However, environmental experts suggest there may be a collection of small, almost pain-free, changes we can make to effect change in the environment. That includes choosing eco friendly products for some of our simplest, everyday needs. So we thought we would compile a top 10 list of the best simple eco friendly products you can choose to make a difference.
Comparison Table
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Product FAQ
To create this list of eco friendly products, we sought out some expert advice. We didn’t just want to make a list of products that were some percent post-consumer waste or that screamed “green” on their packaging. We wanted clever thinking and design that truly had an impact. So we posed five questions to guide our choices:
1. What Is an Eco Friendly Product?
2. Do Eco Friendly Products Have to Be Cutting Edge or High Tech?
3. Can Eco Friendly Products Be Inexpensive?
How We Reviewed
We took a look at more than 100 qualifying eco friendly products, then prioritized and debated our list until just 10 remained. Each product had to be everyday affordable, replace an everyday product in a way that improved your everyday environmental footprint, and hold up to or improve on the same quality standards as the product it replaced, without requiring you to make a monumental sacrifice to make the switch. Beyond that, we considered the usual parameters of features, pros & cons, price, and availability.
Overall Price Range
image via Pixabay
The prices of the items on our list range from $ to $$. However, the prices of products on our list are difficult to compare to each other. We were more concerned with comparing prices to the items each eco friendly product replaced. Our goal was to find products with an initial cost comparable to their non-eco friendly substitutes, with some consideration for their long-term cost savings. There was one case debated heavily at the office: Buying a set of bamboo travel utensils is significantly more expensive than the plastic spoon, fork, and/or knife many restaurants include free you with your takeout meal. However, we were able to compromise on the notion that the cost of a set of bamboo travel utensils could be compared to a box of bulk plastic flatware that it would replace with repeated using.
What We Reviewed
Bamboo Travel Utensils
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Feature
This is a single place setting (knife, fork, spoon, and chopsticks) of flatware made from bamboo. Bamboo is a favorite replacement material for plastics in eco friendly products because it grows fast, is highly renewable, and is durable. The pieces are machine washable, but users recommend hand washing, as it extends the bamboo’s useable life. The set is light and compact, and comes with a recycled plastic case (made of RPET, which is recycled plastic bottles) to keep the pieces organized in your lunch bag, purse, glove box, or kitchen drawer. The case includes a carabiner so you can attach it to your backpack for easy stowing in easy reach.
PROS
CONS
Perks
Dedicated use of these bamboo travel utensils will keep thousands of pieces of plastic flatware from entering our landfills and waterways. Multiply that by the family and friends you convince to join you in this effort and your adoption of eco friendly products compounds itself countless times over.
BULUH STRAWS
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Feature
A very simple concept: drinking straws made from bamboo. This will be particularly appealing to California residents where the state already banned single-use plastic bags (grocery bags) and is on the verge of doing so with plastic drinking straws in restaurants. (You can still get plastic straws but have to ask for one.) Single-use paper straws are currently difficult to find (and expensive) because there are very few manufacturers. This has created a market for alternative straws in alternative materials, including bamboo. These Buluh straws are a product of Bali, Indonesia, and are hand-crafted by local artisans. Each straw is eight inches long and made from a single bamboo stem for durability and appearance. The straws are pesticide- and chemical-free. Each straw comes with a carrying case and a brush for easy cleaning.
PROS
CONS
Perks
Besides preventing thousands of straws from entering our landfills and waterways, your purchase of Buluh bamboo drinking straws supports native farmers in Bali, Indonesia.
Humangear GoToob
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Feature
With GoToobs, Humangear invented the silicon travel bottle. Each GoToob is made from an eco friendly, soft, squeezable, but durable silicon (not plastic). This makes it easy to squeeze and easy to clean (dishwasher safe!). These 3.00 fluid ounce bottles are TSA-approved for your carry-on needs. Each bottle is FDA-approved food safe and is 100% BPA-free, PC-free, and phthalate-free. Large openings make for easy filling while the caps have an integrated no-drip valve so they remain sealed in your bag and on your counter. Each bottle has an integrated suction cup so for easy stowage on a bathroom mirror or shower wall. The caps also have a label space where you can identify the contents.
