We all want to make a difference, but knowing how to start creating a more sustainable lifestyle and reducing waste can be tricky. So we've put together a list of the 23 best eco-friendly products to reduce waste around the home, at work, or on the go.
Why not pick a few simple switches and make 2023 your most eco-friendly year yet!
#1: Beeswax WrapCling film is one of the ickiest single-use plastics around. It’s 100% single-use, and it feels horrible to wrap food up in that chemical-laden plastic. The solution? Beeswax wrap. It’s attractive, natural, eco-friendly and can be used time and time again.
Above: Reusable Beeswax Wraps are a must-have for any zero waste kitchen!
#2: Unsponge
The synthetic fibres of your yellow-and-green kitchen sponge aren’t only ridden with germs, they’re also terrible for the environment. Among the many great eco-friendly products you can use instead is an unsponge. It cleans well, foams up nicely and is made of all-natural materials.
Above: Drop that nasty kitchen sponge! Try an organic cotton unsponge instead.
#3: Mesh Produce Bags
The war against plastic bags has been long. Luckily lots of countries now have laws to prohibit their overuse. But what about keeping your fruit and veg together on your weekly food shop? Mesh produce bags are an invaluable eco product. You can see what’s inside and use them to store things in the fridge.
Above: Refuse plastic in the vegetable aisle! Take a mesh produce bag instead.
#4: Organic Cotton String Bag
Check out our 100% organic cotton string bag! The crochet netting has this amazing ability to stretch and adjust to whatever you toss in. Say goodbye to those flimsy plastic bags that always seem to give up on you in the middle of a shopping trip
Above: Organic cotton string bags stretch to any size!
#5: Bamboo Toothbrush
Once you learn that over 3.6 billion toothbrushes are thrown away each year, it’s hard to look at that brightly-coloured piece of plastic in your bathroom in the same way! Next time you need to replace it, opt for a bamboo one. These eco-friendly products are sustainable and biodegradable.
ABOVE: A BAMBOO TOOTHBRUSH WILL DECOMPOSE NATURALLY, UNLIKE PLASTIC
#6: Plastic-Free Deodorant
One of the areas people seem least keen to make a zero waste switch is in deodorant. To be fair, natural deodorant doesn’t always get the best rap. However, as there are tons of chemical-free deodorants that come in compostable or recyclable aluminium packaging, you'll be sure to find one that makes you smell great!
Above: This gorgeous natural deodorant from Awake Organics works naturally with your skin's microbiome (good bacteria!)
#7: Shampoo Bars
If you’re switching to eco-friendly products, the stream of plastic bottles generated from your beauty routine is a good place to start. Shampoo bars are all-natural, last for ages and have completely biodegradable packaging.
Above: Just add water! A shampoo bar like this one by Kind2 will really get your waste down
#8: Reusable Safety Razor
The safety razor is one of our favourite plastic-free swaps, not just because it saves us throwing out plastic disposable razors (which can't be recycled), but it also looks great in the bathroom! Simply unscrew the razor head and switch out the blades every few weeks.
Above: This reusable Safety Razor is perfect for beginners
#9: Period Proof Underwear
Honestly, one of the best eco-friendly products we’ve ever invested in. Disposable pads and tampons aren’t only terrible for the environment, they’re also uncomfortable and expensive. Period pants are the opposite – comfortable, reusable and convenient.
Above: Period pants are a game-changer. Wave goodbye to mishaps and hello to going with the flow!
#10: Reusable Face Rounds
Fight the fatberg with these reusable cotton pads. No more wet wipes and throwaway cotton balls; instead you can cleanse and tone your skin with these soft and washable rounds. They’ll save you a lot of cash and the more you wash them, the softer they feel!
Above: Remove make-up with reusable face rounds like these ones from Wild & Stone
#11: EcoEgg Laundry Egg
There’s nothing like the feel of clean clothes but doing laundry results in a lot of waste. Additionally, most detergents are packed with chemicals. These Ecoegg laundry eggs wash your clothes with natural cleaning pellets, reducing waste enormously.
Above: An EcoEgg laundry egg can save up to *40 bottles of plastic per year!
