The first rule of “eco-friendly” is to talk to LITERALLY EVERYONE about being eco-friendly. Because each of us can make a difference but all of us can have a major impact. Eco-friendly products are popping up everywhere and, let me just tell you, some of them are really weird. Caskets made from banana sheaves, clothes made out of pet hair, edible shoe cream, and reusable cotton swabs? I’ll pass on all of those. What I am interested in are everyday products that are biodegradable, reusable, and not harmful to the environment, both mine and the world around me.
Enter this list of eco-friendly kitchen products from Amazon. Because we spend so much time in the kitchen (or I do, at least), it makes sense to start here when you’re talking about making your entire home greener. I’ve uncovered everything from produce bags that can take you from the grocery store to the sink, beeswax food wrap, and even reusable paper towels, which totally blows my mind. Start your journey toward a more eco-friendly kitchen with the buys below.
Milk It
Most of us are using reusable cups and glasses in our homes anyway but these vintage-inspired milk bottles take reusable to a new and adorable level. This purchase includes a set of six with lids and straws and would be a perfect choice for a larger gathering instead of the throwaway red Solo cups. These would especially be great for outdoor gatherings, keeping flying critters well clear of your beverage.
Grab These Bags
One of the things I hate most about buying produce is those awful plastic bags in a roll at the store. These bags are lightweight, made of mesh, reusable and sturdy, holding more than 25 pounds. The best part to me is the ability to take them from the store right to the sink so you can freshen up your produce before sinking your teeth in.
Set In Stone
Grill cleaning is some dirty business and while you think it might require high-powered chemicals to achieve a clean surface, you can do the same without. The Scrubbin’ Stone is made from 100 percent glass that’s heat-treated to produce a product similar to pumice stone. Gently rub the stone cleaner or either a warm or cool surface and then wipe clean.
Go Ahead, Be Salty
The benefits of using Himalayan salt have been recognized by chefs and home cooks for years. Now you can impart seasoning to your food while cooking it on a Himalayan salt block. Measuring a generous eight inches by eight inches, these blocks are all-natural and hand-carved and deliver moist, flavorful results during grilling. This also doubles as a cold serving dish for appetizers like shrimp cocktail and cheese.
Put A Lid On It
Nothing annoys me more than a half-empty (half-full?) can of stuff. I’m talking anything from pet food to tomato sauce. What do you do with the leftovers? Throw them out? Put them in another container? These can covers are marketed for cans of pet food but if you use them for green beans, I’ll never tell. This purchase includes a set of two covers that have universal compatibility with all your cans.
Let’s Dish(cloth)
I kind of hate dishcloths. Most of them are not very absorbent, are usually too bulky, and stain easily so I was hesitant to try these ultra-thin Swedish dishcloths but I’ve been pleasantly surprised. They’re very absorbent, about the same thickness as a paper towel, and can be used time and time again. These come in solid sets or this assorted color variety.
These Bags Are Trash
There’s something cathartic about bagging up trash in a bag that was recycled from trash. Yes, you read that right, these tall kitchen bags with handles are constructed from ocean plastic collected along the beach before finding their way to the water. These have extra-wide handles, a 13-gallon capacity, and puncture-resistant film. As the manufacturer says, “Gray is the new green.”
Soak It Up Like A Sponge
Replacing your kitchen sponges with these biodegradable plant-based scrubber pads is an easy win. These are made from coconut fiber and wood cellulose, which shuns things like odors and dirt. They’re also soap-friendly, generating a rich lather with just a pump or two. You’ll get a set of 12 sponges in this purchase, which comes in packaging that’s biodegradable, too.
Toss Your Tupperware
Say “goodbye” to that stained Tupperware (you don’t know where the lids are anyway) and grab these plastic-free glass food storage containers that feature eco-friendly bamboo lids. This set of four includes sizes ranging from 12 ounces to 51 ounces, making them great for leftovers and even daily food storage. The stackable design means they’ll take up less room wherever you place them.
Throw In The Towel
Who even knew that reusable paper towels were a thing? These towels last the equivalent of six to 12 months of bulk single-use rolls and are great for all types of clean-up including spills, dusting, and general cleaning. The unique waffle weave design helps make these more durable, and the plastic-free design absorbs more than traditional power towels. Each purchase includes 12 cotton towels.
Play A Good Knife And Fork
Summer is nearing its end but that doesn’t mean the good times have to stop. There are Labor Day parties and Thanksgiving and Christmas get-togethers to look forward to. This 200-pack of bamboo utensils is both eco-friendly and compostable and, better yet, doesn’t have that “earthy” aftertaste many wooden products do. Simplify your party planning with this set and feel good about it at the same time.
