In this episode, I’m chatting with Alysha (@the.sustainable.scientist), a 30 year-old from Auckland New Zealand, who lives in an apartment with her partner and their cat - Slippers.
She's passionate about environmental sustainability and started her zero waste journey a couple of years ago.
In this conversation, we talk about Alysha’s zero waste journey, the challenges she’s faced, veganism, supporting well-being and the importance of not being too hard on ourselves.
I had such a lovely conversation with Alysha, and a really enjoyable chat, I hope you find it enjoyable and useful too!
Her zero waste journey began after Bea Johnson Came to NZ to talk about zero waste – she only produced 1 jar of plastic waste every 5 years!!!. Alysha was so inspired by her and became motivated to embark on living a more zero waste life.
5 R’s of Zero Waste
Refuse – e.g. junk mail, plastic straws, disposable cups, packaging etc.
Reduce – reduce what’s coming in in the first place! simplify!! Only buying what you need, not falling in to consumerism trap!!
Reuse – encouraging push back against our disposable culture. If something is still functioning and you use it, keep using it! If something breaks, try to repair it before deciding to throw it away. Make things last, and value what you already have.
Recycle – notice how recycling is quite low down the list. It is not the most efficient/sustainable solution.
Rot – Composting. Alysha talks through different options we have for composting our food waste, along with why it’s so important to do it if we can!
When it came to consumption of products, her thought pattern used to be “the cheaper the better, quantity over quality” but now that has reversed. She tries to buy quality, second hand, repair what she already has to extend its life.
Thinking about what happens to the things you buy when you’re finished with them, there is not really an ‘away’.
Challenges:
Low hanging fruit – Easier steps – keep cup, reusable bag, things you don’t have to change a lot, just remember to take them with you.
Medium height – A bit more challenging – going to zero waste/bulk store with your jars, making your own cleaning products.
More difficult again – for Alysha, that has been finding plastic free tofu, making her own bread to avoid plastic packaging, finding vegan butter not in plastic.
Being out with friends – takeaways in plastic, are there vegan options? Can be alienating at times. Anxiety when can’t control what happens, whether there is waste. Its okay to slip up, be kind to ourselves and not beat ourselves up.
Working full-time – these things take time. Alysha really enjoys doing these things, so she’s happy to take the extra time. Recognises this isn’t possible for everyone – working commitments, if you have a family, depending where you live etc.
COVID19 – she works in a microbiology lab, so working times increased, 6 days a week, so a very busy time (she makes COVID tests).
Her job – Doesn’t currently align with her morals. Working in a lab, which is very plastic heavy BUT in some situations the use of plastic is necessary. More of a reason to be responsible with our purchases, not using plastic when it isn’t necessary.
Hobbies – Loves dancing. Active wear often contains plastic materials – solution? Buys second hand or invest in a sustainable alternative – recycled polyester.
PLASTIC FREE JULY – Really helped her tackle the high hanging fruits, perhaps knowing it’s only for a month helps you commit to it, then you may realise some of the changes weren’t as hard as you thought they would be, so easier for them to stick long term.
Plastic has become such a convenience thing. People get used to that level of convenience, and rather than questioning can just go along with it, and fall into the habit. Once you start seeing plastic, it really is everywhere!!!
Tips:
Quick and simple bread recipes:
Motivation:
Easy things and medium level have stayed– changed habits and enjoyed doing them, and didn’t find them too hard. A few things are slipped back on. But her passion fuels it so she hasn’t found motivation too difficult.
Documentaries – upsetting and motivating to keep going.
Try to focus on what you can do. What changes can you make to help? Your actions can influence others – ripple effect. Sharing tips with others 😊
Discussing Veganism:
I’ve always loved animals. From a young age, you are educated to believe animals are cared for/respected in the wild/outside, but when on your plate its food.
Realising my actions weren’t in line with my morals, I had to change my actions.
Always been vegan at heart, just hadn’t been living by my morals.
"Sort of odd how we are brought up to think eating meat and other animal products is normal and we don’t really question it."
VEGAN DELI IN AUCKLAND – HOW AWESOME
Often we let fear govern our decisions – we know its not usually logical but we can put this above other values e.g. COVID19 and plastic.
Fear of change, doubts rooted in fear that can stop you from trying things. Fear of being different?
Asking for vegan options in cafes – at first I felt apologetic – why?? Trust in your values, focus on that rather than letting your fear get in the way. The cause is bigger than just you. The more people asking for vegan options, the more likely it is there will be more vegan options. We can lay the foundations to make it easier for others who follow.
Mindfulness – Alysha has meditated for as long as she’s been vegan. Helped with managing anxieties/stresses, helping with the inner voice not being so mean if she slips up.
Having a non vegan partner – wasn’t too challenging. Would prefer if was vegan. Respect his choices. He respects shes vegan, he’s happy to eat vegan. Doesn’t eat much meat anyway. Reducing so maybe he’ll get there one day. Switched to almond milk 😊 slowly making changes. Harder for guys – social pressure. Idea that eating meat is manly, he grew up on a farm. Pressure to be a certain way. He respects the zero waste thing too – which is the most important thing for Alysha. His support has really helped.
She realised she’s living quite differently from most people she knows. This led her to creating a social media account to share these things, and hopefully inspire even just one person to make a sustainable choice/swap/learn about it.
BALANCING PASSIONS – challenging. always active, has to be careful not to do too much and burn out. I'm the same!! It's about learning not to say yes to everything, which is definitely a challenge many of us face.
Loves to travel – environmental implications – Definitely something to re-evaluate, consider whether it is 'necessary'.
“Some people might thing I’m extreme, not buying things in plastic. Other people might not think I’m doing enough. You just have to find what works for you and be kind to yourself”
“Just because there are things in our society that seem normal, doesn’t mean that they are okay”. We’ve normalised things that should NOT be normal.
APP – Share Waste. Not sure if in the UK. But if it is where you live definitely check it out if you can't compost yourself!
How do you find a little bit of Lagom in your life?
"After a busy week, I gave myself the evening off. I could have done something, but instead I decided to take a break. I’m trying to learn that it’s okay to not be ‘productive’ all the time, ant to take a break and relax."
Meditation helps a lot with that. Recognising negative thought patterns before they do into a downward spiral. Soften perfectionist tendencies.
Getting outside, exercise to help mental health.
Instagram – so many beautiful feeds. Looking perfect. Don’t compare yourself with that. It's not the entire story.
Don’t be so afraid of failure that it stops you making positive changes. We will all slip up but that’s okay. It’s a journey and we are all learning.
You can find Alysha on Instagram:
@the.sustainable.scientist
Shout out to @education_earth – thank you for your lovely feedback!! I hope you’re still enjoying the podcast 😊
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