30+ eco-friendly & sustainable swaps for products you use every day
Every little change makes a huge difference over time, mama.
By Kaitlyn Russell and Sara Goldstein Updated July 19, 2022
We independently select and share the products we love—and may receive a commission if you choose to buy.
Creating a better environment for our next generation is always top of mind, but even more so during Earth Month. We’re always on the hunt for eco-friendly products that are safe for our entire family to use and help keep our planet healthy.
When you take some time to consider just how many plastic and paper products your household goes through regularly, it might feel alarming. But don’t worry, mama. Fortunately, every little change makes a huge difference over time—from cutting back on the amount of plastic bags you use to store food to replacing your makeup wipe removers with a reusable cloth.
Here are some eco-friendly products and sustainable swaps that are super easy to make. Pick one this week to get started:
Best Eco-Friendly Products for Families
Cleancult
• $12.991. Instead of hand soap in plastic bottles, try Cleancult
Say goodbye to disposable hand soap containers and spruce up your bathroom (or kitchen) with this gorgeous hand soap. Cleancult’s refillable glass bottles and sustainably packaged and shipped soap formulas completely eliminate single-use plastics and come in a variety of delicious scents.
Stasher
• $9.592. Instead of plastic sandwich bags, try Stasher bags
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.
Silipint
• $54.953. Instead of plastic food containers, try silicone lidded bowls from Silipint
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.
Baggu
• $364. Instead of single use grocery store bags, try Baggu
The best reusable grocery bags are the ones you can’t forget to bring. Baggu’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 3-pack)
Oliver Logan
• $925. Instead of fast fashion denim, try Oliver Logan
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 Boyfriend (which we’re seriously living in right now)? It saves 281.6 days of drinking water versus a conventionally produced equivalent.
Woolybubs
• $34.996. Instead of leather baby booties, try Woolybubs
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.
OLA
• $24.997. Instead of regular cotton pads, try Zero-waste bamboo pads
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 bamboo holder!
Force of Nature
• $748. Instead of cleaning supplies in plastic bottles, try Force of Nature
Your household cleaning supplies equals lots of plastic, and are usually made with toxic ingredients. Enter: Force of Nature. A 4-in-1 replacement for practically everything under the kitchen sink, Force of Nature’s revolutionary cleaning appliance uses electricity to convert salt, water and vinegar (from the capsule) to make a hypoallergenic multi-purpose cleaner that’s just as effective as bleach without the toxic chemicals, dyes and allergens. Just fill to the line with tap water, squeeze in a capsule and in nine minutes you’ve got everything you need to tackle cleaning day.
Weezie
• $409. Instead of disposable makeup wipes, try Weezie makeup towel
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.
By Rosie Jane
• $1510. Instead of twist up, over-packaged deodorant, try By Rosie Jane
Many of us have swapped our traditional deodorant for safer, non-toxic 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 brand new spray on formula from LA-based By Rosie Jane. It’s loaded with natural bacteria fighting ingredients, like cruelty-free glycerin, organic aloe vera, sugarcane alcohol along with a fabulous signature scent that makes your morning routine feel extra special. And not only does the reusable glass bottle make it easy to apply anywhere you need a little boost (underboob and feet, I’m looking at you) but it’s recyclable as well.
Terra Ties
• $14.9911. Instead of traditional hair ties, try Terra Ties
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.
Stojo
• $2512. Instead of single bottles of water, try Stojo
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.
WonderSip
• $16.9913. Instead of plastic straws, try WonderSip
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.
Lush
• $13.5014. Instead of traditional shampoo + conditioner, try Lush shampoo and conditioner bars
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!
Peach Kids
• $5.9515. Instead of traditional shampoo, conditioner and body wash for the littles, try Peach Kids Bars
Last year we discovered and fell in love with Peach–the plastic-free beauty brand from Grove Collaborative. Their nourishing and effective hair and body bars are formulated without any of the yucky stuff, packed instead with clean ingredients like shea butter and coconut oil. And while we’re always happy to share with our kiddos, now we don’t have to! Just recently the brand launched a full kid’s collection for both Lil’ Kids (ages 3-5) and Big Kids (ages 6-12) that make bath time fun and sustainable. The colorful bars are easy for little hands to hold and feature yummy scents like Apple Blast, Sunny Orange and Groovy Grape that they’re sure to love.
Prices start at $5.95
Hairstory Hair Products
• $3716. Instead of one-and-done hair styling products, try the refillables from Hairstory
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.
LastObject
• $4917. Instead of a box of tissues, try LastObject LastTissue Box
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!
Junobie
• $19.9918. Instead of plastic breastmilk bags, try Junobie reusable silicone breastmilk bags
Pumping and storing that liquid gold just got an eco-friendly upgrade! The first-ever reusable breastmilk storage bags from Junobie not only keep over a thousand plastic bags out of landfills, but they also make storage so much easier. The FDA-approved 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.
Rise
• $27919. Instead of spices in plastic containers, try a Rise Indoor Garden
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.
True Botanicals
• $3820. Instead of lotion in plastic bottles, try True Botanicals nourishing lotion
True Botanicals is on a mission to make products that are safe for people and the planet. This 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. It has a citrus scent that wakes you up, and nourishes my skin for hours.
Organic Face Serum with Coffee Oil
• $2021. Instead of your regular face serum, try UpCircle
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. 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.
Porter
• $2522. Instead of disposable paper coffee cups, try Porter mug
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.
Esembly
• $69.5023. Instead of disposable diapers, try cloth diapers
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.
Healthybaby
• $3024. Or, if you still want disposable, try Healthybaby
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.
Cora
• $3925. Instead of pads or tampons, try Cora Cup
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?
Pure Rosy
• $3226. Instead of pads or tampons x2, try Pure Rosy period undies
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.
Deserth
• $17.3227. Instead of paper towels, try No-paper washable towels
If you’re like me, you go through a ton of paper towels each day. These washable linen no-paper towels are pretty enough to keep out in the open, and durable enough to use on tough messes and last through tons of washes.
Olsen + Olsen
• $16.6428. Instead of saran wrap + foil, try Food Wraps
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
• $22829. Instead of traditional bedding, try Boll & Branch sheet set
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.
Billie
• $930. Instead of disposable razors, try Billie razor with replacement heads
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.
Arm & Hammer
• $7.9731. Instead of traditional laundry detergent, try Arm & Hammer Clean & Simple
This detergent is made with 100% certified renewable electricity and with only six clean ingredients. Bonus points for its recycle friendly packaging and partnership with Arbor Day Foundation, helping to plant trees for cleaner air and water.
EarthRx
• $17.8532. Trade bottles for EarthRx BodPods
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 the ends up in the ocean. Win-win.