The average American generates one ton of waste annually.

我家從2008年起 每年製造像這個罐子大小的垃圾

My family: one jar of waste per year since 2008.

這要從2006年說起

Our journey started back in 2006;

我們閱讀幾本書 看了幾部紀錄片

we read some books, watched some documentaries.

我先生和我所發現的一切 讓我們感到很難過

And what my husband and I found really made us sad

想著我們即將 遺留給孩子的未來

thinking about the future we were going to leave behind for our kids.

這念頭使得我們 決心改變生活方式

So it gave us the will to change our ways.

我非常積極找尋 零廢棄生活的方法

I got super motivated in trying to find waste-free alternatives.

我試了很多方法 比如用玻璃罐保存食物

I tried lots of things like canning and those -

有些是很好的點子

some things were good ideas;

有些則不太好

others, not so much.

像玻璃罐就是好點子

Canning was a good idea,

但我不建議拿蕁麻葉塗在嘴唇上

but I do not recommend using stinging nettle on your lips

作為豐唇膏的替代品

in lieu of lip plumper.

相信我，真的很痛

It really hurts, believe me.

我也不建議拿苔蘚替代如廁衛生紙

I do not recommend using moss in lieu of toilet paper either.

你知道， 苔癬會乾掉 所以隔天你會...

You see, moss dries, so the next day you end up with -

想想那種綠色菜瓜布的觸感

you know those scouring pads?

沒錯，真的會不太舒服

Yes, not very pleasant.

因此我不建議這麼做

I don't recommend that.

我也試過「清水洗頭」

I also tried using "no poo,"

也就是完全不用洗髮精洗頭

which is a way of washing your hair without shampoo.

你得把頭皮沖濕 用小蘇打粉稍加按摩

You're supposed to wet your scalp, massage some baking soda in,

然後再用蘋果醋沖洗

and then rinse it with apple cider vinegar.

可是六個月後 我頭髮的油脂跑到這邊

But after six months, let's just say that the oil of my hair migrated down to here,

我的髮尾變得很毛躁

and I ended up with frizzy ends.

顯然不是我想擁有的髮型

Not quite the hairstyle I was looking for.

但我真正跌到谷底

But I think I hit rock bottom,

是有一晚躺在先生旁邊

when one night I went to lay down next to my husband,

他看一看我，翻白眼說

and he looked over, rolled his eyes, and said,

我實在受不了 你聞起來像醃鯡魚一樣

"I am so tired of you smelling like pickled herring, Bea.

(笑聲)

(Laughter)

這樣一點也不性感啊

It's really not sexy."

就在那時我意識到 我也許有點走火入魔

So that's when I realized that maybe I had gone too far,

以及我應該開始找尋 洗髮精的替代方案

and maybe I should find another alternative to shampoo.

經過所有的嘗試與錯誤 我們終於找到平衡點

After all this trial and error, we found balance.

我們發現零廢棄生活

We found that for Zero Waste to be sustainable

要能在我們家長期實踐

in our household in the long run,

我們只需要照順序遵循以下五種規則

all we had to do was follow five rules in order.

嘿，別以為我們把廢棄物埋在後院

Now, don't you guys even dare think that we bury our waste in our backyard,

或者把垃圾丟到別人家或公共垃圾桶

or we throw it in other people's cans, or in the public bins.

第一條規則 是拒絕我們不需要的東西

The first rule is to refuse what we do not need.

我們學會說「不」

We've simply learned to say "no";

我們拒絕收垃圾信件

we say no to junk mail,

我們拒絕免洗塑膠用品

we say no to single-use plastics,

我們拒絕各種贈品

we say no to freebies.

在這個消費主義的社會 我們成為各種消費商品的主打客群

For today, in this consumerist society, we're the targets of many consumer goods.

但每次我們購買這些產品 我們也同時製造更多的生產需求

But every time we accept them, we create a demand to make more.

我們每從研討會 拿一隻免費原子筆回家

Every time we take a free plastic pen from a conference,

我們也同時在告訴製造商

it's a way for us to say,

請從地底下鑽更多油 來製造另一支筆

"Please, drill more oil from the ground to create a replacement,

接著那支筆也就會被生產

and the replacement will be created."

第二個零廢棄生活的規則

The second rule of the Zero Waste lifestyle

是減少我們真正需要的物品

is to reduce what we do need.

我們家進行了徹底的清除雜物過程

So in our home, we've gone through a decluttering process.

簡化必需品的美妙之處在於

The beauty of decluttering is that it lets you share the things

你可以藉此將用不到 或不需要的東西分享給別人

that you do not really use or need with other people.

