The movement toward zero waste has gained incredible momentum in recent years, as more people recognize the importance of protecting our environment and taking action toward a sustainable future for all.
As we continue to see the effects of climate change, more community leaders and online influencers are embracing the zero waste lifestyle and making it easier for others to do the same.
The benefits of zero waste are vast, from reducing our carbon footprint to creating jobs and supporting local economies.
Let’s be honest, though, the idea of even getting started can seem overwhelming and unrealistic.
It’s important to remember that zero waste is not (I repeat: not) about being perfect (or having the most aesthetic-looking bamboo cutlery set), but rather a lifestyle shift that takes time and effort — and probably won’t leave you with exactly “zero” waste. Still, your efforts to minimize your environmental impact are meaningful, and you’ll need support as you venture toward more sustainable living.
This is where the power of zero waste blogs comes in.
Zero waste blogs offer an archive of helpful information, tips, and advice to inspire and motivate us to make small but meaningful changes to our existing routines.
From DIY recipes for seasoned zero wasters to helpful beginner tips for those just starting out, these blogs provide valuable resources (and fun online communities) to support you and our planet.
We’ve compiled some of the best zero waste blogs to bring you a little closer to finding what you need. (We may have gone down way too many zero waste rabbit holes and watched hours of DIY videos in the process.)
These bloggers have the most helpful content to guide you to take action in and out of the home while promoting sustainable consumption, supporting circularity, and raising awareness about today’s most pressing issues.
Best Zero Waste Blogs for Tips, Recipes, and DIY Projects
Zero Waste Home
Bea Johnson — the mastermind behind Zero Waste Home — is regarded as “the mother of the zero waste movement.” She turned her at-home lifestyle into a global movement in 2008 when she introduced the trash jar, a pint-sized container she uses to fit her family’s annual garbage. (Check out what her trash jars have looked like throughout the years!)
Johnson’s blog, Zero Waste Home, is a simple yet informative platform that has inspired a global community of zero waste enthusiasts. She covers topics from tips on zero waste kitchen hacks to plastic-free traveling and sustainable fashion choices.
What’s good:
- 100 Tips To Get To Zero Waste: A free starter guide to waste-free living with over 100 tips on how to slowly begin eliminating waste in your home.
- “Zero Waste Home” by Bea Johnson: One of the most comprehensive resources on all things zero waste. It’s been translated into 28 languages!
- Bulk Finder app: Making package-free locations easy to share and find worldwide with 10,000 locations in 100 countries … and growing daily!
Trash is for Tossers
In 2012, environmental activist, blogger, and entrepreneur Lauren Singer was inspired by Bea Johnson’s Trash Jar and decided to incorporate it into her lifestyle. Singer shocked the internet with this challenge and soon inspired even more environmentally conscious consumers to do the same.
In 2014 she launched Trash is for Tossers, a now-popular zero waste lifestyle blog and online resource that educates folks on how to live a waste-free life.
You’ll find tips, tricks, and tools for reducing waste, insight into environmental issues (and what can be done to solve them) as well as cost-effective recipes, guides, and DIYs.
What’s good:
- Zero Waste Natural Cold Remedy: Singer shares her natural (low waste) medicine recipe that helps prevent colds — and helps you through the duration of one if you’re already feeling under the weather.
- Why I live a zero waste life - TEDxTeen: Singer brought the concept of Zero Waste to millions through her inspiring 2015 TedxTeen talk.
- Reducing Your Waste In College: This is a great guide for students seeking ways to reduce their waste and save money!
Going Zero Waste
After Kathryn Kellogg received a shocking health scare in 2015, she was inspired to educate others on improving their health while helping the planet.
Her blog, Going Zero Waste, provides straightforward, practical tips on how to start and maintain a zero waste household and lifestyle (including travel, beauty, and food tips).
Kellogg is also a spokesperson for plastic-free living for National Geographic, Chief Sustainability Officer at the The One Movement, and author of “101 Ways to Go Zero Waste.”
