6 earth-friendly kitchen products you can buy from Amazon

Bamboo reusable paper towels

Paper towels are one of the most used items in our kitchen and I had hoped that by replacing standard paper towels with a roll of these that we would be able to cut down on the amount of towels going in the garbage. These bamboo towels come on a roll and are torn off like paper towels but are much stronger and can be thrown in the washing machine. (Unfortunately, my partner misunderstood and threw away a significant number of our bamboo towels.) A word of advice: Make sure everyone in the family knows that these towels belong in the laundry hamper, not the garbage can. You can wash and reuse these multiple times, and one roll could last about 6 months!

Klean Kanteen steel straws

We’re trying to reduce waste so we’re no longer buying paper straws but I’ve just got to have a straw when I’m having a cold drink (and my preschooler is obsessed with straws) so we’ve been on the hunt for a dishwasher safe, reusable straws. The first ones we tried were completely stainless steel and I nearly chipped my tooth, so I was happy to find these Klean Kanteen straws with silicon tops on Amazon. The little brush they come with is great for cleaning them, especially since we sometimes use them for smoothies.

Reusable microfiber cleaning cloth set

Purchasing these microfiber cleaning cloths was another attempt to reduce my family’s consumption of paper towels, and it worked! Unlike with the bamboo towels, there was no confusion about these clothes being reusable. We just threw them in the washing machine with towels or jeans and had a fresh stash for all the messes we are constantly making. I like having the different colors to keep kitchen cloths, floor cloths and bathroom cloths totally separate.

Vacuum insulated lunch thermos

This 13.5 ounce vacuum insulation thermos was tested by a #TeamMotherly staff member who totally loves it. The photo above shows it holding ice cream, but this triple-walled, stainless steel container can hold healthier foods too, and keep them hot or cold. It’s a step up from nearly disposable plastic food containers so many of us have rattling around in our kitchen drawers and (unlike many of those containers) is leak-proof in a backpack or diaper bag.

Reusable food wraps

Multiple Motherly staff members have tried these wraps and as someone who did I can say they are totally worth it. If you’re trying to cut down on plastic wrap in your kitchen (or have a preschooler who likes to take one bite out everything and save it for later) these beeswax wraps are an eco-friendly and reusable alternative. There are a few brands out there. We like these ones on Amazon and the LilyBee beeswax food wraps are a non-Amazon alternative.

Silicone baking mats

We used to use a ton of parchment paper in our kitchen for everything from baking cookies to heating up frozen French fries, but these silicone baking mats have changed the way we bake making the process less wasteful.