[10][15][16] The blog evolved and in 2013 Johnson published a book, summarizing her views and philosophy on minimalism and offering practical advice on how to reduce waste at home. 5 Rules of the Zero Waste Lifestyle. In 2013, Bea Johnson launched a book that was to become the bible for zero-waste livers. I'm really really grateful for The Source Bulk Foods for bringing me here. We're only here to talk about experience. Flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, cornstarch, baking powder, yeast, oatmeal, coffee, dry corn, powdered sugar, Jam, butter, peanut butter, honey, mustard, canned tomatoes, pickles, olives, capers, Olive oil, vegetable oil, apple cider vinegar, wine vinegar, tamari, vanilla extract. You will both understand what the zero-waste lifestyle is about, and have a long, detailed list of how to implement it. Optional: pillow (a neatly rolled jacket can serve as an alternative). If your into fashion, don't start with your wardrobe, but maybe start with your husband's first [laughs]. She regularly opens her home to educational tours and the media, and she has appeared in segments on the Today show, NBC and CBS news, Global TV BC (Canada), and a mini Yahoo! The compacted trash, generated by the Johnson household from 2011 to 2019, My sole purpose here isn't to sell you a book or more stuff, but a lifestyle. Compare that to the average American who, according the Environmental Protection Agency, produces four and a half pounds of trash per day. I think it's becoming normal in our society to reach when someone tries to hand something to you and then you feel kind of awkward to say no. I wish I had something like that where we live. It's the person that consumes for the household that has the choice to one, either not consume or two, consume differently by buying food unpackaged, all the necessities secondhand. probably like the rest of us has been struggling to use our reusables in stores. It's all down to the 5 Rs: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot (and only in that order!). Toilet cleaner: Spray vinegar, then scrub. While the French do tend to waste far less than Americans in general, when Bea moved to the USA from France she bought into the American Dream-she shopped without reason, merely as a leisure activity; drove a SUV, lived in a huge house and truly believed that bigger was better. Bea and her husband realised after moving homes and placing most of their belongings into storage, that almost 80% of their possessions weren't needed or missed at all by the family. So what about those coffee shops that will no longer allow you to bring your own cup? So if we learn to say no on the spot we can stop the demand and we can stop these things from becoming trash. Refuse: Reject Halloween trinkets when trick-or-treating; pick consumables instead. Can you stay local? But it's, I think it's very important to adopt change in a sustainable manner meaning that whatever change you adopt you have to see yourself doing it for life because then that's when it becomes a lifestyle. We see the life that we used to have as a waste of money, a waste of time and a life that was just based on the wrong priorities. With the tips that we covered for a Zero Waste wardrobe, it should be easy. That means "sticking away from plastics" according to Johnson. Does it truly save time, as promised? . Allocate convenient recycling locations in the kitchen (under the counter is best) and home office. It might help you, your family, and your visitors to post a list of what each container collects on each receptacle lid. If you are a cook don't start with the kitchen, start with an area that's easier for you, maybe the garage or the living room and then work up to the places that's a bit harder for you. Upholstery freshener: Lightly spray the Basic Mix on a cloth and wipe upholstery to neutralize odors, remove surface dirt, and boost color (first test in an inconspicuous area). As a kid, I grew up in a very simple way in the south of France. While you are stuck at home "consider your past consumption and let go of all the things you do not really need or use in your home. We also use these glasses to serve cold soups and appetizers and to hold a variety of things, from loose salt to toothbrushes. For tough jobs, you canspray vinegar, sprinkle with baking soda, let sit, and then scrub. If you must buy synthetic, seek the Patagonia brand (see Recycling). To view a wonderful animated video on production and consumption patterns: To find out more about collaborative consumption. In order not to waste any food in my house I have to find creative solutions and that's how they express my creativity. Many stores still offer milk in returnable glass bottles and some sell other products in glass jars that can also be returned for reuse and a money back deposit. Between the four of them, they produce only about ONE QUART of garbage per year. But some other people might have been drawn to it for health reasons. Warts: Fix a piece of orange or lemon skin soaked in white vinegar to the affected area and repeat until