Covid-19/PPE
Masks
While convenient and protective, single-use masks are extremely wasteful. Opt for cloth masks when you can to be more environmentally conscious!
Hand Sanitizer
Instead of frequently buying new bottles of hand sanitizer, keep old bottles and buy refills instead. Buying in bulk cuts down on plastic waste because you could get one gallon of hand sanitizer or 10 individual bottles which uses a lot more plastic.
Cleaning Products
Think about the chemicals in the cleaning products you are using. Especially now with the pandemic when we are using more cleaning products more frequently, being mindful of how these are impacting the environment is crucial. When looking for cleaning products, look for eco-friendly ones. These are cleaning products that take less energy/resources to produce, maybe have biodegradable packaging, use natural/non-toxic ingredients, and contain low amounts of VOC. (source: https://www.pjponline.com/the-environmental-impact-of-cleaning-products/)
Food Packaging
Bee's Wrap: is a brand that makes organic cotton fabric pieces covered with beeswax that can be used to wrap any type of food. It is a great replacement for single use wasteful plastic or Saran Wrap. Just use, wash, and repeat. Their wraps come in a variety of sizes, patterns, and colors too. https://www.com/collections/allgclid=CjwKCAjwj975BRBUEiwA4whRBxLC8zRQFkoy3Ike_942qzDYW1cKu1kp7ezoZXDv-WGzfjI-7MPO7hoCZMIQAvD_BwE
Lunchskins: is a brand that specializes in plastic-free packaging for food. They have products such as fabric bags, compostable paper bags made from wood pulp, and paper straws in many sizes and variations. https://www.lunchskins.com/gclid=CjwKCAjwj975BRBUEiwA4whRB95yrhukZfhO_fgX5luAoqCGKXemi6uNfzk2Kr4Nbgev7wYSqwV_IRoCLPIQAvD_BwE
Silicone bags: silicone bags are a great alternative to plastic ones because they are water proof and can be used just like a plastic bag, except you can throw them in the dishwasher after you use them and you get to use them again!
Here are some:
https://www.target.com/b/zip-top/-/N-f25y3
*Don't forget about reusable containers! Most people have Tupperware or glass containers in their homes for storing food, so if you don't want to use any of the above products, consider just using a reusable container the next time you want to use a plastic bag!
Straws
Metal, bamboo, or silicone straws are a great replacement for plastic straws because they are reusable and are great for cutting down on waste. Metal straws are great for everything and bamboo ones are great replacements for boba straws/wide straws. Always ask for "no straw" when ordering drinks and bring your own straw instead. They are great for at-home too!
Metal straws:
Bamboo Boba Straws:
https://theotherstraw.com/products/reusable-boba-straw?variant=30394898579559
Silicone Straws:
https://www.amazon.com/Silicone-Straws-Reusable-No-Rubber-Collapsible/dp/B00WJF1TEK
Another option to replace plastic straws are paper straws. They are still single use but these options are biodegradable so you can still compost them.
small:
boba/large:
https://www.amazon.com/Compostable-Bamboo-Straws-Smoothies-Shakes/dp/B085Q36B79
Cleaning Supplies
Cleancult: is a company that ships you refills for all types of cleaning products in recyclable packaging using carbon neutral shipping methods. The idea behind them is that you can refill your containers with new cleaning products when you run out instead of buying another container or plastic bottle. Their cleaning products are affordable and coconut based, and they focus on separating themselves from other green products that don't clean well enough and other cleaning products that use toxic chemicals and wasteful bottles.
https://www.cleancult.com/products/shop/all
Dropps: is a cleaning product company that sells different detergent pods for laundry and dishwashers. They come in cardboard packaging, and customers are encouraged to store pods in glass mason jars, for a more sustainable storage option. (they also have carbon neutral shipping!)
Gelo: is another brand that sells refills in sustainable packaging for their products. Instead of selling plastic pouches of soap refill, Gelo sells pods, similar to detergent pods, that are full of concentrated soap. To refill, you put two pods and some water in your soap dispenser and shake. They can be found at Target, Meijer's or online:
https://geloproducts.com/products/sea-mist-foaming-hand-soap-starter-kit
Food
Loop: Want to buy the same brands you like but wish they had better packaging? Loop has made this possible. They ship name brands in reusable containers to your doorstep and take the containers back when you are done, cleaning them and sending them to another customer. They call themselves the modern milk man except they carry products in all categories such as food, cleaning products, and more. Find them here: https://loopstore.com/
Imperfect Foods: is a service that takes foods that would normally be turned down by stores due to surplus or imperfections such as shapes, sizes, and colors. They don't just sell produce either, and have a product selection that includes coffee, grains, produce, dairy items, and a lot more. They help you save a lot of money too with an advertised 30% price reduction. The service works by having you customize your order and then having it shipped to your home. Start here: https://www.imperfectfoods.com/
Toiletries/Beauty
Beauty products and toiletries are two categories that have some amazing no-waste options. So often these products use a ton of packaging and contribute greatly to plastic waste. Here are some great low/zero waste options:
Ethique: is a brand that makes face, body, and hair products that come in bar form and are sent in cardboard packaging so that they cut down on waste. Just one bar of their shampoo contains 3 bottles worth of liquid shampoo so think about how many plastic bottles you could prevent/avoid by using it! Another pro for bar shampoos is that they significantly reduce the amount of water used in production.
