The zero-waste lifestyle has emerged as one of the most provocative responses to a world drowning in excess. What began as a countercultural experiment—limiting personal trash to a single jar—has evolved into a global conversation about redesigning entire systems of production, packaging, and consumption. As cities confront overflowing landfills and corporations face mounting pressure to reduce environmental footprints, zero waste has shifted from moral aspiration to strategic imperative. It asks a radical question: What if waste were no longer a default outcome of modern life? Untangling this idea reveals a deeper story of innovation, economic tension, and cultural transformation. A…