What is the Difference Between a Zero Waste or Eco-Friendly Lifestyle?

Since starting Lil'Bit I have a whole new understanding when it comes to everyday living including the chemicals in my home, the manufacturing processes and the impact my own household has on the environment. I slowly transitioned from being what I thought was a conscious consumer, into a more educated one and these days it seems we need degrees to understand the flood of information out there - especially all the 'fake news' regarding all the supposed 'green' choices on the market. The more I went down the rabbit hole, the more I became aware of just how much my own actions could not only benefit myself and my family, but also this big beautiful blue marble we live on. So I upended my and my husband Chris' whole life, took a deep breath and started Lil'Bit.

In almost 10 years I have seen the market change so much, some for the better and some, alas, some for far worse.... Zero Waste has become the new trend, which is awesome but it also comes with many issues that we need to address, the main being that many zero waste products are also marketed as also being eco friendly but this can be anything but the case. A product may be eco friendly in the sense that there is no excess, plastic packaging or are refillable but the contents of that packaging may be chock full of nasties that can have terrible consequences in nature. Each lifestyle choice has its own unique characteristics that sets them apart but it's also important to know the details in order to choose the right product or lifestyle for yourself.

Definition Of Eco-Friendly

'Eco-friendly' is a term that has become increasingly popular in the last few years and of course refers to products and practices that are designed with environmental sustainability and impact in mind. In other words, they don’t harm our environment (waterways, air, soil etc) or contribute to climate change from the chemicals/additives used to the packaging and suppliers/sources .

This can also include how manufacturers run their businesses - everything from solar power to water reduction or recycling systems, to sourcing sustainably farmed raw materials and some are even creating their own closed loop systems to be fully self supporting which is amazing! So many facets to this seemingly simple term and far too many to list here.

Definition Of Zero-Waste

“Zero waste: The conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health.”

At its core, zero waste takes aim at our “take, make, and waste” approach to production and consumption, encouraging a more circular approach to the way we use resources. On its most basic level, this means that the goal of zero waste is to push economies towards the target of sending no waste to landfill, incinerators, or the ocean.

However, while recycling and conscientious waste management remain core to achieving that goal, zero waste extends much further than simply dealing with “end-of-life”waste. It examines the entire lifecycle of a product or material, highlighting inefficiencies and unsustainable production and consumption practices. Zero waste refers not only to keeping waste out of landfill*, but also pushing our economy to be less wasteful in production and consumption.

Zero waste is not merely an end goal, but a set of guiding principles that strive towards eliminating waste at any and all stages of the chain. From resource extraction through production to consumption and management of discarded materials, the aim is to close the loop, redefining the entire concept of waste and ensuring resources remain in use for as long as possible before being returned to the earth with little to no environmental impact.

Living a zero waste lifestyle isn’t easy and takes effort but with some creativity and commitment anyone can make small changes towards living more sustainably. There are plenty of online resources available that provide tips on how to get started and offer guidance along the way; plus communities around the world share ideas about living a zero-waste lifestyle. Whatever your motivation may be – environmental responsibility or simply feeling good about helping preserve our planet – taking steps towards becoming more conscious consumers is always worth striving for. *Many zero waste stores won't stock rPET plastic bottles because they are seen as supporting the plastics industry but in fact rPET is exactly what zero waste is all about. Using the existing PET plastics that are already in the environment and repurposing them for use therefore keeping them out of landfill - i.e. not wasting them. Many will only stock glass bottles yet glass is often not recycled at all and when it is it needs to be mixed with new glass which in essence produces more and more unrecyclable glass which, when discarded, goes to landfill.... It's always annoyed me frankly, that other recycled plastic items such as bread bags (made from recycled plastics), 'ocean plastic' jewellery or clothing (made from recycled plastics), pot scourers (made from recycled plastics) and other objects are ok to sell in these stores yet the bottles are somehow not ok? Hmm... Benefits Of Eco-Friendly Practices

'Eco-friendly' refers to items that are made of, or contain, ingredients or materials that don’t significantly impact or are not harmful to the environment; our waterways*, soil health and air. However, it is important to consider the product holistically - from where it is sourced, to how it is made, and what it is packaged in (looks can be deceiving so take heed!) - which all contribute to the ecological footprint of that particular product. *This is where water contamination and the use of chemicals can be a huge issue in Zero Waste products. Zero waste focussed companies are popping up everywhere, which is great, but as we have said, zero waste doesn't equal eco-friendly, especially when talking about cleaning products. The difference between these two lifestyles really needs a deep dive. We see so many zero waste cleaning products coming onto the market, weather it be soluble tablets, pouches or refillable containers but it's what's in these products and what they are actually packaged in that needs to be looked at closely. Take soluble tablet cleaners for example - these are a real minefield with only one or two brands offering products that actually eco friendly, - the rest, I'm sorry to say, can contain all the nasties we are trying to avoid adding to our waterways, into our homes and bodies. look past the recycled 'look' of the packaging and into the products and you will see ingredients such as SLS, PEG's, Triclosan, Phosphates, fragrance chemicals, MEA, DEA, TEA, Phthalates, Quats.....just to name a few yet they are zero waste and therefore considered eco-friendly.

