We all want to do what’s best for ourselves, our family, and our planet—we only get one of each, after all. So in order to preserve what matters to us, we have to shop smart, and that means making eco-friendly choices in every way we can. The good news: there are tons of sustainable products available these days.
From dish towels to everyday cleaning tools, you can shop products that not only make for a sustainable way of life, but are actually derived from sustainable materials. Bonus: this way, when you do that late-night-treat-yourself-online-shopping-sesh, you can feel zero guilt investing in these products.
1. Bissell Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner
Whether you have sticky little fingers in the house, a messy pet, or are just generally klutzy, having a thorough spot cleaner on hand is super helpful. The Bissell Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner ($109) can totally get the job done on all of those spot carpet messes and couch spills. Even cooler? It’s made entirely of recycled plastic and Bissell completely eliminated styrofoam from their packaging. However, something to note: while this cleaner mostly earns rave reviews, the biggest complaint was that the water canister occasionally leaked on some models.
2. Skoy Cloth
Looking to cut down on your paper product usage? The Swedish dishcloth Skoy Cloth ($8) is totally the answer. This absorbent towel will quickly replace paper towels, dish rags, and sponges—and it’s made of 100% biodegradable materials. They are machine washable for reuse, but also dry quickly to avoid bacterial growth for when you can’t toss ’em right in the wash.
3. Reusable Produce Bags
Food shopping at the grocery store or the local farmer’s market calls for a fresh fruit and veggie haul, and you need a way to carry them. It’s fine to toss something big, like an eggplant, into your tote, but what about harder-to-manage items like green beans or lettuces? Sustainable mesh produce bags ($15) are the answer. These reusable, machine washable bags not only cart fresh produce, but can also be used to strain nut milk, cheese curds, and even filter coffee.
4. Allbirds
Get your sustainable journey off on the right foot—literally. Popular brand Allbirds is a lightweight running sneaker that is fashionable and functional while also being eco-friendly. The shoes are made from natural merino wool fibers that are ethically sourced and the polyester in the shoelaces is from recycled water bottles. Plus, the packaging is made from 90% recycled cardboard.
5. Veotore Stretch Lids
Forget one-use items like foil and plastic wrap. These silicone and versatile stretch lids ($11) are a way better bet—these protectors are BPA-free and made with food-grade silicone, and can fit just about any size jar or bowl and keeps the need for disposable products down to a minimum. The coolest part is they are freezer, oven, and microwave safe for quick reheats or longer term storage.
6. GreenPolly Blue Trashbags
Even when you can’t avoid throwing something out, you can make sure your garbage bags are more earth-friendly. These heavy duty bags ($18) are made from 90% certified post-consumer recycled plastic and 10% Green Polyethylene from renewable sugarcane. However, a few folks complained that they do have a tendency to rip—so they’re probably best suited for households that don’t jam a ton of trash into the bin.
7. Juniperseed Mercantile
Instead of treating stains with harsh chemicals, try this nifty stain stick. The Juniperseed Mercantile detergent stick is perfect for pretreating, and it’s made with simple, safe ingredients like vegetable oil, sugar, salt, and baking soda. You do have to put in a little elbow grease, so just dampen the spot, scrub the product in, and toss in the washer.
8. WoodAble Disposable Utensils
Being on the go doesn’t require a compromise of values. With a little preparation, you can make huge changes to your consumption habits, and investing in smart products like WoodAble ($15) is one of them. The only certified disposable wooden utensil on the market, this is perfect for camping weekends where you want to bring back as least as possible. It composts in just 90 days, and is certified for ethical material sourcing, so you don’t have to feel bad when you toss it.
9. PATCH Eco-Friendly Bamboo Bandages
Boo-boos are a natural life occurrence—so why not treat them naturally? We love PATCH bandages ($7), which are eco-friendly and perfect for sensitive skin. These bandages are made of bamboo and completely skip the plastic. This way, you can heal yourself (and a little bit of the earth, too).
10. Bedsure Bamboo Sheets
Sleep easy wrapped in a cocoon of eco-friendly comfort with these luxe bamboo sheets ($40). Available in a variety of sizes and colors, these comfortable sheets are composed entirely of bamboo which makes them more sustainable and durable than common cotton sheets. It also helps wick away moisture to keep sleepers cool and comfy.
Investing in quality, sustainable products is worth every penny. And although your interest in eco-friendly products might be just about helping the earth, you’ll be surprised how much money you end up saving, too—when you buy a supply of reusable products, you end up buying disposal items much less often.