The Beginner’s Guide to Zero-Waste - The How To's

By DAWN FRANCOM

Alrighty friends, last week we learned about WHY it’s important to shop Zero-Waste. Today, I’m going to go through my exact HOW TO’s on the subject.

Keep in mind, I’m no professional. Just a passionate person with an urge to lower her carbon footprint. This alternative way of shopping is slowly becoming more and more mainstream amongst likeminded individuals, and therefore, more easily accommodated. It took a while and more than a few phone calls before I found a bulk food store that actually allows me to bring in my own jars and bags. Most other bulk food stores won’t allow outside packaging with the fear of contaminating their products. Which is kind of silly if you think about it. Anyone at any time can go in and sneeze into their bins… but I digress. Papillon Foods, located in Plaza Pointe-Claire on boul St Jean near highway 20, has since become one of my favorite places to go. They accommodate me easily without the rule that most other bulk food stores enforce. Not to mention all the other amazingly mindful products they have in stock. Everything from vegan “meats” and “cheeses” to hormone free beef. It’s quite the utopia for the new age consumer.

So first, even before I shop, I make a game plan. I go through meal ideas with my family to see what tickles their fancy for the next few days. I also think up alternatives, just in case they happen to be out of a single ingredient. I come up with a list of items I need and know that I will eventually need. Just like any other shopping trip.

Second, I check through the list for things I know I can make myself. So much we buy is just for ease, but if we started to make things on our own, so much can come of it. Better health is on the top of the list. I can never tell what’s in the food anymore. I read through ingredients and can’t pronounce half the list. And really, why does tomato sauce have a list of ingredients the size of my hand? Tomatoes, onions, spices and whatever else you have laying around. There, THAT’S what should go into a tomato sauce. 
Another positive, of course besides overflowing our garbage bins every week, cooking brings a sense of accomplishment and brings people together. When my fiancé and I cook together, we completely zone out from the everyday stress. Take the time to joke and talk without so many distractions. I know so many people who also use it as a binder with their kids. Teaches them important life skills and co-operation. And let’s not forget the taste! Fresh is always better. I’ve never once had anyone counter that! Ever!

Third, I count every single item on the list that I know the store has bins full of (this came with time, the more I go, the, more I know what they have as a selection). Count them up, and match the number of jars, lids and bags to what’s on my list. The best thing I’ve done for myself was the purchase of all my litre size and 1 cup size jars. The variety really does help. I’ve also made a whole bunch of reusable, washable cloth bags for the same reason. The only difference would really be how lightweight the bags are, but both are important to bring (molasses doesn’t handle the same way in cotton bag as black beans do).

Fourth, before I leave the house with my list, jars and bags, I always make sure to have 2 more things with me:
1- A wide mouth funnel. This I’ve learned from experience, trying to fit a flour scoop into a jar without making a huge mess is tedious. A wide mouth jar ensures that everything makes it safely to the jar instead of all over the floor, my hands, my pants and anything else it could stick to.
2- A dry-erase marker to mark what’s inside the jar. I only use this because I had one laying around, eventually I’ll update my system using chalk and chalkboard paint to label. I’ve shopped a few times after forgetting it, and it’s just awful. If it’s a small load, you’re golden but if you have 3 different types of rice or spices with similar looks, trying to decipher between them gets rough. Mark it down. Save yourselves the headache.

Fifth, once you’re at the store, it’s important to remember to pre-weigh your jars. The way the store handles this is super simple. Go to the front cash, ask them to pre-weigh and they will. BOOM! Done! They’ll take a permanent marker to mark the bottom of your jar or bag with the weight. So when it’s full, they take the measure of the whole product and deduct the weight of the jars.

Sixth, now here’s where it gets fun. YOU SHOP! Using the funnel, just fill up your jars with the scoops provided at each bin. Mark down what’s inside and then go back to the cash for checkout.

This style of shopping is super easy! Following these guidelines, I’m confident that anyone can do it! Happy shopping!
PS. A few doors down from Papillon Foods is a bulk candy joint (Ryan’s Candy) with the same concept! Can I get a WOOT!?

The Beginner’s guide to Zero Waste

By DAWN FRANCOM

Zero Waste grocery shopping! I know what you’re thinking “HUH?! WHAT?!” Stay with me here. It’s a lot simpler than it seems.

Yes it takes planning and a bit of prep work, but it’s so worth it in the long run. The amount of plastic used in our everyday food packaging is outstanding. Landfills and recycling centers are full of it. And in fact, products once containing food will not be recycled into new packaging for more. This is because of possible cross-contaminants. It will be melted down and used to produce another form of plastic. This process is called “down-cycling”. Each turn at the recycling center sends it further down the down-cycled ladder and eventually will not be usable anymore. Therefore, it will ultimately end up in the landfill.

Not to mention the energy used to actually produce and transport this packaging. And for what? Ease? Sure. Does it look pretty and colorful? Maybe. But is it necessary? Absolutely not! There are many bulk grocery stores that allow you to bring empty and reusable jars, fill them up with what you need and go on your merry way. This has not only become a staple in our household, but it’s become a hobby.  

