Hi there! My name is Mira Petrova and I'm a young illustrator and graphic designer who lives in Sofia, Bulgaria. For many years now, I've been occupied with thoughts and feelings about global warming and the way we, humankind, harm our planet.
I dream of living a zero-waste life, but very often I fail miserably, and it makes me sad and discouraged. The simple truth is—zero waste living can be hard! But I realized the following: the more I become "aware" of what I buy and what alternatives I have, the more conscious I become; my decision-making process changes and with that, the amount of waste I produce. That's how the term "waste awareness" appeared in my life. Zero waste just sounded way too ambitious and overwhelming.
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So with that new approach to the subject, I started creating this comic strip (with the inspirational help of my super supportive boyfriend). We decided to call it Waste Aware Animals. We wanted to give people a fun and positive way to learn and share about the zero waste philosophy, free of shame and guilt. And spread the message that we can all be part of the change or inspire it in others, sometimes even with the smallest actions.
Unless you get those plastic wrapped bananas from a few days ago..
The fox characters, Mr and Miss Fox, are, of course, based on two of us. As for why the characters are all animals (even though they live in the big city and face all the everyday life problems that we do), well, who could possibly be a better inspiration for sustainable living than the animals? And also—who could be cuter?
All the stories in the comics are inspired either by my personal experiences and situations that I have witnessed or overheard. Since we started publishing it, people also write in to share zero waste-related situations, ideas, and successes and I couldn't be happier and more grateful. It makes me feel like we're all part of one big community and together, we can make a difference.
It happened to me once (well not once but this was the time I've figured out something is wrong about the way we pack our groceries). I went to my local grocery store. At the check out I've noticed that I've forgot my reusable bag and the only ones they had was a plastic ones. That was just a cauliflower and some herbs so I've decided to take it by hand. Especially because I lived around the corner. The look on the lady's face when I told her I don't need a bag was absolutely shocked. She looked at me like at crazy person. I'm not kidding. She even asked me if I don't have my bag and like three times she tried to give me a plastic.
Lol my mom and her boyfriend just store the groceries in my baby brother's stroller when they forget their reusable bags (Disposable bags are banned where I live so yeah)
I wish there would be more places like yours.
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I keep my reusable bags in my car so they're always available when I shop.
I work at Goodwill and people always leave their reusable bag in the car. I've seen some people carrying a lot of stuff like this.
Kitty, I'm so glad somebody gets that joke. :D
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Yes, even at times as I get to the check out, too late, my bags are in the car !!!
I get my reusable bags to the car but the trick is in remembering to take them into the store!
I never forget it because I keep my purse with money/credit card in it. ☺️
Well, since it takes more resources to make reusable bags then plastic, then, sadly, you would need to use the reusable bag thousands, maybe millions of times for it to really make a difference.
That's why I have a million reusable bags. I don't know how much better that is...
I take the bag.. I use extra bags at home to put things in. Not as horrible as shopping online and getting all that packing material. I buy nearly everything online.
I'm so proud of NYS for getting rid of all plastic bags! Wegmans and Home Depo already switched!
Grandma always said, "You'll catch more flies with sugar than with vinegar." Greta is right, but her delivery needs work. She's preaching to the choir, while alienating the congregation she hopes to reach.
You can buy stainless steel cutlery at the thrift store for just a dollar or two. It doesn't harm the environment because it already exists - you're just re-using it. Get a couple of sets and wrap them in a cloth napkin to take with you. If they accidentally get lost/thrown out it's not a big deal.
I do this with Christmas and birthday gifts. My family thought it was really weird at first and some even scoffed at me, but now my family accepts it, sometimes even welcomes it, and nobody complains about not having to throw all that paper away anymore. I use pretty bandanas or reused fabric pieces that I put away every time and the recipient can keep it if they want it.
As I've said before, trees are my favorite things ever. I appreciate what they do for us and they are so beautiful! Especially in winter, I call naked trees cemetery trees.
I get people hate ads and people don't like bills- I see no reason to have it in paper form, imo. For books, I like actual paper books, if they're for fun to read, but for everything else, just email it. Easier to sort, easier to clean up, and delete when done! No mess. Also that better for the environment thing. When they email us they ALSO send paper! I don't want to see the same thing twice, and deal with it, twice.
no it's from a building instead of it being washed our with plastic into the sea it is filtered cleaned and put into pumps like that one
Last year I put my small Rosemary in the living room as my Christmas tree
Yeas they do I am Recycling cans and bottles to fundraise for my 8 grade trip and i am almost halfway there!
That's the most beautiful thing I've seen this far in 2020 <3 Thank you for your sweet designs and the idea of educating people in such a cute, relatable way!
