Zero Waste Car Kit (For $10)

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Last updated on May 11th, 2021

Cutting waste and minimizing your footprint may seem impossible when you’re out and about, but with a few essential items, it’s simple! 

If you start cutting your waste on the go, you’ll also notice that you’re spending less money and eating healthier too (a win-win-win). Let’s get started: 

Jars

Glass clean very easily, unlike plastic containers which absorb odors and discolor. They’re also cheap, or even free – if you’ve bought pasta sauce, peanut butter, jam or honey, you may already have a jar laying around that can be put to use. You can also spend a few dollars and buy mason jars if you want a specific size.

Disposable Swaps:

• Coffee and drink cups – present your own cup and ask nicely they’ll usually accommodate. I think it helps to pull out the jar and tell them you’d like your beverage in there before you complete your order because sometimes they’ll ring your order up as a different size to fit your glass better.
• To-go food containers – if you want to take the rest of your meal to go, or are buying fast food, pull out your jar or container and tell them that if at all possible you’d like to put it in there instead of a disposable container. When making unusual requests, a smile goes a long way. I’ve found that people are usually happy to oblige if you explain your request.  
• Single-use food packaging – toss your own snacks in a jar and take them with you. In addition to preventing the use of single-use packing, you’ll also avoid spending money and eating food that’s usually highly processed.  

Also great for:

• holding bulk foods
• taking home compost scraps
• ‘leave it better than you found it’ and picking up litter 

Cost: ~$2

Reusable Straw

You may be sick of hearing about reusable straws, but they’re an essential item. The best deal on Amazon are these stainless steel straws but any type will do. I recommend looking around locally before ordering one only. I found one at a local shop for $1. 

Cost: ~$2 each

Shopping Bag

Carrying a shopping bag with you at all times in your purse or bag is the best way to never need a disposable one again, but keeping one in your car is a close second. You just need to remember to take it in the store and put it back in your car when you’re done. 

Odds are, you already have a bag in your home and you just need to put a system in place: the bag has a specific place in your car where you can always grab it, and you put it back in there after shopping trip.

Cost: ~ $2 each

Cloth Paper Towels

Have you ever made a big mess in your car and desperately searched every crevice for stray disposable napkins? Yeah, me too.

Cloth paper towels are so much more absorbent than disposable paper towels or napkins, and they’ll save the day if there’s an accident in your car.

Tip: Don’t buy them on Amazon. Check out your local dollar store or grocery store. The ones on Amazon are pricey, but they should cost next to nothing.

Cost: ~$1

Putting It All Together

The trick to keeping your Zero Waste Car Kit maintained is having a system.

Pick a container to use and give it a specific place in your car, maybe behind the passenger seat or in the trunk. You can likely find something for a few dollars at a second hand store that will work perfectly. Then just get started using the items! Get in the habit of returning the bags and jar after you’ve used them. 

As A Gift

This zero waste car kit makes a great gift for anyone who’s trying to go zero waste or low impact! If you buy the container second hand, you can make this whole gift for about $10. I gave this kit to several people for Christmas and it was a big hit. 

Here’s a free guide to include with the gift to help inspire and implement. Send it digitally or print it (on recycled paper if possible!) and include it in the kit.

PDF For Print: Zero Waste Car Kit_Writing From Nowhere

What items do you carry around in your car to minimize your footprint? I love hearing from you!