Regardless of how you choose to utilize this pocket of your home, there are more eco-friendly ways to approach your kitchen rituals that produce less waste while keeping hazardous ingredients and microplastics out of our waterways and our bodies. While some swaps may seem obvious (we all know that plastic straws have got to go), others may come as a bit of a surprise — like rethinking your afternoon tea routine to selecting home-cleaning brands that use strategic renewable resources and overhauling your food-storage lineup.
Ahead, we've rounded up 12 easy product swaps you can make right now for a greener kitchen and a healthier planet.
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Swap trips to the store for sustainable subscriptions...
HoldOn Compostable Zipseal Sandwich Bags
Super Sale Alert: Score HoldOn products for 15% off sitewide from April 24-April 30, 2024 code R2915.
Sometimes, the biggest enemy of sustainability is convenience. Subscription services from eco-friendly brands are a great way to make sure the household essentials you need are always at hand — in their more sustainable forms. HoldOn, for example, sells compostable bags that replace your typical trash bag liners and sandwich bags. You can choose to have any of its products delivered to your door once a month or whatever cadence works for you.
Word to the wise, however — while the label "compostable" is a lot to get excited about, it's next to meaningless if it just goes to a landfill. So if you're investing in more compostable wares, make sure you have plans to actually compost them, whether in your backyard or through local drop-off or pick-up programs. Whichever you choose, HoldOn's products will work in your routine — unlike many compostable plastics that have to be processed in high-heat industrial settings, HoldOn's bags will degrade in a backyard compost.
Shop HoldOn
HoldOn Compostable Zipseal Sandwich Bags, $, available at HoldOn
Swap aluminum non-stick cookware for non-toxic ceramic pots & pans...
Our Place Perfect Pot
According to Treehugger, "globally, the aluminum industry annually emits millions of tons of greenhouse gases." Which, in short, is a big no-no for mother nature. Next time your pots and pans need replacing, opt for the multi-purpose ceramic-coated cookware essentials over at Our Place that are, according to its on-site description, free of harsh chemicals, toxic metals, and nanoparticles. Plus, a couple eco-chic pots and pans never hurt nobody.
Shop Our Place
Our Place Perfect Pot, $, available at Our Place
Swap synthetic sponges for 100% natural sponges...
Grove Co. Coconut Scrubber Sponge
The problem with sponges has everything to do with their lifespan — from experience, we'd give those regular synthetic options a one-to-two-week maximum. So, to avoid the unnecessary waste this short sink life causes, consider using a more sustainable choice for washing dishes or cleaning the counters: aka the coconut sponge (just note they aren't allergy-friendly if you happen to have a coconut allergy.)
Made with 100% natural vegetable cellulose from coconuts, this alternative is easy to use and reaches all the tricky corners of dishes, cups, and glasses. Before and after each use, simply rinse your sponge in water. Don't forget to put it in the top rack of the dishwasher regularly too!
Shop Grove Collaborative
Grove Co. Coconut Scrubber Sponge, $, available at Grove Co.
Swap single-use cleaning products for more sustainable solutions...
Blueland Clean Essentials Kit
Cut out the triclosan, parabens, phosphates, ammonia, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) often found in standard cleaners with a new multi-surface product that's more sustainably made.
Blueland's innovation-driven mission is to reimagine all categories of household packaged goods, from its reusable bottles to its clean ingredients that are safe for you and your surroundings. The refills, which come in concentrated tablet form, also cut way down on packaging and come in compostable paper wrappers.
Shop Blueland
Blueland Clean Essentials Kit, $, available at Blueland
Swap harmful sink essentials for plant-based bottles...
Mrs. Meyers Lemon Verbena Hand & Dish Duo
Give your sink-side soaps an environmentally friendly upgrade with Mrs. Meyer's. This all-natural duo offers a gentle but hard-working hand soap along with a concentrated liquid dish formula that is biodegradable, contains plant-derived ingredients, and rinses clean.
Shop Mrs. Meyer's
Mrs. Meyers Lemon Verbena Hand & Dish Duo, $, available at Grove Collaborative
Swap traditional compost liners for biodegradable ones...
Thrive Market 100% Compostable Food Scrap Bags
If you're already composting, well done! You're off to a good start towards a more eco-friendly kitchen. Now take that sustainability up a notch with liners that can actually be composted along with the food scraps they contain.
These liners are made of fully biodegradable, non-toxic, and plant-based materials — plus, it decomposes naturally at the same pace as food, paper, and leaves.
Shop Thrive Market
Thrive Market 100% Compostable Food Scrap Bags (2.6 Gallon), $, available at Thrive Market
Swap plastic food storage containers for ceramic...