The idea for comics is wonderful and really smart! It really inspire you in a fun and positive way! And the characters are really cute and I can relate with some of the stuff too much! Also I love Lord Wolfington!
Thank you! Lord Wolfington sends his regards. <3
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Honestly, my family have been doing this for the past 30 years. We've always been recycling, even when it was not compulsory (nowadays the district i live in, in northern Italy, recycles 78% of its waste). My parents have always been growing our vegetables. Still, 30 years ago my schoolmates used to tease people who did that, because they were "farmers" (=not cool). Today they're all organic and all send their kids to educational farms in summer. I mean, thats great, but let's rememeber to keep the good habits even after the hype is gone.
I love these! Absolutely adorable comics as well! The fox is my favorite! (And lord Wolfington)
I'm telling you, I'm one very grateful Fox, right now :D Also Hermione Granger - totally a favorite character! :)
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It is actually very helpful and also cute and entertaining! Bravo!
These little drawing are fantastic! Simple to follow the suggestions and beautifully done. I feel these are very informative and sweet.
I'm very grateful for your comment. :) This is exactly what we're trying to do. <3
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I love the idea to promote ecological habits in a cute way. You are genius
Thank you, that's very sweet of you to say. :)
Load More Replies... These are lovely comics, not guilting, but just good positive messages. I think the recycling firms are a huge part of the problem: i recycle diligently, but if a neighbour throws a nappy or a dirty yoghurt pot into their bin, then the whole truckload may be sent to landfill for no good reason at all.
I agree completely. We have the same issue with recycling here in Bulgaria as well. But I think that's why the more we try to inform ourselves and the others, the better. So that we can all avoid dirty yogurt pots ruining everything. <3
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This should be mandatory reading for the entire Western Civilization! Thank you Boredpanda, this is one of the best things you have ever posted. I recommend Jane Goodall's master class for even more good ideas: https://www.masterclass.com/classes/jane-goodall-teaches-conservation
What a great idea!!! Well done 👍 Miss Fox could also take something else instead coffee or banana. The production of coffee creates so much waste of water :( And bananas are produced in sunny countries so we have to import :(
Hey Audrey! Well the actual Miss Fox ( aka - me :D ) completely stopped drinking coffee a while ago. I actually find it much better, not only for environmental reasons, but also from a health point of view ( I have so much more energy! ). As for the bananas, you're so right. I really love the taste, so it's hard to give them up completely, but I try to eat more apples and other fruits that are produced locally. In the best case - in my parents garden. :)
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I hate it when I'm buying just one thing or one or two things and forget to say "no bag, please" because it doesn't make sense to me to even use a bag at all for something so easy to just carry. This is especially frustrating to me when the item I am buying is literally in a container with a handle, like a jug of milk. That doesn't need a bag!! Argh!!
I agree completely with Cassie. Those cashiers are so quick, before you can say "I don't need a bag", your one-item purchase is in the bag. Some cashiers ask 'Do you need a beg for this?' which means there are many ignorant shoppers out there.
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Thank you very mych for this post, Mira and Violeta ! Designs are wonderful, stories are cute and not just "lecturing" people. I'm lucky I was given good habits by my parents even though I can always do better - and your thread gave me, and probably lots of other people, nice ideas to do so!
Thank you for the positive feedback! <3
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Wonderful drawings! I hope there will be more and maybe even a book! Thank you for your art, kindness and sharing!!
Thank you so much! <3 I hope there will be a book one too, but we'll see how things turn out. :)
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I would love this in a spanish version to take to my litlle boy's school. Lovely!
If you're into reusing, try Freecycle. It's a great way to get rid of stuff you don't need - and find things you do.
I wish I didn't live in America, because we're really callous about the environment. I do what I can, bring reusable bags to the store, I'm trying to trade in my vehicle for an electric one (it's not feasible or safe for me to bike except around my house), reusable straws, lots of secondhand things (we're super poor), and I have been eating less meat. BUT... this is meaningless without systematic change. There's no way to opt out of some single-use containers (milk etc), and all the disgusting vegan food in the world won't do s**t until we start holding major corporations accountable for their pollution. Sadly, the chief dipshit and his drooling supporters are currently undoing the slight progress we've made because cousin-f*****g makes you unable to understand simple concepts.
So cool and creative way to share a message 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
"natural habitat of christmas trees" - someone living in central Australia beautiful comics btw
Always remember to be environmentally friendly. It's good for you AND all those endangered species.
Thank you for your talent and positive messages, Mira. Hopefully the world will learn.
That's the most beautiful thing I've seen this far in 2020 <3 Thank you for your sweet designs and the idea of educating people in such a cute, relatable way!
