Eco-Friendly Products That Really Work
Buying products that are reusable and “green” has never made more sense. As shortages popped up during the pandemic, sustainable products and eco-friendly choices provided smart solutions for practical challenges. Learn more below about the best eco-friendly products that really work!
What is sustainable products
Fortunately, these smart products are a great idea no matter what options are available at the store!
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Eco-Friendly Products That Work
Smartly designed products can make your job easier and be better for the environment. Check out the variety of ways to be more green and work with eco friendly products!
Reusable Products for the Home
Eco-Friendly Products that Really Work
There are a lot of places in our modern homes that use a lot of single-use products. This may seem like the easy solution, but it creates additional waste for our landfills, plus the repeat purchases will cost you more in the long run versus making an investment in a one-time, reusable option.
Take a look at the lists below to see if these long-life products could work well in your household.
Sustainable Kitchen and Dining Products
There are lots of ways to cut down on waste by utilizing reusable products in the kitchen. The products below are a collection of my favorites — some have been especially handy during the paper-product shortages at the grocery stores!).
Washable Cloth Napkins
Not only eco-friendly, but washable cloth napkins also add an element of style to your meals that a paper napkin just can’t do. We keep a few different styles at our home for different occasions (everyday cotton-blend, a wrinkle-resistant style, plus a couple that are just pretty and decorative). As a bonus, there are lots of online tutorials on cool napkin folding to dress up your table (a great project for kids!).
Decorative Napkin Folding with Eco-Friendly Cloth Napkins
Reusable Kitchen Towels
Paper towels are very convenient and can seem like a necessity of modern life, but when there are shortages at the stores, it’s helpful to have alternatives available. Keep a stash of eco-friendly washable kitchen towels handy to make sure that you are ready to tackle messes in your kitchen and elsewhere around the house.
Reusable Water Bottles
Carrying a reusable water bottle is a great way to ensure that you always have water on hand to stay properly hydrated. Choose a permanent bottle that fits your lifestyle and fill it with water or other beverages from home.
Filtered Water
Reduce the need to purchase bottled water from stores by improving your tap water with a water filter. If the water from your tap isn’t safe, consider a tabletop water distiller.
Soda Makers
Reduce the need for so many bottles and trips to the store for soda with a soda-making machine at home. Purchase concentrated syrup refills or infuse sodas with your own recipes and flavors.
Fans of the Bubly brand will be excited to know that they can purchase their favorite Bubly flavor drops for soda makers!
Hot / Cold Mugs
A reusable mug is not only more eco-friendly, but these insulated mugs will also help to keep your drink hot for much longer (or your iced coffee drink cold).
Reusable Straws
Plastic straws get a bad rap for causing so much pollution, and the other types of disposable straws get mixed reviews (paper straws have lots of haters while bamboo straws might be a happy medium). However, you may want to consider investing in one of the types of straws that are built to last. Try eco-friendly reusable straws made of glass, metal, and BPA-free silicone too!
Silicone Baking Mats
These food-safe reusable baking mats will keep your food from sticking when it cooks. Allows for easy cleanup and eliminates the need for parchment paper and/or foil in some dishes.
Silicone Baking Tools
In addition to reusable silicone baking mats, this versatile material is available in other shapes too. No need to line your pans with parchment paper for easy release of muffins, breads, cakes, and more!
Coffee Makers with Reusable Filters
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world and the way that millions of people start their day. No matter how you enjoy your brew, these coffee-making methods can help you create less waste.
Reusable Coffee Filters
For standard drip coffee makers, choose a long-lasting, reusable coffee filter and eliminate the need for a disposable filter with each pot of coffee that you brew. As a bonus, the metal filters allow more of the coffee’s oils to pass through into the brew (versus paper filters), enhancing the flavor of your coffee.
French Press Coffee Maker
In our house, there is usually a pot of french press coffee brewed each day to start the morning. Choose from large or small models of French Press coffee makers, and go for an insulated model to keep your coffee piping hot for longer.
Pour-Over Coffee Maker
When you choose to brew your pour-over coffee from this maker with a permanent filter, you’ll never worry about running out of paper filters!
Percolator Coffee Maker
A percolator coffee maker is a classic method that is available in stove-top and standalone electric models. No paper filters are required.
Espresso Maker
For a small but mighty dose of concentrated coffee, enjoy a hot espresso at home. Choose from stove-top espresso machines, standalone machines, or portable machines to quickly brew a delicious, frothy cup!
Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Eco-friendly fans of cold-brewed coffee will love these cold-brew machines that include reusable filters.
Refillable K-Cups
Customize your morning beverage with any brand of coffee you like with a refillable K-cup. Multiple sizes are available for different machines.
