My serious interest in sustainability and ecology started around 2008 when I was 19. It was my 1st year since I left Poland and moved to the UK.

Ironically it was Primark (Fast fashion, very cheap and unsustainable clothing chain store in England) that got me started on my #reusablenation habits. There I bought my first tote bag saying “Love The Earth” (I still have it!). I was using it to carry around my things, instead of a regular handbag. I also used it to do small grocery shopping and carry clothes and other items bought from shops. Soon enough, I got myself another one, that I carried in my backpack with the idea, that I’ll never have to ask for a bag.

I don’t think I knew then, how very serious the plastic problem was becoming, but I was aware of the fact that soft plastic is almost impossible to recycle. I also knew that humanity is slowly wiping out many animal species, not only byhunting, but by reducing their habitat for industrial purposes. I wanted to do my best to reduce my impact on the environment.  

Living in England I embraced a popular habit here – coffee to go. Oh, I loved my lattes (drank with cow’s milk at the time) and I stopped at a local coffee shop almost every day. After about a month, I realized that this habit was making me generate a lot of rubbish (even though I still thought the cups were recyclable), so I went to a household shop and got myself a (stainless steel and plastic) travel mug. Put a Shiva sticker on it and always kept it in my bag. I also got myself a Tupperware box for take-out lunch and leftovers from restaurants. 

Next to improve was health and beauty. This was relatively easy, as I grew up with my mum who used oats to wash her face (we still do that) and for health issues, we used homoeopathy, herbs and tinctures(We never rejected conventional medicine, just chose not to trust it blindly). 

After this was more natural cleaning. In both cases, my main concern was animal testing, so first I moved away from companies that used those tests and eventually started making my own.  I started buying 2^nd hand clothing at around 13 years old as I always loved the original style. It was more affordable for a teenager too. It developed further because of living in the UK and all the charity shops (thrift shops where people bring their unwanted items to be re-sold to benefit charity). If I can’t find what I need there, then I use eBay. And then I reuse the envelopes to sell the items that I no longer need. In my 3,5 years of living and travelling in Thailand, I learnt some basics of farming, natural building, keeping chickens and developed my passion for upcycled art, using driftwood, shells and trash found on the beach sides of the roads. Fast forward 11 years and my life now is much different than it was then. I developed many new and conscious habits and included a lot of ecological swaps. I still use my tote bags for everything. My travel mug, lunch box and cutlery are now made out of bamboo and I have a stainless steel water bottle. I make my cleaning solutions for the entire house. I make my laundry powder and use soap nuts to do my laundry and shampoo. I use oils for beauty and make my cosmetics including peelings, deodorant, body butter and more(but not toothpaste, I just can’t stand baking soda in my mouth). I use paper stem cotton buds. Wash hands with bar soap. Use a bamboo toothbrush and silk floss in a glass jar. I buy most of my food loose at local markets rather than plastic-ridden supermarkets. Grow my herbs, salad and sprouts. I shop for pantry items at bulk stores. Refill my dishwashing liquid at a local store and wash with a loofah sponge. I prepare 90% of the food I eat. Use wax wraps to cover my food. Compost my food waste. Make my kombucha. Reuse glass jars and bottles I gazillion ways. I Buy 80% of my clothing, books, household items and decorations, electronics and other necessities in 2^nd  hand shops and if I need to buy new I make sure it’s sustainable and fair-trade wherever possible. I have stainless steel straws for coconuts in the tropics. I use reusable feminine hygiene products for my menstruation. I make presents for my friends and family. I offset my carbon emissions when I travel. Avoid palm oil. Take short showers. Always turn off lights and appliances when not in use. Recycle and upcycle. In the end, all the plastic waste which I produce (receipts, bus tickets, stickers from fruits, occasional packaging, sellotape etc) I clean, cut and stuff into the eco-bricks.  Make no mistake in thinking that I am perfect or #zerowaste. I am not. But every day, in every way, I am getting better and better (my affirmation). Each day I am conscious about the effect my choices have on the world. I always try to make sure it’s a positive one. As you can see it’s not an overnight miracle but a steady, daily practice of new habits. I use social media both to get inspired and inspire others with those small and big changes. Zero waste is a phrase that gained popularity in the modern world. I think that’s why people often give up because they don’t think it’s possible. It’s not. But it doesn’t mean that we should stop trying. To be zero waste you would have to live in a forest full time. I think the term low waste is much more attainable and realistic. Take small steps every day. We have huge power, as individuals and societies, and we influence the future we want for us and the next generations. We vote for it with the way we live our lives and how we spend our money.