334: Small Changes, Big Impact: Practical Solutions for Reducing Waste
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Guest
Award-winning cookbook author, Substack blogger, fermenter, and sourdough baker Anne-Marie Bonneau has lived plastic-free since 2011. Through social media, her blog, and her book, The Zero-Waste Chef: Plant-Forward Recipes and Tips for a Sustainable Kitchen and Planet, Anne-Marie shows others how reducing their trash not only benefits the planet but also satisfies their taste buds, improves their well-being, and boosts their bank accounts.
Summary
Anne-Marie Bonneau offers practical approaches to reducing waste, particularly focusing on food waste and plastic consumption. She emphasizes that while achieving absolute zero waste isn't realistic, making small, manageable changes can have a significant impact. The discussion covers various accessible strategies, from using cloth shopping bags and produce bags to cooking with dried beans instead of canned ones.
Anne-Marie addresses common misconceptions about food expiration dates and reveals that only 5% of plastic gets recycled in the US. She challenges the myth that sustainable living is necessarily expensive or time-consuming, suggesting that it often saves money by reducing food waste and unnecessary purchases. The conversation touches on composting initiatives, the problems with plastic recycling, and creative ways to use food scraps. Throughout the episode, Anne-Marie maintains that living more sustainably should be enjoyable rather than burdensome, noting that it leads to a lighter, more satisfying lifestyle with better food choices and less clutter.
Key Takeaways
Food waste in landfills produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas; composting is a better alternative
Only about 5% of plastic is recycled in the US; reducing plastic use is more effective than recycling
Simple changes like using reusable bags, buying in bulk, and cooking from scratch can significantly reduce waste
Adopting a low-waste lifestyle can improve health, save money, and be a more satisfying way to live
Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZeroWasteChef
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zerowastechef
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@zerowastechef
newsletter: https://zerowastechef.substack.com/
About Jeff
Jeff Ikler is the Director of Quetico Leadership and Career Coaching. “Quetico” (KWEH-teh-co). He works with leaders in all aspects of life to identify and overcome obstacles in their desired future. He came to the field of coaching after a 35-year career in educational publishing. Prior to his career in educational publishing, Jeff taught high school U.S. history and government.
Jeff has hosted the “Getting Unstuck—Cultivating Curiosity” podcast for 5 years. The guests and topics he explores are designed to help listeners think differently about the familiar and welcome the new as something to consider. He is also the co-host of the Cultivating Resilience – A Whole Community Approach to Alleviating Trauma in Schools, which promotes mental health and overall wellness.
Jeff co-authored Shifting: How School Leaders Can Create a Culture of Change. Shifting integrates leadership development and change mechanics in a three-part change framework to help guide school leaders and their teams toward productive change.
Show Credits
"Getting Unstuck" is commercial-free. It’s brought to you by Jeff Ikler, his amazing guests, and Neil Hughes, the best engineer a podcaster could ask for.
"Getting Unstuck" theme music: Original composition of "Allegro ben ritmato e deciso" by George Gershwin. Arrangement and recording courtesy of Bruno Lecoeur.