Living in a way that minimizes the amount of waste we produce.
Corporate Level
Companies can be a part of the zero waste movement by making products with materials that can be easily taken apart and reused for a new purpose. This is called the cradle-to-cradle process: making things that can easily be made into new items, or going from the birth of one product to the birth of another. One company that strives towards this zero waste goal is General Motors. In the initial stages of design and construction, GM makes their cars out of reusable materials and now boasts 131 landfill-free facilities. Overall, the company has avoided putting 2.6 million tons of waste into landfills. It is clearly possible for corporations to reduce their waste production and strive towards the goal of generating minimal waste.
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Personal Level
As individuals, we can join this movement by transforming our lifestyles. Many have found success in reducing their consumption of packaged products, and buying organic goods instead. After consuming these goods, they compost the food scraps, which makes for a more nutrient rich soil. Also, buying goods "in bulk," or from stores that sell goods exclusively in dispensers, the amount of waste needed to transport and protect the goods is almost completely eliminated. Finally, methods of producing home-made hygiene products, including soap and toothpaste, help reduce the amount of waste we create by purchasing them from stores.
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