Eco Friendly Products For Home & Daily Life

Look, going eco friendly doesn’t have to be hard. Start small. Swap out one product for another and before you know it, you’ll have made substantial steps into reducing your waste.

It’s crazy to think of how much plastic is found in products. Things we often don’t think of or use for a few seconds leave a long lasting impact on our environment. By switching the way you buy, you can help reduce waste and be a eco friendly earth warrior!

Importance of Eco Friendly Products

First things first. Why make a switch to eco-friendly products? If you want the short and sweet answer, eco-friendly products for your home and every day life are just good for the environment.

But what does that mean? How are eco-friendly products good for the environment? What are the advantages of eco friendly products? Well, here is the long answer 🙂

By switching to products that can make your home a little more eco friendly, you’re doing a few things for yourself and Mother Earth.

Less Packaging Waste: Products that are eco friendly are often shipped in materials that can be recycled or biodegrade.
No Single Use: For items like a reusable water bottles or food storage containers, disposal after each use is not necessary – creating less waste in our landfills and oceans.
Easy To Dispose: For items that need to be disposed, you can do so with ease as majority of eco friendly products are recyclable or biodegradable.
Money Saving: The longevity of using eco friendly products causes you not to buy items as frequent – which saves you money.
Healthier Lifestyle: By using all natural products and ingredients, you are eliminating harmful chemicals from your life and body that are known to cause health issues. What’s good for your body is good for the earth.

Eco Friendly Products For Kitchen

Reusable Coffee Filters

Who doesn’t love a fresh cup in the morning? Sometimes (or all the time if you’re us) it’s the zip needed to get your day started. However, the zip we need ends up contributing to waste in our landfills

On average, 2.25 million cups of coffee are enjoyed every day. But what does that mean for coffee filters? Those 2.25 million cups equal around 140 million coffee filters. Absolutely nuts, right? One easy way to keep your morning cup of joe as eco friendly as possible is to ditch the single-use K-Cups and bleached coffee filters and instead use a reusable coffee filter or chlorine-free and compostable coffee filters.

The below filter will last about a year and in that time, think of the amount of coffee waste you can save!

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TIP: When buying coffee look for fair trade labels on packages. This means the coffee was produced under fair labor practices and safe environmental conditions.

Loose Tea Infuser

Tea bags are great and easy ways to enjoy a herbal cup but the waste left behind isn’t so great. A simple way to enjoy your tea in a zero waste way is to use a loose leaf tea infuser.

Made entirely of stainless steel, never throw a tea bag away again.

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Reusable, Organic Dish Towels

For items you use everyday, it’s only natural and habitual to keep using those items without giving any mind to the effects it could be having. We like to put paper towels in this category.

Paper towels are simple to grab from your counter, clean up the mess and then toss into the waste bin. Instead of using one-and-done paper towel sheets, look into organic reusable towels or bamboo paper towels to help eliminate waste in your kitchen.

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Eco Friendly Cups & Mugs

We don’t know about your family, but growing up, our kitchen cabinets were filled with plastic cups we somehow inherited along the way from restaurants, bars, and vacation spots. Great for memories, not so great for the environment.

When possible, forgo the plastic cup route. Instead, focus on eco friendly cups and mugs that are made from materials like glass or clay.

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Reusable mugs for coffee and tea make great on the go companions to avoid using coffee shop paper to-go cups. Also, don’t be afraid to bring your coffee or tea cup to the counter and ask the barista to use your cup vs the paper ones they supply.

Looking for other eco friendly travel products? Check out 22 Sustainable Gift Ideas for Travelers

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Food Storage Containers

Look, that hard plastic, stackable containers are nice, we get it. But they’re definitely not the most environmentally friendly route in terms of food storage. Eco friendly products for home such as glass containers, like Mason Jars, are great ways to store food. Another great material is stainless steel.

