Simply Sustainable: Moving Toward Plastic-Free, Low-Waste Living

by Lily Cameron

Break your plastic habit with simple, actionable steps and jumpstart your journey toward a minimal, beautiful, low-waste home.“Simply Sustainable guides you through the why and how of zero-waste, while emphasizing the importance of finding the sweet spot between sustainability and self-care.”—Julia Watkins, author of Simply Living WellTransitioning to a zero-waste lifestyle means eliminating unnecessary clutter from your home and reducing your dependence on disposable goods, but it also comes with practical challenges that can seem daunting. In Simply Sustainable, perfection is not required. Whether you are looking for easy changes to get you started, or more advanced, high-impact tips for your low-waste home, these simple, effective steps will forever change your relationship to disposable plastic products.Lily Cameron shows readers how to gradually transition away from plastic and curate a minimal, beautiful home in the process. Her approach teaches you how to "make plastic-free living work for you, savor your progress and celebrate that with each small change, you are making a positive impact on the environment, your health and your family's well being." Simply Sustainable proves that zero-waste living can be easy and deeply satisfying, whether shopping at the farmers market, throwing a dinner party, or packing for a getaway weekend. With practical, manageable strategies organized by room, and inspiring photographs of plastic-free homes, you can begin your journey toward intentional, low-waste living.

Genres: Nonfiction, Environment, Sustainability, Reference

220 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 30, 2021

Reviews

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply Sustainable is a great book for beginners who are looking for ways to integrate zero-waste habits into their everyday lives. The book addresses ways in which to go plastic free in the following areas: kitchen, bathroom, cleaning, babies and pets, and lifestyle. Sections of the book are neither long nor overwhelming. Everything is explained and suggested in a very honest and realistic manner with the author admitting that a household is unlikely to ever be completely plastic free. This is not a book that preaches throwing out all of your plastic and starting anew, but instead recommends using what you have until it is time to replace it and then choosing something sustainable. There is a nice section at the end of the book listing recycling resources, composting methods, further reading, and buying resources. The author lists brands that she prefers and having used several of these brands myself and finding them effective and of high quality, this is a list I feel confident trusting. I feel that I should mention that the author and her husband founded a company called Wild Minimalist which sells products geared toward a zero-waste lifestyle. I was very pleased that this book does not read at all like an advertisement for their store and at no point is a reader instructed to buy from them. I think this is a wonderful resource for anyone just starting a journey towards a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle. Yes, most of this information could be found with multiple online searches, but it is really nice to have all of this information in one place and to be able to refer to it as needed. I would not, however, recommend this book to those who are already well into a minimalist or zero-waste lifestyle, as they most likely will already be incorporating these methods into their lives.
Thank you to the author and Ten Speed Press for the advance review copy.

[❀ Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although many of the tips are similar to other books, this was one of the best sustainability books that I have read. I had seen it at chapters and suggested it to my local library (I do love being the first to borrow a book)!

It is set up nicely and is not fanatical about putting a year's worth of trash into a mason jar. It provides great ideas how we can all work towards a less-plastic and more sustainable live style.

Tips that I appreciated:

- vinegar for a rinse aid in the dishwasher
- bar dish soap
- wooden brushes for washing dishes
- cider vinegar hair rinse

other tips were great reminders how we can all use less plastic.

[Katie]

While it leans more towards extreme sustainable living (under the guise of doing it simply) IMO, the author provides everything piecemeal as a way to take what works for you and implement sustainable practices in small easily manageable chunks. Basically we don't need a few people living extremely sustainable, we need more people doing smaller things as they're able. A good quick listen

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not learn anything new from this book, and I found it to be a bit trite and it reeked of privilege. Encouraging dentist to stop giving out the sample toothbrushes, for instance. They do that to encourage people, who may not be as privileged, to brush their teeth. Refuse the samples all you want, but don't stop them from helping the people who may only use the toothbrushes from the dentist. The author was kind for the most part, which was the redeeming factor of this book. The pictures were beautiful and made me want to clean out my closets and kitchen. Haha. Maybe if you have never heard of the zero waste movement, this would be a good book to read, but there are a lot of blogs out there that might be better. Also, the references in this book were lacking and I thought that was a missed opportunity to share about the zero waste community through this book.

[Lorilin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book for beginners, though I honestly didn’t learn anything new. I still liked the format, photos, and advice though.

[Anna Abney Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beginner book for sustainability.

[Grace DiGennaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stumbled on this book by accident, but I love the practical tips and inviting tone! I especially appreciated the information about minimalism in parenthood and how to embrace simplicity without feeling guilt or deprivation.

