Zero waste on Réunion Island: simple everyday habits

Going zero waste on Réunion Island starts with changing a few habits at the moments when we throw away the most: shopping, the market, the beach, picnics, lunch at work and travel. A reusable bag, a water bottle and a few containers are enough to get started.

Here are six everyday moments, with one simple habit for each.

Zero waste is a step-by-step approach

Zero waste is not about perfection. Nobody produces zero waste overnight. The idea is to gradually reduce what you throw away: refuse what you do not need, reuse what you have, recycle what is left.

On an island, where every piece of waste has to be dealt with locally or shipped elsewhere, this approach makes even more sense.

1. Shopping: the reusable tote

This is the simplest and most visible habit. A large tote in the car or by the door, and you no longer need a bag at the checkout.

Our classic totes, in XL, L and S depending on the design, are made from recycled plastic bottles and grouped in the Classic bags range. To compare options, read our alternatives to plastic bags.

2. At the market: loose produce and net bags

At the market, fruit and vegetables lend themselves naturally to buying loose. Bring a large tote, a few net bags or small cloth bags for delicate fruit, and a jar if you buy food by weight from a stallholder who accepts it.

3. At the beach: the water bottle and bottle sleeve

A reusable water bottle replaces bottled water bought on the spot. To keep it cool, slip it into an insulated sleeve: our insulated bottle bag 1.5 L, listed at €16, comes in Kori and Pink Monstera.

And above all: take all your rubbish home, even the smallest bits.

4. On a picnic: reusable tableware

Plates, cutlery, reusable cups, cloth napkins, airtight boxes: a picnic is a moment when it is easy to reach for disposable packaging. A reusable insulated bag lets you carry it all and keep it cool.

The XL insulated bag, listed at €42, comes for example in Pink Monstera, Kori, Nguzi or Paille-en-queue.

5. At work: the lunch bag and lunch box

Preparing your meal the night before and taking it in a reusable box and an insulated lunch bag means no takeaway packaging. Our lunch bags S (€24) and M (€27) are made for exactly that.

6. Travelling: the pouch and a foldable bag

When you travel, a pouch replaces little plastic bags for toiletries, chargers or medicine. A soft tote in your suitcase works for shopping on the spot and saves you collecting shop bags. Our classic pouches are listed at €14.

The summary

| Moment | Zero-waste habit | Useful item |

|---|---|---|

| Shopping | Say no to checkout bags | XL tote |

| Market | Buy loose | Tote, net bags, jars |

| Beach | Replace single-use bottles | Water bottle and insulated sleeve |

| Picnic | Reusable tableware | XL insulated bag |

| Work | Home-made lunch | Insulated lunch bag |

| Travel | No more little plastic bags | Pouch, soft tote |

Make what you have last

Zero waste also means keeping the things you own for a long time. A well-kept bag lasts: empty it, wipe it, let it air-dry. Our tips are in our post on caring for a reusable bag.

And before buying a new bag, ask yourself: do I really need it, or will the one I have do the job?

Why bags made from recycled bottles

At Tropical Factory, we chose to make our bags from recycled plastic bottles. The idea is to turn a very common piece of waste into a useful object that you keep and reuse, instead of producing new material.

FAQ

Where should I start with zero waste?

With the simplest habit: always have a reusable bag with you. Then a water bottle, then a box for your lunch.

Is zero waste more expensive?

It takes a few initial purchases, such as a tote, a water bottle or a lunch bag, but these then replace repeated disposable purchases.

Where can I buy reusable bags on Réunion Island?

In our online shop, at the Saint-Paul street market stall (Fridays 8 am to 2 pm, Saturdays 8 am to noon) and at our stockists on the island.