Why I Don't Say "Zero Waste" Anymore

I used to call myself "zero waste." I don't anymore, and here's why.

Zero is Impossible (And That's OK)

Unless you grow your own food, make your own clothes, and live completely off-grid, you're going to produce waste. That's not a character flaw — that's just reality. The "zero waste" label makes people feel like if they can't do it perfectly, they shouldn't try at all.

I've seen so many people get interested in sustainability and then immediately get discouraged because they saw someone on Instagram living in a tiny home with all their annual waste fitting in a mason jar. Cool for them, but that's not realistic for most people, and the comparison kills motivation.

"Less Waste" Hits Different

What if instead of "zero waste" we just said "less waste"? Or "less plastic"? That's actually achievable. That's something you can start today without overhauling your entire life.

Bought a reusable water bottle? Less waste.

Used cloth bags at the grocery store? Less waste.

Got bamboo paper towels instead of regular ones? Less waste.

You're not failing at "zero." You're succeeding at "less."

The Numbers Back This Up

If every American replaced just ONE disposable product with a reusable alternative, we'd prevent 300 billion pieces of single-use waste per year. Not zero waste. Just one swap per person.

That's more impactful than a thousand people living "zero waste" perfectly.

What I Tell People Now

When people ask what I do, I say "I help people find easy swaps to use less plastic." Not "zero waste influencer." Not "eco-minimalist." Just someone who finds products that are better than the disposable version and shares them.

If you swap your sponges and still use paper towels sometimes — great, you reduced waste.

If you carry a reusable bottle but grab a plastic one at the airport once in a while — you're still doing way better than before.

Progress, not perfection. Less waste, not zero waste. That's the whole thing.