Zero Waste Guide

Even small changes in our everyday lives can have a major impact

Reduce waste in your everyday life with our Zero Waste Guide.

Fruit and vegetables are spread out on a dark table.

Even small changes in our everyday lives can have a major impact

Reduce waste in your everyday life with our Zero Waste Guide.

12. July 2022 Sustainability

If you pay attention, you quickly notice how much waste we produce in almost every area of our life. However, a lot of it can be prevented. Food and beverage waste, for example.

Our guide offers zero waste tips to make just a few small changes in your life that will reduce the amount of waste you produce. And it's the small things that make a big difference. Here's how to get started with your zero waste lifestyle:

Buy things with little or no packaging. You can do this at Migros, where a lot of products are sold unpackaged, such as nuts, rice or cornflakes.

Put together a zero waste shopping kit: shopping and vegetable bags made of fabric and reusable containers so you can buy products with little or no packaging.

Be prepared to be spontaneous as well. Keep a shopping kit in all your bags or rucksacks. One or two thin fabric bags don't take up much space, and then you'll also be ready for unplanned purchases.

Avoid single-use packaging and cutlery. Do you like to drink coffee? Many coffee shops are happy to fill your reusable coffee cup. You can also bring your own coffee from home in a thermos flask or mug. Pack a set of cutlery so that you can avoid single-use plastics for your outdoor lunch break.

Get a durable, reusable drink bottle. You can take it everywhere with you and fill it with water or another drink whenever you need.

Pack your own food in reusable containers. For example, aluminium foil can be replaced with durable beeswax wrap.

If you do end up with some packaging waste, remember that PET, aluminium, glass, and cardboard can be recycled easily at the appropriate collection points. Pro tip: you can also recycle plastic bottles such as milk bottles, shampoo, detergent, creams, etc. at Migros.

Nature produces packaging too, such as banana peels or egg shells, and we can also recycle this. Collect peels, shells and other food waste in a separate compost container. You can either take it to a compost collection point or start your own compost pile, for example for your garden or the herbs on your balcony. Coffee grounds make especially good compost.