I love finding new jars (mostly repurposed from old food jars). Fat jars, skinny jars, tall jars, tiny jars! They’re ALL good! I just love the principal behind this style of shopping so much! I find it really connects you to what you eat. You see exactly what you’re getting, and that you’re getting your money’s worth. It drives me crazy when I forget something in the back of my pantry and it goes bad. Food waste is such a huge issue already in North America. I just can’t handle the idea of being an even bigger part of the problem, instead of the solution. Insert Zero Waste shopping and you have your answer.

Start out with ideas for meals for the week (or for me, every 2 weeks since I live a bit far from my bulk store). Get an idea of what you want to eat and snack on; and how much you’ll need. Bring the amount of jars and/or cloth bags that you’ll be needing for your stock and VOILA! That’s it! Shopping this way allows you to only buy what you will need and throw away less in the long run.

This style is not only limited to bulk stores and dried goods. Try at your local farmer’s market. Insist on them putting the items you’re purchasing into your jars or reusable containers. My family has done this on multiple occasions for food like cheeses, meats, fresh produce and bread. If you go in with enough assertiveness and ya know… basic manners, it’s hard to be refused.

Now, shall I even comment on all the cash I’ve been saving? Every time we throw away a half-eaten box of crackers, we throw away half the cash we put into it. Since I started doing my groceries in this fashion, I can’t even tell you how much money I’ve saved! Or better yet, will be saving long term. How many times have you wanted to try a new recipe, only to find that it requires some new ingredient you’ve never heard of or don’t have in stock? It happens to me ALL THE TIME! With the option of shopping by weight, you can get exactly what you need. Only need a teaspoon of that exotic ingredient? Only buy a teaspoon! When we buy the product by the package, we are often left with so much. With new ingredients, we’re less likely to learn how to use them, causing them to be shuffled towards the back of our pantries or fridges. Sooner or later, it will be forgotten, and we’re left with the extra costs of food waste.

So let’s recap, Zero Waste grocery shopping is:

• good for the environment

• good for your household waste production

• and good for your wallet.

Now it’s time for you to get on the Zero Waste path. Enjoy!

Live Waste Free: The beginners guide to Zero- Waste living

BY DAWN FRANCOM

It’s only been a few months since I’ve heard of the term “Zero-Waste”. Basically, it’s a lifestyle that greatly reduces your negative environmental impact. It was first brought to my attention from a documentary: The Clean Bin Project. The couple had decided to live a year waste free while they documented their efforts and challenges. Watching how hard they worked really encouraged me to make the change to dump the trash.

When I first joined this movement, I had a few initial thoughts:

·       Why is what I’m already doing not enough?

·       Waoh! This is going to be hard!

·       This is exactly how I’m meant to live.

I used to pride myself on how eco-friendly I was. I recycled, I became vegetarian, and I took shorter showers than most. I was completely content with my contribution. Little did I know, it was just the beginning! With everything I’ve learned, I now know that these are not enough. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to antagonize those who only do these things, every little bit counts. But come on, recycling?! It’s basically the social equivalent of wearing pants outside; you just do it.

I’m here to show simple ways to integrate these ideas into your lives without the feeling of being completely overwhelmed. Let me do the hard work, so you don’t have to. 

1.     Always keep a reusable cloth bag close.
This tip cannot be stressed enough. Whether it’s in the car, in your purse, or kept at the front door of your home. This is an easy enough action. Last minute shopping happens. And when it does, it’s important to be well armed with the most basic of tools.

2.     Carrying a water bottle or reusable coffee mug.
Plastic water bottles are pretty much the scourge of the environment. Most end up in landfills or waterways. Keeping a good reusable bottle around will really cut your need to buy (quick shout-out to all the cash you’ll be saving in the long run). Same goes for the morning coffee run. I love a good caffeine jolt before work, but I enjoy it even more in my mug. It is guilt free consumption at its finest.

3.     No plastic cover on your takeaway coffee.
Sometimes, life happens and we forget our mug, or we had no extra space for it, or *insert excuse here*. In these cases, a simple trick is to deny the plastic lid. While I’m having a catch up chat with my besties, the cover’s off anyways. So why grab one to begin with? It’s not as good of course as the reusable, but at least the impact is lessened. 

4.     Say NO to straws.
This is possibly the easiest of my suggestions. A large number of restaurants or bars won’t recycle them due to high volume of customers and the lack of ease. So make it easy and refuse them in the first place. (My life has in no way depreciated since I’ve stopped using them, in fact, it has sparked many lively conversations about the subject!)

5.     Refuse “food garnishes”.
It’s happened many times where I’m out eating and, although there’s no food left on my plate, there is still stuff that will be thrown away. Those plastic picks to keep burgers together; or the wax paper that is needlessly used to wrap them. Ask your server while ordering if there’s anything that inedible on the plate. Explain what you want, and they will deliver. I have never had someone tell me it was not possible; and guess what? My food was still delicious!

See! Five super simple tricks to get you going on the Zero-Waste path.