35 eco-friendly & sustainable swaps for products you use every day

Say goodbye to disposable hand soap containers and spruce up your bathroom (or kitchen) with this gorgeous hand soap. Cleancult’s refillable aluminum bottles and sustainably packaged and shipped soap formulas completely eliminate single-use plastics and come in a variety of delicious scents.

Your household cleaning supplies add up to a lot of plastic, and are usually made with toxic ingredients. Enter: Blueland. With their 4-piece Clean Essentials Kit you’ll get their best-selling Hand Soap, Multi-Surface Cleaner, Bathroom Cleaner, and Glass + Mirror Cleaner tablets and reusable bottles–each made with plant-based and eco-friendly ingredients. The formulas are effective (and smell good too!) and given how long they last, they’re a great deal as well. Just add tap water, wait for the tablet to dissolve and you’re ready to tackle cleaning day.

If you’re like me, you go through a ton of paper towels each day. Recently though, I’ve switched to these Swedish dishcloths and unless I have to clean up something nightmarish, I’m never going back. They’re insanely absorbent, dry quickly so they never get smelly and each one can replace up to 17 rolls of paper towels. Each pack comes with four towels and two peel-and-stick hooks to hang them up when not in use. They’re super helpful to have in the bathroom too!

Traditional laundry detergent not only comes in a big old plastic jug, but shipping the bulky, heavy product wastes so many resources. We’ve tested a lot of eco-friendly laundry detergents that are working to reduce that footprint and have to say, the Cleancult Laundry Detergent Sheets are our favorite. They’re impressively effective even against stinky teenager sports gear and the fact they take up less space than a box of dryer sheets is just the icing on the cake. (Price is for 60 sheets.)

Made with plant-based ingredients and zero chemicals, this hard-working, multi-purpose powder works just as hard as the competition. Add a scoop to laundry to freshen and brighten whites and colors. Mix with their concentrate to pre-treat stains or whiten grout and tiles. It can even be used on burnt pots and pans to bring back their good-as-new shine.

These beautiful reusable bamboo pads will replace all of that extra stuff you use in the bathroom—cotton rounds for face toner, extra toilet paper for micellar water, paper towels for nail polish remover. Once used, toss in the wash to reuse again. Bonus points for coming tucked in their own handy laundry bag!

Made with 100% organic cotton, these towels will replace your makeup remover wipes for good. Simply soak with water and gently wipe away even the toughest makeup, or use with your favorite makeup remover balm. Once used a few times, toss in the wash.

Many of us have swapped our traditional deodorant for safer, natural options because we’re worried about what goes in our bodies. Turns out, there’s also the planet to consider. Hit both the clean and sustainable marks with the absolutely divine Hygiene Hero Super Deo. Packaged in a cardboard tube, the toxin-free formula is loaded with natural bacteria fighting and pH balancing ingredients like arrowroot and potato starch, zinc ricinoleate and fermented postbiotics along with mango butter to hydrate skin and even help prevent ingrown hairs. It glides on smooth with no white streaks and the scents are so much more sophisticated than your typical baby powder. (Coco Lavender smells like vacation mixed with spa vibes.) The best part? It actually works.

These ties work just as well as your standard variety, but they’re so much better for the earth. These are plastic free and 100% biodegradable which means that when you’re done using them, you can throw them into the compost pile to easily break down.

Say goodbye to your traditional shampoo and conditioner bottles, and hello to Lush’s product pucks. I love that they’re full of plant-based ingredients and essential oils and it’s such an easy swap to make in my routine. The bars equal the equivalent of two bottles of shampoo and conditioner so they last a super long time. Run your hands underwater, scrub the bar across your palm and lather away. Most impressively, there’s a formula for every hair type!

Chances are, you’ve got a small army of hair products packaged in single use plastic kicking around your bathroom. There’s a sustainable alternative for that! Along with their revolutionary pouch-packed hair wash (a one-step cleanser designed to retrain your scalp and reveal your best hair ever), they also offer a solid line-up of styling products. From dry shampoo that bridges the gap between wash days to hair balm that makes air-drying your friend, each can be purchased in a refillable bottle and refill pouches as well.

