Eco-friendly products – The average American adult produces around 4.9 pounds of waste each day, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). That adds up to over 1,700 pounds of trash per year! Our ever-growing piles of garbage are contributing to all sorts of problems, including climate change, air pollution, and the destruction of many ecosystems.
If you’ve been trying to be more mindful of your impact on the environment, switching to eco-friendly products is an excellent place to start. Simple changes like replacing plastic shampoo bottles with plastic-free shampoo bars and supporting brands that put the planet first can help make a difference.
To help you make better decisions for your family and the planet, we’ve rounded up a list of eco-friendly products that everyone should have in their home. From Swedish dishcloths to bamboo toothbrushes, here are 10 eco-friendly products that will help you reduce your carbon footprint.
Table of Contents
1. Shampoo and Conditioner Bars
Each year, an estimated 552 million plastic shampoo bottles end up in landfills. That’s a lot of plastic waste coming from our hair care routines! Using plastic-free shampoo and conditioner bars is an easy and affordable way to eliminate unnecessary plastic packaging and reduce your impact on the planet. Not only are these travel-friendly bars good for the planet and your wallet, but they’re also touted as being amazing for hair, thanks to their high concentration of plant-based ingredients.
2. Swedish Dishcloths
Like most Americans, you probably use paper towels for everything: drying your hands, wiping crumbs off the counter, cleaning up spills — the list goes on and on. They’re just so easy and convenient! But like many products made from virgin paper, paper towels contribute heavily to deforestation and climate change.
Fortunately, paper towels aren’t necessary to keep your kitchen spotlessly clean — not when you have Swedish dishcloths, anyway. Made from biodegradable cellulose and cotton, these durable little cloths are perfect for cleaning up occasional spills and messes. Plus, they often come in eye-catching designs to instantly enhance the look of your kitchen.
3. Plant-Based Laundry Detergent
Laundry detergents often contain a slew of toxic ingredients such as ammonia, phosphates, artificial fragrances and sulfates. Why not skip the harsh chemicals and reach for a cruelty-free, plant-based formula instead? On top of being better for the environment, plant-based laundry detergents are also much gentler on sensitive skin. Note: If you have a high-efficiency (HE) washer, make sure you buy a HE plant-based detergent as well.
4. Reusable Cotton Rounds
If you typically use disposable cotton rounds in your beauty routine, then it’s time to make the switch to reusable cotton rounds. Washable and reusable, these eco-friendly cotton rounds are great for removing makeup, applying toner, and taking off your nail polish. While reusable cotton rounds are pricier than their disposable counterparts, you’ll save money (and the environment) in the long run.
Bamboo Towels:
Bamboo towels are different from the usual cotton towels in a variety of ways. You might get bored using your regular towels so switching it to the bamboo towel will be a great idea. Bamboo towels are lightweight, hypoallergic and incredibly soft. Moreover, these towels are antibacterial and will keep you safe and disinfected all the time. If you are looking for some recommendations, this article is for you: What Are The Best Bamboo Towels Sets in 2021? This has been published by Mizu Towels, one of the leading suppliers of antibacterial bath towels, made with the finest quality and Japanese design.
5. Kitchen Compost Bin
Did you know that food is a major contributor to climate change? When our food ends up in a landfill, it breaks down anaerobically (meaning, without oxygen) and emits methane. Composting is an easy and affordable way to divert food waste from landfills and put it back into the soil. With a stylish kitchen compost bin, you’ll actually look forward to reusing your leftover food scraps. Plus, your garden will never look better!
6. Reusable Water Bottle
Obviously, not everyone has access to safe drinking water. But if you are fortunate enough to live in a place with clean tap water, consider ditching your single-use plastic water bottles for one that can be washed and reused a thousand times over. Reusable water bottles are convenient, affordable and divert hundreds — if not thousands — of plastic water bottles from landfills each year. (Tip: If you don’t like the idea of handwashing your reusable water bottle every day, look for one that you can pop in the dishwasher.)
7. Rechargeable Batteries
When batteries corrode, they can leach harmful chemicals that get into our soil and groundwater. In other words, you could be drinking dangerous chemicals at home without even realizing it.
According to the EPA, certain household batteries can be recycled safely — but why bother when you could simply switch to rechargeable batteries and avoid the hassle altogether? While they might not be feasible for smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms, rechargeable batteries are a great option for cameras, flashlights and other high-consumption electronics.
8. Bamboo Toothbrush
Replacing your plastic toothbrush with a bamboo toothbrush is possibly one of the easiest eco-friendly swaps you can make. Bamboo toothbrushes are sustainable, and affordable and can now be found in many grocery store chains across the country. You can also compost your bamboo toothbrush after it wears down. Simply pull out the bristles, stick the handle in your compost, and give it a few months to safely return to the soil.
9. Reusable Shopping Bags
Many cities and states have taken steps to ban single-use plastic bags and for good reason. Plastic bags are made from crude oil, emit a significant amount of pollution during the manufacturing process and end up in landfills or the natural environment. Shopping with a reusable bag is an easy way for everyone to reduce their carbon footprint. Consider keeping a few bags in your car at all times so you don’t forget to bring them!
10. Low-Flow Showerhead
Nothing feels better than taking a long, hot shower after a stressful day. But the truth is, our showering habits can be a little hard on Mother Nature. While showers are better for the environment compared to baths, they still use an enormous amount of water and energy. Along with taking shorter showers, installing a low-flow showerhead is an easy way to reduce your environmental footprint. It’s good for your wallet, too — according to the EPA, installing a low-flow showerhead can save $70 in energy and water costs annually.
See? Taking steps to go green is easy! Just remember to use up the products you have before you start using these sustainable alternatives.
