zero waste
No-trash lifestyle goal
Zero waste is a philosophy and practice aimed at eliminating waste sent to landfills or incinerators.
The goal is to redesign consumption so that all products are reused, repaired, composted, or recycled: She switched to a zero waste lifestyle, bringing her own containers to the grocery store.
The term appears in environmental policy, product design, and personal lifestyle movements.
Achieving literal zero waste is nearly impossible, so the phrase often describes a direction rather than an absolute outcome.
Decomposing organic matter deliberately
- reusableFit for repeated service
- upcyclingImproving discarded materials' value
- bulk shoppingPurchasing goods in large quantities
- refill stationsPlaces to replenish containers
package-free · bring your own · beeswax wraps · mason jars · meal planning · food preservation · repair culture · secondhand
Regenerative resource management model
- closed loopSystem with continuous feedback
- cradle-to-cradleClosed-loop production model
- industrial symbiosisBusinesses exchanging waste as resources
- regenerativeAble to renew itself
Able to decompose naturally
- biodegradableAble to decompose naturally
- organic materialsCarbon-containing natural substances
- food scrapsDiscarded edible remnants
- vermicompostingDecomposition using earthworms
worm bin · decomposition · soil amendment · humus · compost tumbler
Arranging into sequence
- curbside collectionScheduled household waste removal
- single-streamUnsorted recycling method
- recyclablesItems for reprocessing
- precyclingPreventing waste before purchase
downcycling · repurpose · compost bin · glass recycling · aluminum · cardboard · paper · contamination
Remove unnecessary items
- simplicityLack of complexity
- capsule wardrobePared-down clothing collection
- less is moreRestraint creates impact
- essentialismDoctrine of fixed natures
quality over quantity · multipurpose · streamline · pared-down · anti-consumerism · frugality · needs versus wants · Marie Kondo
composting
Decomposing organic matter deliberately
- reusableFit for repeated service
- upcyclingImproving discarded materials' value
- bulk shoppingPurchasing goods in large quantities
refill stations · package-free · bring your own · beeswax wraps · mason jars · meal planning · food preservation · repair culture · secondhand · thrifting
circular economy
Regenerative resource management model
- closed loopSystem with continuous feedback
- cradle-to-cradleClosed-loop production model
- industrial symbiosisBusinesses exchanging waste as resources
compostable
Able to decompose naturally
- biodegradableAble to decompose naturally
- organic materialsCarbon-containing natural substances
- food scrapsDiscarded edible remnants
vermicomposting · worm bin · decomposition · soil amendment · humus · compost tumbler
sorting
Arranging into sequence
- curbside collectionScheduled household waste removal
- single-streamUnsorted recycling method
- recyclablesItems for reprocessing
precycling · downcycling · repurpose · compost bin · glass recycling · aluminum · cardboard · paper · contamination · hauler
declutter
Remove unnecessary items
- simplicityLack of complexity
- capsule wardrobePared-down clothing collection
- less is moreRestraint creates impact
essentialism · quality over quantity · multipurpose · streamline · pared-down · anti-consumerism · frugality · needs versus wants · Marie Kondo
- eco-friendlysustainable, fair trade, green, biodegradable, recyclable
- ecologyhabitat, ecosystem, balance, niche, food webs
- environmentalismecology, conservationism, recycling bins, campaigner, environmentalism
- sostenibilitàcarbon neutral, plastic free, ecofriendly
- waste managementtrash, garbage, rubbish, refuse, litter
- eco actionsrecycling, composting, tree planting, water conservation, energy saving
zero wastethrowaway culture
Norm of discarding over repairing
wasteful · wastefulness · planned obsolescence · cradle-to-grave
zero wastedisposability
Meant to be discarded
overconsumption · single-use · fast fashion · hyperconsumerism · consumerism
waste, zero, wasted, wasteful, wasting, subzero, zeroes, zero-waste, wastefully