On a mission to eliminate as many single use items from your bathroom as possible, LastObject makes reducing and reusing easy and stylish. The Danish-designs are all completely brilliant, but our allergy-addled faces make the most use of the LastTissue box. Tucked inside the minimalist silicone box are 18 tissue-sized cloths that can be washed over and over again, saving nearly ten thousand single use tissues. Just stuff your used one in the bottom to keep clean and dirty separate and drop them in the washing machine when they run out!

Saltair is on a mission to make products that are safe for people and the planet. Their lotion is free of any toxic ingredients (and no plastic!) and is developed, produced, packaged and shipped in a way that minimizes its environment impact. We’ve yet to find a scent we don’t like, but have to say, the dreamy floral vibe of Island Orchid is totally addicting.

Coffee truly is a magic elixir. And not just in your cup, my friend! The organic face serum from UpCircle Beauty is formulated with caffeine from upcycled coffee oil along with Vitamin C to hydrate, nourish and protect your gorgeous skin. It’s super hydrating and gentle, and works wonders on cuticles as well. Not only does it give you an enviable glow, but the brand’s sustainable efforts have salvaged over 400 tons of coffee grounds that would have otherwise sat in landfills.

If you’re using multiple disposable razors each year, this is an easy swap to make to lessen plastic use. It comes with a magnetic holder that keeps your razor in place in the shower—simply replace the razor head instead of the entire razor. Its charcoal shave soap pillow around the blades makes for a super clean shave every time.

And it’s not just your razor that can get a sustainable upgrade–your shaving cream can too! Ditch the can for the luxurious Shave Bar Starter Set from the mother and daughter-owned Lola Arnao. The super-concentrated shave bar (which replaces two cans of conventional cream) is made from a nourishing blend of natural oils and botanicals to give you a smooth, soft shave without irritating sensitive skin. It’s so moisturizing you barely need to slather on lotion afterward! (Though their divine cocoa butter lotion bar makes the perfect post-shave indulgence.)  In addition to the shave bar, the plastic-free set includes a bamboo rest, brush for lathering up and a cotton bag for traveling.

Swap bottles of body wash for these genius pods. The plant-based, mild soap is wrapped in a plastic pod that dissolves when it hits the water—and even the bag it comes in is biodegradable. They lather up like a dream and help eliminate plastic waste that ends up in the ocean. Win-win.

One way to ensure your trash sticks around long after you do? Wrap it up in another layer of plastic. Ugh. Or you could opt for these durable and 100% compostable trash bags which are designed to break down in 6-12 months.

These bags are worth every penny. Made of non-toxic silicone, they have a secure seal (trust me, I’ve tested with liquids) and are safe for the dishwasher and microwave. Even better, they’re safe to use in the freezer, in the oven or in boiling water for sous vide.

Whether they break or just become too riddled with gross smells or stains, many kid-safe food containers eventually meet their end. But not these fabulous lidded bowls from Silipint! Made from 100% safe, food-grade silicone they’re totally indispensable and guaranteed for life. Complete with a snug fitting lid, they’re perfect for storing hot or cold foods on the go or at home and since they can be put in the freezer, microwave and even the oven, they’re likely to become the most used bowl in the house. The 20 ounce size is great for lunches and the 10 ounce version is our favorite for toddler snacks. Price is for set of three in various sizes.

The best reusable grocery bags are the ones you can’t forget to bring. BeeGreen’s small but mighty nylon bags are easy to stash in your purse or diaper bag so they’re always on hand whether it’s a planned grocery run or a spontaneous dash into Target.

(Price is for a 10-pack)

Another option? My favorite reusable shopping bag of all time. The organized, stylish and oh-so-efficient Caraa Market Tote has a clever place for everything–an insulated zip pocket for cold groceries, four vertical bottle pockets, a roomy inside, a botanical strap and a zipper pocket for her essentials. Every single time I breeze through Trader Joe’s someone asks about this wonder of a bag. Not only does it make me feel like an expert packer, but I can sashay to the car without even having to bring the cart with me. (It’s also a Farmer’s Market must bring!)

Those big ol’ stainless steel water bottles are great, but they’re no help when you forget it at home. Instead, do yourself a favor and toss one of the genius Stojo collapsible silicone sport bottles in your bag. Expanded, it holds up to 20 oz. of hot or cold liquid. When you’re done, it folds right back up without taking up space. Who’s ready for anything? You are.