Sustainable Bathroom Products
Toilet paper shortages in Spring 2020
These bathroom ideas can help you cut down the paper waste from one-time-use items in your bathroom — all without sacrificing comfort or cleanliness.
Bidet
Many cultures already prefer a bidet over toilet paper for the superior job at cleaning, but it’s also a great way to ensure that you are much less affected by shortages of toilet paper. Bidet models begin with a simple ability to spray clean water and move up to fancier models that include warm water sprays, heated seats, and warm air dryers!
Additionally, if you have the space and someone to do the installation work, you could consider a standalone bidet.
Reusable Swab Cleaners
My sweetie knows how much I love an innovative and useful product, so I was delighted when he surprised me with a set of reusable swab cleaners. These reusable silicone swabs have a couple of different tip styles and can be sanitized and reused over and over again.
Product Spatulas & Bottle Couplers
These innovative products will help you to get the last bit of expensive product from the hard-to-reach areas at the bottom of the bottle. Eliminate waste and save money by refilling less often too!
Foaming Soap Dispensers
Enjoy stretching concentrated liquid soaps into rich handfuls of foam with foaming soap dispensers.
Eco-Friendly Household Items
These additional items can be used in many areas of your and will help eliminate the need to go to the store as often to replace single-use items like paper towels and duster mop refills. These products are an investment in quality, simplicity, and less time at the store to purchase replacements.
LED Light Bulbs
While you need to invest a little more upfront on LED light bulbs, these efficient bulbs will quickly pay for themselves. LED bulbs are now available in most sizes, shapes, and colors and the prices have never been better.
Cleaning Cloths
Microfiber cleaning cloths are great at grabbing dust and helping to curb dust around the house. Wash regularly to avoid bacterial and/or viral build-up.
Dry Duster Mop Refills
Instead of purchasing single-use disposable duster refills, try a permanent mop refill option made from microfiber that can be rewashed and reused hundreds of times!
Reusable Dryer Balls
Eliminate the need for disposable dryer sheets with reusable dryer balls that reduce drying time and static cling.
Personal Eco-Friendly Products
These products are great ways to make a one-time purchase for things that you formerly needed to repurchase often. Consider these eco-friendly options instead of your usual personal products.
Shopping at a Store in a Face Mask
Safety Razors
Not only do safety razors provide a fantastic, clean shave, but they will also save a lot of money over disposable razors. A quality safety razor can provide one of the most comfortable shaves, plus a pack of refill blades will likely last for many, many years.
Reusable Makeup Remover Cloths
Even when working or physically distancing from home, sometimes a little makeup can make you feel better on a conference call or when out walking the dog. These washable microfiber cloths are incredibly good at removing heavy makeup from the eyes and face. TIP: saturate the washcloths with a lot of water for best results.
Period Panties
Sanitary products can be quite pricey, but they are absolutely a necessity. For light to medium coverage, a pair of washable “period panties” can help absorb fluids that would normally need a pantiliner or maxi pad. Wash and reuse to save on this huge monthly expense and to keep additional used feminine products out of landfills.
Diva Cups
Consider managing your menstrual flow with reusable menstrual cups. These BPA-free silicone cups can be washed and reused over and over again – an investment that can save money versus disposable products.
Reusable Cloth Pads
Try reusable menstrual pads for a more eco-friendly option to single-use disposable pantiliners and maxi-pads.
More Ways to Be Eco Friendly
Solar Power Charger with USB
In addition to the smart products above, you can find new earth-friendly solutions to lots of household challenges.
Eco-Friendly Smart Devices
Small investments in smart devices can make big impacts over time. Consider these additional ways to update and find what is eco-friendly products.
Eco-Friendly Learning Thermostats
These smart learning thermostats can be controlled remotely via an app to make sure you’re always keeping your home in the right zone.
Smart Light Bulbs
Smart light bulbs are not only energy-saving LED bulbs with customizable colors, but many can also be controlled via Alexa or an app to make sure that they are never accidentally left powered on.
Smart Power Outlets
Control the power on almost any kind of device with smart power outlets that can be controlled via remote, app, or Alexa. Use to easily power on/off devices with hard-to-reach power switches.
Backup Power Sources
Purchase smart Eco Products that really work!
These items can literally provide life-saving power during emergencies and reduce the need to go to the store for disposable batteries. Be sure to have at least one alternative method of powering your devices should you ever need it!
Rechargeable Batteries
Power for your devices is important for us all, but dead batteries can be very bad for the environment. Consider using rechargeable items or using rechargeable batteries and/or other renewable sources.
