Your guide to the best zero waste books

Over the last year, I’ve been reading anything I could get my hands on that shares advice on how we can care for our environment. To help others who want to learn more about this topic, I’ve put together a guide to the best zero waste books.

From reducing your waste to becoming minimalist, there’s something for everyone here regardless of where you are on your zero waste journey!

Psst – on a budget or want to reduce your environmental impact? Join your local library and borrow a book instead!

Or if you end up purchasing a book, gift it onto a friend once you’ve done reading 😉

 

1. Give a Sh*t by Ashlee Piper

Read this if: You’re a millennial who wants to learn all the zero BS advice on how you can have a positive impact on the environment!

Brief Description: Ashlee Piper is a US-based writer, who tells it like it is. She gives super practical advice in a fun and conversational tone that makes you feel like you’re talking to a friend. Out of all the zero waste books I’ve read, this has got to be the most practical!

Ashlee also includes well-researched data around WHY we should care about the environment.

Buy Give a Sh*t on Amazon now.

2. Waste Not by Erin Roads

Read this if: You’re based in Australia and new to embracing zero waste living.

Brief description: Erin is an Australian zero waste blogger at the Rogue Ginger (fun fact: her blog started as a travel blog!), and she has been a massive part of the zero waste movement in Australia.

Her book shares super practical, down to earth advice on how you can make small changes to your life to have a positive impact on the environment. While local suggestions are not a big part of her book (you don’t need to be Australian to get benefit from this!), it is a bonus that the tips are specific to an Australian audience. She also has some great recipes for make-up and skincare.

Buy Waste Not on Amazon now.

3. Every woman’s guide to saving the planet by Natalie Isaacs

Read this if: you’re all for women’s empowerment and you want practical advice from someone who’s an expert in their field

Brief description: Natalie Isaacs is the founder of the 1 Million Women movement, a movement of nearly 800,000 + women and girls whose goal is to empower women to act on climate change through the way they live.

Natalie’s book is filled with practical advice and personal anecdotes from her life (she previously worked in cosmetics manufacturing and has first-hand insight into the impact of manufacturing on the environment)

Psst – if you haven’t heard of the 1 Million Women foundation, check out their website here! They’ve got bucket loads of advice on how to have a positive impact on the environment.

Buy Every Woman’s Guide to Saving the Planet on Amazon now.

4. How to live plastic free: a day in the life of a plastic detox by the Marine Conservation Society

Read this if: you have a soft spot for our marine life and want to learn more about how you can reduce your plastic consumption.

Brief description: this book was produced by the UK’s Marine Conservation Society, and provides practical advice for reducing your plastic consumption and pollution. The book’s focus is marine life (like sea turtles!) and has research and statistics to back up its suggestions.

Buy How to Live Plastic Free on Amazon now! 

 

6. Zero waste home: the ultimate guide to simplifying your life by reducing your waste by Bea Johnson

Read this if: you aren’t new to minimizing waste and want to take your life to strictly zero waste.

Brief description: Bea was one of the early zero-wasters – she was advocating for zero waste lifestyle before it became mainstream. Her book is filled with practical advice, and even includes recipes to help you reduce your plastic / unnecessary waste. She also includes personal anecdotes and recipes (she even bakes her bread – dedication y’all!)

Buy Zero Waste Home on Amazon now!

 

7. How to live a low-carbon life: the individual’s guide to tackling climate change by Chris Goodall

Read this if: you’re not new to zero-waste living and you have someone in your life who scoffs at the idea of zero waste

Brief description: Chris provides well-researched advice on how to have a positive impact on the environment. If you’ve ever wondered whether your decisions make an impact – this is the book for you. Chris tackles the hard questions like “is it better to hand wash my dishes or use the dishwasher?” (I seriously wondered this for ages before reading this book!)

If you want to find out the answer, you’ll have to read the book 😉

Buy How to live a low-carbon life on Amazon now.

5. Minimalism: live a meaningful life by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus

Read this if: you love the idea of zero waste living, but struggle with not buying new things

Brief description: While not strictly zero waste, I highly recommend this book for those who care about the environment. It includes personal stories from the authors (who also now have a podcast and a documentary on Netflix!) about how our obsession with stuff can have negative impacts on our mental health.

Buy Minimalism on Amazon now.

 

8. Goodbye, things: the new Japanese minimalism by Fumio Sasaki

Read this if: you’re interested in reducing your attachment to physical things, and you want to read someone’s personal experience on how they did this.

Brief description: While this is also not about zero waste, it’ll get you inspired to consume less. The author talks about their journey to reduce their reliance on things, and I love that they were a regular person!

Buy Goodbye, things on Amazon now.

 

9. The life-changing magic of tidying by Marie Kondo

Read this if: you’ve read about minimalism, but can’t seem to get rid of all your *stuff

Brief description: Before Marie Kondo had a hit Netflix TV show, she had a book! In this book, Marie shares her practical advice on how to declutter and reduce your reliance on physical things. She has a particular process, which many people have successfully used to declutter their lives.

Buy The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying on Amazon now.

 

I hope you enjoyed my guide to the best zero waste books!

Regardless of where you are in your environmental journey, there’s a book for you. So even if you’re new to this idea of reducing your environmental impact, or you’re a seasoned expert, there’s a zero waste book for you!

Psst – remember, if you have access to your local library, make sure to check out what they have available before you buy a new book!

I’d love to hear from you: do you have suggestions for books about the environment that you’ve loved?

Leave me a comment, and I can add them to this guide!

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