[T. · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you've been following zero waste or plastic free living for the last 10 years, there is absolutely nothing new in this work. If you need an entry point on how to get started, this book is an option (but I feel like there is a better starting book than this title). The photos felt staged and very much like they were in an Air BnB and not the author's home. A few things feel pulled from blogs I've followed a long time (the bath tub scrub is very similar to one I got from the Going Zero Waste Blog and I've only seen soap nuts referenced in one other place). There are not a lot of other resources listed in the back which is a very lost opportunity to lift up great books and blogs (including those who fit all their trash into a Mason Jar that the author continually mentions). There are a lot of brands referenced and mentioned though.

One of the high points is that the author acknowledges privilage and the class issues around environmentalism which isn't always addressed. It's hard to go Zero Waste in certain areas and this is yet another West Coast perspective.

The author lost me at the clothing section (late in the book). She suggests in an ideal world we'd be shopping all second hand and getting natural fibers. Then said the next best option is buying new with certain brands that do recycle. I'd estimate a good 80-90% of my wardrobe is second hand and I could take the time to buy only natural fibers by reading tags. There is no need to go to brands that recycle other things for new products except for very certain things.

Overall, get this from the library, but don't bother reading if you've read Bea Johnson or Beth Terry or other works in the last 10 years. This is only for absolute beginners.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since starting on my own journey towards plastic-free living, I definitely pay more attention to my consumption and I've found myself thinking creatively about ways to reuse items. The plastic clamshell that my plums came in has become my cherry tomato container at the farmer's market. An old vinegar container holds dishwasher soap from the local soap refillery. Seeing my recyclable plastics box fill much more slowly than before is a beautiful thing.

I enjoyed this little overview of ways in which we can reduce plastic and waste in our lives. Cameron offers multiple ways in which to curb consumption and even though nothing was too new to me, I did really like her ability to convey information without shaming the reader. Each section ends with "little wins" and "big wins" detailing both smaller and greater efforts to reduce waste. I liked this framing because any lifestyle change can make some difference. None of us can likely reach zero plastic waste, but we each do what we have the spoons to do.

And, while I firmly believe that it's corporations and not individuals who need to become more eco-conscious (and not greenwashing eco-consciousness!), individuals can send messages that behaviors based in plastic consumption are bad. Cameron advocates for contacting favorite brands and asking for glassware versus plastic or sending messages for change with BYOC (bring your own container).

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

This photo-illustrated guide is practical and inviting, without the types of fear-mongering, shaming messages that can turn people off from low-waste living. I am impressed with the author's ability to balance a friendly personal tone with practical information, because she makes her waste-reducing lifestyle seem doable without leaning too much into memoir elements or expecting everyone else's life to look like hers.

She emphasizes that waste-reduction is attainable when people focus on incremental steps and don't expect perfection. This is a great book for people who feel overwhelmed or turned off by other resources on the topic, and who do not have the time or economic luxury to adopt a full zero-waste lifestyle. There are lots of great ideas here, organized by living space, and the author includes practical tips and recipe ideas without expecting someone to be completely self-sustaining. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a good introduction to living plastic-free and reducing waste, and especially to those who have felt overwhelmed by other resources.

[Laura Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this stylish, minimalist-focused book. The photographs of the author’s home are gorgeous and bougie, but the tips are practical, useful and attainable. Chapters are organized by parts of the home (kitchen, bathroom, cleaning, babies and pets, lifestyle) with a section at the end of each chapter titled “You can compost that” and a checklist of options for small wins and big wins toward a “plastic free(ish) action plan.” Small wins might be as simple as refusing plastic straws whereas big wins may be something like adding a bidet attachment to your toilet (we love ours!)

What I like: This book is all about celebrating your wins and taking “baby steps” to sustainability. I love how the author presents all of these tips as not only possible, but money-saving and aesthetically pleasing, as well.

Best tip: Did you know you can compost paper? I knew that already, but I did not know that you shouldn’t recycle shredded paper because it might clog equipment. Shredded paper should always go to the compost instead.

[Elaine Sherwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in an afternoon. There is so much you can do to simplify your life and move away from plastic. As she says we don't need you to get down to a cup of garbage a year, instead we need ALL OF YOU OUT THERE to start start doing a little bit and then a little bit more everyday, things like,

- take a reusable cup-thermos to the coffee shop
- bring your own container to the restaurant in case you have leftovers
- use washable dish rags instead of paper towels - there are so many cute ones to choose from on Etsy
- start composting: it is so easy and it's important to divert food from landfill as to reduce methane
- think twice before you buy that new thing, resist fast fashion!
- reduce wrapping paper for gifts. Be creative, using a dish towel, a plan box with a re-sued ribbon...
- stop buying laundry soap in a large plastic container
- buy milk in a carton or better yet a glass bottle

You will reduce your waste footprint and the amount of plastic you ingest -- a good thing for us all to do.

