11 Ways to Create a Zero Waste Home with Eco Friendly Products
Source: Unsplash Image
It’s Earth Month, which honestly sounds ridiculous to only think about the planet once a year. When I was a kid it was only Earth Day so I suppose this is an improvement.
Eco friendly products have come a long way and are now even more accessible and the prices are becoming more affordable as more people have started buying sustainable products. That being said, it’s also very privileged to be able to take the time to learn about new products, find them and be able to afford them as well. It’s unfortunate that the way our society is constructed many things like being environmentally responsible can cost more money and therefore many people aren’t able to make swaps even if they want to. It’s easier to pick up a roll of paper towels than have an extra load of cloth napkins and reusable towels to haul down to the laundry mat each week.
We won’t be able to save the planet one plastic bottle at a time. We actually need to overhaul how we build, manufacture, and ship products to create real change, but if we stop buying those products and sales start to slide, the companies will be forced to find new ways that are more environmentally friendly. Vote with your dollar.
I personally own all of the products on this list and they also include affiliate links, which help keep this website going. My personal favorite place to shop is Fillgood, which is in Berkeley, California. You can read more about why I love it here or use code “ERICAHENNES” for $10 off your first order of $30+.
Plastic free lunch boxes
Planetbox has pretty much everything you need to feed and water your kids on the go. We are big fans of stainless steel for food storage because it never makes your food taste weird, doesn’t stain, it’s easy to clean and lasts forever.
Switch to bamboo bandaids
This isn’t exactly a home-related product but everyone needs a bandaid at some point. I never even thought about bandaids but I got a sample of these and they are great! I also think the packaging is super cute and looks nice in our closet.
Find a local refill store
These are becoming more and more popular in major US cities. Simply bring a jar (or they provide them), and get them filled with dish soap, laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, lotions, shampoos and more. Typically those big plastic detergent bottles aren’t actually recycled even if you put them in the recycling bin…
My local refill store is Fillgood, if you are local use code “ERICAHENNES” fort $10 off your 1st order
Plastic free and refillable makeup
I know this isn’t a house related product but I started trying a few things like mascara, concealer and eye shadow that are plastic free and I am a fan. You can just buy little refillable tins, so when you run out of your favorite color you don’t have to throw the whole thing away to replace one thing.
Upgrade your spray and use refill tabs with Meliora All Purpose Cleaner Tabs
I don’t know why I enjoy cleaning with this more than my old plastic spray bottle, maybe it’s the weight so it feels better? I have no idea but I love it. I buy extra little tabs, and drop them in and just refill it with water when I am running low. Super easy.
Ditch plastic wrap and use beeswax wraps
Plastic wrap is annoying anyways. I love these reusable beeswax wraps, they are easy to use, work well and easy to clean. Cover a bowl, wrap a lemon, whatever you can think of. If they start to get a little brittle and worn, just use your hands or some hot water to warm them up and smooth them back out.
Bring your own bags for fruits & veggies
This one can be tricky to remember and it doesn’t always work if you make an unexpected stop at the grocery store, just try your best. I keep a few of these bags in a tote in my trunk. They also save me the embarrassment of standing there in front of the green beans trying to open those damn plastic baggies for 10 min.
Switch to mouthwash tablets with Georganics
At first, I thought you had to chew these or something weird, but you just dissolve them in a tiny cup of water, and ta-da its mouthwash! No more plastic bottles and you can buy refills.
Reusable cotton facial rounds
I don’t know why it took me so long to switch from disposable to reusable here. I never run out and with a 20 pack I always have a bunch in my drawer even if we haven’t done laundry. I also find that they don’t absorb much product so I am using less toner too.
Bamboo pot & pan scraper
I’m not entirely sure what this replaces, but it’s my favorite little kitchen tool. It doesn’t scratch your pots and pans, so I find that I’m not “letting things soak” for days because I can just use this and get the dishes done so they don’t pile up. It’s compostable once it’s been used for several months.
Use a dishwashing block instead of dish soap
I first saw this at a holiday party and had no idea what it was, but now I am hooked. It.lasts.forever! I don’t understand this magical thing but you don’t need a lot of soap to wash dishes and it is the gift that keeps on giving. I keep mine in a little dish on the sink and when it gets a little gross I just pop the dish in the dishwasher and it’s good to go again.
If you happen to live in the Bay Area you can also get paid to save energy and take some strain off the electric grid. I’ve signed up with Ohm Connect, which rewards you for saving energy. If you think about it, everyone uses electricity at the same time of the day, between 5-9pm is when people start cooking, running the dishwasher, doing a load of laundry that just needs to get done etc.
OhmConnect tells you when demand is expected to peak and actually pays you for using less energy.
I wrote more about why I use it and how it works here. If you sign up in the month of April you get $25 just for linking a smart thermostat or smartplug device. They are also giving away $1,000 a day, every day in May!
The trick isn’t to have a perfect house 24/7, it is knowing that when you have the time to put things away you know exactly where they go.