Many of us know that the planet is in a pretty rough state. We no longer need Bill Nye to tell us that. We asked Gittemarie Johansen, who educates people about the benefits of a zero-waste lifestyle, why the movement isn't more popular under the circumstances. "I think there is a big disconnect between our actions and our impact," she says. "Climate change is still a very distant phenomenon to many consumers, even though we can see it with our own eyes every day."

"Through years and years of marketing and advertising, consumers today have also learned that we have the right to all types of convenience at any time we want. Both the fast food and the fast fashion industries are examples of this. In many ways, I think we're putting our own flee[t]ing pleasure above what is beneficial to the planet or our local communities."

"I think we're often led to believe that our individual actions won't matter – that's all about the big corporations, and don't get me wrong, they have a massive impact. I have found the zero-waste movement to be a great way to prevent hopelessness, which is easy to fall into today. But actually doing something, zero waste or not, is just so massively important."

Gittemarie says that sometimes people misunderstand what zero-waste actually is. "There might also be a misrepresentation of what zero-waste is – chances are, you're already doing a lot of zero-waste actions. It's not about being 100% perfectly zero-waste; that's impossible in a society not designed for it, but it's about being mindful of how we consume and use materials and products. We need more people to see the connection between the small actions and the big picture."

"Trying to live as sustainably as possible, of course, has its own challenges. My biggest challenge has been my expectations of myself and how 'zero' waste I can be," Gittemarie tells Bored Panda. "It took me a while to realize that it's not about perfection but simply trying."

"We're often quite limited by the options available to us: if we have a market, a bulk store, a compost, a good thrift [shop], etc. But everyone can participate, regardless of [their] budget and shopping options. It's about doing what you can."

Another interesting thing Gittemarie discovered when she started living the zero-waste lifestyle was that our physical trash doesn't fully represent the impact we have on the planet.

"Packaging only accounts for a very small part of a product's impact. What the product is is much more important than how it's packaged. As such, beef bought in bulk still has a bigger negative impact than lentils or veggie protein in a plastic bag," Gittemarie explains. "And it's important not to hyper-focus on the small stuff and continue to look at the bigger picture."

For those looking to start their zero-waste journey, Gittemarie advises people to look at the bigger picture. "I would love to give three tips, like use a tote bag, bring your water bottle, and say no to straws, but I have a slightly different approach. Reduce what you buy, limit your spending to what is necessary, and look for preloved, second-hand options before buying from new."

"Sustainable living doesn't have to be perfect to be valid," Gittemarie says. "And no one is perfect anyway, so there is [that]. Simply doing anything has a positive impact. Start thinking about reusable things instead of relying on disposables whenever possible. Remember that the most sustainable products are what you already have; being zero waste doesn't mean running out and buying tons of cute swaps; reuse what you have for as long as you can," Gittemarie advises.

We as the human species are putting more and more effort into safeguarding our planet by opting for more sustainable lifestyles. In fact, people born between 1997 and 2012 are the most eco-conscious generation yet. They have been taught from a young age that we are in a climate crisis and that physical pollution contributes to it directly.

Lately, governments are taking more action to decrease global pollution. In 2022, 175 UN member states voted to adopt a Global Plastics Treaty by 2025. What's the use of it, you ask? The treaty would aim to hold countries to a higher standard regarding plastic consumption and pollution. That includes banning single-use plastics and excessive packaging and implementing specific design requirements for plastic items.

The World Wildlife Organization, together with other organizations, has urged leaders to come up with a united strategy for many years. They claim that 9 to 14 million tons of plastic end up in our oceans each year. What's worse, if we go at this rate, it will most likely triple by 2040, ushering in a serious plastic pollution crisis.

Some might say that tackling this problem at a national level might be more effective. Governments can cater to their country's needs better and are more familiar with the extent of pollution. Yet the data says otherwise. The WWF claims that national and voluntary actions have increased by 60%, but plastic pollution has still continued to increase by 50%.

These are, of course, commitments by governments and transnational organizations. But there's a bottom-up approach, too: consumers can try to be more pollution-conscious. That's where the zero-waste movement comes in. It's about reducing the waste that you produce as a consumer and minimizing your carbon footprint.

Bea Johnson, the author of the bestselling book and blog Zero Waste Home, popularized the 5 Rs, which have become the pillars of the zero-waste movement. The 5 Rs stand for Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot. They have replaced the previous 3 Rs that we were taught to live by: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. The zero-waste movement, in turn, emphasizes minimalism and decluttering.

That's why "Refuse" is at the front of the motto. Johnson told The Zero Waste Collective in an interview that even by adopting the three Rs, lots of waste was still coming into her home, like freebies, samples, and junk mail. So, "Refuse" might be the hardest principle to implement in your everyday life.

"From experience, I can attest that it only is for a few weeks," Johnson said. "That is until you have learned to not reach out when something is handed to you, and you have found your go-to refusal sentence."

Companies may claim that their products are compatible with a zero-waste lifestyle, "biodegradable," "plastic-free," or "plastic-neutral." However, a lot of times, these claims can be dishonest and just plain greenwashing.

For example, companies just slap a recycling symbol on their packaging, even if their product is not accepted by recycling facilities. The truth is that only 9% of plastics ever produced have been recycled, and 19% have been incinerated.