Staying True To Our Values : How To Reduce Our Waste By Ignoring Current Trends

Discovering Nova Scotia : A look at what everyday sustainability means to Nova Scotians, from well rooted eco-habits to daily challenges yet to be overcome for a sustainable future in the province. Read more about this article in Le Courrier de la Nouvelle-Écosse.

An international career focused on travel and ocean living soon made Nicole and Jean-François well aware of what a sustainable lifestyle truly means. Respectively teacher and electromechanical engineer, now both retired, they settled more than twenty years ago in a small community on the South Shore.

For Nicole, the concept of sustainability is clear and the key to a healthy future: “To me, sustainability is being able to bring each product to the full extend of its life. And even try to exceed this. This allows, or in any case if we consider it on a large scale it should make it possible, to save on new productions which are inevitably a source of waste sooner or later.”

Waste, A Sizable Issue.

After having lived and traveled all around the world, the importance of taking care of our planet is only too present in their view: “Whether it is when we go for a walk, or at the sight of images or on a documentary from here or elsewhere, we see an exponential growth in waste around the world. Even if the scale is different according to the places, it is everywhere. Omnipresent. And it’s absolutely mind-boggling! And we see how this phenomenal quantity of waste of all kinds suffocates nature. Quite simply suffocates life.”

For the couple, this threat to our natural resources is indeed a real issue that calls into question the legacy that we will leave to our future generations: “But what will become of the planet? And above all, what will become of our children if we suffocate all these resources and the planet loses all means of production? At some point, we will reach a point of no return and life could end.”

Nicole emphasizes our responsibility, as consumers, to limit waste as much as possible. The importance of being aware of the problem. Of learning about the products we buy and the impact of our choices on the global market. But first and foremost she presses the importance of reviewing the criteria established with regard to our consumer society in the broad sense. An easy habit to make: simply start by asking yourself: do I really need it? “It’s basic, but it’s just common sense. And I find it works pretty well.”

Introducing Green Habits.

As for incorporating the concept into everyday life, their choice is clear. Sustainability is an integral part of their daily life. And when it comes to discovering and implementing greener habits, there’s nothing better than staying connected to the world and continuing to be informed: “Often it’s through shows or articles on the subject, or on media reports that we incidentally discover a new trick. A new use for an object that we would have thought could no longer be used. We will then draw inspiration from it to adapt it to our situation.”

For Nicole and Jean-François, friends and family are a great source of inspiration to live in a more ecological way. A person who is close to you and who has already taken its first steps towards a sustainable lifestyle is a great asset: “They generally know how we can adapt or replace our ‘old’ habits, some routine practices that can be tweaked or improved. They can even suggest to introduce new ones that will work for us.”

Among these changes that they have been able to successfully integrate into their routine over the past few years: replacing traditional paper towels and disposable wipes with washable models. A concept quite widespread in the field of personal hygiene for some new parents, for example, who have decided to take the plunge towards cloth diapers and baby wipes rather than using their disposable counterparts. At the logistical level, one less thing to write down on the grocery list. But also a sizeable saving for the household. And a huge step towards a more sustainable waste management system.

A new idea, a trial period, a difficult adjustment? Not really. These new habits to establish are not necessarily as intimidating as they seem: “It is often much easier to implement a new lifestyle habit and to adapt to it than we would tend to think before hand. And there is, I would say almost every day, a genuine satisfaction in taking this further step towards reducing waste. Yes, it is really satisfying.”

As for the impact of these changes on family dynamics, everything is handled rather well for this retired couple: “To be honest, since we are just my husband and I in the house as we speak, it is not too much of a challenge. So we both can adapt to the changes smoothly and it is rather well perceived by my husband.”

Go With The Flow.

It goes without saying that even with all the goodwill there is, not all new habits are adopted. After a phase of experimentation, it turns out that some ideas, however attractive at first, are simply not suited to the routine of some people. And that’s fine. Going green shouldn’t be a hassle. For it to work in the long term, it is important to be relatively easy to set up. And practical on a daily basis: “Some time ago, because our clothes dryer broke down, I temporarily reintroduced drying racks inside the house. Only to realize that, in the end, it made my life easier. But it’s true that we are only two at home, and retired. It probably wouldn’t work for everyone.”

And when we approach the subject of ecology, it is the overall process that takes precedence rather than a precise final objective that is incontestably difficult to assess. For this couple who used to be great travelers, adopting a sustainable lifestyle does not stop at the habits established at home. This is reflected on a larger scale. It is above all a reflection on the general influence we have on our environment, in all of our activities. It’s putting certain aspects of our lives into perspective and ensuring that they correspond to our values: “When it comes to travel, we just apply as much as possible the same rules that we apply at home. Try not to be too seduced by the inherent attractions of hotels or other vacation accommodations. Get into the habit of thinking for just a few seconds about the impact of our choices both at home and when we travel.”

Sustainability : A Mindset.

But is sustainable living realistic and achievable for everyone on a daily basis? Absolutely, according to Nicole and Jean-François who keep an open mind and are not afraid to think outside the box. If certain lasting habits remain exclusive to Nicole, she hastens to add that her better half also has his very own way of being green: “With his skills and his interests, he has always been very creative to reuse everything that can be. By transforming, modifying, reinventing. We don’t throw anything away, it can always be used. It’s his motto, and it’s almost his trademark. Sometimes I’m even a little afraid of his inventive side because his creativity has no limits. But his sometimes intriguing or at least unexpected achievements have always been a source of astonishment, inspiration. Or sometimes even admiration in those around us. And it’s all thanks to recycling.”

Recycling, indeed, a process full of potential and on which we rely to be able to catch up with the deviations of our past generations. How else to reduce over a few decades the impact of the spiral of more than a century of global overconsumption? Especially when we still have to face our own current challenges in terms of economic ethics: “The need to follow fashion or influencers, a drift that too often leads to overconsumption of products as expensive as they are useless and too quickly destined to turn into waste. You have to manage to convince young people—and sometimes not so young too—to put the right values ​​in the right place. Let them be proud of not being part of the “followers”, that they find their independence by not feeling obligated to do like everyone else.”

A need For Tighter Regulations.

So for Nicole and Jean-François, it is all about a lifestyle oriented towards minimalism in terms of purchases, and far removed from material dependencies. A need to see this philosophy taken a little further, perhaps a little higher within our government. And to feel that concrete measures are being put in place to redirect efforts in the area of ​​environmental protection.

Nicole specifies that she wants to “improve the importance given to the general interest and the protection of the planet in the decisions taken by all levels of government. So that they take precedence over private interests. Perhaps stricter regulations and greater monitoring of the application of these regulations by governments in relation to the waste produced and discharged by industries of all kinds. We too often see reports that show that there is still progress to be made in this area. But, at the consumer level, I think we could already start by improving the visibility of recycling signs on packaging or the products themselves.”

Towards A Greener Future.

So what are the next steps in their quest for a sustainable future? Nicole mentions wanting to start buying in bulk which she still does only very occasionally because to her it requires a certain reorganization in the space. She intends to do so in the near future.

But for now, in the midst of our beautiful Nova Scotia Spring, you can be sure to find them both admiring their beautiful, closely guarded garden in its natural state, filled with wildflowers and pollinators hard at work: “I still don’t understand why someone decided one day to destroy dandelions and other native plants with toxic products that contribute to bring us to all the problems we face today. I really wish to see improve the perception that some people have of nature. And wish they realize that these natural settings have inspired the greatest painters.”

Indeed. So why not allow ourselves to be convinced to leave a little more free rein to native species in our green spaces. And to enjoy, we too, a little moment of contemplation…

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