Portable Battery Chargers
These portable power sources/chargers can be charged at home during times when the power is on, then used as a backup power source when needed. Choose smaller sizes to have something ideal for portability — or something with larger capacity for your devices that require more power.
Solar Chargers
If you live in an environment with a lot of sunlight, you should consider keeping a solar-powered charging option for your devices. There are many different solar-powered options from small to large — you can choose a small, portable, folding solar panel charger (ideal for small devices like smartphones), a solar-powered car for transport, or install a solar-powered roof for your home (to take your house completely off-grid).
Fire-Powered Generators
These first made big news when they were used in urban areas like NYC during the Hurricane Sandy aftermath. These versatile generators both provide heat for cooking or warmth PLUS they generate electricity for your devices! Choose from a variety of small biomass stove models that best suits your needs.
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Eco Friendly Products
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What other products or ideas is your family using to be more eco-conscious and/or eliminate the need for trips to the store?
the term eco-friendly simplifies the reusable stuff in the modern-day consuming world. It is so nice to see the word ” last longer than the single-use” So finally I would like to say if a person chooses a theme to earn good idea, But choose an eco-friendly theme is even more good idea for the whole world.
Most of us would like to make choices that are better for the environment, but it’s often a tough sell if the products are inferior to other options. These eco-friendly products work like a dream, so it’s an easy choice to make!
Can I just say how much I enjoyed this article? A lot more articles should be like this because it was very colorful, had a lot of photos, and was simply enjoyable to read. I believe that using reusable products is safer and more cost effective in the long run. I wish more people would use re-usable items. Everything, in my opinion, has an alternative. Such as diapers, cups, towels, and a plethora of other items. When we use reusable products, we save a lot of money and help the environment. However, it is likely that many people are unaware of this. So, thank you for this article; it was extremely beneficial to me.
Hi Kiersti! Thanks for sharing. There are a lot of reasons to use eco-friendly products, but it’s an easier choice to make when eco-friendly products work better than products that are harmful to the environment!
Hey,
I think a lot of people don’t really think about the serious threat to our planet. Climate and environmental change are indeed extremely dangerous phenomena.
It is, therefore, necessary that something is urgently done, but the various “climate summits” have so far not yielded much. That is why we must personally start by setting a good example. Many little ones make one big.
Logically, we also have to start living sustainably and it is recommended to purchase eco and/or more sustainable products/services. Refurbished devices are also a good example of this.
On your site, you will find a lot of examples and many people will think: “Oh, I haven’t thought about that yet…”. It is therefore urgent that everyone is well shaken up and your contribution is also one of those small things that together with others can make a big difference.
Well done!
With best regards,
Hello gravpeter! I agree that small changes add up to big change, and we should all be encouraged to make small choices for the better wherever we can.
Fortunately, these eco-friendly products offer easy choices since they are also very highly-rated, effective options! It’s great to find these win-win opportunities!!
I couldn’t agree with you more! The time has come to start being more eco friendly. I do my best to not use paper towels- I do like the kitchen towel options you provided. I bake quite a bit as well so I’m considering getting a few of the silicone baking dishes. I’m sure they would last a very long time! I an avid hiker and mountain biker so I already have a plethora of water bottles. I don’t use plastic water bottles anymore.
Hello Misty Outdoors! Your username checks out – I trust that you have some great water bottles for all of your hiking and biking adventures!
We have really been impressed with the eco-friendly silicone kitchen tools that we’ve purchased for our home. I hope that you find them to be amazing for your needs as well!
Hello there! These are great items that you recommended. Interestingly, I actually bought a silicon bread pan today! I have been wanting to make my own brioche bread since the new area I am currently living in doesn’t sell it (Not sure if you heard of 85 degree bakery). The Brita water filtration unit has been very helpful when I was living in the apartments during school. Thanks for creating this list of sustainable products!
Hi Mike, I think you are going to love the silicone products for the kitchen! They are wonderful products to work with and release food from the pan better than just about anything else.
These are some great tips! I have paper towels but hardly use them. I’ve been using cloth towels and napkins for YEARS and it makes such a difference. I actually use most of the things from this article except for the soda maker. It’s funny though, because I’ve been looking into getting one for carbonated water. It’s my guilty pleasure and even though I recycle my bottles and cans I know I can help more by using a soda maker instead. I’ll be sure to check out a few of the options from your site!
Thank you for sharing!
Hi Haley, If you enjoy drinking sodas or carbonated drinks, the soda maker is a great purchase. It’s a fantastic way to reduce waste and to make sure that you almost always have your favorites stocked at your house.
