How to Live a Zero-Waste Life: What California's Coal-Free Future Can Teach Us
You probably already know this, but California is making history this November by getting rid of all coal from its energy grid. But what really struck me was that the state is betting billions on green hydrogen and solar panels, but the change will only happen if people also live sustainably every day.
California's decision to stop using coal shows that big changes can happen when we act in line with our values. That made me think: if a whole state can get rid of fossil fuels, what's stopping us from getting rid of plastic waste, harmful chemicals, and things that aren't good for the environment from our homes?
That's why I've written this guide: 15 ways to live a life without waste or toxins, based on California's shift to renewable energy. These tips will help you live a healthier, easier life in line with the clean energy future we all want.
Why clean energy is as important as zero waste
The change in California's energy is wonderful: since 2019, the state has added 30,000 megawatts of new renewable energy, with solar power up 15.1% and battery storage up 58.4%. But here's what the headlines don't say: all that clean energy still fuels wasteful consumption.
Every day, the average American throws away 4.9 pounds of trash. A lot of it? The trash includes single-use plastic packaging from personal care products, disposable kitchen items, and synthetic materials that are designed to outlast us for centuries.
Living a zero-waste life doesn't mean being perfect (because that doesn't exist!). It's about choosing the best option when we can. We don't need perfect zero-waste products to start making a difference today, just like California didn't wait for perfect technology to phase out coal.
We are helping the transition to sustainability by choosing reusable over disposable, natural over synthetic, and quality over quantity, one purchase at a time.
How to tell if a product is really environmentally friendly
There are a lot of green pictures and buzzwords on the websites of most "eco-friendly" brands. But not all eco-friendly products are the same, and greenwashing is everywhere.
This is what you should really look for:
The packaging matters: Glass, aluminum, paper, or compostable materials are always better than plastic. Even better? There is no packaging at all for solid goods.
Ingredient transparency: Brands that list all their ingredients, not just the appealing ones, reveal they have nothing to hide. You get extra points if the ingredients are safe to eat.
Certifications: Check for B Corp, GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), USDA Organic, vegan, Leaping Bunny (no animal testing), and FSC (sustainable forestry).
Longevity: The best product is one that you can use for years, not just months. It's important to use quality materials, have a design that lasts, and be able to fix things.
Company values: Does the brand do anything to help the environment? Use energy that comes from nature? Pay workers fairly? Do you support regenerative farming? These facts show real dedication.
Let's discuss some specific areas of your life where you can have the most effect.
Beauty and personal care
This is where we throw away the most plastic. The beauty industry makes 120 billion packages every year, and most of them can't be recycled.
1. Use beauty products that are safe to eat.
What if your skincare was so pure that you could actually eat it?
Beauty products that are safe to eat have only food-safe ingredients and no synthetic chemicals, preservatives, or toxins. Why apply it to your skin if you wouldn't consume it? Your skin can take in up to 60% of what you put on it.
What to look for:
- Plant oils that have been cold-pressed, like coconut, jojoba, argan, and rosehip
- Organic essential oils for smell
- Preservatives that come from nature, like vitamin E
- Beeswax or plant waxes to give it texture
- No synthetic fragrances, parabens, sulfates, or phthalates
Just because something is edible-grade doesn't mean it tastes delicious. It just means that all of the ingredients are safe to eat. This feature is very important for things you use every day, like baby care products and lip products.
[Product Link: Edible-Grade Facial Serums Collection]
[Product Link: Organic Hair Oils Collection]
[Product Link: Handcrafted Welsh Facial Oils]
2. accept solid bar goods
Do you remember the coal plants in California? Huge, useless, and wasteful. That's what liquid beauty products are: plastic bottles full of water.
Solid bars don't need packaging and last two to three times longer than bottled options:
- Solid shampoo bars: Take the place of 2–3 plastic shampoo bottles
- Soap bars: No plastic, and they are usually wrapped in paper.
- Solid deodorant: options that don't contain aluminum and come in compostable packaging
- Solid facial cleansers: Don't need any preservatives
- Body butter bars: They melt when they touch your skin.
Pro tip: Keep bars on a soap dish with a hole in the bottom so they can dry between uses and last longer.
[Product Link: Handcrafted Soap Bars Collection]
[Product Link: Welsh Natural Cleansers]
3. Pick a deodorant that doesn't have aluminum.
Aluminum compounds in regular deodorants block sweat glands. Natural alternatives work in a different way: they kill bacteria that cause odors without stopping your body's natural detox process.
Check for:
Consider using baking soda or magnesium to eliminate odors.
- Use coconut oil or shea butter to make it easier to apply.
- Natural fragrance oils
- Packaging made of cardboard, glass, or compostable materials
When you switch from regular deodorant to natural deodorant, your body needs 2 to 3 weeks to get used to it. Keep going; it's worth it.
[Link to the product: Aluminum-Free Natural Deodorant]
4. Put money into oils that can be used for more than one thing.
The beauty industry wants you to buy many things. The zero-waste way? One bottle of pure oil does everything.
Facial oils of high quality can:
- Cleanse skin (oil breaks down oil)
- Put moisturizer on your face and body.