Selling refillable bottles and refill pouches (which are not often recyclable and end up in landfill) can also be misleading if you are looking for a zero waste product. Even the packaging can seem waste free yet.... For example, a popular Aussie cleaning product manufacturer, who sells their laundry and dishwasher powder in a brown, paper pouch, markets themselves as being sustainable, zero waste and eco friendly - the trifecta! But, when I asked them about these pouches, they admitted that they are lined in virgin plastic and are not recyclable and need to go to landfill. Infuriating as they are stocked in many 'zero waste' stores and they can easily change to home compostable pouches (like mine).

ARGH! It's just sneaky I think and I would love to call them out but don't really feel like being sued :( Confusing and infuriating I know.

Benefits Of Zero-Waste Practices

It’s ironic that we live in a world where it’s so easy to create waste, yet so difficult to get rid of it. But there is still hope: by embracing zero-waste practices, we can make real progress towards creating a more sustainable future for ourselves and our planet.

Shopping with the intention of avoiding anything truly disposable (non-recyclable/compostable) encourages us to buy fewer items overall, thus reducing resource use and waste production.

Going beyond simply being eco-friendly requires an increased level of mindfulness when it comes to our daily habits; this heightened awareness makes us more conscious consumers which leads to better decisions both now and moving forward.

Comparison Of The Two Practices

Putting eco-friendly and zero-waste practices side by side reveals how powerful they can be when combined. While each approach has its own unique benefits, together they create a positive impact on the planet that is exponential.

Comprehensive waste reduction

By combining eco-friendly habits with zero-waste ones, you are able to drastically reduce your consumption of single-use items as well as repurpose or reuse others, thus cutting down on overall resource use and waste production.

Zero waste can and should also include recycled and recyclable plastics.

(WHAT I hear you shriek!)

Baking mats, food pouches and bowl covers made from silicone, bread bags, chopping boards and made from soft plastics and of course rPET bottles are all recyclable - by buying these recycled plastics you are keeping them out of landfill and in circulation, therefore reducing waste as well as saving a load on energy consumption required in their recycling processes and reducing carbon emissions in transport (lighter than glass).

You can read more about why glass isn't as eco friendly as many think in my another blog here: https://www.lilbit.com.au/post/which-is-better-for-the-environment-glass-or-plastic

Increased awareness

Not only does becoming more conscious about our daily habits lead to better decisions now, but it also helps us become even more mindful consumers in the future. Being aware of both approaches from an early age will help generations to come make smarter choices for themselves and their environment.

A sense of community

Most importantly, embracing both eco-friendly and zero-waste practices creates an opportunity to connect with one another; whether through sharing tips or volunteering locally, these two approaches bring people together towards a common goal—a healthier lifestyle and cleaner world!

As we’ve seen here, there’s no reason why we can’t all benefit from taking part in both eco-friendly and zero-waste lifestyles – so let’s get started today!

So What Now?

The debate between eco-friendly and zero waste practices has been going on for years. While both are beneficial to the environment, they each offer different benefits that appeal to various types of people.

Eco-friendly focuses on finding ways to reduce our environmental impact by using more natural, chemical free and sustainable materials, while zero waste focuses on reducing the amount of trash we create by reusing or repurposing items instead of throwing them away.

To put it in simpler terms, eco-friendly is about being conscious about how much and what's in what you use while producing less waste, whereas zero waste is about being mindful when consuming products and cutting out unnecessary purchases altogether but not necessarily natural or chemical free (in the case of cleaning and home products). In a nutshell, it’s all about striking a balance between living with sustainability in mind and having enough resources so as not to overburden the planet. Doing your part for the environment doesn’t have to be an all or nothing situation; every Lil'Bit helps!

At the end of the day, whether you choose eco-friendly or zero waste strategies (or even better, a combination), one thing is certain: taking action now will help ensure that future generations can enjoy a healthy and prosperous world — something that’s worth its weight in infinitely recyclable, gold!

Either lifestyle choice can make the world a Lil'Bit Better and that's what matters most.

Liz x