None Of Your Beeswax
The more I learn about bees, the more fascinated I am. Now, I discovered that you can buy beeswax food wraps to store leftovers that essentially replace your cling wrap and plastic bags. (Plus, look at those adorable designs!) Use these for cheese, fruit, produce, bread, and even avocado. Each pack comes with seven assorted wraps that are an eco-conscious food storage alternative.
Scrub-A-Dub-Dub
An eco-friendly kitchen doesn’t mean you’re never going to wash dishes again — sorry. But, it does mean you can grab an eco-friendly dish cleaning set that uses green ingredients like bamboo, sisal, palm fibers, and coconut. This set includes five pieces: A bottle brush, an all-purpose brush, two dish brushes, and a vegetable brush. These are great for everyday use and can tackle the toughest cooked-on messes.
Grocery Getter
An eco-friendly kitchen could start with an eco-friendly shopping trip and these reusable grocery bags are a smart shopping solution. Heavy duty and foldable, they’re also washable for cleaning up accidental spills and wear. These bags support up to 65 pounds each and replace up to six single-use plastic bags. They won’t tip over either, thanks to their stand-up design.
Bag It Up
How many sandwich bags do you go through in a week? If it’s like my house, it’s too many. These reusable storage bags are a great alternative to single-use bags and this set is extra thick for freezer use and leakproof to avoid spills in lunch boxes or the refrigerator. This set includes five sandwich bags, three snack bags, and two gallon bags.
Mop The Floor With It
I know a lot of you are in love with your Swiffer but this floor mop cleaning kit takes it to a whole new level — and an eco-friendly one at that. This set includes the mop, refillable bottles so you can mix your own (non-toxic) solution, and machine washable microfiber pads that can be used and re-used up to 100 times.
Stop And Smell The Coffee
You don’t have to stop your Starbucks or Dunkin runs just because you’re becoming more eco-conscious. You just need to take your own mug — this reusable cup features double-wall insulation and a screw-tight lid made from rice husk fiber. This material is sturdy yet lightweight and can handle keeping cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot. The built-in handle is a nice feature as well.
Soap, No Rope
Soap comes in a lot of forms and, lately, so does shampoo. This lemon dish soap comes in a bar form and includes a self-draining soap saver tray for zero waste. One review called it “tougher than it looks,” and said, “This soap cuts grease on dishes better than anything in a bottle.” Give yourself a few days to get adjusted to the bar format and then it’ll be love.
So Fresh And So Clean
The bad news about spray-type cleaners you grab at the grocery store is that they’re full of chemicals that are truly terrible for not only your household but you, too. This multi-surface all-purpose spray is made with clean ingredients that come in tablet form, reducing waste and letting you reuse a spray bottle over and over again. This one has a fresh lemon scent you’ll enjoy.
Composting Convenience
If you’ve always had dreams of being the compostess with the mostess, this countertop compost bin deserves a place on your countertop. Equipped with a charcoal filter to minimize odor, this bin has a whopping 128-ounce capacity in a space-saving seven-inch diameter size. Start composting inside while also benefiting your outdoor areas. Reviewers love its mini trash can look and how easy it is to clean.
Fits Like A Glove
Single-use gloves are convenient but reusable gloves are better for the environment, and these have environmental-grade PVC material that’s both green and odorless. Waterproof and resistant to low-concentration oil, grease, and solvent, the extra-long cuffs provide extra protection for your wrists and forearms. And, in case you were wondering, these are ultra-thin and unlined, making them easy to pull on and off.
What A Dish
When you’re in the market for new dinnerware, maybe you should consider this wheat straw set that’s lightweight, unbreakable, and safe for both the microwave and dishwasher. Wheat straw is BPA-free, non-toxic, odorless, and environmentally friendly. This set includes four place settings, from plates and bowls to cups and cutlery — enough to set an entire table for a quiet night in or a small dinner party.
Put It On My Tab
In my experience, dishwasher tablets are mostly garbage so I’d definitely try these biobased tabs that are fragrance- and dye-free with zero plastic waste. These have plant-derived and mineral-based ingredients as well as built-in rinse aid technology for a spot-free shine. The best part is you don’t even have to unwrap these; just pop them in your dishwasher and push “start.”
Drop It Like It’s Hot
I don’t know how we survived before garbage disposals but there’s no denying one central component of them — they can stink and stink quickly. These deodorizer drops use ingredients derived from the peels of citrus fruit and arrive in minimal packaging to reduce waste. This is a great buy over those disposal beads at the store, too, since you’re getting 50 for less than $17.