What’s good:
- 8 Things You Should Know BEFORE Going Zero Waste: Don’t say someone didn’t warn ya! Kellogg breaks down some common misconceptions and lessons learned to help you get started on your own journey.
- Life without Bulk Options: Some of us don’t have access to bulk bins in our area. Here’s how you can work around it.
- 31-Day Zero Waste Challenge: If you’re just dipping your toes into the world of zero waste living, this challenge is a great stepping stone!
Zero-Waste Chef
Anne-Marie Bonneau is an environmental activist, award-winning writer, and blogger who has become a leading voice in the zero waste movement.
Her blog, Zero-Waste Chef, is a great resource for practical tips and solutions on reducing kitchen waste, such as shopping in bulk, composting food scraps, and using cloth instead of paper towels.
Her recipes for homemade staples like bread, nut milk, and condiments not only help reduce waste but also promote healthier eating habits.
What’s good:
- 7-Day Menus: Don’t know where to start? No sweat! Zero-Waste Chef has prepared an entire week’s worth of menus to help get you started on your low or zero waste journeys.
- How to Prevent Food From Spoiling During a Power Outage: Something we might not think about (until it happens) is preventing food from going bad during a power outage — this blog post breaks everything down for you so that you feel prepared if or when it might happen to you.
- “The Zero-Waste Chef” by Anne-Marie Bonneau: If her blog leaves you wanting more, there’s Bonneau’s book: A use-what-you-have and a spend-less-money book filled with recipes and tips for a zero waste kitchen.
Dr. Anita Vandyke
Dr. Anita Vandyke is a bestselling author, blogger, and rocket scientist (yes, you read that right: She’s a rocket scientist!) based in San Francisco, California.
Her blog offers practical zero waste tips on skincare, at-home cleaning (like, what to do with fruit that’s gone soft), and decluttering. She advocates for second-hand purchases, raising a zero waste family, and low-waste travel.
What’s good:
- Bulk Shopping 101: If you’re looking for the least intimidating checklist to get you started on your first (or next) bulk shopping trip, Dr. Vandyke created a little cheat sheet for you!
- Zero Waste Nappies (Diapers): For parents looking for zero waste diaper options, we recommend starting with this “non-perfect guide” to navigating zero waste diapers.
- “A Zero Waste Family: In Thirty Days” by Dr. Anita Vandyke: A practical guide filled with lessons learned on how to sustainably reduce your family's waste by 80% in just thirty days.
Rob Greenfield
Rob Greenfield is an adventurer, environmental activist, author, and blogger on a mission to show people that living a low-impact lifestyle can be both fun and fulfilling.
You might remember him from our delightful podcast interview with him about some of his most iconic projects.
You’ll find advice on cutting back on plastic and reducing your trash, information on his experience growing and foraging for food, and insightful conversations with leaders within Indigenous and BIPOC communities.
What’s good:
- “Dude Making a Difference” by Rob Greenfield: Greenfield’s memoir cataloging his zero waste journeys across the U.S. on a bamboo bicycle.
- Watch Greenfield’s “Trash Me” series: Greenfield is also passionate about raising public awareness around food waste, plastic pollution, and climate change. So much so that he’s known by many as “The Trash Man.” His series — recorded over a month — is a visual representation of what the average American consumes in 30 days. He wears every piece of trash that’s typically consumed, creating a shocking visual of how much garbage just one person generates.
- 50 People to Pay Attention to: Greenfield offers an extensive list of 50 activists fighting to create a safe, regenerative planet.
Max La Manna
Max La Manna is a low-waste chef and digital creator passionate about plant-based cooking. His focus on simple, affordable dishes that use every part of each ingredient has made him a viral sensation, with recipe videos racking up over 1 billion views.
His casual approach to cooking shows that reduce food waste can be delicious and enjoyable, and his commitment to eco-friendly practices makes his content an invaluable resource for anyone looking for zero waste kitchen inspiration.
What’s good:
- No Waste Recipe Section: La Manna has an archive of delicious meals on his blog, but he makes it easy for his zero waste community to quickly find meals that produce no added waste.
