There is very good news for all young families with green intentions: for a while now, nurseries can put a sticker on the window to indicate that washable nappies are welcome. And the babies hoisted in them too, of course. The woman who came up with this and many other great initiatives is Elisah Pals, founder of Zero Waste Netherlands, climate mayor of Breda and greenfluencer.
Zero Waste Netherlands: what can we learn from founder Elisah?
As a climate psychologist, she is well-versed in the ins and outs of human behaviour when it comes to sustainable choices. When she began her own adventure in reducing waste, she realised that real positive change requires many more people. She therefore turned her own lifestyle into a civic initiative: Zero Waste Netherlands. What can we learn from this zero waste advocate and her initiative?
Tell me, how is this zero waste community going?
‘Sixty thousand people have now joined us through various channels and there are 72 Zero Waste communities in the Netherlands. All those tens of thousands of people inspire each other and also others who want to start reducing their own waste mountain. And that's great, because quite a few people wonder what they can do as individuals to keep their bins as empty as possible. And that's important, because it sometimes seems like we don't have a waste problem in the Netherlands, but we buy and consume our way around three times. About five hundred kilos of waste per inhabitant per year. And that makes the average Dutchman one of the world's top polluters. And that can be done differently. Our people are showing it!’
A word about those nappies. How did you come up with the idea of the sticker?
‘Working with Laura Beijn of the Diaper House opened up a world of knowledge to me. A baby produces as much waste per year in disposable nappies alone as an entire family. Even if you replaced one nappy a day with a washable one, that saves 365 nappies in the bin. What a waste saving that would be if you switched! It might take some getting used to for parents and carers at nurseries, but the environmental benefits are huge. That's how we came up with the idea for the sticker. Parents can very easily see through that sticker that nurseries welcome washable nappies and thus make a big step. And the nurseries themselves have a positive image by being green. Plus it saves them money, not only on nappy purchase but also on waste disposal. And children are potty-trained a year earlier on average with washable nappies. That saves a lot of changing.’
Getting started with a zero waste life: Elisah helps you get started!
The nappy stickers are not the only stickers you came up with. There was also already the Zero Waste sticker, of course. Where can we find those?
‘Making sure you buy as many groceries as possible without packaging is, in my opinion, a very good way to reduce your waste mountain. That's why we organise walking tours to show how to do that. We don't just look at the special packaging-free shops, because there are only a few of those in the Netherlands, but rather the places where everyone can go, such as the market, the greengrocer, the toko and the sweet shop. In such places, you can bring your own reusable bags, bags and jars. Seven thousand Dutch shops are already plastered with the Zero Waste window sticker, making sure you can bring your own packaging there. That's how we lower the thresholds. Anyway, the plastic bags for fruit and vegetables are going to disappear from the supermarket, so it's useful to get used to bringing your own stuff already.’
Apart from daily shopping, you haven't bought anything new for six years, a record! How then?
‘With everything I might need, I ask myself: do I really need it? Can I do it with something else I already have? Can I borrow it, rent it or swap it? By not buying stuff, you also naturally generate less waste. After all, everything you ever buy ends up in the landfill at some point. At birthdays, I usually give something that can be used up, like a homemade cake. Or I take someone to the theatre or the cinema. Then we also have time for each other. And if I really have to buy something myself, it's second-hand. That too can take some getting used to for people, but if you just explain why you do it, people usually understand and maybe next time they'll do it themselves too!’
Do you have another tip for people who want to start producing less waste but are not quite sure how yet? As a brand-new climate mayor, you obviously know all about that.
‘Take your time and don't want to do everything at once. Don't know how to tackle something at all? Then start with something else that you can oversee and work from your bin: what do you have a lot of waste from? Start easy. Anything you don't know yet, let it go. That will come later. Sometimes just one step can have a huge effect. The main goal right now? Change norms and lower thresholds. Let disposables become taboo. Reusing and consuming is the future. If I can contribute to that social change, then I will be a happy man.’ Want to know more? Check out the website of Zero Waste Netherlands.
Order the washable welcome sticker here! This sticker was developed in collaboration with Laura Beijn of the Diaper House.
Order the zero waste window sticker here!
Do you know a greener doer who deserves a stage?
Are you or do you know someone who is also engaging in some form of sustainable living in an inspiring way? And do you think he/she also deserves a stage on thegreenlist.nl? Feel free to send an e-mail!
More sustainable inspiration from thegreenlist.nl
- If you want to get started with a sustainable lifestyle on more levels, check out this list of free tests that will help you on your way.
- Do you also want to do more work on a sustainable lifestyle? Then check out the interview with Manu from Climate Talks.
- Ever thought about the waste caused by sanitary pads and tampons? Then check out: Permanent menstruation, what's that like?
Photo credits: Mattijs van Dalen (main image), Laura Beijn (sticker) Veerle Roest (@veers_art) (illustration:).
