The holidays are just around the corner and in an effort to give less disposable stuff, I’ve created a zero-waste present list.

I’ve been doing this a long time and let’s just say it’s a zero-waste adventure. I’ve been bouncing ideas off Alex Fischer, who runs impactfull zero waste refinery and pantry in Penticton, and we’ve been trading tips on the good, the bad and the ugly.

First, the reusable bag. Alex and I agree the best reusable bag is the one you remember to bring with you. Hers is a much-mended canvas bag from the farmer’s market. Mine are a tiny stuff-sack bag from the Japanese dollar store and a big heavy duty canvas bag with a zipper. The latter is from Mamlyn and has survived three years of hard use and washes.

My family is never going to buy any food storage containers. We are up to our ears in re-washed Ziplock bags, take-out containers and re-purposed glass jars. Alex, keeping in mind chemicals released from misusing single-use plastics, loves Stasher Bags and Onyx stainless steel containers.

Makeup drives us to single-use products but in our house we love Greenzla washable makeup remover pads. A big fail was the LastSwab Makeup, meant to replace cotton swabs. My kiddo says it smears, rather than sharpens eye makeup. (Alex wasn’t a big fan of LastSwab either).

I don’t see the point........

© Castanet