A friendly, practical quiz to reveal where your habits already help the planet and where a small change will make the biggest difference.
One thing I know from doing this myself is that simple, repeatable actions add up faster than big abrupt efforts, and a clear score makes choosing the next step much easier.
Why this tool exists
Many people want to live with less waste but feel unsure where to begin. This quick quiz helps you prioritize actions that fit your life. Based on my research and experience, people change habits when the first step is obvious and easy to keep doing.
How to use the quiz
- Answer the 15 short questions about everyday habits like composting, reusables and shopping choices.
- Click Calculate My Eco Score to receive an overall score and a short category breakdown.
- Read the personalized tips and choose one small action to try this week.
- Optionally download your report or save your score locally for future comparison.
The Zero Waste Starter Score Tool
Zero Waste Starter Score
What the score shows
The tool converts your answers into a single score from 0 to 100, plus a short, human friendly summary. You also get a breakdown by category so you can see where you are strongest and which area offers the easiest wins.
Categories included
- Waste — food and household waste reduction and diversion
- Plastic — single use avoidance and reuse habits
- Shopping — secondhand, repairing and mindful buying
Score guide
• 0 to 29, Beginner
- Quick wins matter. Start with a refill bottle and a reusable shopping bag.
• 30 to 54, Eco Learner
- Good habits are forming. Try composting or replacing one disposable item this month.
• 55 to 79, Green Advocate
- You are doing well. Focus on bulk buying, repair or secondhand choices, and share what works with friends.
• 80 to 100, Eco Hero
- Excellent. Consider leading a repair or swap event, or mentoring someone new to this approach.
Eco breakdown explained
Each category bar is calculated from questions that relate to that theme. For example, the Waste category draws on composting and meal planning answers, while Plastic uses water bottle and cup questions.
These are not precise metrics but useful directional indicators that point you to your highest impact next steps.
10 Ways to live a Zero Waste lifestyle
- Carry a reusable bottle and a reusable cup wherever you go.
- Bring reusable shopping bags and small produce bags for fruit and vegetables.
- Plan meals for the week and use leftovers to cut food waste.
- Start a simple home compost, even a small bin for fruit and vegetable scraps.
- Replace single use items with long lived alternatives, for example, cloth kitchen towels and safety razors.
- Buy secondhand for clothes, furniture and tools when possible.
- Buy in bulk or choose refill stations to reduce packaging.
- Learn basic repairs for bicycles, clothing and small appliances, or locate a repair cafe.
- Choose products with minimal or recyclable packaging and favour brands that will refill or reuse.
- Share, swap and lend items with neighbours or local groups rather than buying new.
Personalized tips and quick wins
- If you are starting, carry a small kit with a bottle, a foldable bag and a reusable coffee cup.
- If you already reuse, try planning two meals this week and freeze one portion.
- If you are advanced, host a swap event or teach a friend a simple repair.
- One thing I always tell people who ask me is that moving one small habit into automatic behavior creates space to add another.
Printable starter checklist
- Reusable water bottle
- Reusable coffee cup
- One reusable shopping bag and one produce bag
- Plan two meals this week to reduce food waste
- Buy one refill or package free item this month
- Repair one broken item before replacing it
- Buy one item secondhand this quarter
Frequently asked questions
No. The quiz is a practical estimator designed to help you prioritise changes. For precise carbon accounting use a dedicated carbon footprint calculator
Answers are mapped to a 0 to 100 scale by summing weighted responses and normalising to a percentage. Category bars aggregate related question scores to show strengths and weaknesses.
Scores are stored locally in your browser only if you choose to save them. They do not leave your device unless you share them or explicitly export them.
Yes, retake it periodically after you try new swaps. The local leaderboard keeps a history so you can see progress over time.
Carry a reusable bottle and a bag, and plan two meals. These are high impact and easy to adopt right away.
The breakdown shows behaviour categories rather than exact carbon figures. For carbon equivalents, use a Carbon Footprint Calculator as a follow up tool.
Yes, you can download a simple report and share a short summary on social platforms. The downloadable file contains your score and the tips suggested.
Review every two to three months or after a lifestyle change such as moving, a new job or family changes. Small regular reviews work best.
Yes. Local repair cafes, swap groups and community tool libraries are great. Many libraries or community centers list local events and swap nights.
Consider a Carbon Footprint Calculator to quantify emissions, a Home Energy Savings Calculator to assess bills, and a Printable Zero Waste Checklist for household routines.