Welcome to our TV show, Go Green. Today we are talking to Lauren Singer, who is known for her zero waste lifestyle and she's going to share with us her habits. Hello everyone, I'm happy to be here today to share my experience related to recycling and reducing. Okay Lauren, what does zero waste mean? It's a big idea, but let me define it for you. It means that I don't make trash, so I don't send anything to landfills or the garbage can. No trash.

When did you start with this lifestyle? Well it all started when I was an environmental student at NYU. I took this class about how to make the world a more sustainable place. But in this class there was a girl who brought all her food in plastic packaging. Were you frustrated about that? Yes, of course. We were supposed to be there to try and make the world a better place, but there she was throwing all that garbage every day.

What did you do then? I realised that I was as bad as the girl in my class because at home most of the food I had was packaged in plastic. So then I decided to quit using plastic. But quitting plastic is not so easy, right? When you think about it, most of the products you have at home are made of plastic. So I knew I had to learn to make my own products. Do you know how to make deodorant? I do now, but back then I didn't know. So I started to research about it and found information

about a family who did not produce any garbage. That idea was so inspiring and empowering for me, so I started to change my daily habits. That sounds great, Lauren. Can you tell us what you were doing in order to have a zero waste lifestyle? Sure. Let me tell you how to do the transition. First, you need to stop buying food packaged in plastic. I'm buying my fruit and vegetable at the farmers market. They are package free.

Second, I'm doing my own products. I can make toothpaste, deodorant and body lotion. Third, I'm buying in second hand stores. I'm buying things that are totally recycled. And I'm buying less things. I only buy what is really necessary for me. Well, Lauren, to be honest, that sounds difficult to do. Trust me, it's not that hard. And there are more benefits. Really? Which ones? Well, I'm saving money because I make my own products and buy second hand things. I'm not

paying for the packages of things. I'm eating better because I don't buy processed food. I eat tons of fruit and vegetables. You really look happy with your lifestyle, Lauren. Yes, I'm happier and I'm living a life aligned with my values. I want to be remembered by the things I did for the planet and not by the trash I produced.