Becoming Less

Bizz chats with Guiscela about wasting water and the differences she sees with water usage in Canada vs Mexico.

Tips to reduce water usage:

• Turn tap off while brushing teeth
• Turn on only the hot water while waiting to heat and start using as soon as it warms up
• Water lawn before sunrise or after sunset
• Change lawn from grass to garden to grow food, or to something that doesn't require watering
• Shop less and/or shop second-hand (manufacturing requires water, too!)
• Use concentrated cleansers and drink flavours
• Check for leaks and running toilets
• Get/make a rain barrel
• Shower less often/shorter showers/skip the hair every other time
• Low flow toilets and shower heads
• Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks
• Reuse clean wastewater for plants

Things we talk about:

• Water isn't just used by using water directly, not just the water we see
  • Direct uses:
    • Drinking
    • Cooking
    • Water lawn/garden
    • Shower/bath
  • Indirect uses:
    • Agriculture 
      • Food
      • Raise animals
      • Materials for building
      • Materials for clothing
    • Industrial use
      • Make pretty much everything we use
      • About 1,800 gallons of water are needed to produce the cotton in a pair jeans
      • Processing materials such as paper and steel
    • Energy
  • During a water shortage, often it's the individuals who are restricted, while large corporations can continue using as much as they want to produce non-essential products.
  • Glaciers are receding - this is our water reserve!
  • Lakes shrinking
  • Oil spills can also affect water availability, and this can happen very quickly

Bizz and Claire chat about how doing your best doesn't mean doing everything and that creating a balance in your life is the key to sustainability.

Concepts:

• Focusing on one thing at a time
• Doing research before diving in
• Choosing to NOT do/use/have rather than finding an alternative
• Don't need to fit all your waste in a jar to be low waste
• Self care and self compassion
• Just DO. Doing something is better than nothing, even if it's small.
• Try to find the one thing with the biggest impact
• Try to find the simplest thing 
• Take into consideration other people in your life when making changes
• New changes in life can mean going backward a bit
  • New job, new baby, new home, etc.

Specifics:

• Public transportation 
  • Using it is the best way to make it better
• Strategically choosing where you live 
  • Size
  • Location
  • Efficiency
• Car share
• Cycling
• Meal planning
• Shopping for food in bulk
• Mending clothes
  • Visible mending
• Compost alternatives to green bin for apartment dwellers

References:

Bizz and Bri chat about consumerism and the importance of switching to a circular economy system.

Things we talk about:

• Composting toilets
• Glass and aluminum instead of plastic
• Reuse vs recycle
• Clothing fiber content
• Visible mending
• Valuing service, not just "stuff"
• Amazon hurts small businesses and the expertise they offer with their products

References we make:

Bizz chats with Megan about maker hobbies like sewing, crafting, knitting, etc.. With maybe a little tangent on the joys of cat ownership.

Things we talk about:

• Getting creative with what we already have
• Not being afraid to experiment
• Sourcing the best materials available to us
• Using all the little pieces
• Making new things out of old things
• Buying used tools and equipment, especially when just getting started
• Normalizing second hand
• Repairing and dying to lengthen the life of our clothing
• What to do with "unusable" scraps
• "Recyclable" doesn't always mean it's recyclable
• Plastic spools replacing wooden spools

References we make:

Bizz and Lesley chat about many things, most of which revolve around the balancing act of doing what you can, not burning out, and avoiding the all or nothing mindset.

Things we talk about:

References we make:

Bizz chats with Anka from Get Ruth to discuss more convenient options for becoming less with our periods.

Find Ruth:

Bizz chats with Steph about her kids thrift/consignment business, The Green Canoe Shop.

You can find Steph's kids' clothes at:

Bizz chats with Jennifer of Jennifer Bergman Weddings about how to become less while celebrating one of the most important days of our lives. 

Find Jennifer:

Bizz chats with Tracy about the idea of themed thrift stores. 

Things we talk about:

• Our own ideas to incorporate second hand into our own businesses
  • Second-hand pet supplies
  • Second-hand fabric and sewing supplies
• What kind of themed thrift is already out there
  • Cars. Pretty much just cars.
  • Oh, and women's clothing
• Other ideas for incorporating second-hand into existing businesses
  • Gyms and water bottles
  • Kitchen appliances
  • Coffee shop - mugs, etc.
• Working around the "low end" feel of thrifting, normalizing

Bizz and Emma chat about their own experiences doing home renovations and discuss ways to be less with our renovations.

