What is Precycling?

We all know the importance of recycling. Sorting out your recyclable waste and reusing bags and bottles are just some of the ways we all contribute to a more sustainable environment. But the latest trend, started by the zero-waste movement aims to take waste reduction even further, creating as little waste as possible by ‘precycling’. Keep reading to learn more about this new trend and how you can get involved.

Zero-waste movement

The zero-waste movement is a consumer-led, grassroots group of people and businesses fighting against the abundant use of single-use packaging across the convenience economy. While convenience-based companies, such as Amazon, are still a revelation to a number of people, offering affordable products that will arrive the next, or even the same day, the amount of packaging and fuel needed to facilitate these purchases is excessive.

That’s where the zero-waste movement comes in. The primary aim of ‘precycling’ is to use as little waste produce as possible, such as single-use plastics. Rather than recycling waste once it has been used, people are encouraged to ‘precycle’ by avoiding it altogether. Of course, recycling is a great way to protect the environment we live in and should be encouraged, but only 9% of the waste on Earth has been recycled, meaning there is still an abundance of waste out there that cannot be properly managed.

3 ways to ‘precycle’

So, now you understand the purpose and aims of ‘precycling’, just how exactly can you join in?

1.       Reduce your non-recyclable waste

It goes without saying that to join the zero-waste movement, you must cut down the amount of waste you produce. Back in 2006, one family in San Francisco put their waste reduction to the test, aiming to condense a year’s worth of rubbish into just one mason jar. Today, Bea Johnson says she and her family are happier and save around 40% of their shopping budget by living a waste-free lifestyle.

2.       Make the most of package free shops

While they may not be common today, we expect to see a surge in package free shops over the next few years. Encouraging shoppers to bring their own jars, filling them up only with products they need and the amount that they will use not only eliminates single-use packaging but also helps to reduce the amount of food waste produced.

3.       Eliminate single-use plastics

A number of countries around the world are recognising the detrimental effects of single-use plastics on our environment. To combat the mass of plastics appearing in our oceans and in landfill, many countries are banning the use of plastic straws, charging for plastic bags and encouraging the use of recycled packaging for large businesses.

Plastic pollution is one of a number of issues facing bodies of water across the world. Want to find out more? Take a look at the article ‘Camargue Flood Prevention with KSB’.