Hello! Great information and products especially for this year and shortages everywhere!!! I love the silicone baking mats, I didn’t know about those! I like the solar power charger too. Oh and the makeup remover washcloths! That will save me some money and trips to the store. Thank you for all of these great ideas and alternatives to the paper/disposable products. Even after this pandemic, it is a great way to move on and be more environment friendly and pocket book friendly too!
Hi Evelyn, I’ve enjoyed some of these changes that were made during the pandemic, but will be enjoyed for years to come. The makeup remover cloths have been an amazing and effective way to remove difficult eye makeup (no more pricey eye makeup remover purchases!). Enjoy!!
Wouldn’t the feminine products pose a sanitary problem if not stored properly after use?
I believe the idea of using reusable products is an awesome idea. Being one that hates to waste anything I would invest in many of the products featured in the web page. I myself use reusable water bottles and several of the other products that are featured on the web page.
I believe that the web page has a lot of great ideas and I believe that everyone should visit your web page in order to keep the earth green.
Great page, Great idea
Hi Vance, As with all reusable products, feminine products must be properly sanitized between uses. There are usually specific care instructions with each order.
This is an excellent article, valuable information for women, and every family. And it can’t be more timely than this period as we entering the seasons of festivities. Making use of Kitchen Towels to supplement paper towels is very cost-effective. It saves money, time, and it is eco-friendly as you termed it. I use both paper towels and kitchen towels in my kitchen. I can tell you that paper towels go out so fast, as some family members are wasteful. But as for convenience, it is convenient, in the sense that you don’t need to wash it. I also took note of the idea of buying reusable straws, silicone mats, and so many other kitchens and house essentials. It was very thoughtful to share this article during this period. I believe that people will find it very useful.
Thanks so much for sharing!
thanks for sharing this article with us, the detail is explicit. I know that finding a good article does not come by so easily so i must commend your effort in creating such a beautiful website and writing an article to help others with useful information like this on how to reduce expenses,i love the fire-powered generators and the men Eco-friendly products,not forgetting to mention the solar chargers are worth trying,thanks and keep up the good work.
Hi Wilson, The fire-powered generators are a really neat little item to have when the power goes out for too long. It’s always best to purchase these emergency type items in advance, as they can be harder to find when you really need them.
Hellooo dear, thanks for sharing the valuable content about all the sustainable products that can eliminate trips to the store. I am doing all I can to avoid unnecessary trips out into the world and having longer lasting products is a fantastic strategy!
I also appreciate being able to purchase from amazon and have everything quickly delivered with free prime shipping.
Thanks so much for the resources. Lots of great sustainable items that I hadn’t considered before!!
I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed learning about these great sustainable products that could help you eliminate some of your trips to the store! Cheers!!
Hey, these reusable products are fantastic! Many of them I never knew are available in stores these days. I am happier now that I read your post and seen the display of the reusable products. Our younger generation was going down a path where originality was slipping away as they had come in a time when everything was disposable.
Whatever is the reason for the reintroduction of reusable products it will benefit the big nations time! I am happy about the glass and bamboo straws. I never really enjoy using plastic ones. Do you think the world will continue to produce reusable products?
DorcasW
I have enjoyed having glass straws for drinks – I got a pack of five so there are always plenty for everyone.
I certainly hope that the world will continue to find new ways to innovate and reduce waste!!
This is the right article that many people should read. Using reusable products instead of disposable is really necessary at this time. I remember when we were younger, my mother used a kitchen towel instead of a paper towel. We used a cloth napkin and not a paper napkin.
Thank you for sharing very useful information.
Hi Christine, These sustainable products are easy replacements for some of the items that are currently hard to find (paper products, cleaning products, etc). If nothing else, it’s always good to have alternatives to items that are needed regularly around the house!!
These are really excellent suggestions on how to best reduce store trips especially in a time of this ravaging pandemic that has kept and limited movement around the globe.I liked how you drove home so many instances where we create waste by using disposal materials. Not just paper. We use plastic straws and wash them for reuse. In older generations washable cloth napkins, kitchen towels were the norm. This pandemic will have positive outcomes if all of us learned how to use sustainable products.
I must say that this was a great lesson in how to create less waste products. Providing easy links to purchase these products was a plus. Thanks for sharing this great article
Hi evans, I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed the article! Thanks for sharing!
Wow! This is an awesome article!
Seriously more than ever, we need materials that are eco-friendly and can replace items we buy everyday. Especially now that we have restrictions on movement and little or no income coming in!
The list of products you have provided here are just great! I am just hearing about the “period pantie”, “reusable cloth pads” and “period cups”! These are wonderful products. Thanks so much for this list.
Hi, those feminine products really are a great alternative to the expensive disposables that have been the only option for so long. It’s too bad they aren’t sold in shelves at most stores because they are often highly rated products!