It’s one thing to be as eco-friendly as possible, but it’s another to be completely waste-free. The zero-waste movement isn't new, but it's something more people are choosing to join. Unfortunately, our modern society has grown to love convenience over quality. This has even happened to our baby products. Parents today are surrounded by plastics, synthetic fibers, and non-biodegradable products simply because they're easier to use.
One of the reasons singer Miley Cyrus has stated why she doesn't want to have children is because she doesn't want to increase her carbon footprint. Your carbon footprint is determined by how many resources you use in your daily life. Things that increase your footprint include driving a car, shopping, and how many bags of garbage you send to the dump. Most parents tend to do a lot more of these things when they have a baby. Their garbages become filled with disposable diapers, broken toys, and food wrappers that aren't recyclable or reusable.
If you're interested in helping the world lessen its mountains (or islands) of plastic and non-biodegradable products, here are some ideas of how you can become a waste-free parent with a baby:
Cloth Diapers
If you're unfamiliar with cloth diapers, they can seem a bit intimidating. They are an investment upfront, but you'll really be saving money by the time you start potty-training. Since cloth diapers are washable, that means they won’t be going into your trash and try to decompose for hundreds of years. When your baby is done with them, you can keep them for your next baby or pass the covers along to someone else.
Toys Made from Natural Sources
Although it’s generally understood that plastics are recyclable, not all plastics can be recycled at the same facility. This means you might not be able to recycle your kids' toys after all, depending on where you live. Instead, look for toys that are made from wood, bamboo and other non-synthetic materials. Once your baby is no longer interested in the toy, you can be assured that it'll naturally breakdown in a lot less time than a plastic toy.
Buy Second-Hand Clothing
You may want the newest and cutest clothing for your baby. It's understandable- after all, baby clothing is usually super affordable. That’s because companies know you’ll burn through those clothes like crazy with spit-ups, blow-outs, and whatever messes your baby will get into. However, there are just as many, if not more, clothing options at consignment or second-hand stores as there are at the mall or online. Buying second-hand will help prevent you from causing manufacturers to create more clothing.
Breastfeeding
If breastfeeding is an option for you or your partner, it's the most zero-waste way to feed your baby. Now, there are certain things that can help encourage a good breastfeeding relationship such as nipple shields, disposable nursing pads, and breast pumps. But if you want to be zero-waste, you’ll want to be considerate of what types of products you use. Instead of disposable nursing pads, you can look into reusable ones made from cloth. If you plan on pumping, you can look into using glass bottles instead of plastic, and avoiding using one-time-use plastic storage bags.
Making Your Own Baby Food and Composting
As your baby grows and is ready to try solid foods, there are several ways to have zero waste. In an ideal situation, you would be able to have a vegetable and fruit garden readily available for you to use and make your own baby food. Since that's not an option for everyone, the next best thing would be to skip the baby food aisle and go to the produce section. Making your own baby food can be time-consuming, but it could save you some money from buying pre-made baby food. Then, instead of throwing away any uneaten food, you can compost it instead.
Use Reusable Bags for Everything
With more states and countries trying to rid the world of plastic bags, they'll charge you per plastic bag. This isn’t just happening at grocery stores, but almost every store. That's why you should look into using reusable bags everywhere you go. They generally hold a lot more than a plastic bag and are fairly easy to clean. Grocery stores and hobby stores will definitely have them for sale, or you could sew your own. Of course, the hardest part is remembering to take them with you before going to the store!
Some of these ideas may seem a little extreme, but it’s really more about making and keeping a commitment. Going zero-waste is hard work and less convenient than using disposable options. However, if you're wanting to contribute less to landfills, even just implementing one or two of these ideas can make a huge difference to the environment.
Sources: ZeroWasteCartel, IdeasForUs