Skip to Content

Going Zero Waste Looking Back and Forward

Zero Waste Lifestyle

Last Updated on January 23, 2024

Happy Birthday Going Zero Waste! This little love child of mine has reached a three year milestone, and I’m amazed. 

I started blogging because I wanted to share my journey, and I wanted a way to stay in touch with friends and family after moving to California.

I wanted to create a space to help people reduce their waste and harness their consumer power even if they lived in an area without bulk bins or recycling.

I wanted to help people reclaim their health and the health of the planet. I approached zero waste through a health lens, and I wanted others to see the connection. 

I started blogging twice a week, and somehow, while still having a full-time job, have continued that pace for three years. If you told me, three years ago, that I’d still be blogging – I would have told you, “You’ve lost your marbles.”

But, somehow, every Monday and Thursday night, without fail, I have something to say. 

Over the years you will have seen a huge improvement in my writing and photography skills. I’m curious how many people reading this post have been with me since the beginning?

Let me know when you started reading my blog in the comments below!

Writing this blog has opened so many doors. I have been able to meet some of the most amazing people working to change the world like Celia from Litterless, Manuela from Girl Gone Green, Shia from Wasteland Rebel, Andrea from Be Zero, and there are so many I haven’t gotten to meet in person yet. But, I know I will someday. 

I’ve loved watching the evolution of this blog from simple swaps to activism. It really reflects my own journey, and I’ve mapped it out in this awesome post The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide to Going Zero Waste

When I started this blog, I had two other roommates, Justin and I were still dating, and I was doing A LOT of theatre. I do miss theatre, and I really hope I’ll get back to a more full-time schedule at some point. 

This blog has seen my roommates move out. Justin and I had a zero waste wedding. We moved into our tiny home (which I hate). Justin went back to school and graduated! Our lives have changed so much, and we both just started new jobs! He’s an audio engineer at the Commonwealth Club, and I’m the new content creator for Pela

This blog has opened so many doors, and it’s amazing to see how far it’s come in such a short amount of time. 

Looking forward, I want to make sure I don’t lose track of where I came from. I want to make sure I continue to offer posts for everyone at all levels.

I want to cover more activism, but make sure the baby steps are fully covered as well. I plan to talk more about my wardrobe and sustainable brands as that’s an area, I think, the blog is lacking. 

I want to talk more about zero waste skin care, if you’re following me on Instagram, you know that’s something I struggle with.

I want to talk more about easy recipes! When going zero waste, many people can find it challenging to get dinner on the table quickly without convenience food. I want to help people make that transition easier. 

I also want to talk a little bit about being an entrepreneur and starting your own blog. Blogging has been an amazing tool for spreading the zero waste message, but it’s also blessed me with so many opportunities. I get to work full-time in an area I’m passionate about. I would love to share that information with you. 

If there are any content holes, you’d like for me to address, please let me know down in the comment section below. I will form content around it! 

I definitely see the future of content creation moving towards video. Don’t worry, still lots of blog posts – writing is my first love! 

But, I do think there will be lots of supplemental videos to go along with posts. I’m working on integrating more audio with blog posts, so you can listen to me narrate your blog posts, and there are some very large projects coming out in 2019. 

I’m also working on getting out from behind the screen. I am very excited to be partnering with Well + Good on their first Earth Month Event in Los Angeles. I’ll be hosting and speaking.  

Being an actor, I love speaking. I love talking to people. I love sharing stories. My goal for 2018 is to talk to more people. I want to help others and spread the zero waste message beyond the blog. 

Thank you so much for joining me on this journey. Here’s to many more years of Going Zero Waste, and I hope you’ll stay along for the ride. The only way to solve this global crisis is together. 


Please let me know which areas of content creation, you’re most excited about. I’ll start forming new content around it first. Your voice matters here – I am here to serve you!

17 Comments
Join The Conversation

Share Your Thoughts

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. Hooray! Happy birthday to GZW. Meeting folks in the zero waste community is the absolute best part for me. More chips and guac soon!