這能讓二手市場蓬勃發展

It boosts the second-hand market,

這對零廢棄生活的未來非常重要

which is extremely important for the future of Zero Waste.

以前在我的廚房 我會用罐子裝滿餐具

In my kitchen in the old days, I used to have a jar filled with utensils.

我有大概10把木湯匙

I had about ten wooden spoons,

直到我意識到 我只有兩隻手

until I realized that I only have two hands.

而且我攪拌的時候 我只用到一隻手

And when I stir, I only need one hand.

所以為什麼要有10把湯匙呢

What's the point of having ten wooden spoons?

一把就夠了

One is enough.

這張照片是我家水槽的下方櫥櫃

This is a picture of underneath my sink.

這個空間以前堆滿了清潔產品

This is a space that used to be filled with cleaning products

因為我當時相信廣告行銷的話

because I was listening to what the marketers tell us.

他們說每個地方 需要不同的清潔產品

They tell us that for each application, we need a different product.

擦窗戶需要一種清潔劑

To clean the windows, we need a product;

擦地板需要另一種

to clean the floors, a different product;

浴廁也需要不同的清潔劑

the bathroom, a different product;

最後我們的櫃子放滿 各種有毒的清潔產品

and we end up with a cabinet filled with toxic products

而我們其實不需要它們

that we don't actually need.

我發現要把整個家清掃乾淨 只需要使用白醋和橄欖皂

We found that we can clean our whole house just with white vinegar and castile soap.

這是我們家的浴室

This is our bathroom,

這是我們放藥的櫃子

and our medicine cabinet.

這就是我們家在浴室需要的用品

So this represents all the products that we need in our bathroom.

舉例來說

For example,

刷牙時，我們只會 在沾濕的牙刷上撒蘇打粉

to brush our teeth, we simply sprinkle baking soda on a wet toothbrush.

畫眼線，我用燒焦的杏仁粉

On my eyes, I use burnt almonds;

皮膚保養，我擦食用油

on my skin, I use cooking oil;

塗腮紅，我用純可可粉

and on my cheeks, I use cacao powder.

不過使用可可粉塗腮紅的問題是

The only problem with using cacao powder on your cheeks

你有可能走在街上被狗狗突襲

is that you have a chance of getting attacked by dogs

但這還沒發生過

when you walk down the street, but it hasn't happened yet.

這是主臥室

This is the master bedroom.

這是我和我先生共用的衣櫃

And this, the closet that I share with my husband.

在大多人的衣櫃裡 你只會穿其中二成的衣服

Now, in a normal closet, people only use 20% of their clothes.

其他八成的衣服繼續掛著 因為「假如」的念頭

They keep the other 80% for the "what if."

假如什麼呢？

"What if...?"

假如我有面試機會？

What if we have a job interview?

假如我要參加婚禮？

What if we have a wedding to go to?

假如我比現在更瘦？

What if we are going to lose weight?

假如我比現在更胖？

What if we're going to gain weight?

假如、假如、假如？

What if, what if, what if?

我們家所做的事就是搞清楚 那二成的衣服是哪幾件

What we've done in our home is figure out what our 20% is,

然後把其他八成的衣服處理掉

and we've let go of the other 80%.

以我來說，我有一條短褲 兩件裙子、兩件洋裝

So in my case, I have one pair of shorts, two skirts, two dresses,

兩條長褲、七件上衣 和一件針織衫

two pairs of pants, seven tops, and one sweater.

減少衣物不代表你擁有更少的選擇

Having less does not mean that you have less options.

事實上

As a matter of fact,

用這15件單品 我就能創造超過50種穿搭造型

these 15 pieces allow me to create more than 50 looks.

我的孩子也是走簡約風格

My kids are minimalists too.

這是我小兒子的臥室

This is my youngest son's bedroom.

如你所見，他衣櫃所有物品 一只登機箱就夠裝

And as you can see, all of his wardrobe can fit in a carry-on.

不只他而已

As a matter of fact,

我們家每個人的所有衣物 都是一只登機箱就夠裝

each of our wardrobes can fit in a carry-on.

你知道好處在哪嗎？

You know what the beauty of that is?

如果我們想去旅行 不管週末、一週、還是一個月

If we want to go away for the weekend, a week, a month;

我們只需要拿出登機箱

all we have to do is pull out our carry-ons,

把所有衣物放進去 行李關上，我們就能出門了

we throw our wardrobes in it, we zip it, we're out the door,

接著我們聘請清潔服務

then a cleaning service comes in,

把家裡打掃乾淨 然後讓房客來

cleans the house, and then we have people that come,

把房子租出去 我們的旅費就有人出錢

rent the house out, and end up paying for our vacations.

