If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Home 20 Essentials for Your Sustainability Starter Kit Shop these eco-friendly picks to help reduce your environmental impact. By Alexandra Kelly Alexandra Kelly Alex is the senior home editor for Martha Stewart. She has over 10 years of experience producing digital content in the home and lifestyle space, ranging from cleaning and organizing to etiquette and home design. Editorial Guidelines Published on April 15, 2024 08:30AM EDT Photo: Courtesy of Coyuchi / Amazon / Blueland For the sake of convenience, we often turn to products that are actually pretty wasteful—think single-use dryer sheets, disposable utensils, or even your standard toothpaste. But what if we told you there were sustainable alternatives that are just as convenient, better for the planet, and can actually save you money in the long run? To help get you started reducing your carbon footprint, here are 20 eco-friendly essentials you'll want to use every day. 10 Eco-Friendly Household Swaps That Make Living "Green" So Much Easier 01 of 20 BeeGreen Reusable Grocery Bags Courtesy of Amazon Shop in style with this set of 12 reusable bags that come in a multitude of pretty colors and patterns. They are super lightweight yet surprisingly large and sturdy, holding up to 50 pounds each. Each bag folds up into a small, portable package, so you can toss a few in your handbag, work tote, glove compartment, and more. $29 at Amazon 02 of 20 Coyuchi Conserve Organic Produce Bags Courtesy of Coyuchi Many of us have become accustomed to using reusable shopping bags at the grocery store, but we often overlook those small plastic bags in the produce section. Reduce your plastic consumption by switching to these all-cotton washable produce bags instead. This set includes one large French terry bag along with two smaller mesh bags. For veggies that last longer, slightly dampen your cotton bags and store them in the refrigerator with the produce inside. $28 at Coyuchi.com 03 of 20 Owala FreeSip Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle Courtesy of Amazon Ditch single-use plastic bottles and carry your water in this stylish and functional water bottle. Constructed from insulated stainless steel, the bottle is leak-proof and keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours. It's also BPA-, lead-, and phthalate-free. $33 at Amazon 04 of 20 Hippo Sak Plant Based Tall Kitchen Garbage Bags Courtesy of Amazon A USDA-certified biobased product, these trash bags are actually made from plant-based materials—sugarcane, to be exact. They're just as strong and durable as their traditional plastic counterparts, but break down far more easily. $15 at Amazon 05 of 20 LOMI Smart Waste Home Food Upcycler Courtesy of Amazon Speed up your composting process by using this food upcycler, which produces compost from your food scraps in just 24 hours. It holds 3 liters of food scrap that is then heated and ground down into what Lomi calls pre-compost. The machine is small enough to fit on your countertop and features a touch interface where you can start, stop, and monitor the progress of the composting. $530 at Amazon 06 of 20 Bee's Wrap Reusable Beeswax Food Wraps Courtesy of Amazon Lessen your reliance on plastic wrap for food storage with all-natural beeswax wraps. Made from organic cotton, beeswax, organic plant oil, and tree resin, these wraps create a secure seal around your food, keeping it fresh without the need for plastic wrap or plastic sandwich bags. They're reusable for up to a year if maintained correctly, and can be composted or used as a fire starter at the end of their life. $20 at Amazon 07 of 20 Blueland Dishwasher Detergent Tablets Courtesy of Amazon Wash grease and grime off your dishes with a plastic-free dishwasher tab that's made from plant and mineral-based cleaning powder. Purchase the starter kit from Blueland, and you'll also receive a pretty refillable tin to hold your dishwasher tabs. $23 at Amazon 08 of 20 Grove Co. All-Purpose Hand & Dish Bar Soap Courtesy of Grove Co. A two-in-one product, this bar soap is effective at cutting through grime and grease on your dishes, as well as gently cleansing your hands. FSC-certified paper box packaging made from recycled paper and responsibly harvested wood, plus zero sulfates, parabens, phthalates, silicones, synthetic fragrances, artificial colors, and dyes make this an eco-friendly winner. $5 at Grove.co 09 of 20 Grove Co. Reusable Glass Cleaning Spray Bottle Courtesy of Grove Co. Crafted from partially recycled glass, every sustainable household needs a refillable spray bottle like