20 Products for a More Sustainable Lifestyle

Paper towels are a staple in many kitchens, but they aren’t reusable or recyclable. They can be composted, but many people simply throw them away so they can clutter landfills quickly. By contrast, reusable paper towels – thus named because they are more absorbent and flexible than regular kitchen towels – can be used, washed, and used again and again.

You can use them to do anything you would with a traditional paper towel, including cleaning up spills, drying your wet dishes, or cleaning up a dirty stove.

While soap is a necessity to remove surface dirt, get rid of germs, and improve your skin’s appearance, most are not sustainable or ethically sourced. While body washes are packed with shelf stabilizers, dyes, perfumes, and microplastics, bar soap is a better alternative. Better yet, this bar soap from The Right to Shower is even more sustainable than that of other companies.

Plastic straws are single-use and contribute to landfill waste. Worse, they often find their way into waterways and pose a threat to wildlife. A metal straw can reduce waste in the landfill and help you cut costs. Instead of continuously purchasing new straws, a quality set of metal straws can last almost indefinitely.

Many people like to enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning, and it can be extremely convenient to brew a single cup when you’re on the go. Unfortunately, single-use coffee pods, like those for a Keurig or Nespresso machine, are made of plastic that isn’t easily recyclable and poses a mounting plastic waste problem.

Moisturizer is one of the most essential personal care products for many people, but finding one made from sustainably sourced ingredients is not always easy. You’ll want to look for moisturizers like this one made from Fair-Trade-certified shea butter. This product also uses an aluminum tube instead of plastic, making it easy to recycle.

Many modern toys are made from plastic and negatively impact the environment. Some companies have taken the opportunity to use recyclable materials in their toys instead of newly produced plastics. Look for recycled wood, metal, or even recycled “green” plastics like this line from Green Toys. They’re free from BPA, phthalates, and PVC, so they’re safe for your children and the environment, too.

Americans are notorious for using far more electricity than they need and never considering the ramifications. Even if you are concerned about your electricity usage, it can be difficult to know where to cut back. While you can see your energy usage on your electric bill, you likely won’t get enough data to explain where most of your power consumption comes from.

Storing leftovers is a great way to reduce your food budget and cut down on food waste. Unfortunately, finding the proper container to keep things like a half-used onion or a cucumber may have you reaching for a plastic storage bag that will ultimately wind up in the landfill.
Instead of single-use storage bags that aren’t biodegradable and can harm the environment, consider using a reusable bag.

While food is biodegradable, it serves no purpose wasting away in a landfill. By contrast, composting helps you to dispose of organic materials without contributing to the landfill and gives waste like banana peels or onion scraps a new life. You can use the compost as fertilizer for your garden to reduce erosion, encourage healthier growth, and conserve water.

Tea is healthy, tasty, and, depending on the type you prefer, can provide energy, help you sleep, or serve as a lovely closing to a cool night. However, tea bags can pile up in the trash, which leads to more waste in the landfill. Instead of using a tea bag, consider purchasing a tea diffuser and using loose-leaf tea.

Toilet paper is far from environmentally friendly. It’s often bleached, can’t be recycled, and can even harm your plumbing or septic system. Consider looking into more eco-friendly and sustainable options, such as this product made from 100 percent recycled products.

Instead of newly felled trees, recycled toilet paper is made from paper pulp that has already been used. This reduces the impact of the forestry industry on the environment. If you’re really committed to sustainable toilet products, try reusable toilet paper made from soft, absorbent cloth that can be washed and reused.

Cling wrap is a useful tool in every kitchen that can fit any container and lightly cover leftover food for storage. However, these wraps are plastic and are not typically biodegradable. Worse, they can pose a serious risk to wildlife. For a more sustainable option in the kitchen, consider using a reusable food wrap from beeswax and cotton.

Cosmetics are considered a significant source of waste and other damage to the environment. The products often come with extra packaging that leads to garbage in a landfill, and the cosmetics themselves may include ingredients that damage the environment or contribute to animal testing. Any time you can find an eco-friendly version of your favorite beauty product, we recommend you consider it.

While you may not think of dish soap as something that contributes to environmental damage, it does have an impact on our planet. Many dish soaps can pose a threat to the environment when they enter the sewage system and, eventually, the waterways. They nearly always come in plastic containers that will sit for years in a landfill because they aren’t biodegradable.

While floss picks or loose dental floss are small in comparison to some of the plastic products we throw away with daily use, these tiny products add up quickly. Instead of using single-use models, try a heftier, sustainable version you can reuse. Even if you don’t like the idea of using the same floss pick twice, this product is completely biodegradable, uses zero plastic, and requires less material to produce.

Plastic bags have been a point of contention with many environmentalists, and some grocery stores are beginning to phase them out. You can help bring about the end of plastic bags by purchasing several reusable grocery bags you can fill again and again. Look for bags made from recycled material to increase the contribution to the health of the planet. With the right care, you can reuse your bags for years.

Single-use plastic water bottles are currently piling up in landfills around the world and greatly contribute to our environmental problems. Instead of buying a case of water bottles to take with you on the go, consider purchasing a reusable water bottle that you can use whether you’re out or about or just sipping on water at home. To further positively impact the environment, try to find a bottle made of recycled materials like this one.