What does Christine Liu, the blogger behind packageless, think?

Christine Liu, the blogger behind Packageless,was so kind to answer my questions on her general opinion on the Zero waste lifestyle.

Your general opinion on this lifestyle (what are the prospects of this lifestyle in the future)?

To be honest, I came upon the concept of zero waste by accident. I studied packaging and manufacturing in university, so at first, the focus of my social venture was to decrease the packaging waste in my life (as that was what pertained most to me), but because I stumbled upon the concept of zero waste, I've found that the lifestyle is very much fitting for the cause that I am looking to generate awareness towards.

If we want to be more conscientious about our planet's state in the future, our resources, and a more sustainable world, zero waste is most definitely the way to go. Our world is populating at an alarming rate, and we need to be more aware of what will happen to our earth, and how we ought to be good stewards of it.

Is it hard to live this lifestyle? What are some obstacles?

It does take some time to get used to. Being a zero waster means that you need to be able to plan a bit, stay on your toes, and equip yourself with some zero waste reusable items when you go out. After a few months though, you get used to it -- yet in a country like America, where everything is disposable, it can still be a bit tough to keep up with it.

The convenience factor is a huge turn off for many people I meet at work or in my network, but I find that there are small simple steps and switches people can do that won't take too long for them to get used to -- for example, the city of San Jose recently banned plastic bags a few years ago. Sure, people whined about the inconvenience of it, but after some time, they became used to it.

Would you encourage other people to do this?

Zero waste may not be for everyone, and I see that clearly as America is very much used to a to-go lifestyle of one time use products, convenience, speed, and consumerism. Zero waste has made me slow down and think about my purchases and how I consume, and unfortunately, some people are simply not willing to do that.

From my standpoint, zero waste has made me want to simplify my life, truly understand my consumption, consume consciously, and live a better, healthier lifestyle. I would say that I focus much less on the consumerist culture of America, and more on cherishing moments with friends and creating memories. I've always been an advocate of fair trade, local economies, and being healthy, but zero waste has challenged me to take it up a level and do something that makes me feel good about my actions.