- “Regeneration Food” series: Check out La Manna’s series on food waste and the consequences of wasting food on our planet.
- Download La Manna’s book, “You Can Cook This!”: Learn how to turn 30 most commonly wasted foods into 135 delicious plant-based meals.
Permacrafters
Permacrafters is an online platform run by Christelle Siohan and Cristina Rojas — two zero waste queens — who provide courses on environmental topics to encourage creative permaculture thinking and self-reliance skills for a sustainable life.
They offer English, French, and Spanish courses, making their content accessible to a broader audience.
From zero waste menstruation, composting, and sustainable gardening, they provide easy-to-adopt practices to encourage folks to reduce their consumption, embrace secondhand items, and repurpose materials to live a more sustainable life.
What’s good:
- Intro to Zero Waste Living: A free resource to help you learn about the zero waste movement and the 5 Rs (refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, rot). This class also touches on perfection and privilege in the zero waste space.
- Green Cleaning Challenge: A free 3-day green cleaning challenge to make your own DIY products.
- Secondhand Living: An in-depth course on the environmental and financial benefits of buying (or receiving) secondhand goods. It explores the best places and ways to easily find secondhand goods and delves into furnishing homes secondhand, raising babies with secondhand goods, and keeping a secondhand wardrobe.
Wasteland Rebel
Wasteland Rebel is a fun and no-nonsense zero waste blog run by Shia, who describes herself as a “hot mess” and insubordinate cookie monster. Despite her playful nature, Shia is serious about reducing waste and living a sustainable lifestyle.
What sets Wasteland Rebel apart is its focus on simplicity. Shia and her partner, Hanno, don’t like spending much time on household chores or errands, so all the DIY recipes on the blog are straightforward and easy.
What’s good:
- 3 Truly Sustainable New Year's Resolutions: While some of us might not be fans of New Year’s resolutions, Shia provides readers with more of an intentional guide to help get you going on your zero waste goals. She gives loads of ideas, motivation, and lessons learned.
- 7 tips for reducing waste outside your home: A super helpful resource for those who want to take their zero waste lifestyle outside of their homes.
- 8 quick and easy hacks for a plastic-free July (or any other time of the year): This blog post, as Shia puts it, is for the #LazyAssZeroWaster. Learn easy ways to become plastic-free without breaking a sweat!
Almost Zero Waste
Almost Zero Waste is dedicated to sharing tips and tricks for living a more sustainable life and reducing waste. The blog recognizes that being 100% zero waste is challenging but offers advice on how to get as close as possible.
The blog includes delicious recipe options, minimalism lifestyle tips, and zero waste guides.
What’s good:
- 53 Non-Materialistic Gifts For Any Budget: A zero waste gift-giver? Yes, honey, she exists! Almost Zero Waste offers her list of non-materialistic gift ideas for you to run with.
- DIY your own deodorant: If you’ve got smelly armpits (don’t worry, everyone stinks!) and are too afraid to dive into natural deodorants, this might be the recipe for you.
- 90 Zero Waste Tips For Beginners (Impactful & Easy Habits): While we don’t recommend incorporating all of these tips into your routine overnight, this blog post shares some great tips that you can slowly begin adding to your routine.
Sustainable Jungle
Sustainable Jungle is a mission-driven blog that covers topics like zero waste living, eco-friendly travel, sustainable fashion, and green beauty. They provide practical tips and advice for reducing our environmental impact, as well as reviews of sustainable products and companies.
The website also features personal stories and interviews with people who have made significant changes to live more sustainably.
What’s good:
- Sustainable Jungle is a 1% for the Planet member: This means they committed to giving away 1% of any revenue earned to highly vetted environmental nonprofit organizations.
- They also have a podcast: If you’re hungry for more information, Sustainable Jungle also has a podcast that you can dive into. They cover all things sustainability and green living and interview a diverse group of professionals.
- What Not To Compost: 33 Things You Shouldn't Put In Your Compost Bin: If you’re thinking about adding a compost bin to your home, this article is a helpful guide as to what not to put into your new bin.