[Mary Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really is helpful for taking plastic and waste out of your life. It has lots of info about things to switch out. It lets you know it doesn’t have to be big huge changes. Just here and there is fine. It gives you lots of references for where to go to find the items you wish to switch. I was impressed with the large amount of things you can compost! And you don’t have to throw it all in the trash. There are lots of options for us now. This is a great book to help you realize you don’t really need all the stuff you keep!

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A joy to read! This book is full of sustainable actions that I've been able to implement immediately. However, moving toward low-waste living is also a process that takes time. Lily reminds us to be kind to ourselves as we make habit and life changes towards simpler, healthier, and sustainable living. I'm inspired by her message: The world needs many people doing this imperfectly, instead of a few people doing it perfectly.

Let's do what we can today. Each day opens up new opportunities to help people and the planet in new ways. Thanks, Lily!♥

[Mindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I took this book out of the library based on the book title. It doesn't seem very practical or doable to me. While I want to reduce waste, I found the information overwhelming and lacking credible sources. I feel like the book was nothing but suggestions of things to buy so some of which was rather gimmicky. For example, a wood pencil with a seed capsule that can be "planted at the pencil's end of life".

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, borrowed from library. Appreciate that it has been broken down into sections with a mix of tips, resources and recipes. Wish there was more research/rationale regarding the author’s selected favorite brands. Also the nod to privilege at the end was a bit late. Would have been better to consider cheaper ways or justify the cost of some choices earlier on. Also the time to live this way is a privilege in and of itself.

[Megan Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm surprised by some of the hate this book has gotten! I LOVED it and plan to read it a second time. Some things you should know:

-It's very beginner-friendly but also offers a few more advanced tips.
-She point blank admits that she lives a privileged life. This is not news to her. ;-)
-Her tone is very uplifting, encouraging you to just try to be better, do the best you can, and balance sustainability with comfort/happiness.

[Shruti Pandey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love the way this book is written with so many options and advice toward moving to a sustainable lifestyle. Ever since moving to the US, I have been facing the problem of plenty and it has become difficult for me to manage all the things I have and to keep my plastic usage in check. I am a student so moving to this lifestyle will be done in phases and I believe that minor improvements are the way to go miles.

Highly recommend this book!

[Victoria (TheMennomilistReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to have a good resource list as well as a great guide for how you can get yourself to low or zero waste, this book would be a very helpful one to get into and use if you are starting out.

As someone who has been a minimalist and has worked for nearly two decades to have low waste lifestyle, this book just helped instill it all further and gave me better ideas for some things maybe I have not yet changed. I enjoyed reading it and learning more.

[Brooke Gilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the intro as well as last remarks in recognizing privilege in becoming zero waste, and not everyone can fit a years worth of trash in a mason jar. There is a huge amount of privilege in going zero waste and this author offers different ways in order to move in that direction without beating yourself up along the way. I believe this author also said it takes many folks going zero waste imperfectly than a few people doing zero waste perfectly to make an impact.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really helpful resource for those who are interested in taking the first steps towards plastic-free, low-waste living. The book is broken up by living space and I really like the approach of showing good first steps next to a more “reach” goal.

Thank you, 10 Speed Press for this finished copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this provided a very simple and easy way to become more sustainable. I really like that way the book is laid out. It is very easy to read through and understand. I like that she had things broken down and gives helpful tips. I think some of it is a bit extreme for me, but I like that she includes them to get you thinking.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible book on living sustainably. I highly recommend it! I like how many topics/areas the author covers and how she understands how living sustainably can be a privilege. Her ideas are practical and obtainable. Really looking forward to applying themes into my life.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the ideas to incorporate into your life from this book seem great, they are not always available in a lot of communities, such as small communities or different environments (such as colder Midwest or New England).

[Trish Remley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really a 3.50. Does have lots of ideas on how to move toward plastic-free /low waste living. Some I am already doing but am going to work to implement several others. Will keep adjusting small steps at a time.

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5

I mainly skimmed through this book. It is the same advice with nothing new. The main thing I liked is that it tries to encourage people to try and not try to fit all their trash in a glass jar.

[MaKai Magie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read and there were a few things that were new to me. We just started composting our trash here I can’t believe how my actual garbage has shrunk. With some of authors insight I think I can do better.

[Kelly Prososki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like once you've read three or four of these types of books more or less the same information carries on to the next one and that's how I felt with this one. No new information was learned from reading this. However I did appreciate the beautiful pictures.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I skipped Chapter 5 Babies and Pets. Beautiful pictures...bonus points for the cat pic (pg 206) and that the book was printed in Italy. I appreciated the section of 'Brands I Love' and the mention that we need to focus on our own journey and not compare ourselves to others.