ECO FRIENDLY FRIENDS #3

Hellooooo 2019! What better way to start off a brand new year than with a brand new instalment of Eco Friendly Friends? If you're not already familiar, this is a blog segment where we interview gorgeous gals from the sustainbility realm.
You can check out previous interviews here, otherwise keep reading to hear from the gorgeous Josie about her #zerowaste journey (and travel tips!)

Let’s kick off with a little bit about you. 

My name is Josie, I’m 21 and I study French and Media/Communications at university. Home for me is usually the beautiful South Coast of NSW, Australia but a few months ago I moved to France, to work and study here for a year. You’ll usually find me with my dog Banjo, or at an inter-varsity debating tournament (I compete with my university’s debating club back home in Australia).

How did you first get involved with the zero waste movement?

I’ve always been a keen advocate for the environment, but I really became aware of the zero waste movement earlier this year thanks to a university assignment: create and develop a digital platform, with some form of utility to others. My chosen project? Sharing tips and info about the zero waste movement on Instagram. I loved researching new ways to reduce my waste and environmental impact, and helping others to do the same. The assignment may be finished, but seven months later I’m still going strong!

What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced with living sustainably at home and in a new country?

One of the best ways to shop sustainably, is to buy your food package-free and in bulk… which becomes a challenge when your closest bulk food store is a half hour’s drive from home! If I’m in the area I’ll try and restock on a few items, but otherwise it’s not worth the petrol miles. Instead I try and search for plastic-free alternatives at my local supermarket – but we all know that can be difficult!

As for living sustainably in France: avoiding plastic straws in cafés and restaurants has definitely been an uphill battle. “Pas de paille s’il vous plaît” (no straw please) is often met with odd looks from wait staff and bartenders… and it’s not just my Australian accent! Straw-free drinks seem to be an unfamiliar concept here, which unfortunately means I’ve ended up with a plastic straw (or two!) more than once.

In France I’ve also been living in student housing, with no compost heap. Instead, I store my food scraps temporarily in a small bin on my balcony. When it gets full, I have to take it to a communal compost heap on the other side of town… and a thirty-minute walk carrying a heavy container full of compost is no easy task! But it’s definitely worth it, knowing I’m saving it all from landfill.

Have you got any tips for #zerowaste travel?

Be prepared. I always carry a tote bag with me (easy to roll up inside your handbag/backpack, or to use instead of one) plus my reusable drinking straw, spoon, set of chopsticks (perfect for sushi!), keep cup and water bottle. My keep cup also doubles as a reusable container, if I need to carry anything from Belgian chocolates to apple cores (for composting later at home). When I was in Italy, I used it to save my leftover pizza – a free lunch the next day PLUS avoiding food waste? That’s a win-win for any traveller.

If you could give one piece of advice to people who are interested in getting on the sustainable living train, what would it be?

Start small. Take a look at your everyday actions, and try to make one sustainable swap at a time. Some people begin with a reusable coffee cup; for others it’s learning how to compost their food scraps. Even the smallest of actions can make a huge difference. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, but everyone has to start somewhere. You’ve got this!

A huuuuuuge thanks to you Josie, it was an absolute pleasure. You can follow Josie's zero waste adventures on Instagram: @josiemcelvogue. If you're interested in being part of #ecofriendlyfriends, please get in touch and we will set up an interview!