Give Me Resources!

Q: For people who are not local to the shop or have easy access to all the knowledge housed in your brain, what are some suggested resources to be better informed on sustainable products, practices, and reducing waste? Websites, books that can possibly be found at local libraries or second hand stores, etc.

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A: I’d like to say that I have a bounty of key books, websites, articles, and other resources that contain lot’s of basic, important, and general info to help one out in their sustainable adventure. Shockingly, I only have one that I can honestly say is a go-to resource! And it’s very specific. 

It’s called the “Issue with Tissue”, and it’s a yearly report done by the National Resource Defense Council. The report grades almost all options for Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, and Napkins that are currently on the market. They use a pretty in-depth point system to grade the worst as an “F”, and the best as an “A+”. 

While they review these three items, I only recommend you using it for the Toilet Paper, as there are far more sustainable options for both napkins, and paper towels. Like a Swedish Dish cloth, and washable linen or hemp napkins. 

Beyond that, all of my sustainable knowledge, however useful it may be, has been accumulated in tiny increments from every source I could get my hands on over time. It was collected, questioned, challenged, kept, experimented with, discarded, reviewed, revised, and so on and so on. 

What I can say is that there are tons of websites, books, articles, papers, and much more… with all of the information that you may be seeking for anything you may want. But it’s all broken apart, and the key info isn’t typically all in the same space. 

I recommend you take a specific topic that you want more info on. A product, service, process, anything. Look up that topic in as many places you can. Compare, contrast, see what is similar across the spectrum, see what is different. Then start removing things from your search as they are duplicated or not providing detailed info, so you are left with a few, if not a single resource for the thing you sought that is a concentration of everything you found. 

There are many “zero waste” and “sustainable” sites, books, people, resources, trying to grab your attention with information, and sometimes in your face marketing. Look for sites that have lots of deep dive details on specific items and areas. You might have to dive really deep to get to the bottom of what it is that you are searching for, but it’s better than being fooled by some company trying to make a sale. 

I know, I know…you sought an easy answer. But the easy answers are few and far between here. Yes, there are sites and books with general or specific information that could help you out. But I just don’t have any recommendations in that aspect beyond the one I have already passed on.

With that said, “How” i think about things and view the world, part of the core of what I built myself upon, has a lot to do with the books that I have read. They aren’t books about what you seek, they are more about expanding your mind to see the world from a different perspective. 

You can find a handful of these books, which I call “Good Reads”, on my shops website: https://www.zieros.life/more. These books are across the spectrum, and in my view, open the door to topics and situations that help you see the world from outside your box, or echo chamber. Hopefully helping you build a solid mental foundation where you can discover, and then make all the sustainable choices that you want for your life!

I’m sorry I couldn’t help you more! If I find something, or if anyone reading this does have a fantastic resource, please send it to me and I will put it in a follow up to this question!

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