別以為我們刻意整理 或把東西藏在其他櫃子

Don't go thinking that we're trying to, or we hide things in other closets.

這是我們的毛巾櫃

This is our linen closet,

這是我們家的車庫

and this is our garage.

零廢棄生活第三條規則 是要懂得物盡其用

The third rule of the Zero Waste lifestyle is to reuse.

在我們家，物盡其用代表 把全部免洗即丟的物品

And in our home, reusing means swapping anything that's disposable

替換成可重複使用的物品

for a reusable alternative.

像這個玻璃瓶裝滿手帕

So this glass jar filled with handkerchief

用來取代衛生紙盒

is what has replaced the tissue box.

不需要海綿菜瓜布或廚房紙巾

No need for disposable sponges, or paper towels.

我們只使用抹布、木刷 和不鏽鋼刷

We simply use rags, a wooden scrubby, and a metal scrubby.

不需要拋棄式食物儲存盒

No need for disposable food storage items.

我們全部取代為玻璃罐

We've replaced them all with glass jars.

我們也拒絕使用食物的包材

And we also have been able to eliminate food packaging

只選擇去自帶 可重複使用的餐盒去商店買東西

simply by going to the store with a kit made of reusables.

所以我們會在超市的裸食區採購

So we shop the bulk aisles of the grocery store.

回到家，我立刻將採買的乾糧放入玻璃罐

And then once I'm home, I transfer the dry goods into glass containers

這就是我家廚房櫃子的樣子

so this is what our pantry looks like.

而這是我家冰箱的樣子

And this is what our refrigerator looks like.

我們連酒都是這樣買回

We even buy our wine in bulk;

只要拿瓶子回酒莊裝填即可

we just get our bottles refilled at a winery.

物盡其用的第二原則是 購買二手商品

The second rule of reusing is to buy second hand.

我們所有的衣物 都是二手買來

All our wardrobes are purchased second hand.

沒錯，包括我這雙鞋

Yes, even my shoes.

五塊美金而已

Five bucks.

謝謝、謝謝

Thank you, thank you.

(掌聲)

(Applause)

我這雙買得很划算，我知道

I know I scored on these, I'm aware of that;

絕對物超所值

I definitely scored.

有些東西沒辦法 從二手商店買到

Now, for the items that we cannot find in a thrift store,

那我們就到跳蚤市場找

then we fall back on places like the flea market.

我從那邊買到這些椅子

That's where I bought these chairs.

或者從eBay網站

Or sometimes eBay

去買到我們需要的特定物品

for the really specific items that we need.

第四個零廢棄生活的規則 是要貫徹回收

The fourth rule of the Zero Waste lifestyle is to recycle

但只針對無法拒絕、無法分解 或無法重複使用的東西

only what we cannot refuse, reduce, or reuse.

所以零廢棄生活不代表回收更多東西

So the Zero Waste lifestyle does not mean recycling more,

而是減少回收物品

it actually means recycling less,

因為我們最開始 杜絕不需要的垃圾

thanks to waste prevention in the first place.

以這樣的生活方式

With this lifestyle,

我們學會徹底拒絕 使用塑膠物品

we've learned that we should avoid plastics at all costs,

因為塑膠嚴重危害我們的健康

because not only are they toxic to our health

不僅是生產過程釋放的毒害

when they are being manufactured,

當我們使用塑膠製品 也會對人體有害

they're also toxic to our health when we are actually using them.

許多食物包裝會滲透到食物本身

A lot of the food packaging actually leaches into our food.

我們都知道 很多塑膠製品未能回收再利用

We've also learned that very few plastics have the chance of being recycled,

而那些有回收的塑膠製品

and the ones that do have a chance of being recycled

往往變成無法再被回收的產品

are turning into an item that's no longer recyclable.

因此我們認為塑膠製品 終究得送到垃圾掩埋場

So we consider plastics as a material that is meant for the landfill.

為此我們盡可能杜絕塑膠品

So we try to avoid it at all costs.

我們轉而多使用 玻璃、金屬、紙板、紙張等材質

And instead we pick glass, metal, cardboard, paper,

有時候我們也使用木頭 像先前你們看到的牙刷

and sometimes wood, like the toothbrush you saw earlier,

因為我們沒辦法拿去堆肥

because we can compost them.

廚餘堆肥化是零廢棄生活 最後一個的原則

Rot is the last rule to the Zero Waste lifestyle.

我們現在不僅將水果和蔬菜廚餘 製成有機堆肥

Today we not only rot - compost fruit and veggie scraps

連奶油包裝紙都可以分解堆肥

but we also compost our butter wrappers.

