Anyone who has considered going zero waste, or has simply even come across a zero waster’s social media account can probably already picture it in their mind: the picture-perfect glass mason jar, filled with random scraps of garbage. The individual behind it claims it contains their only waste for the past insert-whatever-impressive-timespan (eg. 6 months, a year, sometimes more). “The Jar” has become equivalent with good individualized eco behaviour.
But how exactly did this symbolism originate, and what influence has it had on the zero waste movement — both good and bad? These are the questions this brief backgrounder article will seek to answer.
the origins of “The Jar”
The main individual — and influencer — behind this phenomenon is Lauren Singer, a New York-based blogger and entrepreneur. She launched her blog, Trash is for Tossers, to teach others how to live a more sustainable life. Of course, she places a special focus on individual waste.
As an environmental studies student at the time, she came to the realization that most things she purchased were packaged in plastic, so she decided to make a change. She decided to challenge herself to a zero-waste lifestyle. Anything she did have to waste, she’d place inside her 16-oz mason jar. In 2019, she published a video called “How I Fit 5 Years of My Trash In This Jar” — which, yes, is the same jar she started out with.
Lauren says she uses the jar as a tool to allow her to see exactly what she is wasting so she can understand which things are hard to avoid.
“The Jar” is certainly a very visual demonstration of how much we can cut back our waste — especially since, according to CNN, the average American produces roughly 4.5 pounds per day. Due to how aesthetically engaging it is, it’s caught on in the online zero waste community, one example being this family. According to Bea Johnson, other individuals can follow her lead by utilizing the “methodology of five rules: refuse what you don’t need, let go of what you do not use or need in your home, reuse, recycle and compost.” They say no to anything they don’t need and get rid of whatever they don’t use.
Other benefits include saving money, simplifying your life, and living a healthier lifestyle. This phenomenon has also done a lot to amplify and propel forward the zero waste movement. The simple visual of seeing how much we can minimize our trash, if we just try, is encouraging. However, are there any negatives or downsides to it?
the critiques of “The Jar”
Ever since Lauren Singer came onto the zero waste scene, numerous influencers have critiqued this way of going about environmentalism. In a CNN interview with Singer, she claims that many folks tell her that her lifestyle is only for privileged white folks, but she disagrees. “It’s a really funny comparison. Living a zero waste lifestyle has afforded me a lot of things.”
However, I would respond with the critique of time. Singer says that in order to avoid much of her waste she makes most of her products herself, such as homemade toothpaste and surface cleaner. But many folks don’t have the time to do so due to busy work schedules, kids, or other situations. A Vox article by Alden Wicker also points out how most of the labour to go zero-waste falls upon women, since they are often those who are also in charge of most of the other household chores (such as grocery shopping and cleaning).
Moreover, Kathryn of “Going Zero Waste” points out that most, if not all zero wasters leave things out of their jars, such as “condoms, contacts, broken glass, receipts,” and more. The jar should be a visual to invite people inside, but not a perfect representation of what living a zero waste lifestyle actually looks like. Imperfection is normal.
Kathryn also states that there is waste within the supply chain that does not trickle down into the end user product. Factories and shipping use lots of plastic and paper, but we don’t talk about those things. In general, the main point is that zero waste can start with the jar visual, but it shouldn’t end there. Anyone interested in joining the movement should not be intimidated because they cannot live up to that standard. Any waste-reduction efforts are helpful and important.
aspen's eats 
[…] on the small details and more on the bigger picture. The environment doesn’t care if you have a little too much trash to contain it all in a mason jar. It doesn’t care about the one time a week or month that you eat beef. Instead, it wants to see […]
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