Zero Waste with Kids - How it works

Leading a zero-waste lifestyle with children is exhausting and complicated? Not necessarily. Children do have different needs and life with them is a little more difficult to coordinate. However, a low-waste, sustainable life is also possible with children. We show you how. 

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If you decide as a family to adopt a zero (or rather “less”) waste lifestyle, the most important thing to realize right from the start is that nobody’s perfect! To avoid frustration, it makes sense to be aware that nobody really lives a zero waste lifestyle and that it can be challenging, especially with children.

The great thing is that as a family you can make a contribution on several levels. Because if you give your children an environmentally conscious lifestyle from the start, you are raising people who will naturally act sustainably in the future and will pass on this way of thinking.  

It is important to explain to children why you make certain decisions as a family. Only when children can understand why you organize your everyday life a little differently than others will they be happy to participate and develop a love of sustainability.

babies

Let's start with the very youngest: babies. After a child is born, a lot of waste usually accumulates pretty quickly. Diapers, baby food, products and clothing that become redundant or too small within a few weeks.

A nice trend that seems to be gaining ground is renting clothes. Products such as baby beds or changing tables can now also be rented temporarily. Most cities offer similar services. This saves money and waste at the same time. After all, babies grow so quickly and their needs change so rapidly that it is only logical to pass on and share products and items of clothing.

Diapers can be replaced with reusable diapers made from alternative materials. For example, there are diapers made from bamboo fibers, which are particularly absorbent and very soft and gentle on the baby's bottom. Combined with a Peenut overpants, the diaper is also waterproof. Here, too, it doesn't have to be perfect. If you don't have the time or nerves now and then and you resort to a classic disposable diaper, then that's just the way it is.

There are also ways to be more environmentally friendly and body-friendly when it comes to skincare. Especially when it comes to the skin of the little ones, it is worth using high-quality, natural products. Our bath milk for babies, for example, is particularly mild and gentle and contains only high-quality, natural raw materials that are ideally matched to one another. The skin-soothing bath, which supports the baby's skin function, does not contain any additives or fragrances that could irritate sensitive baby skin.

Even plastic pacifiers can now be replaced with more tolerable alternatives. Babies have very delicate, permeable oral mucosa, which is why it is worth choosing carefully. Pacifiers made of natural rubber do not provide any breeding ground for germs and give the baby a feeling of being close to the skin. At the same time, the pacifier does not contain any plastic.  

toddlers

Small children require a lot of attention. They constantly want to be played with and entertained. As parents, you want to have enough popular toys at home to keep the little ones busy. Family and friends are usually happy to help with this. To ensure that the little rascals don't disappear into plastic straight away, it's worth setting a few guidelines.

In a sensitive conversation, you can, for example, tell your extended family how much you are pleased about the presents for your own children - but that you are even happier about sustainable, plastic-free toys. Why does it have to be the plastic version when you can get yo-yos , skipping ropes and spinning tops in much nicer wood? A single high-quality toy is much nicer anyway than five cheap plastic products that break quickly. This way, the environment is protected, money is saved and the child can enjoy their new favorite toy for a really long time.

Another way to teach your child a few moral principles is to have a rule that for every new toy, an old one must be handed in. Many parents now do this. It can be helpful to discuss this with the parents of the child's friends and establish a rule for everyone. That way, no one feels disadvantaged. By the way, toys, just like children's clothes, can be rented instead of bought in many places.

schoolchildren

As soon as they start school, children suddenly need all sorts of new materials. Fortunately, there are now a wide range of sustainable alternatives to conventional products. A lunch box made of stainless steel instead of plastic, vegan brushes and plant-based watercolor paint for art classes, or a beautiful wooden ruler - school has long been environmentally friendly.  

The little ones can also get used to environmental awareness in the bathroom. Our 2 in 1 shampoo and shower gel for children is particularly fun. The solid natural cosmetics from the show with the mouse smell wonderfully of fresh apple and are biodegradable and climate neutral. On top of that, the packaging is also FSC certified and completely plastic-free. The best extra that pleases young and old alike: thanks to the extra care additive of almond oil, shea and cocoa butter, the hair can then be combed particularly easily without much pulling. The solid shampoo is a very simple way to bring children into contact with zero waste without having to turn the whole household upside down.  

There are also alternatives when it comes to brushing teeth. Our OU bamboo toothbrush, for example, is available for small mouths. Combined with the orange-flavored toothpaste in a glass jar, it makes quite a difference. We recommend changing one at a time and letting the children try out different things.

More on the topic of school? Click here for our article

children's birthday party  

The first big children's birthdays are quickly approaching and need to be celebrated appropriately. How can such a birthday be organized with as little packaging and as sustainably as possible? At first, that doesn't seem so easy - but it also offers a great opportunity to lovingly pass on your own ideals.  

Implementation simply requires a little rethinking at the beginning. With today's tools, the invitations can also be designed digitally and sent to the parents. Instead of wrapping paper, you can reuse old gift bags that you once received yourself or use newspaper. For classic games such as pin the tail on the donut or scavenger hunt, you can easily use sweets from the unpackaged store, as well as for the ingredients for the cake.

What to give as a gift?

When choosing a gift, you need a little creativity. Of course, non-material gifts are always a great idea, such as riding lessons, a dance class or a few days on the farm. Sustainability can also be taken into account when choosing books: It is worth looking out for books without plastic covers and you can also give the little ones something to take away with them when choosing a topic. We find the children's book for everyone aged 5 and over, "The little polar bear who got too warm," particularly cute and educational. A story about climate change and how we can all help to make less hot air. In a playful way, the little ones are shown what climate change means and what can be done about it. Slightly older children will enjoy the workbook "Discover the plastic rebel in you," which explains the global problem of plastic waste in a child-friendly way.

Gifts that encourage creativity always bring great joy. Climate justice and crafting fun do not have to be mutually exclusive! The so-called sprout pencils can be drawn down to small stumps and planted in the soil. This creates a plant-based surprise that will bring joy to children and parents for a long time to come.  

For smaller children, we have our wax crayon drops . The handy drop shape makes it possible to create painterly designs with strong lines and large surfaces. Due to the processing of carefully selected waxes and organic pigments, the colors are harmless, non-toxic and very long-lasting.

Less Waste also works with kids

Even if it may seem overwhelming at first, with a little advance planning and a spirit of innovation, family life can also be designed to be as sustainable as possible and with minimal packaging. The children don't have to make any compromises. On the contrary, they are also encouraged to be creative and learn an environmentally conscious lifestyle from an early age, which, as sad as it sounds, they will definitely need in the future.