Kate Pepler believes to effect real change, one must take action. Which is why this fall, she will open , Halifax鈥檚 first zero-waste caf茅 and store.
And along the way she hopes to inspire others to build their own habits that create positive environmental changes. 聽
Part caf茅, part bulk-food and specialty lifestyle store, The Tare Shop, which will be in Halifax鈥檚 North End, will provide items people need to help reduce daily waste.
Something that Kate is no stranger to. For over a year and half now she has contained her garbage (a lot of which are those pesky stickers from fruit and vegetables) to a small glass container. It was during her studies at Dal where she got a first-hand look at the amount of plastics and waste that clutter our oceans and landfills.
Sparking conversation
A Sustainability, Environmental Science and Marine Biology graduate, Kate has also been doing her part to create conversation and action around environmental sustainability since she graduated in 2016. 鈥淚 wanted to find a way to bring a positive angle to what can often be a 鈥榙oom and gloom鈥� topic.鈥�
When it comes to stories about the fate of the earth, headlines typically focus on the bad. And with good reason: global temperatures are at an all-time high, oceans are becoming so warm that fisheries risk being lost, and food and water systems are on the decline. But negativity is often ineffective in inspiring action and change Kate explains.
鈥淚 was looking for a platform to share success stories and highlight individuals and communities creating change,鈥� says Kate who is from Toronto Island.
That notion sparked , a site dedicated to not only success stories, but also lifestyle tips and recipes to help people life a more environmentally-friendly life. Today, Our Positive Planet has more than 50 world-wide contributors who write and host outreach activities in their communities.
Taking action
And it was through Our Positive Planet where Kate was not only inspired to start living a zero-waste life, but ultimately open The Tare Shop. While the store front isn鈥檛 ready yet, excitement has been building through community pop-up shops and The Tare Shop鈥檚 online store. (She also plans to use the store as a community space for workshops, public talks, yoga classes and more.)
鈥淧eople are excited to find these types of items locally鈥�, she says mentioning things like bamboo toothbrushes, bamboo cutlery, bees wax wrap, amongst many.
While she鈥檚 thrilled to bring her vision to life, she says one of the biggest challenges has been getting over the fear that her idea won鈥檛 work, but she鈥檚 inspired by people she encounters who are making their own lifestyle changes or standing up for the environment in unique ways.
鈥淥ne of the coolest things I have found about living a zero-waste lifestyle is that there is a bit of a ripple effect. I see some of my friends and family making their own daily changes because they see what I鈥檓 doing and become interested. I always encourage people to do what works for them.鈥�
She continues, 鈥淚 read a quote the other day that said, 鈥楾he biggest threat to the planet is that someone else is going to save it.鈥� We all have a role to play. By living my zero-waste life, I hope I inspire others to make a change; the changes all add up.鈥�
Starting small 鈥� Kate鈥檚 advice for cutting down waste
If you鈥檙e looking to reduce your waste, Kate鈥檚 advice is to make small daily changes that will eventually become habit. Most importantly, don鈥檛 try to change everything at once.
Here are three things to start doing today:
- Bring a reusable coffee mug.
- Make your own cleaning products (vinegar, baking soda work well) and soak reusable rags in the solution.
- Start a weekly waste container and see what goes in there. This will provide insight into your biggest 鈥渃ulprits of waste鈥�, and a way to become more aware and accountable.
Interested in making a change this month? Join the !