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Zero Waste can be an intimidating concept – but fear not. We sat down with Zero Waste Life founder Paola Cortese to find out how to get started.
Paola Cortese is the founder of Zero Waste Life, an educational platform for zero waste life in Hong Kong. Most people know they should be creating less waste but are too nervous to try and actually make a change. Paola makes zero-waste more accessible by not judging how you live your life but instead encourages you to join her adopting a conscious lifestyle. Inspired by the book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Paola has diminished the majority of her waste, and whatever waste is leftover she keeps inside a small mason jar.
Paola believes in a zero-waste future and helps her clients reduce their waste by up to 80%.
Paola Cortese wants to empower others to adopt a zero waste lifestyle as well.
In this episode, you will learn about
- Steps to living your life more sustainably
- How to avoid waste on your daily commute
- Drinking coffee that is guilt and waste-free
- What you can do to make the world a less wasteful place
- The benefits of a circular economy
Paola’s journey to zero-waste has had a few hurdles along the way, but she has figured out a way to make living the lifestyle relatable rather than preachy. Did you know that there is a company in Hong Kong that comes to your home to recycle your old electronics? What about reusable cutlery, straws and coffee pods? Have you ever considered buying secondhand clothing, especially for your children? All of these are ways you can reduce the amount of waste you produce.
Trash washed up by the ocean. A sad reality on shorelines all across the globe.
“It doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor, young or old, believe in climate change or not, it just makes sense to live as near to a zero-waste life as you possibly can.”
Paola views waste simply as raw materials for something else, or in other words, a circular economy. She believes that it only takes about 8 hours of your life to learn her strategy and be part of the community that will support you to live healthier and sustainably in Hong Kong.
I’m just trying to make the sustainable lifestyle as easy as possible, says Zero Waste Life founder Paola Cortese Share on X
Do you think you could live with zero waste? After you give this episode a listen let us know what you think about Paola’s journey and if you think you could do it too. Already tried making the switch to no waste? Let us know about your experience and join the conversation on our social media channels on Instagram and Facebook.
Got some time to give this episode a listen to follow us into #impact Podcast host Regina’s flat and uncover what it takes to live a zero waste life? Scroll all the way up and press play.
Our learnings from this episode. Have something to add? Get in touch with us here!
Our learnings and ways to get involved
- Read the articles on the Zero Waste Life Blog and see what changes you can make, big or small, to live with less waste
- People will not necessarily remember or prioritize living life with no waste, keep reminding your peers to bring reusable items
- Think big picture of how you want to impact our environment, re-evaluate your priorities on things such as having a big family
- Shop for groceries and body care at Zero Waste stores, like Live Zero in Sai Ying Pun.