Both glass and stainless steel are durable materials that can be recycled and repurposed. Hands down a much better alternative to plastic food storage containers.

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Plastic Wrap Alternative

Plastic wraps to cover food are used so much in kitchens. To alleviate the environmental impact these plastic wraps have, Bee’s Wrap came up with a much more sustainable solution.

Made from organic cotton and sustainably harvested beeswax, these plastic-free food storage wraps are an amazing alternative to plastic wraps. From bread to sandwich wraps, Beeswax wraps are perfect food storage tools that help reduce plastic waste.

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If you’re looking for a more eco-conscious alternative to aluminum foil, parchment paper, and wax paper, check out the “If You Care Kitchen Prep Set”

Eco Friendly Sponges

Traditional sponges are often made with plastic materials, dyes and synthetic disinfectants like Triclosan. Once sponges are thrown out, these materials have been found to have negative impacts on our aquatic ecosystems.

Great eco friendly products for home are sponges made from plant fibers or cellulose fibers which are 100% compostable. Also, using a dish brush that is made from sustainable products is another eco friendly alternative to sponges.

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Dish Soap

How about some eco friendly dish soap to pair with your eco friendly sponge? Use a dish soap that has all-natural ingredients and responsible packaging to help eliminate plastic packaging and chemicals.

Oh and don’t let the word “all-natural ingredients” fool you. Those non-toxic ingredients will cut through dish grease and grim, no problem.

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Compost Bin

A eco friendly compost bin is a perfect place to toss left over vegetable scrapes and egg shells. Keep on your kitchen counter or in the general vicinity of you kitchen to keep unnecessary food waste from being thrown in your trash bin.

You may be wondering what are the benefits of composting If you have a garden, composted soil improves soil quality and retains more water, causing you to water your garden/plants less. In addition, composting puts food waste to good use and not into our landfills.

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Bamboo Cooking Utensils

Ditch the plastic utensils and go for the more renewable resource route. Bamboo cooking utensils are made from organic bamboo. Naturally stain-resistant, will not absorb flavors and won’t scratch cooking surfaces, these utensils will last for years.

Once you’re ready for a new pair, your current pair is biodegradable.

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Dish Detergent

Did you now that many dish detergents contain phosphate. Ok, so?? Well, did you know if too much phosphate gets into our waterways, algae feed on it and can reproduce in massive numbers. Ok, still, so? When algae reproduce in large numbers, algae can block the much needed sunlight and oxygen in bodies of water causing other species to die. Now are you with us?

By going the eco friendly dish detergent route, you are not passing chemicals down the drain and into our waterways and your dishes will be sparkling with sustainable joy.

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Compostable Dinnerware

How many times have you hosted or been to a get together where plastic cups, utensils and plates have been set out for guests to use? Let us guess…more times that you can count, right?

These items are great for an easy clean up but awful from a sustainability standpoint. Instead of using single-use plastic dishware, go the more eco friendly route with compostable dinnerware.

From compostable plates, bowels, cups and utensils you’ll be able to be one amazing host that is having a positive impact on the environment.

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Eco Friendly Bathroom Products

Eco Friendly Toilet Paper

Toilet paper is typically made from “pulp” and the most common place to find pulp is from wood-like trees. Due to the mass production and demand of toilet paper, deforestation is the primary reason why toilet paper is bad for the environment.

It’s crazy to think how your buying habit have an impact the environment. By simply switching to toilet paper that is made from recycled materials, you offset loads of environmental issues. Recycled toilet paper are great eco friendly products for home.

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Bar Soap + Dish

Forget the plastic pump soap bottles and take a zero-waste approach to washing your hands.

Bar soaps are a great way to reduce waste by eliminating the need for plastic packaging all together. Also, going the all-natural route leaves harsh chemicals behind and off your skin.

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Organic Bath Towels

Eco friendly products are not just about the materials, it’s also about how the material is sourced and the people who make it.

