Summer Favorites 2020: The Eco Edition

Yes: most of us are still emotionally processing March, but believe it or not, summer is here.

My husband and I have been working to really hard to reduce our plastic use and overall waste for sometime now, and so I wanted to create a post that was solely around some of my favorite eco-friendly products.

Now: this conversation exists on a spectrum, and if we were all being truly sustainable af, we would all make all of these things ourselves to stop buying anything that’s mass produced in a factory, shipped across the country (or overseas) to us, and so on. I see that, and also acknowledge that many of these are linked through Amazon, which is not exactly the ideal when it comes to sustainable brands.

That said, if you are:

• looking for a place to start

• want to cut back on your plastic use and/or your overall waste like we were

• want some accessible swaps or improvements on the plastic and wasteful standards that most households have—

these are my favorites that I use and that I recommend.

(I had been planning to share this anyway, and just today found out that July is #plasticfreejuly ? Fitting.)

Let’s get into it!

---

KITCHEN + CLEANING

Compostable, non-plastic sponges

Yes: I did include this in my last Favorites round up, but these compostable, all-biodegradable sponges are back, and for good reason: I love them.

They are as sturdy and durable as the sponges you know and love, they don’t smell or do anything weird, AND the extra bonus is they are packaged and shipped 100% plastic free as well.

---

Tru Earth Laundry Detergent Strips

I was skeptical about these at first but they actually are awesome.

They come in cardboard packaging (no plastic) and you just drop a strip or two into your washer and they work great!

---

Sponge Cloths

When I realized I was going through way more paper towel than I wanted to be during the day, I was excited to find these compostable, reusable alternatives.

These are a hybrid between a sponge and a towel (think eco version of a ShamWow) that is great for counter wipe downs, spills, cleaning surfaces & more.

They’re reusable (just toss in your dishwasher or washing machine) for up to 50 washes (I think!), and you just toss in the compost at the end of their life.

---

Un-Paper Towels

Between the sponge cloths above and these, I rarely use paper towel for anything anymore, which has cut down on so much waste.

These are just simple cotton cloths that you can throw in the wash, that are SO much more absorbent than pretty tea towels and are great for keeping hands clean as you cook. I am obsessed with these things and highly recommend!

---

Branch Basics Household Cleaning

There’s lots of options out there when it comes to eo-friendly cleaning supplies, but this has been my personal go-to for a while. Branch Basics sent this set out to me to try I think TWO YEARS ago, and I am STILL using it. All the time.

The bottles are plastic (con), but they are reusable, refillable, and last so long, AND negate your need to purchase any other extra plastic cleaning products (pro), making this such an awesome option for anyone looking for an upgrade in their household cleaning regimen.

---

FOOD + DRINK

Metal Straws

Ages ago I started getting in the habit of drinking coffee with a straw, even when hot, hoping it would help with not staining my teeth as much.

I had been using compostable straws for a while but recently upgraded to these guys to cut down on waste and I love them.

They are packaged plastic-free, are dishwasher safe, come with little cleaner brushes, and are durable AF.

---

Wax Food Wraps

These are all natural, plastic free, reusable alternatives to plastic wrap.

While they don’t do everything (like a super tight seal you need to store an onion, for example), they are usable for just about everything else.

We have one set that has 3 sizes and find them effective, durable, and most importantly: have helped cut down our use of plastic wrap.

---

Silicone Stasher Bags

These silicone Stasher bags are the reusable and more sustainable alternative to ziplocks. They come in varying sizes, are dishwasher safe, can be used to cook (sous vide, anyone?), are non-toxic, and super versatile.

Grab them of cooking, storing, freezing, traveling, or anything at all!

---

Soda Stream

True story: I used to PLOW through La Croix.

I know I shared this is in my last Favorites here, but I’m sharing it again because it really has become one of my favorite kitchen gadgets.

This bad boy makes my sparkling water habit nearly waste-free.

---

BEAUTY + BATHROOM

Primally Pure Face Oil

This face oil from Primally Pure is one of my favorites. I will wear it as a treatment while I soak in the bath, in lieu of night cream, as a super hydrating moisturizer, and in all sorts of nourishing ways.

It comes in a glass bottle, is all natural, and generally just a great company too. They make lots of skincare products that are worth checking out! This is one of my faves.

---

Bamboo Toothbrushes

I recently read that every single piece of plastic ever made still exists, and that line has highlighted the amount of plastic we use and throw away, that’s sitting in a landfill somewhere.

A small but effective help to this endless mound of plastic is toothbrushes, so I was happy to give these ones a go. And so far? 10/10.

---

David’s Toothpaste

Another huge culprit in the pile of landfill plastic: toothpaste tubes.

Though I haven’t tried this brand yet, it’s on my list. (Currently I am using toothpaste tablets that come in a glass jar, from Bite). But if you’re not feeling that adventurous yet but want a plastic-free alternative, try this.

---

Shampoo Bar

Another place I’ve been dabbling with less-waste alternatives: shampoo & conditioner.

I have a bar shampoo & bar conditioner, and although I do not use them exclusively (yet), I am getting accustomed to them and would invite you to do the same.

Finding the right ones for your hair texture and needs can take a little trial and error, but this bar is highly rated on Amazon and might be a great place to start.

---

Plaine Products Body Lotion

The daily shit we use that comes in plastic bottles we toss into a landfill, episode 974357.

This company has a range of bathroom products that all come in metal containers that are refillable for free.

I’ve been using this body lotion and quite like it. And if you’re not ready for shampoo bars yet but want to ditch the plastic, check this brand for their options as well.

---

I have been using this floss and been loving it— not just because it comes in plastic-free packaging but because it gets the job done.

I will say that my husband isn’t in to this because this particular brand is a bit too think for his teeth, but I’d definitely invite you to give it a try or shop around for other natural plastic free floss!

---

That's it! There will definitely be more from me on this topic here again, but for now, that’s some of my eco-friendly low to no waste and plastic free alternatives that I’m currently loving.

What are you loving these days? Anything out there I need to try? Let me know in the comments!

And remember that you can always check out my all-time favorites (read: ride or die, go-to products) and recommendations from everything from skincare to cookbooks in my shop tab!

---

Disclaimer: this post may contain affiliate links, which help and allow me to run this blog, so I appreciate your support!

---