Anyone who is confronted with the zero waste philosophy for the first time and tries to apply it in their daily lives will find themselves facing potentially embarrassing situations. Depending on your degree of shyness or brazenness, each of us shakes shyness off with different timings. But it is always comforting to know that we are NOT ONLY.
Today we share with you the most embarrassing moments of zero waste life.
- The shopping:
Those who are lucky enough to live close to loose shops will probably start their journey right from there. Those who do not yet have this privilege will have to compare with what the surroundings offer: markets, second-hand shops, and the dreaded supermarket.
Many of you will recognize yourselves in this scene: the containers have been carefully prepared and are there, in the canvas bag, ready to be used. All you have to do is ask, at the end of the day. Instead, you find yourself doing three laps in front of the counter before finding the courage to ask the fateful question.
Asking to use your own container or bag is a break in the patterns, it puts us in awe because we have no idea how the person will react in front of us. Will he be able to understand the reasons for this? Will he look at us as if we were crazy?
Even if in the last year the sensitivity towards the theme of waste reduction has increased, that of using one's own containers remains a "particular" request, so it is certainly a good idea to ask very politely and with a smile: we are not weird, we simply have a goal!
Sometimes the request is granted, while others receive a refusal, for reasons of hygiene.
In some cases, despite a refusal, the clerks comfort us by expressing their solidarity, stressing that they would gladly do so but would risk dismissal. In these cases, it is up to us to be understanding (and at most to look for a way to change the rules!)
- The lunch break:
Another difficult moment in life (almost) zero waste is the lunch break. Those who do not have a company canteen equipped with ceramic dishes, those who do not have a trustworthy restaurant in which to eat without disposable, often find themselves buying takeaway food, obviously wrapped in plastic or polystyrene.
Even in this case, especially in the company of their colleagues, it can be difficult to dare and ask to take away the food ordered in their container. If the judgment of a stranger (the salesperson) can put you in trouble, that of your colleagues (or even your boss) can really send you into panic.
Breathe and do not panic, to live zero waste is necessary a good dose of spirit!
Also, in this case, decide with your own time, perhaps probing the ground a little 'before: you may even find that you are not alone.
- Grill/picnic/birthdays:
One of the best moments with friends. Grilled cobs as if there were no tomorrow on the plate...? Ceramic!
Yes.
Grills, birthday parties, picnics, are generally the realm of disposable use. With a bit of nerve, you can present yourself with your own ceramic saucers, camping cutlery and reusable glasses.
In this case, the embarrassment rises to the stars because you are confronted with relatives and friends and sometimes this behavior can be interpreted as rudeness, or seen as a criticism.
It is up to each of us to assess how far we should go, but also, in this case, explaining with great kindness why some friends might follow the example.
Is being zero waste embarrassing?
The question that is often asked in these situations is: why is it that something that is good for me and for the planet generates so much embarrassment?
Sometimes yes, but only because it is a change from the current disposable mentality and we humans are extraordinarily habitual. It's strange, it's new (even though our grandparents were actually zero waste of all) and so it will take a while before it becomes (or rather returns to being) normal.
How to proceed in these cases? Everyone has to do what they feel: none of us is perfect (we wrote about it here) and there is not a solution that suits everyone.
A good method is to smile, start with a greeting, point out from the beginning that the request may seem a bit 'special and above all, never forget to use "please".
In many cases, it is worth trying to overcome this initial embarrassment and with a bit of luck, you might even find people already sensitive to the subject and discover that why not, sometimes the limits are just in our heads?
And for you? What are the most embarrassing moments of zero waste life?