- Feed your hair and scalp
- Calm baby's skin
- Take off your makeup.
- Fix small cuts and burns
The best oils for many uses are coconut, argan, rosehip, squalane, and jojoba (which is closest to the skin's natural sebum).
[Product Link: Multi-Purpose Facial Oils]
[Link to product: Organic Hair Oils]
5. Think about baby care products again.
Baby skin is 30% thinner than adult skin, which means that chemicals can get into it faster and deeper. Baby food that is safe to eat is not just nice; it's necessary.
Change regular products for:
Baby oil is made from pure plant oils instead of oil from the ground.
- Soap bars made from plants instead of washes full of chemicals
- Diaper balms made with simple, natural ingredients
- Products that don't smell or smell like something natural (babies don't need to smell like fake lavender)
Don't put it on your baby's skin if you wouldn't feed it to them.
[Link to the product: Edible-Grade Baby Care Collection]
## Take care of your mouth.
Every year, Americans throw away a billion plastic toothbrushes. What about regular toothpaste? It comes in tubes that can't be recycled and has ingredients that aren't safe.
6. Change to natural toothpaste.
There are a lot more choices for organic, fluoride-free toothpaste now. Many of them now come in aluminum tubes or glass jars, both of which can be recycled.
Search for:
- Hydroxyapatite or calcium carbonate for remineralization
- Xylitol protects cavities naturally.
- Oils that smell pleasing (peppermint, tea tree, clove)
- No SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate), which can cause canker sores
- No fake colors or sweeteners
Toothpaste in a glass jar lasts longer than you might think. A little goes a long way.
[Link to product: Organic Natural Toothpaste]
7. Think about oral care that can be used again.
Think about the whole routine, not just the toothpaste:
- Bamboo toothbrushes with handles that can be composted
- Tongue scrapers made of stainless steel (buy once, use for life)
- Refillable glass containers with silk or plant-based dental floss
- Interdental brushes that can be used again
These small changes get rid of hundreds of plastic items over your lifetime.
[Link to Product: Zero-Waste Oral Care Essentials]
Dining and Cooking
The kitchen is where living without waste really works. We need to use less energy in California's renewable energy grid, and the kitchen is where we use the most.
8. Accept food storage that can be used again.
Bags and plastic wrap that can only be used once are harmful for the environment. Other options work better anyway.
Choices that can be used again:
- Bamboo lunchboxes: They last a long time, are light, and kill germs naturally.
- Bottles made of stainless steel: Keep drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 12.
- Beeswax food wraps can be shaped, washed, and composted after a year or more.
- Silicone bags can go in the freezer and the dishwasher.
- Glass containers: They last forever and don't smell.
The upfront cost pays for itself in a few months, unlike buying disposables all the time.
[Link to the Bamboo Lunchbox Collection]
[Link to product: Stainless Steel Bottles]
[Product Link: Eco-Friendly Kitchen Essentials]
9. Use materials that are beneficial for the environment when you cook.
The tools you use to cook are important. Cheap plastic spatulas let chemicals get into hot food. When heated, non-stick pans give off harmful fumes.
[Place for photo 7: Mediterranean-style wooden kitchen items—cutting board, bowl, and utensils together in a still life photo]
Better choices:
- Wooden cutting boards: Some types of wood are naturally antibacterial.
- Wooden utensils: They won't scratch pots and pans, and they won't melt.
- Wooden bowls: Pretty, long-lasting, and free of plastic
- Cast iron: With the right care, it can last for generations.
Not only is eco-friendly kitchenware better for the environment, it's also better for your health and often works better than plastic ones.
[Product Link: Handcrafted Mediterranean Cutting Boards]
[Product Link: Eco-Friendly Wooden Bowls]
[Link to the product: Wooden Kitchen Utensils Collection]
10. Cut down on food waste.
If food waste were a country, it would be the third biggest source of greenhouse gases after the US and China. What about all the clean energy California makes? If we throw away 40% of our food, it's a waste.
Plans:
- Plan your meals before you go shopping.
- Keep fruits and vegetables in the right place to keep them fresh longer.
- Compost scraps (even people who live in apartments can do bokashi composting).
- Use everything, like chicken bones for broth, broccoli stems, and carrot tops.
- Put extra food in the freezer before it goes stale.
Every meal you save from the trash saves the land, water, and energy that went into making it.
## Things you need on the go
A big part of California's shift to renewable energy was building up its electric vehicle infrastructure. In the same way, living sustainably means rethinking what we take with us when we leave the house.
11. Make a go-kit that doesn't waste anything.
Put these in your bag or car:
- A water bottle that can be used again and again.
- A small lunchbox for when you want to eat out on the fly.
- Coffee cup that can be used again (many cafes give discounts)
- A set of utensils made of metal or bamboo
- A handkerchief or cloth napkin
- A small box for leftovers
You can say no to single-use plastic in almost any situation with these things.
[Link to Product: Stainless Steel Water Bottles]
[Product Link: Portable Bamboo Lunchboxes]
12. Pick bags that are well-made and last.
Bags are part of fast fashion. Cheap synthetic backpacks and totes break down in less than a year, which is detrimental for the environment.
