want them to feel bad or worry about enjoying things that children enjoy. With all this being said, I have found through my research that others trying to adapt zero-waste lifestyles also find it overwhelming.

Tips that I have found to help set realistic expectations are:

• Finding one thing that you can do regularly and consistently is better than trying to set too many goals and not being able to achieve them and then feeling guilty when can’t follow through
• When trying to quit plastic, set a goal of avoiding one plastic item from your life instead of all at once (example: give up getting food that is packaged, using straws, particular food that comes in plastic wrap)
• Celebrate all the progresses you have made (small or big)
• I know that there are so many more things that I would like to adapt to zero-waste living, but I think channeling my energy and time into things that work for me and my house is going to take off some of the pressure to go 100% on being zero-waste and enjoy the journey!

After debating between the two possible inquiry topics (yoga and zero-waste) I have decided to go with zero-waste! I felt that this topic would be of more interest to me, as I have been becoming increasingly annoyed with how much waste life creates and the impact that it has on our environment!

I have always been very mindful and on top of recycling, but over the past 4ish months I have realized that recycling isn’t the solution to waste. I have always felt better about waste by recycling, but after hearing that Canada recycles only 9 per cent of its plastic it made me become more mindful and aware of the waste that I can eliminate from my daily life.  Over the past few months I have taken small steps in our house and my lifestyle to eliminate waste as much as I can. Listed are some steps that I have taken to reduce my waste:

AVOID FOOD IN PLASTICS WRAP

Buying food while trying to eliminate waste is probably the most difficult factors I have encountered with trying to take a zero-waste approach.  It feels like every single thing that you buy has some sort of plastic component to it and if it doesn’t it is usually more expensive. We have a household of two adults and two children (2 out of the 4 in our house also have Celiac Disease, so that adds an additional challenge when trying to keep things 100% gluten free) and when trying to be cost effective, it makes more sense to buy things in bulk. That being said, I have been trying my best to find food products that aren’t covered in plastic.

BRING YOUR OWN BAG (BYOB)

This is one that most people in Victoria have adapted, as the City of Victoria had a plastic ban. Unfortunately, other parts of Victoria do not have this bylaw and plastic bags are still being used.

GOING VEGAN/VEGETARIAN

I have not given up meat and dairy completely, but I have eliminated from all meals prepared at our house. I find this most difficult to follow if I am out of my usual schedule or eating with others who do eat meat. I have previously done a research paper on going vegan and results showed that animal agriculture is very damaging to the environment (land, water, greenhouse gases, etc) and also has negative health impacts.

MEAL PLAN

Being organized with what you are going to eat in a week keeps you from wasting food. I also find this to be a great way to save money from eating out and feeling organized for the week to come. Typically, when you buy food on the go it usually is plastic-packaged food, so I have been making a solid effort to avoid this.

BUY THINGS IN BULK

I have been bringing in my own mason jars to Bulk Barn and stocking up on bulk foods. This also provides some limitations because they aren’t known for being certified gluten free, but still reduces waste on single-use plastic bags on bulk items at the grocery store!

REUSABLE WATTER BOTTLES AND TO GO MUGS

This is a super easy habit to pick up that helps reduce waste and saves money! I have a Swell water bottle that I use for water and as well as for tea. I also use a reusable glass coffee cup from JOCO and love using it. A lot of places will give you a discount for bringing your own mug as well, which is a bonus if you need to get coffee on the go!

I have narrowed down my inquiry topic down to two options:  Zero-Waste or Yoga. These two topics are both topics that I find interesting and that I would like to explore to learn more!

I am someone who is very passionate about our environment and am always looking for ways to reduce, reuse and recycle! Given the environment crisis happening in our world, I believe that this inquiry would be very relevant and useful. As a future educator, I believe it is important to educate children about our environment and the impacts that our actions have on earth. Before teaching students about this subject, I need to educate myself as well. I would love to research ways to incorporate a zero-waste approach in a classroom and find out if and what approaches others are taking with this topic. A few of the topics that I would like to explore with this subject include: the meaning of zero-waste, the challenges that people face when trying to live a zero-waste life and the cost associated with living a zero-waste lifestyle.

I have recently decided that I would like to incorporate more yoga into my life, as it is known to reduce stress and provide other health benefits, which is always useful when in school and just life in general! During a volunteer experience at an elementary school, I have seen how the teacher incorporates yoga into the classroom and I would be interested to discover the benefits of yoga with children and the different ways to include yoga to the classroom! I would also like to research the health benefits for adults, cost and time commitment if I decide to pick this topic as my inquiry.

I will begin doing some initial research on both topics and see what topic best suites this inquiry!