奶油也因此成為我們 唯一購買的附包裝產品

Butter is the only food that we buy in packaging.

現在我們改以蜂蠟紙包裝奶油 因為蜂蠟紙可以堆肥

Now we buy it in a waxed paper packaging because we can compost it.

我們也將拖把、烘乾機棉絮 甚至頭髮拿去堆肥

But we also compost floor sweepings, dryer lint, even our hair.

不過大部分是我兒子的頭髮

Actually, it's more my boys' hair.

我不把我的頭髮拿去堆肥 我會拿去回收

I don't compost my hair, I recycle my hair.

我讓頭髮留到這麼長 然後剪掉

I let it grow down to here, and then I get it cut,

捐給幫癌症病人 做假髮的機構

and then I send it to an organization that makes wigs for cancer patients.

不久前，當我聽到 零廢棄生活的家庭

Not so long ago, had I heard about a Zero Waste family,

我一定會認為

I would have thought to myself,

天哪，這些一定 都是崇尚自然的人

"Oh boy, these people must be total granola.

他們鐵定住在窮鄉僻野 而且媽媽從來沒剃毛過

I'm sure they live in the boondocks, and I'm sure she doesn't shave."

我今天特地穿裙子出場 讓大家鑑定一下

Well, I wore a skirt today for you guys so you can check for yourselves.

我沒有腳毛吧

I don't have hair on my legs.

(掌聲)

(Applause)

或者我也有可能想說

I would maybe also have thought,

這位媽媽一定是家庭主婦 有一整天的時間搞這些事

"Well, she must be a stay-at-home mom with way too much time on her hands;

才會成天擔心如何處理廢棄物

she probably worries about her waste all day,

或者任何東西都親手製作

or makes a bunch of things from scratch.

這些都不是事實

That's not the case;

我有全職工作

I'm a full-time professional,

我唯一手作的物品是化妝品

and the only things I make are my cosmetics,

而且做得很少

and very few of them.

我們發現零廢棄生活 不僅對環境有益處

We found that the Zero Waste lifestyle is not just good for the environment

對我們的健康也大有助益

but it's also been great for our health,

因為我們杜絕生活中 所有的毒害物質

because we've been able to eliminate all toxins from our lives,

相較以前 我們現在很少生病

and we're way less sick than we used to be before.

我們也發現零廢棄生活 為我們省下不少荷包

We also found that this Zero Waste lifestyle saves a ton of money -

平均比預算開銷少了四成

40% on our overall budget.

這完全拜賜於 我們大幅度降低消費

This is due to the fact that, one, we consume way, way, way less than before.

當我們真的購買什麼

But when we buy something,

都只是為了更換原有的物品

it's only to replace something that needs to be replaced -

比如破洞的鞋 或者太小件的T恤

a shoe that has a hole in it, or a T-shirt that's too small.

而且當我們購買物品

And when we buy that replacement,

我們只選擇二手品 當然，它們比全新品便宜

we buy it second hand, which by definition, costs less.

我們也會自備容器購買食物

But we also buy our food in bulk.

你們知道嗎? 當你購買含有包裝的商品

Did you know that when you buy an item in a package,

其中15%的價格是包材成本

15% of the price covers the cost of the packaging?

所以當你自備容器 你同時省下15%的開銷

So when you buy in bulk, you make an automatic 15% savings.

最後

But finally,

我們把家裡所有拋棄式耗材 都改成可重複使用的物品

we've replaced anything that's disposable in our home for a reusable alternative.

那也代表我們的錢 不再投資在丟進掩埋場的垃圾

So that means that our money is no longer invested in throwaways, in a landfill.

我們不再只是單純花錢消費

We no longer throw our money away.

而是有目的地購買可重複使用的物品

We've instead, invested in reusables.

這些物品長期下來 為我們累積存款

And they've translated into cumulative savings over time.

甚至足夠讓我們 在屋頂安裝太陽能板

They've even allowed us to install solar on our roof

因而使我們省下更多電費

which allows us to save even more.

但對我而言，最棒的收穫 是能回歸到簡樸生活

But to me, the best aspect of this lifestyle is voluntary simplicity.

我們獲得更多時間 關注在我們真正在乎的事上

Because it's made time in our life for what matters most:

這種生活方式 看重心靈收穫而非物質享受

a life based on experiences instead of things.

看重存在目的而非擁有多寡

A life based on being instead of having.

拜這種生活方式之賜

As a family, thanks to this lifestyle, we've been able to do things

我們全家能夠一起完成 許多從未想過的冒險

we would have never thought possible before.