Swapping from plastic to metal straws was one of the first sustainable swaps I made, but I found that it often left a weird aftertaste or I wasn’t sure how to really make sure the inside was clean. WonderSip’s innovative design allows you to open the straw completely to easily clean. Even better, the buttons are kid-friendly and keep the straw at the top of your cup.

How many individual spices do you have in your pantry right now? If you’re like me, it’s *a lot.* If you have a green thumb, try growing your own herbs with a Rise edible herb garden. It comes with everything you need to grow impressive herbs and veggies all year long.

This stylish ceramic mug will become the best part of your morning routine. It’s easy to clean, can be thrown in the microwave and dishwasher, and has a silicone sleeve to ensure you don’t burn your hand.

With tons of pretty patterns, you’ll love using these beeswax wraps to wrap around half-eaten food, cover bowls or hold sandwiches. Once used, just wash with cool water and soap and hang to dry.

Boll & Branch uses sustainable raw materials, recycled packaging and works with Fair Trade farmers to provide living wages (keeping them debt-free) and safer standards. Their sheets are super-soft, hold up well over washes and the perfect blend between cool and cozy.

It’s no secret that fast fashion is a big contributor to the stress of our planet. Buying less and buying thoughtfully is more important than ever. So when it comes to denim, we’re all about Oliver Logan. Not only are their styles the perfect way to step outside your skinnies comfort zone, they’re sustainably manufactured with reclaimed fibers and super transparent about their processes. Want to know the exact environmental impact of each product? It’s there right on each product page. Our favorite style, the Crosby High Rise (which we’re seriously living in right now with some washes discounted 25%!)? It saves 281.6 days of drinking water versus a conventionally produced equivalent.

It’s not everyday that we discover a product that makes us stop in our tracks. But Woolybubs made us do just that. As the first completely biodegradable baby shoes, they may be the most planet-friendly baby gear we’ve ever seen. Like the soft leather first shoes you know and love, Woolybubs are soft and breathable and comfy for little feet. But unlike traditional options which are sure to hang out in landfills for generations, these literally disappear when put into boiling water. And no! They don’t break down until you really want them to.

Pumping and storing that liquid gold just got an eco-friendly upgrade! The reusable breastmilk storage bags from Momcozy not only keep thousands of plastic bags out of landfills, but they also make storage so much easier. The food-grade silicone bags stand upright, are freezer, dishwasher and heat-safe, and can easily be used as snack pouches once your little one phases out of bottles.

If there’s one item you go through as a parent, it’s disposable diapers. If you’re open to swapping to cloth, you can save on spending and help the environment. This beautiful set has everything you need to get started on cloth diapering.

Healthybaby diapers are as safe for baby bottoms as they are for the planet. As the only EWG-verified disposable diaper on the market, they’ve replaced petroleum-based materials with plant-based materials wherever possible and manufacture in a sustainable facility.

Save money, reduce clutter and help the planet all at the same time? Yes please. With a Tiny Earth subscription you can refresh your little one’s toy shelf every couple months with a curated collection of high quality, age-appropriate toys. They carry a wide selection of brands we love like Plan Toys, Hape, and Wee Gallery for babies through age five–all sustainable, Montessori-inspired and free of plastic. Over the course of a year families save an average of $900 and divert 60+ pounds of waste!

Here’s a not-so-fun fact: The average woman will use 9,600 tampons in her lifetime. That’s a LOT of waste. (Not to mention thousands of dollars💸) Swapping to a menstrual cup eliminates that completely while also making life so. much. easier. (Full disclosure, I’m a big fan.) Cora offers two sizes and comes in a super-chic case, but what’s more, each purchase gives health education and pads to girls who need them. What’s not to love about all of that?

Another way to get on the sustainable period train? Period undies. The reusable designs look just like regular undies but can catch up to several tampons worth of blood, keeping you comfortable and leak-free all day long. They’re also a great option postpartum! There are tons of brands out there, but Pure Rosy is a stand out with a design that’s impressively thin yet still 100% effective.

If you prefer the pad route, there’s an eco-friendly option for you too! The absorbent reusable pads from LastObject are made with three non-toxic, chemical-free layers (in three absorbencies) to keep you feeling dry and fresh even on your heaviest days. They come with their own waterproof pouch for storage and can simply be washed in the washing machine between uses. We love them for teens, too!