W&P Porter Bowl
Instead of using single-use plastic vessels for storing leftovers or transporting meals when you're on the go, consider a reusable ceramic bowl instead. This sleek W&P style features a protective silicone wrap and snap-tight strap — only its lid is made from rigid plastic.
This high-quality alternative is safe for use in both the dishwasher and microwave and is made to outlast your existing containers.
Shop W&P Design
WP Porter Bowl - Ceramic, $, available at W&P
Swap plastic wrap for reusable beeswax paper...
Bee's Wrap Reusable Beeswax Food Wraps (Set Of 3)
An ethical and natural alternative to food storage, this reusable wrap is made right here in the U.S. from organic cotton that's infused with sustainably harvested beeswax, jojoba oil, and tree resin.
Simply wash with cool water and gentle soap, then reuse again and again.
Shop Bee's Wrap
Bee's Wrap Set of 3 Reusable Beeswax Food Wraps, $, available at Amazon
Swap single-use paper towels for reusable bamboo cloths...
Luckiss 100% Bamboo Dish Cloths
Bid farewell to paper towels for good. Instead of a one-and-done solution for wiping up a mess or drying wet dishes, switch to reusable multipurpose bamboo washcloths instead.
They're soft, durable, quick to dry, and can absorb more than seven times their size without requiring any chemicals to clean.
Shop Luckiss
LUCKISS Bamboo Dish Cloths 6 Pack, $, available at Amazon
Swap harsh laundry detergents for gentler formulas...
Dirty Labs Bio Enzyme Laundry Detergent
While many standard laundry detergents are made with harmful chemicals that get released into the environment with the flow of wastewater leaving our homes, there are gentler formulas that can be used instead.
This plant-based option by Dirty Labs is just one of a myriad of best-sellers from the eco-friendly brand. Formulated with the signature Phytolase® cleaning enzyme and other biodegradable ingredients, the detergent is kinder on your clothing and on the planet. The detergent is even recognized by the National Eczema Association (NEA)!
Shop Dirty Labs
Dirty Labs Bio Enzyme Laundry Detergent, $, available at Dirty Labs
Swap plastic bags for reusable silicone bags...
Stasher Reusable Storage Bag
If states like New York, Delaware, California, and Vermont have put a ban on single-use plastic shopping bags, why not enforce that same rule in your own kitchen?
These plastic-free, self-sealing food bags are made from 100% pure non-toxic platinum silicone that will keep your food fresh and safe from contaminants — you can even put them in the freezer, dishwasher, or microwave.
Shop Stasher
Stasher Silicone Reusable Food Bag, $, available at Amazon
Swap conventional teabags for loose-leaf tea infusers...
TCIOD 2-Pack Stainless Steel Tea Infuser & Brush
While we love our steeped cup as much as the next avid tea sipper, some teabags contain harmful microplastics that, in addition to preventing the bags from fully decomposing, end up entering your body too.
So, if you'd prefer not to be sipping on some plastic, use a stainless steel loose-leaf tea infuser instead. The sturdy handle is great for stirring and you can just toss the leaves in the compost when you're done. No plastic, no problem.
Shop TCIOD
TCIOD 2-Pack Stainless Steel Tea Infuser & Brush,, $, available at Amazon
Swap harsh laundry detergents for gentler formulas...
The Laundress Wash & Stain Bar
While many standard laundry detergents are made with harmful chemicals that get released into the environment with the flow of wastewater leaving our homes, there are gentler formulas that can be used instead.
This plant-based option by The Laundress is just one of a myriad of best-sellers from the eco-friendly brand. Rather than any aforementioned harsh chemicals, the vegetable soap Wash & Stain Bar removes gunk with only biodegradable ingredients — so, it's kinder on your clothing and on the planet.
Shop The Laundress
The Laundress New York Wash & Stain Bar, $, available at Amazon
Swap synthetic sponges for 100% natural sponges...
Desearth Natural Linen Unsponge
The problem with sponges has everything to do with their lifespan — from experience, we'd give those regular synthetic options a one-to-two-week maximum. So, to avoid the unnecessary waste this short sink life causes, consider using a more sustainable choice for washing dishes or cleaning the counters: aka a natural "unsponge."
Made with 100% linen on the outside and 100% cotton on the inside, this alternative is easy to use and reaches all the tricky corners of dishes, cups, and glasses. After each use, simply wash your not-really-a-sponge sponge in running water and leave it to dry. Don't forget to put it in the washing machine every week or so, too!
Shop Etsy
Desearth Natural Linen Unsponge, $, available at Etsy
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