Making changes doesn't need to be hard - in fact it's often fun and really rewarding.

I'm always finding new ways to reduce my consumption, including choosing package-free options, doing DIY and BYO, and of course embracing second-hand!

I'm constantly inspired by zero-waste and conscious consumer advocates like Bea Johnson of Zero Waste Home, Lauren Singer of Trash is for Tossers (and Package Free Shop) and in Australia, Erin Rhoads - aka, The Rogue Ginger.

I’ve compiled a list of 10 things you'll never need to throw away again - and how I've easily made these shifts.

1. Drink bottles

2. Coffee cups

3. Shopping bags

4. Drinking straws

5. Napkins

6. Cutlery

7. Product packaging - food, beauty and cleaning

8. Pencils

9. Tissues

10. Notebooks

Reuse and BYO

My steel drink bottle comes with me everywhere - and for each cafe visit, so does my reusable coffee cup. I always carry a little fold-up shopping bag in my handbag ready to go, so I never need plastic.

I have a couple of great steel straws from Biome, and I’ve sewn a simple fabric cutlery wrap to take to food markets, picnics, and anywhere with takeaway food.

Just put in your own cutlery, your reusable straw and a napkin, wrap him up and you're good to go. And if you're not keen on sewing, you can always just wrap your items in a larger piece of fabric that doubles as a napkin.

Shopping in bulk is the best change I've made. It’s allowed me to drastically cut down my waste, just by reusing the containers I have and avoiding packaged items. Plus I get to choose as much or as little as I want each time.

There are so many things you can buy in bulk - from flour and herbs to liquorice, chocolate, beans and rice, pasta and even liquids like soy sauce, olive oil and honey.

You can even buy cleaning products in bulk now, including bicarb soda, natural dishwashing powder and a natural (heavily concentrated) cleaning spray.

Choose compostable 

I've stopped buying lip balm in plastic tubes and opted for natural, beeswax-based balms in compostable paper tubes from a local maker instead (via Etsy). They're super moisturising, homemade in small batches, and organic!

Even better than compostable is to go package-free completely. There are more options for bathroom products popping up all the time, like shampoo and conditioner bars, deodorant, solid moisturiser, even dog wash! Check out Lush and NZ company Ethique.

The bloggers I mentioned above also offer some great homemade recipes for beauty and bathroom products, including body butter, deodorant and cheek tint.

I scored some eco-pencils on Etsy, wrapped in many layers of tightly-wound paper. So when you shave them, guess where the bits go? The compost or paper recycling.

Do-It-Yourself

I'm ditching tissues, napkins and throw-away kitchen cloths and have opted to make my own. I cut up an old shirt and teatowel and stitched into squares. Now they get rinsed, then in the wash for re-use.

DIY notebooks are the easiest thing you'll ever make. I used cardboard from my Who Gives A Crap order, some used office paper from work, and some string received on a package. Punch holes, thread the string and voila! Cute, recycled and recyclable.

You can also repurpose wrapping paper to cover notebooks you already have.

What are you doing to cut down your waste? I'd love to hear from you - it's a constant learning journey!

-  Ash