gone. Use a blow dryer and an old sock to work the wax into the shoe or boot. But first our goal of course was not zero waste. Digestion: Chew on fennel seeds or drink an anise tea. The fifth "R" is for rot, which means composting. Bea Johnson wears makeup. The selection includes TV segments, how-to's, podcasts, and a . When its full, I can ship the contents to TerraCycle to be upcycled. New kitchen and shopping habits need new recipes to match: Finger Foods/Appetizers: deviled eggs, pt, stuffed mushrooms, First Courses: individual goat cheese souffls, leek flan, Soups: cauliflower soup, garlic soup, gazpacho, Fish and Shellfish: sardine carpaccio, crusted salmon, trout meunire. Oops! It's not just good for the environment, it's good for your health and it's not going to take more money or take more time to live this way, it's the opposite. The vinegar smell will subside, leaving a fresh scent. So yes, when we travel we always travel with a cloth bag to buy our food on the go. ), Loose tea (tea bags, most of which are coated with polypropylene plastic, will not fully decompose), Soiled paper and cardboard such as pizza boxes. Find collection sites for hard-to-recycle items (corks, worn-out shoes and clothes) and hazardous materials (batteries, paint, and motor oil). Especially because you were just becoming known and entering into the public domain and you really believed in what you were doing.So yes, it was in 2009 that I decided to write a blog, just to share the solution that we had found with the people that would be interested in it. Sunburn: Apply a generous amount of apple cider vinegar or olive oil. The parents are the ones that are consuming and buying the brands, and buy whatever the kids are asking [for]. About 10 years ago, Bea Johnson decided to make a major change in the way she lived her life. I use the following mix for most applications. And we also buy secondhand if we need to buy something. I chose a medium-size ball strainer based on the opening and capacity of our insulated stainless bottles. When buying new, we should choose products that not only support reuse but also are made of materials that have a high postconsumer content, are compatible with our communitys recycling program, and are likely to get recycled over and over (e.g., steel, aluminum, glass, or paper) versus downcycled (e.g., plastics). Bea Johnson and her family are dedicated to living a Zero Waste lifestyle; they generate a mere quart of waste per year. We decided to move to an apartment and to find a house in a different part of the San Francisco Bay area, where we lived, so we could be closer to amenities, where we could walk and bike to things. Odor neutralizer: Instead of covering up an unpleasant smell with toxic fragrances, address the source and air the space out. Stay at home and make your own coffee!" Her book aims to help you do the same. During that year that we discovered the advantages of a simple life, all of a sudden we had more time for friends, family, etc. Can you tell me about why you received that and what it was like? 253k Followers, 93 Following, 331 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Bea Johnson (@zerowastehome) zerowastehome. They make bread much better than I do. You can do that by, for example, swapping paper towels for rags, or instead of tissues use handkerchiefs but also buy your food unpackaged. It's actually the parents that complicate those needs. They might want more time in their schedules and that's when zero waste can also provide you with some solutions. The high priestess of waste-free living is Californian Bea Johnson, whose home produces remarkably little waste. Foot odors: Spray apple cider vinegar on your feet and sprinkle baking soda in your shoes. Earplugs: Soften a marble-size ball of cheese wax. Today, Bea, her husband, Scott, and their two young sons produce just one quart of garbage a year, and their overall quality of life has changed for the better: they now have more time together, they've cut their annual spending by a remarkable forty percent, and they are healthier than . She is an advocate for improving humanity through waste reduction; she often speaks at universities, presenting at conferences, and publishing a bestselling book translated into 17 languages, Zero Waste Home, People that have a lot of money and don't care about changing for the environment might look to this in order to simplify their life. Dont simply trust the chasing arrow. -Bea Johnson. You could also purchase reusable stainless-steel or titanium cocktail picks. A French-born artist with a hugely popular blog on zero waste living, Bea Johnson has appeared on The Today Show, NBC and CBS news, and been featured in the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, People and Lianhe Zaobao (Singapore) and online publications, including Huffington Post and USA Today. The criticism was normal though, it was out of not knowing what the zero waste lifestyle meant. To remove salt marks, use the Basic Mix cleaner (1 cup water, 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar, citrus