Low Waste vs. Zero Waste: What's the Difference?

Hello friends,
As we strive towards a more sustainable future, we often hear terms like "low waste" and "zero waste" being thrown around. While these terms may sound similar, they have distinct differences. In this post, we'll explore the differences between low waste and zero waste, and how you can adopt these practices in your daily life.
Low Waste: Low waste refers to the conscious effort to reduce the amount of waste you generate in your daily life. This can be achieved through simple actions such as bringing your own reusable bag to the grocery store, using a refillable water bottle instead of single-use plastic bottles, or composting food scraps. The goal of low waste is not to completely eliminate waste, but rather to minimize the amount of waste you generate by making mindful choices.
Zero Waste: Zero waste, on the other hand, is a more extreme approach to reducing waste. It involves striving to produce as little waste as possible, and ideally, none at all. This can be achieved by adopting a circular economy model, where everything is reused, recycled, or repurposed. This means using only reusable products, composting all organic matter, and finding creative ways to upcycle items that would otherwise be thrown away.
People who live zero waste often live a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, since the livestock industrie also produces a lot of waste.
Zero waste may seem daunting, but every little effort counts towards achieving this goal.
So, what's the difference? The main difference between low waste and zero waste is the level of commitment and effort involved. Low waste is a more accessible and achievable goal for most people, as it involves making simple changes in daily life. Zero waste, however, requires a complete overhaul of lifestyle and consumption habits. Both approaches have their benefits and drawbacks, and the choice ultimately depends on personal preferences and circumstances.
At ästrid. studio, we're currently focused on practicing low waste thinking in our production processes. This means using environmentally friendly materials, reducing the amount of waste created during production, and finding ways to repurpose or recycle materials whenever possible.
In conclusion, whether you choose to adopt a low waste or zero waste lifestyle, every effort towards reducing waste counts towards creating a more sustainable future. By making small changes in our daily lives, we can collectively make a big impact on the environment.
We hope this post has helped you understand the differences between low waste and zero waste. Let us know in the comments which approach resonates with you more!
Thank you for reading!
P.S. Don't forget to check out our other posts for more tips on sustainable living.