Life without a freezer, decorations and houseplants. Crown caps instead of a soap dish.

May 13, 2023. This morning, I used up my last frozen blueberries and decided not to buy any more since there’s no way to get frozen fruits and vegetables without packaging. Long-term, if I want to live zero-waste one day - and I do - I’ll have to stop buying frozen foods. Therefore, I decided to switch to fresh fruits and vegetables that are either unpackaged or minimally packaged.

Since I don’t freeze my food anyway, I decided to stop using my freezer altogether. I left a note on the shared apartment’s whiteboard: “You can use my freezer compartment. Best, Sascha.”

During breakfast, I noticed the bottle caps on the table. Hanna had probably celebrated with her friends last night. As I loaded my dirty dishes into the dishwasher, a sudden idea struck me: “What if I stick this bottle cap into my bar of soap and then place it on the sink without a soap dish? This would prevent the underside of the soap from getting mushy and avoid soap residue collecting in the soap dish.”

I immediately tried it out. I took a bottle cap, went to the bathroom, pressed it firmly into the soap, and washed my hands with it. Then, I placed the soap on the sink. I bent down to look at the side of the soap’s resting surface. There was a small gap of air between the soap and the sink, allowing the underside of the soap to dry. “What a brilliant idea,” I thought and took my white soap dish to put it with the “free to take” items.

While brushing my teeth, I noticed that my dental floss had finally run out. Finally, I could replace it with a plastic-free alternative I had found at Rossmann a few days ago. This new floss could be completely disposed of in the organic waste. While at Rossmann, I also decided to replace my plastic toothbrush with a bamboo one, which could also be fully disposed of in the organic waste. I took the opportunity to apply my latest realization that a small brush head is better for cleaning teeth. Additionally, I noticed that the green color on the plastic bristles had worn off at the tips. I concluded that this color and likely the plastic particles from the bristles, which adhered to the teeth through abrasion, were then swallowed and ended up inside the body. I wanted to eliminate that risk.

After the shopping trip, I went to the library to continue writing my eBook on minimalism. When I got to the chapter on “Healthy Minimalist Eating,” I listed all the foods I consumed. Under the subsection “Animal Products,” I stopped writing and wondered if I should include this in my diet repertoire. I hesitated. Ideally, I would like to become vegan overnight. However, I was aware that it was much more difficult than becoming a vegetarian from one day to the next. But in my mind, I was firmly convinced that a future society should live without the mass exploitation of other species. If I wanted such a society, then I must lead by example by not consuming animal products from captive animals.

After watching some motivational videos and compelling arguments for veganism by Niko Rittenau, I decided that from today onwards, whenever there’s a vegan dish in the cafeteria, I will always choose it. Even when dining out or ordering food, I will opt for vegan options whenever possible. This would be my next step towards a vegan diet.

In the evening, my office chair was finally picked up by a man who looked just like Jule’s father, especially with the same round glasses. He was also just as nice as her father.

Shortly before going to bed, I lay under the leaves of the Monstera plant that were hanging over my bed. Thoughts swirled in my head: “My room looked much nicer with the plants, and it would be a shame to get rid of them. But... when I lived in Borsum, I didn’t have a Monstera or any other houseplants in my room, and I didn’t miss them.” The need for plants in my room only developed after my move. This need arose only after I owned the plants. I further considered: “Maybe the need will disappear if I give the houseplants away. Perhaps I would even go out into nature more often if I get rid of the plants. And I wouldn’t need to water them or dust the Monstera leaves anymore.”

All these thoughts led me to decide to sell my cactus on the table and the Monstera by the bed – in fact, all my houseplants.

Hanging above my bed were plant garlands, and on the walls, there were two pictures of plants. After careful consideration and being inspired by other minimalists, I decided to take them back to Borsum. Now, I had no more decorations.

Micro Changes:

1. I charge my smartphone directly from my laptop instead of using a wall outlet. This means I no longer need a separate charger for my smartphone.
2. I no longer use soap dishes. Instead, I press a bottle cap into the bottom of the soap. This keeps the bottom firm and dry.
3. I have replaced my plastic dental floss with a more sustainable option and my plastic toothbrush with a bamboo toothbrush. Both my new dental floss and toothbrush can be completely disposed of in organic waste. By avoiding plastic bristles, I ingest fewer plastic particles.
4. I don’t use a freezer to help me move towards a plastic-free life, as without a freezer, I’m not tempted to buy frozen, plastic-packaged products. Additionally, I save energy and no longer need to defrost it regularly.
5. When eating out, whether at a restaurant or in the cafeteria, I always prefer a vegan dish. This lifestyle aligns more with my vision of a non-violent utopian society.
6. I don’t own houseplants. Since I love nature, not having plants will force me to go outside more often. By not having houseplants, I no longer need to water or dust them.
7. I don’t own decorations. Why? Many decorative items are made from non-sustainable materials (my garlands were made of plastic). Decoration is often very subjective. What I like today may no longer appeal to me in a year, resulting in disposal. This creates unnecessary waste. Additionally, decorations collect dust that needs to be wiped away constantly.

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