Basket Case
I love products that do more than one job and these multipurpose kitchen baskets fit the bill. Handmade by Vietnamese artisans, these bowls work for everyday storage as well as grab-and-go fruit on your countertop. The coolest part about these is exactly what you see in the photo — the ability to get them wet and then allow them to dry over and over again.
Wood You Cook With These?
I appreciate long-lasting, sturdy, and beautiful kitchen gadgets and this wooden utensil set in natural teak achieves all three. These have so many great features including heat resistance up to 450 degrees, easy cleaning, compatibility with nonstick pans, and durability. This set includes multiple spatulas and spoons, a ladle, a fork, and a spaghetti server. One set for roughly $30 can handle all your cooking needs.
All Bottled Up
Refillable spray bottles have so many uses, from cleaning to personal care but the cheap ones at the grocery store often clog or break after just a few uses. This refillable glass spray bottle has a silicone boot for stability, a wide neck for refills, and a little bit of bamboo detailing for some extra pizzazz. This is sized to hold 16 ounces of liquid.
The Air In There
How do you clear the air (literally, not figuratively) when you can’t rely on mass-produced candles, sprays, or plug-ins? These naturally activated bamboo charcoal air purifying bags work hard to remove odors from your home, office, garage, car, or anywhere else. These are completely eco-friendly, too, and work by “recharging” them for an hour in sunlight every month, giving you two years of use from one purchase.
Take The Wraps Off
Maybe you still need plastic wrap; I’m not mad at you. But, you can make a minor improvement by switching to this restaurant-quality cling wrap that comes in a 2,000-ft. roll and doesn’t contain the usual toxins most plastic wraps do. This has a built-in slide cutter for convenience and comes in a box designed to withstand the lifespan of the product inside.
Pen Pals
Whether you’re writing out a shopping list, journaling, or have little ones completing homework assignments at the kitchen table, even your writing utensils can take a page from the eco-friendly book. These plastic-free pens are sustainably made from kraft paper and steel and are 100 percent recyclable and partially compostable. This pack includes 24 pens with black ink that reviewers called “like a regular pen, but better.”
Leftover Love
Whether you’re packing up after a party or just shuffling leftovers at home, these clamshell containers that will remind you of takeout trays are an eco-friendly storage option. Biodegradable and made from sugarcane pulp, these boxes can be recycled when you’re finished and are smartly designed with three separate compartments because who wants their food to touch? I certainly do not. (Don’t come for me.)
Spill The Tea
Loose leaf tea is a thousand times better than tea already packaged in those tiny tea sachets and if you don’t agree, you’re wrong. These tea filter bags let you contain to use your favorite loose leaf varieties but in an eco-friendly muslin material that is completely biodegradable and decomposes rapidly in a landfill. This purchase includes 50 bags and comes in a variety of sizes.
Brush It Off
O.K., first of all, this hand brush and dustpan combo is adorable but more than that, it actually works to help tidy up bathroom vanities, kitchen and dining room tables, and workstations. The tapered dust pan lip ensures you get every last crumb and the entire thing nests for easy storage. There’s no worry about scratching surfaces either; these sisal bristles are great for delicate furniture.
Bento To Go
Bento boxes are the newest trend in lunchboxes and I, for one, am totally here for it. All those adorable compartments and crevices? I mean, c’mon. This bento box is eco-friendly and leakproof, with five compartments including one that’s perfect for dips, salad dressings, or sauces. These are also microwave- and freezer-friendly, and have an airtight seal to keep your food fresh until it’s ready to be devoured.
My Cup Runneth Over
Ditch the paper coffee filters and the single-use coffee pods; this reusable coffee accessory takes the place of both. Designed for use in both Keurig 1.0 and 2.o models, these are made from high-quality stainless steel and have an easy one-piece design that prevents coffee from overflowing while brewing. Did you know they need one billion trees each year to make paper coffee filters? Now you do.
Roll Out The (Place) Mat
I was drawn to these placemats immediately and the fact they’re eco-friendly was just an added bonus. This set of four is made from natural jute and hemp fibers but still delivers on a classy, yet neutral table setting option that could go with anything. Reviewers loved that these added not only an eco-friendly edge to their tables but some texture as well.
A Lick Of Paint
Raise your hand if you knew there were eco-friendly paint options out there. I, personally, had no idea. This chalk-style paint option has a durable chalky finish and superior adhesion while being eco-friendly and safe for all types of surfaces including wood, glass, metal, and even kids’ toys. Paint dries within 30 minutes to a chic matte finish, and comes in a load of great colors.