Things we talk about:

• Use what you have
• Repair and freshen up before replacing
• Get materials used or other people's leftovers
• When buying new materials, aim for high quality that will last as long as possible

References we make:

Bizz chats with Waste Free Edmonton co-founder, Sean, about the city's proposed Single Use Items Bylaw and how this strategy will reduce waste in our city. 

Find more on the proposed bylaw:

Bizz and Emma chat about becoming less with our books, including some good reads for more information and ideas.

Things we talk about:

Bizz chats with Sam Kriviak, a registered provisional psychologist who specializes in eco-grief.

Things we talk about:

Bizz and Cara chat about how becoming less can be challenging at work.

Things we talk about:

• Being the only person who's passionate about environmentalism
• Creating an environmental committee
• Low-hanging fruit such as recycling paper and cardboard, or not using single-use plastics
• Starting discussions with coworkers or, better yet, your boss
• Working for a business whose business model does not align with your values
• We all need to work, so find balance

References:

Bizz chats with Sarah from Blenderz Garment Recyclers about how much they've grown over the last couple years. They're moving into an even bigger location with some cool machinery upgrades. 

Find Blenderz:

Bizz and Cara go over their biggest eco-wins from 2021 and discuss their goals for the upcoming new year.

What happened in 2021:

• Moved to new home
  • Small means lower impact, close to work and amenities to reduce travel
• Reusable diapers
  • So many diapers go to landfill every year, then the diapers can be passed on to someone else
• New Bike
  • Purchased from small local business, had used bike first to see what features were good and bad before buying new, can now bike all winter
• Woodstove pellets for cat litter
  • Bizz and Cara both do this!
• Composting
  • Bizz takes compost to a friend's and Cara has the cart system in her new home
• Edmonton Cart Rollout
  • Edmonton now provides pick up to detached homes for compost
• Bizz is now treasurer for Waste Free Edmonton
  • WFE has SUPs bylaw in progress with the city
• Cara is now Climate Action Champion for her ward
  • Begins her new role in 2022
• Switched to reusing growlers instead of recycling bottles and cans

Goals for 2022:

• Cara hopes to keep close tabs on what goes into her garbage and recycling with regular trash audits
• Bizz wants to start getting her chicken from a local butcher and plans on starting a side hustle that will reduce textile waste

Bizz and Cara talk about how voting with our dollar can create a demand for better ways to become less.

Things we talk about and references we make:

• How we spend our money controls the direction of the market
• Supporting businesses with good practices means a demand is created for more good practices. 
• Supporting businesses with poor practices means a demand is created for more poor practices. 
• Buying second hand does not create a demand up the chain
  • Unless it's from a thrift store that has questionable practices
• Bunz trading app
• Buy Nothing app/groups
• Blenderz textile recyclers

Bizz and Cara chat about setting boundaries with others who may not see eye to eye with you on becoming less.

Things we talk about:

• Gifts - always a big topic
• Choosing to ride a bike
• Not using paper towels
• Bringing a container to a restaurant
• Composting - at home and at work
• Not accepting disposable diapers as a gift
• Getting a spouse/partner on board
• Which is more difficult to set boundaries with: friends, family or coworkers?

Bizz chats with new co-host, Cara, about her tips on being an eco-mom.

Things we talk about:

Bizz and Emma continue their conversation about becoming less with their pets.

Things we talk about:

• Buying treats in bulk
• Make your own food
• Use bags from food and litter to line your trash bin
• Dryer lint is often still plastic
• Dehydrating treats
• Wood pellet litter
• Toilet training cats
• Clay litter requires strip mining
• Compostable bags require very specific environments to break down.
  • Edmonton's composting facility requires BPI or BNQ rated bags (not BPA as I said in the podcast!)

Bizz and Emma chat about our pets and how we can still become less while being loving, doting owners. 

Things we talk about:

Bizz and Emma chat about becoming less by giving gifts that were purchased second-hand.