peels in vinegar for smell). Bea Johnson transformed her family's health, finances, and relationships for the better by reducing their waste to an astonishing half litre per year. Melt 2 tablespoons beeswax and 11/2 teaspoons oil in a double boiler (I use a small glass jar in an inch of water). When you buy your food at a shop like The Source Bulk Foods, it's a way for you to vote for a future of unpackaged food and a more sustainable future for your children. Throwaways can easily be replaced with reusable versions. ", On how she handles buying appliances and electronics, toiletries, going out to eat, gifts. . Basically this lifestyle is about collecting moments not things. But are these really being used? We have swapped plastic sandwich bags for kitchen towels, which I already had on hand. She began to. When you let go you will be able to make those things, which are in themselves valuable resources, available to your community" Johnson said. The average American creates more than 4 pounds of garbage every day, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. "[32] Another critic Master Michael Quinn notes: "This is a book about values that forces us to examine our own. We use a bar of soap. Rust remover: To remove rust from small items, soak them in undiluted vinegar for a few hours, scrub with a toothbrush, and rinse thoroughly. We gave a face to the lifestyle and when people saw what we looked like, when they saw the interiors of our home and our sense of aesthetics, it drew a lot of people in and people were like, wow, if that's what the zero waste lifestyle looks like I want to do zero waste. I would also encourage people to replace disposables for reusables, so you are reusing what you consume. It's not a special bar of soap. To us that is what makes life richer and what makes life happier. Cooking: Three sizes of pans, three sizes of pots, one stockpot, three lids, a teakettle (all stainless), Preparing and serving: Three bowls and one platter, Baking: Two pie dishes, one large casserole dish, one loaf pan, two baking sheets, Utensils: Stainless ladle, spoon, spatula, tongs, and whisk, and one wooden spatula, Cutting: One paring knife, one chef knife, one serrated knife, one pair of scissors, and one cutting board, Accessories: Stainless colander, sieve, grater, steamer, funnel, one set of measuring spoons, a measuring cup, a scale, a bottle opener, a pepper grinder, two pot holders, two trivets. Clearing out horizontal surfaces (counters, floors) and eliminating them when possible (shelving, over-the-toilet stand) not only make a bathroom peaceful and spacious but also simplify your cleaning routine! It's foolproof.". Samantha Raphelson adapted it for the web. Pillowcase: Or a large bread bag made from an old sheet. And if we buy something, it's only to replace what needs to be replaced. "It's all about following my methodology of five rules. You know, some people might think well why don't you work in politics to make change and I'm like, well, because that is not my strength. Bea has over 100 jars for all of her house's produce | Photo by Igor Podgorny. To learn more about her work and sustainable lifestyle, we chatted with Johnson during a break in her busy speaking schedule. Pack light. Coffee filters: A coffee press. In 2009, she started sharing her journey through her blog, Zero Waste Home, and in 2010, was featured in The New York Times. A clear, reusable, waterproof pouch to store toiletries for their journey through safety checks (durable alternatives to flimsy ziplock bags are available). ", On how her kids have adapted to the zero-waste lifestyle, "Kids have very simple needs, and as long as those needs are met, they're happy. The zero waste lifestyle for us is exactly that because we didn't have the solutions at the start, so we failed lot and it was very difficult. You're just one family. Think back to how much rubbish your household. It's like a one-stop-shop for everything zero waste. For silver, soak the piece in 1/4 cup white vinegar and 1 tablespoon baking soda, then rinse and polish with a soft cloth. That is why a staple of Zero Waste living is buying un-packaged products from bulk bins and taking them home in your own reusable containers. Her " vocation is to shatter mis-conceptions associated with the Zero Waste lifestyle, proving that waste-free living can not only be "stylish", but also lead to significant health benefits, and time and money savings ". This amazing achievement was reached by massively simplifying their lives and remarkebly, cut their household expenditure by over 40%. You can go grocery shopping with a kit of reusables very easily. Then we also bring a thermos for drinks like tea, coffee or water. Runny nose: Use a sea salt solution in a Neti pot. Consider transportation alternatives to get to your destination. Hailed as 'The Priestess of Waste-Free Living' by the New York Times and generally regarded as the pioneer of mainstream zero-waste lifestyles, #1 on our list of top 10 zero-waste influencers is none other than Bea Johnson. You can: For tips and insights on her waste-free lifestyle, visit her Instagram andFacebook page (@zerowastehome), or sit back, relax, and watch the video below. Bathroom cleaner: Use the Basic Mix to dissolve soap scum and hard-water stains and simultaneously shine counters, floors, sinks, showers, mirrors, and fixtures. Recycle: Make your camping stoves butane can recyclable by puncturing it when completely empty. Check out Bay Area safety tracker, Tracking the drought: Map shows conditions across SF Bay Area, Bay Area Life; Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on ABC7, From plant-based meat to vodka made from CO2, fight climate change one meal at a time, Coronavirus impact: As people stay home, Earth becomes wilder and cleaner, Want to save the environment? [27][28] Although some bloggers and professional literary critics pointed to some immanent radicalism about the zero waste movement,[29] the book generally received positive reviews. When I started looking for zero waste solutions somehow what had been taught to me as a child came rushing back into my head. Reusability is not only about eliminating disposables, its also about buying durable quality when replacements are needed. What was the thing that stuck with you, early on, that spawned this incredible journey?Bea Johnson: What really got us started was discovering the benefits of a simple life. Her work has inspired millions of people to adopt zero waste lifestyles, open unpackaged shops, conceive reusable products, and launch organizations, but also large corporations to offer alternatives to single-use. Zero Waste Home is the ultimate guide to simplified, sustainable living from Bea Johnson, 'the priestess of waste-free living' (The New York Times). Ba Johnson is a US-based environmental activist, author and motivational speaker. And I also missed a life that we had known in the big European cities that we had lived in. To learn more about Bea Johnson and zero waste living, check out her website here. Once we bring these things into our home they add to our clutter and then they become our trash problem. If you're caught in that rat race you'll never be happy because you'll always be chasing your tail. We tested a lot of extremes, but eventually we found a balance that worked for us. Johnson lives in Mill Valley, but when the pandemic hit she was in Louisiana as she and her husband traveled the country on a one year speaking tour. "Well, we believe that buying is voting, just as eating out is voting. It's not like it requires materials or special tools to do this, its more about undoing the robotic way of being. I mean the term itself sounds extreme. Bea Johnson is a Franco-American author, speaker and minimalist known for initiating the movement of waste-free living in the 21st century. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. "The third one is to reuse, and we reuse by having swapped anything that is disposable for a reusable alternative so we've swapped paper towels for rags, paper napkins for cloth ones. Zero waste is not a term that we had been using. So at the end of the day, the zero-waste lifestyle does not encourage you to recycle more, but less by preventing waste from coming into your home in the first place. She currently resides in France. The simple answer is this: send nothing to the landfill. "Again, they make cheese much better than I do." Bea Johnson, author of Zero Waste Home, catalyzed an entire movement by showing that reducing waste is possible, and it doesn't need to mean depriving yourself of what's good in life. When the time came to move into their forever home, they realized they hadn't missed most of those possessions. Tooth powder: Just use baking soda (add 1 teaspoon white stevia to 1 cup baking soda if needed). ", "Marie Kondo Came For Your Stuff; Bea Johnson Is Coming For Your Garbage", "Zero-waste living moves into mainstream", "How you can join the move towards zero waste", "Is the Coronavirus the End of the Zero Waste Movement? She is renowned for pioneering the trash jar, a pint-sized container she uses to fit her familys yearly garbage, and for developing The 5Rs of Zero Waste, a method she published in Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying your Life by Reducing your Waste (Scribner, 2013). "We've shown that it makes a difference. You can also remove the white buildup on your vases by soaking them in undiluted vinegar. It's a life that is based on being instead of having; a life that is based on experiences instead of things. She has been widely featured in the global media and has accomplished close to 400 talks in seventy countries and six continents, including two dozen international speaking tours in English, French, and Spanish, three TED talks, and addresses at Google, Amazon, Starbucks, the European Parliament, NATO and the United Nations. Our family has replaced paper towels with microfiber cloths, and we never run out. So that means that we are no longer throwing our money away. I was a painter, but I no longer feel the need to put my creativity onto canvas because the zero waste lifestyle is feeding my needs for creating. Image:. To reduce packaging waste as much as possible while shopping in bulk, you will need: Glass jars (two sizes): The same reusable mason jars mentioned above under Reusability work great. At the heart of this movement it's seems to be more about minimalism and voluntary simplicity than, like, predominately eliminating waste.Well not for everyone, people will start for lots of different reasons. To prevent mildew on a shower curtain, spray vinegar on the problem areas or add vinegar to your rinse cycle when you wash it. It was also a term used in the manufacturing world, but it was not a term used to describe something you do at home. Bea Johnson transformed her family's health, finances, and relationships for the better by reducing their waste to an astonishing half litre per year. To clean the oven, generously spray with vinegar, then sprinkle with baking soda and let sit overnight, scrape with a spatula, and wipe clean. Buying is also hoarding. Favor wax paper, cardboard, or aluminum if you failed to bring your own container. When we got started the zero waste lifestyle did not have a face. Headache: Drink an espresso, rub mint on the temples, or roll a fresh California bay leaf into your nostril. Coughs and sore throats: Gargle salt water and suck on a lozenge (recipe). The initial criticism came because you were accused of depriving your children of some life that, apparently, they should have been getting. Join them and hundreds of thousands of others in enjoying a richer life based on experiences instead of stuff! I mean we still get criticism today, although we've worked really hard at showing what a zero waste lifestyle means and looks like. The term zero waste back then was not associated with a lifestyle, it was associated with manufacturing and waste management at a city level. Mildew remover and prevention: Use full-strength vinegar to remove mildew off most surfaces. I also wanted to let our friends and family know what zero waste was about because, again, people did not know what the zero waste lifestyle was; the term was not associated with a lifestyle. She owned a three thousand square foot home, drove nice big cars and filled a 64 gallon rubbish bin every week. Could another item achieve the same task? By following these steps, in order, cutting waste can be . Step 1: Refuse (What We Do Not Need) Single-use plastics (SUPs): Freebies Junk mail Unsustainable practices like: accepting receipts or business cards that we will never consult, buying excessive packaging and discarding it without urging the manufacturer to change. Bulk is not limited to health food stores: CSAs (community supported agriculture), farmers markets, and specialty vendors can be a great source of package-free products, when their sustainable efforts are consistent. Home. "This is a question I personally don't understand. I've had my stove repaired 11 times. Johnson's journey into zero waste began in 2008 and has fueled her career as an environmental activist, motivational speaker, and author, amongst many . "There was a time when nobody knew what "zero waste" meant, but since Bea Johnson published Zero Waste Home, the phrase has become mainstream." TreeHugger "The new messiah of ecology." Paris Match "Johnson has emerged as a guru for people looking to take green living to a new level." Associated Press Storm timeline: Here's how much more rain is expected, Another freight train derails in Ohio, prompting shelter-in-place, At least 13 people are dead as severe storms sweep across US. The best book I have read on how to implement the zero waste lifestyle. Aldo Leopold, in his book A Sand County Almanac" Bea Johnson is "the mother of the zero waste lifestyle movement." CNN The book that started the waste-free living movement, Zero Waste Livingrelates Bea Johnson's inspirational personal story and provides practical tools and tips to help readers diminish their footprint and simplify their lives. The leaders of this zero-waste lifestyle movement are young millennial women like Lauren Singer of Trash is for Tossers, Celia Ristow of Litterless, and Kellogg. Johnson's website zerowastehome.com has a "bulk finder" feature to help you find other locations that are still selling bulk goods. All Rights Reserved. It's a part inspirational story that tells how Bea transformed the life of herself and her family for the better by reducing their waste to an astounding one litre a year (one single mason jar). Over time, we've been able to inspire a global movement. It's up to everyone to figure out what their strengths are in bringing about change and making solutions available to their people. Reduce: Use vinegar and baking soda to clean. Works on healing razor nicks too. It's all down to the 5 Rs: Refuse, Reduce . In a Zero Waste world, recycling would be standardized across the globe, or even better, products would be designed for reuse and repair so that recycling would not even be necessary or at least would be greatly reduced. Recycle: Send holiday cards and Halloween candy wrappers for recycling.