  2. HBD GZW! I’d love to see more content on activism. I want to be more involve in spreading the message (outside of my instagram and to friends). But I find it really challenging because I live in Turkey and there is a bit of language barrier for me. I would love some ideas on how to be an activist from home. Thanks 🙂

  3. 2 posts per week for 3 years, that’s incredible!:)) You’ve really accomplished so much in such a short amount of time! I am definitely looking forward to new types of content (and blogging!). Reducing skincare waste is something I have been working on for a long time, but funnily enough, it started for the sake of my skin, not zero waste per se. My skin just did better with a minimal and gentle natural skincare. I recently wrote a guest blog post on how to go zero waste with your skincare at Zero Waste Nest, I’d love to hear what you think!:)) Best wishes for the future, Sara

    1. That’s awesome! I’m so glad you found what worked for you. Skin care is a tough one!! If I had something that cleared my skin that came in trashy packaging… IDK if I could part with it.

  4. Thank you for this beautiful blog! I only discovered it two days ago when I inquired of my partner "what’s that deodorant you mentioned last year that you can make?" Specific, right? He did a search and found the recipe on your blog which, though not what had been originally mentioned, was declared better! Unfortunately it did clog our spray bottle, but we are not deterred!

    Since then I have devoured every post in the 30 Day Zero Waste Challenge and more! My excitement about each new post is akin to being let loose in a candy store (a bulk candy store, obviously) and I can’t wait to read more!

    Thank you for your informative posts, wonderful writing, and beautiful photos! And of course all you are doing for the planet!

    1. I’m so glad you’ve found my blog helpful. I’ve started using the deodorant in a one ounce roll on bottle and it’s worked a dream! I should definitely update the post. 🙂

  5. Hey Kathryn, I have been following since about 6 months in, and the voice you put forward (honest, non judgmental) is one of my favorites on the zero waste blog scene! I love how you are always trying new things on the blog, and especially liked the 12 days of zero waste Christmas 🙂 I started trying to reduce my waste at the beginning of 2014, and still have a long way to go, but you have been a great inspiration! Thanks and looking forward to reading your blogs this year. Brenna

  6. I’m new to your blog, but love every minute of it! You’ve inspired me to reduce my waste in manageable increments! I am also interested in learning more about activism, specifically reaching out to companies who already have missions I support to encourage zero waste (For example: Costco offering bulk bins, Trader Joe’s reducing the amount of produce offered in plastic wrapping, a local peanut butter factory to allow me to purchase PB directly from them using my own container, or Wegman’s allowing customers to bring their own containers for bulk bin purchases, etc) and working with my town to reduce plastic waste (like making plastic straws illegal). On the personal zero waste front, I’d love to learn more about sustainable meat (is there even such a thing?!) and finding meat not wrapped in plastic or Styrofoam. While farmers markets are great ideas, they aren’t year round and it can be tough to balance nutritious diet, locally sourced foods, and zero waste on a student budget! Thanks for asking for input! – Maris

    1. I’m so glad you’re enjoying my blog! I touched on meat in my Ultimate Guide to Zero Waste Grocery Shopping. There is such a thing as carbon neutral meat, you should look into it. I’m afraid if I talked about it on the blog I’d receive a whole bunch of death threats. LOL. Since a lot of my readers are vegan. 🙂

  7. Greetings from China! I am new to your blog. Actually zero waste is still a very young idea in China. But more and more people, especially young people are exploring this new way to protect our home. Love your blog.

  8. Congrats :)! I’ve been following your blog for two years! So inspiring and helpful! Here in Iceland we don’t have so many zero waste shops I’m afraid…just one or two I think. Food in general is really expensive. Your blog is very inspiring for me and others here to try to cut down on waste, one step at a time :)…

  9. Hi Kathryn! I have followed your blog for a little over a year now and I love and am so grateful for all of the insights and information that you share about your zero waste journey! I am currently still in the earlier stages of my zero waste journey and I have struggled with staying consistent, but I am still determined. I am also a firm believer in the health benefits of a zero waste lifestyle–whether it be in decreasing processed foods and increasing fresh veggie intake, swapping out synthetic furniture, bedding, and clothing for natural products, or making your own toothpaste, deodorant, lotion, etc. and I am so glad that you are committed to spreading awareness! Your blog has had a huge impact on my life over the course of the past year and I just wanted to let you know that you are awesome! Thank you so so much!!!

  10. Also, a blog post on zero waste options for and companies that sell non-toxic shower curtains and shower curtain liners would be wonderful! 🙂