So you’ve got a zero waste kit that is being neglected. Maybe you forget to take it with you in the first place. Or maybe you take it with you but then forget to take it out of bag to clean it when you get home. Maybe it was a gift and you have no idea how to make this work for you. No matter why your zero waste kit isn’t a regular part of your everyday life yet, read on for ideas to change that.
TL;DR: It’s all about routines and habits. Figure out how to establish and stick with them in ways that work for you. Old school paper notes or reminders or your phone work well to help you remember to take, use, and clean your zero-waste lunch kit.
Notes and reminders
It takes time to establish a habit, so consider leaving yourself notes as reminders while you work on it. For example, put a note (or geo-fenced alert on your phone) in the spot where you drop your bag when you get home reminding you to take out the zero-waste kit. And put a note on the inside of the door you leave from reminding you to put the zero-waste kit back in your bag.
Pro tip: If you’re in charge of coordinating zero-waste lunch supplies for children, put them in charge of emptying their bags when they get home in the afternoon and loading them up before they leave in the morning. Create designated spots for both of these; knowing where things should go when when can go a long way toward building this routine for everyone involved. Yes, even small children can handle this, though you may need to help them remember for the first little while. Certainly the same should apply to spouses or siblings…right?
Remembering to use it
This can be a big challenge too, even if you’re fully committed to reducing your reliance on single use items, so give yourself some grace as you build this habit as well.
If you’re taking a coffee break at work, grab your reusable cup and whatever else you need when you grab your wallet/phone/keys (the stuff you take with you when you leave for a break or lunch). If you carry a bag, just grab that!The kinds of reminders and notes you use at home to remember to bring the zero-waste lunch kit with you can help here too.
Once you get where you’re going, make sure that the person preparing your coffee/snack/whatever, knows that you have a reusable cup WHEN YOU ORDER. Try to remember to refuse single use items like napkins and straws before you touch them. After that, they may have to be trashed, depending on the policies of the establishment. And that sorta defeats the point of bringing reusables, right?
If you always bring packed snacks and meals with you, you just need to remember to put the food and the utensils in the same spot. If you regularly go for coffee with or to eat with the same people, consider telling them that you’ve got a zero waste kit that you want to start using. Ask them to remind you if it seems that you’ve forgotten. Even just having actually told another person about your goals can be very effective in helping you to meet those goals.
Look for incentives to bring reusables
Even a few cents off of your order might help you to remember that you’ve got reusables with you. I live in an area where these have been largely phased out BUT there are now fees for single use items such as cups and takeaway food containers. The incentive is to avoid paying those fees. If you’re lucky enough to be in a place that has a reusable returnable takeaway container scheme in place, sign up so you’re ready to go when you’re at a participating location. It’s a great idea.
Keep it clean
If you’re like me and are a bit forgetful when you get home, maybe you’ll also want a note somewhere near your kitchen sink reminding you to WASH your utensils and other items from your zero-waste lunch kit. You could also set timed reminders on your phone, if your existing routine is pretty steady in terms of the timing of your arrival and departure. I find that it is helpful put the bag that I keep my zero-waste lunch stuff in somewhere obvious that I will FOR SURE see before I leave so that I remember to put all of the clean stuff back into it and take it with me.
You’ll also need to establish a routine for cleaning napkins (everyday/with every use) and the bag and/or utensil roll itself (weekly to monthly, or as needed). We keep a small basket for cloth napkins, multipurpose cloths, and kitchen towels that need to be washed and another for clean ones ready to be used. I’ve found that a set of 6 works well for each person but depending on the length of your workweek, the foods that you eat, your laundry routine, and how often per day you need a cloth napkin, you may require a larger set. Click here to see our selection of cloth napkins.
For the most part, regularly using your zero-waste lunch kit is a process of establishing routines and habits, both of which take some time to establish. Be patient with yourself and keep at it. Experiment! See what works for you and do that. If you’ve got a trick that you’ve found particularly helpful, please leave it in the comments for others to learn from. Thanks!
Want to put together a zero-waste lunch kit? Click here to learn how to make one with stuff you probably already have!