Zero Waste Blog

When people think of Portland, Oregon, they think of bridges, bike paths, microbreweries, and coffee houses. The word “eco-friendly” might even come to mind, which is exactly what I imagined when I moved to Portland last summer. As someone living waste free, I knew that I needed to move to a city filled with bulk bins, second hand stores, and alternative packaging options. If you haven’t heard of the term zero waste or waste free before, it means that I attempt to send as lit

When I was first planning my visit to Quito, Ecuador this summer, I didn't have high expectations of my ability to live zero waste in the city. After my experience two summers ago in Mexico with Styrofoam plates and cups at every restaurant, I was quick to assume my time in Ecuador would be similar. Thankfully I can report that I was very wrong. Quito has quite a passion for sustainability when it comes to plastic reduction and I found that being zero waste there just involve

It seems like every pantry these days is filled with beautiful glass jars layered with colorful bulk goods. And rightfully so! Buying in bulk dramatically reduces the need for plastic packaging and can also save you money if done systematically. But how, you might ask, do you actually buy in your own jars? In this blog post I'll walk you through step by step how to tare your jars and purchase items in bulk. By the end of this tutorial, buying goodies in your own jar will be a