Better way:
- Vegan leather bags: long-lasting and made without animal products
- Organic cotton bags: can be washed in the machine and used for many things
- Simple designs: Styles that never go out of style
- Good construction: Strong zippers and reinforced stitching
Ten cheap bags that only last a year each are not as good as one well-made bag that lasts ten years.
[Link to the product: Vegan Leather Backpacks]
[Link to Product: Organic Cotton Tote Bags]
[Link to product: Minimalist Crossbody Bags]
## Things you need for your home
We need to replace wasteful home goods with more environmentally friendly ones, just like California did with coal infrastructure.
13. Pick natural fabrics.
Every time you wash synthetic fabrics, they lose microplastics. Each year, 500,000 tons of these end up in the ocean.
Natural options:
- Organic cotton: Grown without chemicals
- Bamboo: Grows quickly and doesn't need much water
- Linen: Strong and gets softer as it ages
- Hemp: the strongest natural fiber that lasts a long time
This is true for bags, towels, bedding, and clothes. Natural fibers break down over time, but polyester can last more than 200 years in landfills.
[Link to the Organic Cotton Bags Collection]
14. Make your cleaning routine easier.
There are 62 toxic chemicals in the average home, and most of them are in cleaning products. You don't need 20 different cleaners; you only need 5 things.
Cleaning supplies that don't waste anything:
- White vinegar (cuts through grease and kills germs)
- Baking soda (cleans and smells good)
- Castile soap (cleans all)
- Lemon juice (makes things brighter and fresher)
- Essential oils (natural scent, fight germs)
Put these together in glass spray bottles that will last for years. Less expensive, safer, and no plastic waste.
[Link to the product: Natural Cleaning Essentials Kit]
15. Buy less, pick better.
This is the most important piece of advice. California didn't just switch from coal to solar; they also made things work better so that less energy is needed overall.
Put this into practice:
- Ask yourself, "Do I really need this?" before you buy it.
- Pick quality that lasts over cheap that breaks.
- Fix it before you throw it away.
- When you can, buy used.
- Back brands that really care about the environment
The best way to be environmentally friendly is not to buy anything. The second best for the environment? One that will last a lifetime.
## Questions and Answers
Isn't it more expensive to not waste anything?
Costs up front may be higher, but costs over time are lower. You can use a $15 stainless steel bottle instead of thousands of disposable ones. A bar of organic soap that costs $25 lasts for 4 to 6 months. You don't have to replace quality items very often. Also, you'll spend less money overall if you stop buying things that are only good for one use.
**How do I get started without feeling overwhelmed?
Choose one category to begin with. This month, change up your personal care routine. Next quarter, work on the kitchen items. California didn't stop using coal all at once; they did it slowly over the course of years. The same method works for living without waste.
Do natural products work as well as regular ones?
A lot of the time, it's better. Natural oils are better at moisturizing than lotions made with petroleum. Tools made of wood last longer than those made of plastic. Castile soap works just as well as chemical cleaners. A long time ago, everything was "natural." Now, we think we need synthetic chemicals that we don't.
What if I can't buy all organic and eco-friendly things?
Put first things that touch your skin every day and things that store food that touch what you eat. These are the ones that affect health the most. When you can, buy used. Keep in mind that one sustainable swap is better than none. Moving forward instead of trying to be perfect.
**Can what one person does really make a difference?
Yes. Millions of people wanted clean energy, which is why California stopped using coal. The choices of consumers change the market. Brands listen when we say no to single-use plastic. More companies make sustainable products when we buy them. Individual actions taken together can change the system.
What about things I already own that aren't good for the environment?
Use them! Using what you already have is the best choice for the environment. Don't throw away perfectly good things just because they're not "eco-friendly." When they wear out naturally, replace them with things that are better for the environment.
The main point is
[Picture Insert Location 10: A completed zero-waste lifestyle—an image of different products from the mall arranged in a real-life space]
The end of coal mining in California shows that big changes can happen when values match up with actions. The state didn't wait for the best technology; they made the switch and figured it out as they went along.
The same goes for your journey to zero waste. You don't have to be perfect. You don't have to get rid of everything you own and start over. You just need to choose better things when it's time to get a new one.
Start with one change. Instead of synthetic lotion, it could be face oil that is safe to eat. It could be a bamboo lunchbox instead of throwaway containers. Instead of plastic ones, maybe it's wooden utensils that are made by hand.
Every choice is important. Every swap cuts down on plastic waste, gets rid of harmful chemicals, and helps brands build a better future. Every solar panel added to California's grid made the next one easier to add. The same is true for every sustainable product you choose.
The future is green, waste-free, and safe. We're putting it together, one smart purchase at a time.
We don't think that being environmentally friendly should mean giving up something. Every item we choose has to meet strict standards, like using ingredients that are safe to eat, packaging that doesn't waste anything, organic materials, and clear sourcing. We're here to help you live in a way that's good for the environment, safe, and pretty, from your skincare routine to your kitchen drawers.
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