The idea for comics is wonderful and really smart! It really inspire you in a fun and positive way! And the characters are really cute and I can relate with some of the stuff too much! Also I love Lord Wolfington!
Thank you! Lord Wolfington sends his regards. <3
Load More Replies... Honestly, my family have been doing this for the past 30 years. We've always been recycling, even when it was not compulsory (nowadays the district i live in, in northern Italy, recycles 78% of its waste). My parents have always been growing our vegetables. Still, 30 years ago my schoolmates used to tease people who did that, because they were "farmers" (=not cool). Today they're all organic and all send their kids to educational farms in summer. I mean, thats great, but let's rememeber to keep the good habits even after the hype is gone.
I love these! Absolutely adorable comics as well! The fox is my favorite! (And lord Wolfington)
I'm telling you, I'm one very grateful Fox, right now :D Also Hermione Granger - totally a favorite character! :)
Load More Replies... It is actually very helpful and also cute and entertaining! Bravo!
These little drawing are fantastic! Simple to follow the suggestions and beautifully done. I feel these are very informative and sweet.
I'm very grateful for your comment. :) This is exactly what we're trying to do. <3
Load More Replies... I love the idea to promote ecological habits in a cute way. You are genius
Thank you, that's very sweet of you to say. :)
Load More Replies... These are lovely comics, not guilting, but just good positive messages. I think the recycling firms are a huge part of the problem: i recycle diligently, but if a neighbour throws a nappy or a dirty yoghurt pot into their bin, then the whole truckload may be sent to landfill for no good reason at all.
I agree completely. We have the same issue with recycling here in Bulgaria as well. But I think that's why the more we try to inform ourselves and the others, the better. So that we can all avoid dirty yogurt pots ruining everything. <3
Load More Replies... This should be mandatory reading for the entire Western Civilization! Thank you Boredpanda, this is one of the best things you have ever posted. I recommend Jane Goodall's master class for even more good ideas: https://www.masterclass.com/classes/jane-goodall-teaches-conservation
What a great idea!!! Well done 👍 Miss Fox could also take something else instead coffee or banana. The production of coffee creates so much waste of water :( And bananas are produced in sunny countries so we have to import :(
Hey Audrey! Well the actual Miss Fox ( aka - me :D ) completely stopped drinking coffee a while ago. I actually find it much better, not only for environmental reasons, but also from a health point of view ( I have so much more energy! ). As for the bananas, you're so right. I really love the taste, so it's hard to give them up completely, but I try to eat more apples and other fruits that are produced locally. In the best case - in my parents garden. :)
Load More Replies... I hate it when I'm buying just one thing or one or two things and forget to say "no bag, please" because it doesn't make sense to me to even use a bag at all for something so easy to just carry. This is especially frustrating to me when the item I am buying is literally in a container with a handle, like a jug of milk. That doesn't need a bag!! Argh!!
I agree completely with Cassie. Those cashiers are so quick, before you can say "I don't need a bag", your one-item purchase is in the bag. Some cashiers ask 'Do you need a beg for this?' which means there are many ignorant shoppers out there.
Load More Replies... Thank you very mych for this post, Mira and Violeta ! Designs are wonderful, stories are cute and not just "lecturing" people. I'm lucky I was given good habits by my parents even though I can always do better - and your thread gave me, and probably lots of other people, nice ideas to do so!
Thank you for the positive feedback! <3
Load More Replies... Wonderful drawings! I hope there will be more and maybe even a book! Thank you for your art, kindness and sharing!!
Thank you so much! <3 I hope there will be a book one too, but we'll see how things turn out. :)
Load More Replies... I would love this in a spanish version to take to my litlle boy's school. Lovely!
If you're into reusing, try Freecycle. It's a great way to get rid of stuff you don't need - and find things you do.
I wish I didn't live in America, because we're really callous about the environment. I do what I can, bring reusable bags to the store, I'm trying to trade in my vehicle for an electric one (it's not feasible or safe for me to bike except around my house), reusable straws, lots of secondhand things (we're super poor), and I have been eating less meat. BUT... this is meaningless without systematic change. There's no way to opt out of some single-use containers (milk etc), and all the disgusting vegan food in the world won't do s**t until we start holding major corporations accountable for their pollution. Sadly, the chief dipshit and his drooling supporters are currently undoing the slight progress we've made because cousin-f*****g makes you unable to understand simple concepts.
So cool and creative way to share a message 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
"natural habitat of christmas trees" - someone living in central Australia beautiful comics btw
Always remember to be environmentally friendly. It's good for you AND all those endangered species.
Thank you for your talent and positive messages, Mira. Hopefully the world will learn.