#12: Bamboo Cutlery
If you take a lot of packed lunches to work (maybe not this year!) or simply enjoy a picnic, great eco-friendly products to invest in are bamboo utensils. You can get a whole set and bring them camping, hiking or picnicking without weighing your bags down.
ABOVE: DITCH THE DISPOSABLES AND USE LIGHTWEIGHT BAMBOO CUTLERY
#13: Stainless-Steel Lunchbox
A stainless-steel lunchbox with different sections means you can make a meal with multiple parts, not simply a sandwich. Steel means no BPAs in your food, and no wasted plastic. Now that's eco-friendly!
ABOVE: SWITCH TO A BPA-FREE STAINLESS STEEL LUNCHBOX
#14: Coconut Dish Brush
Another replacement for nasty plastic sponges and brushes, this dish brush has bristles made from coconut coir sourced from coconut husks that would otherwise have been discarded. This brush is a customer favourite as the bristles are tough enough for heavy pans, but can also be used on glass or non-stick pans without any damage.
Above: This coconut washing up brush is made from coconut husk that would otherwise have gone to waste.
#15: Reusable Coffee Cup
There’s a reason reusable coffee cups are the most popular among all the eco-friendly products you can switch to. They look better and feel nicer than disposable cups; plus, at lots of coffee shops you’ll even get a discount for using them. In fact, why haven’t you got one yet?
ABOVE: A REUSABLE COFFEE CUP IN A CORK SLEEVE
#16: Refillable Water Bottle
Another thing on the ‘don’t you already have one?’ list is a refillable water bottle. Single-use plastic bottles are atrocious for the environment, languishing in landfill for eons. Get into the habit of bringing your refillable bottle everywhere and you’ll never be dehydrated again!
Above: Refillable Water Bottles made from stainless steel keep water cold all day long!
#17: Fountain Pen
Everyone’s looked down at their cheap ballpoint as it runs out again and wondered at how pointless these cheap, disposable pens are. Fountain pens don’t only reduce waste, they also look better, feel great in your hand and result in gorgeous calligraphy (OK, that last part is your responsibility!).
Above: The classic Parker Fountain Pen looks super stylish, without the hefty price-tag
#18: Dry Highlighter Pencils
Taking eco-friendly stationery to the next level, dry highlighter pencils allow you to colourfully annotate your notes and plans without throwing away dozens of plastic highlighter pens as you do so.
Above: These funky Highlighter Pencilswill never run dry
#19: Paper Potter
If you’ve got green fingers (or are hoping to!), you might despair at having to plant things in plastic pots – but there’s no need! You can get a paper potter or a set to make them, so that all your seedlings will start their lives in fully compostable containers.
Above: With a Paper Pot Maker you can make an endless supply of seedling pots
#20: Furoshiki Wrap
We can learn a lot from this Japanese custom of wrapping presents in cloth with beautiful patterns: it looks more attractive, shows that you’ve put care into your gift, and saves you all that non-recyclable wrapping paper. It’s also incredibly versatile, so you can use these eco-friendly cloths as carrier bags and lunch-wrappings as well.
Above: Furoshiki gift wrapping looks stylish and takes less effort: what's not to love?
#21: Soap Berries
Soap berries (also called soap nuts) for laundry are a game-changer. Non-toxic, sustainable and affordable, you’ll never look at a chemical detergent again! Just place 4-6 of them in a reusable muslin bag, and throw them in the washing machine with your laundry load. Easy!
Above: Soap berries (nuts) are an affordable zero waste laundry alternative
#22: Oat Milk Making Kit
Make oat milk in 15 minutes, at a fraction of the cost of buying it in the supermarket. Inside the kit, we give you the ultimate guide with recipes, facts, what to do with leftover oat pulp, tips on how to get the best consistency, advice on how to wash the muslin cloth and more.
Above: Cut down packaging waste by making your own oat milk
#23: Bamboo Pot Scrubbers
For more heavy duty pots and pans, our bamboo pot scrubbers are a must-have alternative to synthetic scourers. The pair of brushes comes with sisal bristles - one soft and the other one hard. You can also use them to clean vegetables (so much easier than peeling them!) or dirty boots.
Above: Switch to sustainable bamboo with these cute pot scrubbers
Which of these eco-friendly products have you used? How did you find them? Share in the comments below and inspire us!