this one. Perfect for filling with your favorite cleaning agents, whether it's one of Grove Co.'s corresponding concentrates or a DIY vinegar and water mixture, you'll love the ability to click-lock a label into place so you know exactly what type of cleaner is in it at all times. $15 at Grove.co 10 of 20 Thieves Plant-Based Concentrated Household Cleaner Courtesy of Amazon Eliminate harsh chemicals from your cleaning routine with this all-natural, plant-based multipurpose cleaner. Mix one capful of this concentrated solution with 2 cups of water and pour it into your favorite reusable spray bottle for a powerful cleaning agent that's scented with an essential oil blend. $39 at Amazon 11 of 20 Coyuchi Climate Beneficial Wool Dryer Balls Courtesy of Coyuchi Instead of reaching for a disposable dryer sheet, try using reusable wool dryer balls to soften laundry and remove static. This set is made from climate beneficial wool that is sourced from two different farms in California, and can be used in up to 1,000 loads of laundry. $29 at Coyuchi.com 12 of 20 Aspen Clean Laundry Detergent Pods Courtesy of Amazon Transition from traditional liquid laundry detergent and try powdered laundry pods instead. These laundry pods promise a fresh, powerful clean with pods made from biodegradable, plant-based ingredients (read: no harsh chemicals for your clothes or going down the drain into the local watershed). These pods are also EWG verified, certified organic by Ecocert, and 100 percent vegan. $18 at Amazon 13 of 20 Repurpose Bamboo Toilet Paper Courtesy of Amazon We know what you're thinking—how could you possibly make a single-use item like toilet paper sustainable? This toilet paper is made from 100 percent renewable, FCS-certified bamboo, is septic safe, and has no BPAs, inks, dyes, or fragrances. It's also reportedly softer than traditional recycled toilet paper to boot. $27 at Amazon 14 of 20 Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Foaming Hand Soap Starter Kit Courtesy of Amazon Upgrade your hand soap with Mrs. Meyer's refillable, concentrated set. You'll receive a glass reusable soap dispenser along with two concentrated soap refills that need water added to make a moisturizing, luxuriously smelling soap. $18 at Amazon 15 of 20 MiiR Double-Wall Vacuum Insulated Flip Traveler Courtesy of Amazon Take your morning coffee in sustainable style with this double-wall vacuum-insulated travel mug. It's leak-proof, ensuring no spills, and keeps beverages hot (or cold!) for hours. $28 at Amazon 16 of 20 Bamboo Essentials Travel Utensil Set Courtesy of Amazon Reduce your dependency on disposable utensils when traveling by carrying along this compact utensil set—perfect for keeping at the office, too. Made from sustainable bamboo and sealed with food-safe wood oil, the set includes a reusable knife, fork, spoon, straw, straw cleaner, and chopsticks, all in a washable pouch. $6 at Amazon 17 of 20 Bklyn Bento Stainless Steel Bento Box Lunch Box Courtesy of Amazon Tote your lunch to work in this eco-friendly, stainless steel bento box set. It's BPA, PVC, BPS, and phthalate-free, and is quite sizeable, with two large, stackable tiers for your lunch and a top tier for snacks. $43 at Amazon 18 of 20 Vivago Biodegradable Bamboo Toothbrushes Courtesy of Amazon It's advisable to replace your toothbrush every three months, or more often if you're sick. But have you ever wondered just how many plastic toothbrushes you've gone through if you're tossing them every few months? Reduce your waste by using compostable bamboo toothbrushes like these. Soft, BPA-free bristles are attached to a biodegradable handle, which is numbered to differentiate it from the others in the package. $10 at Amazon 19 of 20 BITE Toothpaste Bits Courtesy of Amazon Pair these with your bamboo toothbrushes—these toothpaste bits replace your plastic tube of toothpaste with pre-portioned tablets that come in a reusable glass bottle. They're perfect for traveling, bringing to the office, or just carrying around any time you want to clean your teeth quickly and effectively. $27 at Amazon 20 of 20 Superzero Shampoo and Conditioner Bars Courtesy of SuperZero Waterless beauty products have been picking up steam, and you can hop on that trend easily with shampoo and conditioner bars from Superzero. According to the company, one bar of shampoo replaces two, 8.4-ounce bottles of liquid shampoo or one 16-ounce bottle. These bars are plastic-free, bottle-free, and made from natural ingredients like shea and cocoa butter. $127 at Superzero.com Was this page helpful? 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