River Organics: has (close to) zero waste makeup and skincare products that are plant oil based (read vegan!).
Dirty Hippie: another brand that specializes in sustainability but with a huge range of products! From shaving and beard products, hair and body washes and serums, feminine products, makeup, household items, sun and bug protectant, and more. They focus on waste-friendly packaging and have mostly vegan products.
https://www.dirtyhippie.co.nz/
Preserve: Preserve makes recycled products such as toothbrushes, razors, storage containers, kitchen items, and more. Their main goal is to keep plastic out of oceans and they have been ranked highly for having a small environmental impact. Their products can be found at Trader Joes, the Outpost, Whole Foods and online.
Aloe: aloe is a common ingredient used in lotions and other things to combat burns and soothe skin. Instead of having to buy products with it in it that have gone through processing and have other chemicals added, why not try buying an aloe plant! Plants liven up your living space and aloe plants are easy to take care of. All you have to do is break off the tip of one and get the aloe inside, instead of opening a plastic bottle and squeezing some out.
Visit Trader Joe's or Mod Gen in Milwaukee to get one.
Toothbrushes
Instead of getting a new toothbrush every month and throwing your old one away, opt. for a sustainable bamboo one that is 100% biodegradable:
This is just an example of one brand of bamboo toothbrush so if you go with another brand, make sure to research them thoroughly because many bamboo toothbrushes have nylon bristles and are not 100% biodegradable! With non-100% biodegradable options you must take the bristles out and can only compost the handle.
Another option is to invest in an electric toothbrush. While electric toothbrushes still use disposable heads, the head is small so it creates less waste than throwing away an entire toothbrush.
Shoes
Shoes are great products to use recycled materials in, here are a few examples:
Allbirds: Not only does the brand Allbirds work really hard to reduce their carbon footprint, but they are incredibly loved and well known for their comfort. From the soles to the inserts to the (sometimes wool) exteriors, these shoes are made with 100% recycled renewable materials engineered for minimal impact on the planet. Who else can say that the bottoms of their shoes are made out of carbon negative sugar cane?
Nothing New: is a shoe brand with sneakers resembling converse, but made from recycled materials. Each pair uses 5.6 plastic bottles and gives them a new life, and saves 160 gallons of water in the process. Also, if you send them back your shoes when you are done with them, they will use them for a new pair or donate them.
Adidas: An extremely popular brand, Adidas has been making efforts to create more environmentally friendly shoes. They have 100% recyclable shoes and others made from plastic collected from the ocean. They recognize that it is not only good to prevent waste but also to recycle and use the waste that has already been created. Fun fact, they actually partner with Allbirds (see above ^), but run most of their sustainability efforts through Parley.
Clothing
*visit the "reuse page" of this website to find out how you can support thrift stores and reuse clothing! Buying clothing first hand wastes large quantities of water and reusing clothing from other people using websites such as Goodwill or ThredUP is a great method of waste management.
*when buying cotton fabric of any kind, including clothing, towels, bedding, and anything else made of cotton, always look for things made with organic cotton (and recycled if you can find it). Organic cotton is made without the harmful chemicals and pesticides that are normally used, and recycled cotton is just that, cotton fibers from scraps that are used to make new clothing!
Patagonia: Patagonia is experimenting with regenerative farming practices that would significantly decrease their carbon impact. They use organic cotton anyways, however this next step is much more beneficial for the planet. They explain their methods in a great way here: https://www.patagonia.com/regenerative-organic/
Patagonia also uses recycled plastic to make clothing in their Re\\\collection. http://www.patagoniaworks.com/press/2016/11/2/patagonias-recollection-uses-as-many-recycled-materials-as-possible-diverting-waste-from-the-landfills-without-sacrificing-quality
Fanfare: Fanfare is a UK brand that makes exclusively sustainable clothing. They use organic cotton, ethical practices, and extra fabric scraps to add accents onto clothes. They cut down on water waste in their production practices as well.
RE/DONE: RE/DONE up-cycles mainly jeans along with other clothing items such as t-shirts, masks, long sleeves, and more. You can get vintage up-cycled Levi's that use no water in the reconstruction process! They are more expensive than most clothing brands, but you are paying for their sustainable practices and the individuality of the items (each pair of jeans is made "one-for-one").
Urban Renewal: Urban Renewal is Urban Outfitter's brand of sustainable clothing. The pieces are either vintage, up-cycled, or other and is "renewed". They offer a huge range of clothing and each piece was destined to be thrown away or stored instead of being sold and worn. https://www.urbanoutfitters.com/brands/urban-renewal?department=Women
Recover Brands: Recover Brands is a recycled clothing company that uses plastic bottles to make clothing. They use eight plastic bottles to make one t-shirt, and save water, prevent carbon emissions, and save energy in the production process.