PROS
CONS
Perks
Humangear has won design awards for these Toobs. Not only are you being eco friendly, but you also get to be stylish at the same time.
Aurorae Classic Extra Thick 1/4″ and Long 72″ Premium Eco Safe Yoga Mat
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Feature
This 1/4″ thick, 72” long, 24” wide yoga mat is made from a custom memory foam that is non-toxic, phthalate-free, phenol-free, PAHS-free, latex-free, silicon-free, and rubber-free. The size makes it ideal for men, women, and kids. Besides yoga, its thickness and cushioning capabilities make it ideal for Pilates, aerobics, and even as a mat for outdoor activities like camping and fishing. It also comes in eleven vivid color choices.
PROS
CONS
Perks
Check Amazon for the color samples. The excellent sizing and 11 colors to choose will let you show your style in a room full of yoga mats.
Alaffia – Purely Coconut Face Wash
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Feature
While coconut oil has been a popular cooking ingredient, its ability to help skin retain natural moisture levels is just as notable. This coconut-based face wash lathers beautifully and gently removes everything from eye makeup to air pollutants. It is formulated gentle for all skin types. Additionally, Alaffia is dedicated to helping West African communities (especially the women) create sustainable businesses through their own natural resources, including Certified Fair Trade coconut trees. This makes it one of the most essential eco friendly products to have in your stash.
PROS
CONS
Perks
Alaffia is dedicated to supporting self-sustaining communities in striving to rise above poverty. The Purely Coconut Face Wash is a great way to begin exploring their entire product line.
Bee’s Wrap
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Feature
This sustainable, natural, and reusable alternative to aluminum foil and plastic cling wrap allows you to cover bowls and/or wrap foods including bread, cheese, fruits, and veggies for storage. Each wrap lasts about a year, even when used several times per week. Wraps are constructed from organic cotton, beeswax, jojoba oil, and tree resin. Even the packaging is 100% recycled, biodegradable paper. A single package contains three wraps: one small (7” by 8”), one medium (10” by 11”), and one large (13” by 14”).
PROS
CONS
Perks
Supports a Vermont family business, including textile producers and bee farmers.
Silicone Tea Infuser
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Feature
Teabags seem so insignificant that we hardly think of there being a more eco friendly version. However, the style alone of these colorful, FDA-approved silicone teabags will make you want to change your mind. The simple design with just three parts (even the “string” is a silicon cord) is easy to fill with loose-leaf tea and clean after use (dishwasher safe). The high heat tolerance is more than double the temperature of boiling water and the six different colors will keep tea drinkers from getting their teas mixed up.
PROS
CONS
Perks
One coffee shop user remarked that the colors were excellent for color coding tea orders to keep them separate for larger parties.
WINIT Reusable Silicone Food Preservation Bags
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Feature
These silicone bags not only replace but improves on your typical zip-lock plastic sandwich bag. These FDA-approved, food-grade silicone (no plastic) bags are free of BPA, BPS, BPF, PVC, and phthalates. They are washable and reusable for up to 30 years. They also seal on a level of leak-proof that WINIT describes as “hermetic”. Additionally, the silicone has a high insulation level, keeping hot items hot and cold items cold even when placed next to each other in their respective bags. They are safe for use in the refrigerator, freezer, microwave, toaster, and steamer. They are also dishwasher safe.
PROS
CONS
Perks
The versatility and durability of the WINIT Reusable Silicone Food Preservation Bags completely redefines what you can do with a food storage bag.
The Verdict
Image via Pexels
This is one of those “comparison” lists where it is impossible to pick a favorite. With the eco friendly products on the list being relatively inexpensive and, in several situations, so cost effective that they overshadow the products they replace, we recommend picking up one of each. However, were we forced to pick just one product from our eco friendly products list, the WINIT Reusable Silicone Food Preservation Bags so impressed us both with their redefinition of what a zip lock bag can do and with that 30-year lifespan, we have to single them out. On the other end, we put the BULUH bamboo drinking straws at the bottom of our list, as we cannot quite see ourselves carrying a straw around or needing them at home so much that we would clean them.
Featured Image via Pixabay