Things to consider:

• Let others know that you are open to, and prefer, second-hand gifts
• Start the conversation. Ask others how they feel about it. 
• Make sure your gifts are clean and in good condition. 
• Sometimes the gift is INSIDE the second-hand item: plants in used pots, pictures in used frames, etc.

Second-hand resources:

Bizz and Emma talk about how to become less when we decide to upgrade our technology and other possessions.

References we make:

Bizz and Emma chat about how Buy Nothing Groups can be a great tool to use on your journey to becoming less.

References we make:

Bizz and Emily talk about Waste Reduction Week, which is a national week in Canada that is focussed on raising awareness for ways to be become less. 

Bizz chats with Emny from the Edmonton Tool Library about how sharing tools can help us become less.

Find the Tool Library:

Bizz and Emily chat about how to becoming less with our pumpkins this fall season.

All things pumpkin:

Bizz chats with fellow Alberta Mycological Society member, Mel, to nerd out about mushrooms.

References we make:

Bizz and Emily talk about how budgeting can help on your journey to becoming less. (Let us know how many pairs of shoes YOU own!)

References we make:

Bizz chats with Christa from Rose City Organizing about how decluttering and organizing can bring you peace and joy in your home on top of being good for the planet!

Find Rose City Organizing:

Bizz and Emily chat about how becoming less can be a bit of a challenge sometimes.

Things we talk about:

• Barriers to eco-friendly choices
• Getting into new habits or stopping old habits
• Being surrounded by people who don't care as much as we/you do
• Unintentionally making other people uncomfortable

References we make:

Bizz chats with Emma from Waste Free Edmonton's Wine and Waste segment on Instagram Live! 

Things we talk about:

Bizz and Emily talk about the empathy gap and how it creates a barrier for environmental habits.

Things we talk about:

Emily chats with her sister, Marianne, about some more zero waste fails.

Things we talk about:

Bizz and Emily chat about microplastics and why it's an important topic on the journey to becoming less.

Articles we reference in the episode:

Bizz and Emily chat about becoming less at the grocery store, or wherever you may get your food.

Things we talk about:

• Bring your own shopping bags (and produce bags)
• Shop in bulk
• Avoid single serving packaging
• Buy whole ingredients
• Shop local, such as at a farmer's market
• Get beer in growler refills

Businesses mentioned:

Bizz and Emily talk about becoming less when it comes to freebies and giveaways. Do you want the thing, or do you want the thing because it's free?

Things we talk about:

Bizz and Emily talk about the Cart Roll Out happening right here in Edmonton.

References and things we talk about:

Bizz chats with Allison about her business, The Dress Library, where you can rent dresses for special occasions, rather than buy something you will only wear once. She has also generously offered 20% off one rental if you mention you heard about her from Becoming Less! 

Check out The Dress Library

Bizz chats with Vanessa from Jack 59 about her company's bar shampoos and conditioners and then get into some other low waste swaps.

Find Jack 59:

Bizz's mom tells some embarrassing stories about her as a child and talks about some of Bizz's other childhood memories for Mother's Day.

Things we talk about:

• Hoarding vs not wanting to throw things away that could still be useful
• Buying new when you can't find the thing you know you have... somewhere!
• Toilet paper rationing
• Creating expectations and boundaries for gift giving
• Gift wrapping
• Letting things go
• Memories about experiences rather than things, creating traditions

Sorry for the goofy sound in this one! Covid restrictions required an impromptu setup and it affected the sound. 

In this episode, Bizz and Emily discuss the documentary Seaspiracy. Watch it. Keep an open and critical mind. Do your research. Then decide what path works best for you.

Bizz chats with Greg from the Westwood Community League about the Earth Day Community Clean Up.

Things we talk about:

Emily and Bizz discuss how buying new stuff is not necessary to do many activities and hobbies. 

Things we talk about include: 

Emily chats with her sister, Marianne, about more zero waste fails regarding hair care.

Things we talk about include:

• No poo

• PH

• Bar Shampoo

• Sodium Laureth Sulfate

Bizz and Emily talk about how Canada ranks on our waste habits and why it's important to become less.

For more information:

Bizz chats with Olivia Adams on mental health, mindfulness, our connection to nature and more about each of our individual journeys to becoming less!

Bizz and Emily talk about becoming less by doing a trash audit to figure out what we can work on.

Things we talk about: