96Kviews
I’m Trying To Spread Awareness About A Zero-Waste Lifestyle By Making Comics (34 New Pics)
Hi! My name is Mira! I have been trying to live a more sustainable lifestyle for a few years now. And if you have ever tried it, you know how hard it can be.
But I truly believe the first step towards creating less waste is being well-informed on the subject, and being aware of the specific issues and problems. So I started researching online and sometimes the information could be truly overwhelming and rather gloomy. After I would spend some time reading, I would have no willpower to live, let alone take any action whatsoever. The other issue was the depressing manner in which a big part of the information was presented, so it didn't seem likely that anyone would want to share it with their friends or family in order not to ruin their day as well.
You can find my previous post about my zero waste comics by clicking here.
More info: Instagram | patreon.com | Etsy | Facebook | awareanimals.com
This post may include affiliate links.
A Find
So I said to myself—what if there was a way to represent useful information about climate change, sustainability, and the environment in a funny, colorful, and most of all accessible way? An approach that focuses on solutions, rather than problems. So that people will hopefully laugh, learn something new, and pass it along.
And that's how the Aware Animals webcomics were created. Every week I draw a different situation. Whether it's dealing with mountains of non-recyclable wrapping paper and paper bills, wanting to pack a waste-free lunch, buying second-hand clothes for environmental reasons, refusing a plastic grocery bag at the store, turning down plastic straws over and over again, or trying to repair broken items to prevent them from going to a landfill—the possibilities of new and exciting topics are endless.
Reuse
Trends
I actually didn't know this. Did some additional research and will be more aware from now on. You've enlightened at least one person today..!
Most of the situations have happened either to me or to my super-supportive partner (you can probably recognize us as Mr. and Miss Fox) and others have been shared or suggested to us by our lovely community on social media.
My favorite part about this process is how much I learn from it myself: once while I do my research and then again from the lovely comments and lively discussions when the comics have been posted. I'm constantly overwhelmed by the positive feedback we've received and very, very grateful. Our main message is that no action is too small to make a difference and that positivity and awareness will bring us further along than guilt or blame. So if you need more awareness in your life, feel free to join us on our journey.
The Bet
Sustainable Dress Up
Stop It!
My Sustainable Bag
Yup! Carry bags- preferably canvas! to the shops. reusables straws at home. No disposable utensils, plates, etc.
Valentine's Day
Reduce
Not Again
Shocking Fact
Buddy
On The Road
The Greatest Invention
Super Powers
My Sustainable Kitchen
It's all a matter of perspective. I have a plastic dish brush I have been using for ten years now. When it gets to dirty, I put it in the dishwasher. How long does a wooden one last. Also, coffee filtered through paper is more healthy according to recent studies.
I think it's wonderful that you've been using the same plastic brush for so many years! :) It's super unpractical and unnecessary to throw away something only to replace it with a new and shiny "eco-friendly" version. But when the time comes it's good to know what options we have to replace it with. :) The wooden brush actually survives surprisingly long if you put oil on it before you first use it in order to protect if from the water.
Load More Replies...French pressed coffee is also tastier than most coffee machines make...
Don't use tea bags unless you know they are enviro-friendly. A lot are plastic or rayon, toxic and leads to deforestation. Loose tea leeves for me!
Why are silicone baking mats and molds better than a wooden kneading board or the metal baking trays and molds?
I think the metal baking molds are absolutely fine :) This was suppose to be a better alternative to the baking paper since it turns out it's often covered with a thin layer of silicone, so it can't be composted. It also can't be recycled, cause it's oily. So silicone baking mats can be a good alternative for that since you use them for many years.
Load More Replies...I got those beeswax wraps and they don’t work well unfortunately
Towel, sponges, and brushes must sanitized scrupulously: food poisoning is awful
Chances of getting food poisoning in your own kitchen are pretty low if you aren't completely reckless. As long as you are carefull with raw meat, especially chicken and also fish and mushrooms, you are generally quite safe. If you are a vegetarian who doesn't like mushrooms, you'll have to try very hard to get it.
Load More Replies...Question: recyclables need to be cleaned as to not taint the rest of the items, so is it justifiable to use (waste?) water to clean out my empty peanut butter jar before I put it in the bin?
Clean it at the same time you are doing your washing up or put it in a dishwasher. You then won't be using extra water just to clean the jar.
Load More Replies...Just like my other comment, i remind you people, you don't have to buy new things made with glass or wood if you already have plastic ones - just use it unlit you can't anymore, and then buy new wooden/glass/metal/silicon ones. Don't buy stuff if you don't need it ;)
I have seen these teapots on sale, but I don't use a tea pot because I only make one cup at a time. You can take out the tea leaves holder when the tea reaches the right strength.
Load More Replies...I must admit I have never bought them, but they would be expensive if you can re-use them so many times. It's the initial outlay, but then you save money because you don't have to buy the usual ones that you would throw away.
Load More Replies...The Specialist
We plan our meals, so shopping for the week is done in less than two hours and nothing is wasted
Providing
It's A System
How is this relevant to consuming less? Also, it is the most ridiculous way of organizing books I ever see...
6 Things You Can Do To Be Happier
The List
And this is why grocery stores put staples at the back and periodically move stuff around, so you will have to search to find what you need and hopefully (for them) find more than you wanted.
Oh, Deer
My Sustainable Bathroom
Ear swaps should be struck from this list. Even if they feel great, they are terrible for actually removing earwax. Earwax exists to keep our keep our inner ears moistened so the skin doesn't dry and crack, as well as creating an acidic environment so bacteria can't survive. Your ears naturally clean themselves by using the motion of your jaw when talking and eating to shift older wax out. When you use ear swabs it shoves the wax deep into the ear and it gets stuck. Stop using ear swabs no matter if they are reusable or not.
The Unexpected Snack
Home
Together
Happy New Year
Asocial
Illusionist
Jack-O-Lantern
The Gift Of An Experience
Camping Enthusiast
The Gift
Fashionable
I hear you and you're totally right that polices and political influence plays a giant role in this. But the more we know the more we'll who to vote for and who to protest against. And I choose to believe my consumer choices are also very important. Because if nobody buys water in plastic bottles, companies will stop producing it since profit is what they are after. :)
Load More Replies...Not every country just toss all trash on the landfill. In Denmark and Sweden (countries I've lived in) most trash is sorted. Our trashcans have several compartments. Food scraps are used for biofuel for busses and garbage trucks (not everyone has the use for compost, but like cleaner busses) Plastic, paper, glass and metal are recycled. The "rest" is burned and used to heat our homes. We can discuss the environmental problems with burning trash, but the plants, burning the trash, is constantly developing systems to clean the smoke and lower their emissions of everything. And I still think it is better than tossing it on the landfill.
Thank you for sharing! I love reading how different such practices can be in different countries, and I'm hopeful that we can all learn from the good examples and implement them in our own countries.
Load More Replies...Thank you for your nice words of encouragement! 😊
Load More Replies...Thank you, I'm so happy you like it! 🤸
Load More Replies...These comics were great! I will definitely start using some of these ideas, but some of them I cannot use. The bamboo toothbrush for example, I have a sonicare electric toothbrush, and so you can change the head without throwing it away. With my hair type, I cannot find a shampoo or conditioner bar that works with my hair. Any suggestions on how to become more sustainable without buying more items?
Thank you, Laura! I'm so glad you like it :)
Load More Replies...Any tips and tricks from our fellow readers? I've heard of dried laundry strips that are supposed to work pretty well.
In Bulgarian: They are great! I hope more people follow their example.
Load More Replies...One of the main problems with trying to live eco friendly is the cost of eco friendly things. Do you know how expensive bamboo toothbrushes are!?
These were all very encouraging and adorable! Great job :)😃
Thank you so much! It means a lot to hear that 😊
Load More Replies...Really nice art style and an amazing message! Thank you Mira, you're doing an amazing job!
Interesting thank you for sharing helpful tips and eco friendly ideas If your reading this I hope you have a great day and know. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NIV
I think this is great! Although like @toast said, it 'isn't enough,' this is still a step in the right direction to make people more aware of the simple decisions they make that can impact the environment, whether it be negative or positive. I think people should do whatever they can to promote helping our environment, and having a zero-waste lifestyle is a great way to do so. I'm only 13, of course, so I can't exactly make my own choices on what I buy because I don't really buy anything, but people who do should totally make an effort to just think about how their 3-second choices will affect the environment long-term. I love the way you spread a great message in such cute comics! 100% support!
Thank you, I'm so glad to hear you like them! :)
Load More Replies...I want to be honest, if that fox was in my friend group I'd hate her so much
Zedrapazia, you are short sighted. Look at a person's intention before you judge.
Load More Replies...so you're saying you should tell people who are pregnant to get an abortion because THAT'S good for the environment?
Load More Replies...It's a comic about a imaginary fox that shows options. Nobody is forcing anyone. You can use the provided information as you please.
Load More Replies...I hear you and you're totally right that polices and political influence plays a giant role in this. But the more we know the more we'll who to vote for and who to protest against. And I choose to believe my consumer choices are also very important. Because if nobody buys water in plastic bottles, companies will stop producing it since profit is what they are after. :)
Load More Replies...Not every country just toss all trash on the landfill. In Denmark and Sweden (countries I've lived in) most trash is sorted. Our trashcans have several compartments. Food scraps are used for biofuel for busses and garbage trucks (not everyone has the use for compost, but like cleaner busses) Plastic, paper, glass and metal are recycled. The "rest" is burned and used to heat our homes. We can discuss the environmental problems with burning trash, but the plants, burning the trash, is constantly developing systems to clean the smoke and lower their emissions of everything. And I still think it is better than tossing it on the landfill.
Thank you for sharing! I love reading how different such practices can be in different countries, and I'm hopeful that we can all learn from the good examples and implement them in our own countries.
Load More Replies...Thank you for your nice words of encouragement! 😊
Load More Replies...Thank you, I'm so happy you like it! 🤸
Load More Replies...These comics were great! I will definitely start using some of these ideas, but some of them I cannot use. The bamboo toothbrush for example, I have a sonicare electric toothbrush, and so you can change the head without throwing it away. With my hair type, I cannot find a shampoo or conditioner bar that works with my hair. Any suggestions on how to become more sustainable without buying more items?
Thank you, Laura! I'm so glad you like it :)
Load More Replies...Any tips and tricks from our fellow readers? I've heard of dried laundry strips that are supposed to work pretty well.
In Bulgarian: They are great! I hope more people follow their example.
Load More Replies...One of the main problems with trying to live eco friendly is the cost of eco friendly things. Do you know how expensive bamboo toothbrushes are!?
These were all very encouraging and adorable! Great job :)😃
Thank you so much! It means a lot to hear that 😊
Load More Replies...Really nice art style and an amazing message! Thank you Mira, you're doing an amazing job!
Interesting thank you for sharing helpful tips and eco friendly ideas If your reading this I hope you have a great day and know. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NIV
I think this is great! Although like @toast said, it 'isn't enough,' this is still a step in the right direction to make people more aware of the simple decisions they make that can impact the environment, whether it be negative or positive. I think people should do whatever they can to promote helping our environment, and having a zero-waste lifestyle is a great way to do so. I'm only 13, of course, so I can't exactly make my own choices on what I buy because I don't really buy anything, but people who do should totally make an effort to just think about how their 3-second choices will affect the environment long-term. I love the way you spread a great message in such cute comics! 100% support!
Thank you, I'm so glad to hear you like them! :)
Load More Replies...I want to be honest, if that fox was in my friend group I'd hate her so much
Zedrapazia, you are short sighted. Look at a person's intention before you judge.
Load More Replies...so you're saying you should tell people who are pregnant to get an abortion because THAT'S good for the environment?
Load More Replies...It's a comic about a imaginary fox that shows options. Nobody is forcing anyone. You can use the provided information as you please.
Load More Replies...