It’s important that the materials used to make products meet safe labor standards and are sourced in a way that is Fair Trade Certified. Opting for bath towels (or a bathrobe) that are made with organic materials and are free of harmful chemicals is a great addition to any bathroom linen closet.

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Toilet Bowl Brush and Cleaners

Another bathroom item that is usually built from plastics is a toilet bowl brush cleaner. Keep your toilet clean with an all-natural toilet brush. Plus, a nice wooden brush looks much nicer than a plastic one!

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Plastic Free Bathroom Storage

If you like a good organized bathroom closet or sink, glass and bamboo storage containers are for you. Perfect for storing cotton balls and swabs, hair ties or other bathroom knick-knacks, these eco friendly storage canisters look great and will keep you organized.

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For more eco friendly toiletries for travelers and homebodies, give our latest post a read!

Eco Friendly Bedroom Essentials

Bamboo Sheets

You spend a ton of time in bed, so why not make it the best it can be?! Made from 100% organic bamboo, these eco-friendly sheets not only look and feel great but they wick moisture away and are breathable – keeping you comfortable all night long.

These sheets meet safe labor standards, are OEKO-TEX Certified and come in plastic-free packaging. Be right back…ordering some more now!

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Cotton Organic Pillows

A good pillow is a key to a great night’s sleep, are we right?! Rest easy on this organic cotton 300 thread count pillow. Breathe healthy all night long knowing this product has been MADE SAFE Certified, meaning it does not contain harmful ingredients or release vapors that could impact human health.

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Eco Friendly Laundry Detergents

Detergents

Kick the plastic waste and chemicals to the curb and take greener approach to laundry. Using zero waste packaging and fragrant free ingredients, Dropps Laundry detergent pods are biodegradable and packed with chemical-free ingredients.

Great for keeping your clothes and skin fresh.

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Wool Dryer Balls

Dryer sheets, one of the many items found in our landfills. Help eliminate the sea of dryer sheets by switching to wool dryer balls and never buy another dryer sheet again. Think of all the money you’ll save!

Wool dryer balls are reusable for up to 1,000 loads and made of (you guess it) wool – which is biodegradable.

These wool balls come fragrant free but if you’re thinking you’re going to miss the smell of your dryer sheets, no worries. Buy your favorite essential oil scent and add to the dryer ball before tossing into the dryer.

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Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Products

Needing a natural all purpose cleaner that will work on bathroom and kitchen surfaces? Forgo the harsh chemicals cleaning products leave laying around and take the natural route for a new, fresh kind of clean.

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If you’re needing some scrubbing help, pop over to check out the scrubber brush to give you some added strength for cleaning.

What Are The Most Eco Friendly Materials?

Wondering what fabrics are eco friendly or perhaps, which fabric is most sustainable? It’s definitely a good thing to wonder and be aware of. Knowing which fabric is biodegradable or which are just plain good for the planet, makes you a smart buyer.

When possible, look for fabrics or products that are made of the below materials.

Bamboo
Cork
Reclaimed, recycled or up-cycled materials
Wool
Hemp
Organic Cotton
Linen

What Products Are Not Eco Friendly?

It goes without saying that there are far more products being made with materials that are not eco friendly than are. When possible, avoid using the below list.

Even if you just focus on one, one is better than none 🙂

Plastic water bottles
Single use plastic straws
Plastic bags & plastic produce bags
Menstrual products
Plastic plates, utensils and cups
Plastic tooth brushes & tooth paste tubes
Styrofoam coolers and cups
Plastic razors and razor heads
Plastic wrap for food

Every little change, small or large, can help lessen our footprint.

WANT MORE INFORMATION ON SUSTAINABILITY?

22 Sustainable Gift Ideas for Travelers

Eco Friendly Toiletries for Travelers and Home

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Happy Travels,

– Lauren & Jesse Stuart (The Stüs)

Eco Friendly Products For Home & Daily Life