Before You Begin
Before you do anything drastic, the best thing you can do is use up what you already have. Please do that first and reference this guide only when you have run out of your existing products.
I am obsessed with all things zero waste and minimizing my individual footprint. I wanted to share some of the products I’ve used and the trial and error of my experiences with zero-waste products.
Let’s Talk About Plastics
Plastics are very literally made out of oil, and take forever to break down. All plastic that has ever been made is still in existence today, which is wild. If you think about it that way, isn’t the Great Pacific Garbage Patch an oil spill? It’s crazy to me that companies are manufacturing a product with absolutely no plan for a responsible disposal of said product. That responsibility is then put on individuals and municipal governments to try to figure out, which usually results in failure.
However, even if—which is a huge if—plastics are recycled, plastic recycling is a myth. All plastics are down-cycled. This means that every time a plastic goes through the recycling process, it becomes degraded until eventually it cannot be recycled at all. Which means that all plastic will eventually end up in the landfill, or somewhere out in nature harming the ecosystem around it. Overall, clearly the plastics industry is a mess.
What Packaging Is Responsible?
Paper/Cardboard/Wood
Anything natural and biodegradable is obviously a great choice, because it breaks down easily. Bamboo is a great choice because it is such a fast-growing plant. Fun fact: bamboo is actually considered to be a grass. Paper products can obviously be a bit problematic because of forestry issues.
Glass
An oldie but a goodie. Glass is essentially made from sand, it is fairly easy to recycle, and is not entirely problematic when put back into natural systems.
Aluminum
Aluminum is awesome! It is extremely efficient to recycle, so please recycle those soda cans! I’m such a big fan of products in aluminum tins. They’re hardy for life on a boat, and they don’t pose a threat to our aluminum hull. I love aluminum packaging.
Biodegradable/Plant-Derived Plastics
There is a lot of debate about these materials, and especially the meaning of ‘biodegrade’ used here. If you ever see a product that says it’s home compostable, that means you can literally put it in your garden and it will disappear in several weeks. However, sometimes biodegradable-labeled products mean that they are industrially biodegradable, which requires them to be sent to a facility. As you can tell, this becomes quite complicated. This isn’t the best choice, but it is a choice I occasionally go for over other options on the market.
Where to Buy All This Stuff
The first thing I will always recommend is going to your local refill/zero-waste store. Some of you may have a zero-waste store nearby, or maybe your supermarket has a refillable section. Either way, refilling with these local stores is the best option.
Otherwise, some of these products can be found at Whole Foods or Target. Blueland products can be found at the Container Store and some Costcos. There are also some great online zero-waste stores: ecoroots, earthhero, thezerowastestore, and many others.
Bathroom Products
Dental Hygiene
Toothbrushes
Bamboo toothbrushes: These are awesome! I love these, though I must say not all are created equal. However, if you live in a very humid non-climate-controlled environment like I do, there is one problem: they mold in moisture.
Recycled plastic toothbrushes: I often use these because they work better for a boat environment. In a house I’d much prefer a bamboo toothbrush, but we take what we can get.
Electric toothbrush options: If you are an electric toothbrush fan, fear not—there are options for you too! I know there is a company called SURI that has started making toothbrushes from plant-derived ingredients. Also, there are companies that make bamboo toothbrush heads for the electric toothbrushes you may already have! Therefore, the disposable element of your toothbrush is replaced with a zero-waste product.
Floss
Humble Co floss picks: I’m a floss pick girl. If it’s not convenient, I don’t do it nearly enough. I’ve tried a few other floss picks, but those become super flimsy and almost impossible to use. These hold up and work well. These are made from a plant-derived plastic, so again, not awesome, but better than normal plastic.
Bamboo floss: I’m a fan of bamboo floss—it holds up well and gets the job done.
Silk floss: I’ve never used it, but I’ve been told it falls apart pretty easily.
Tongue Scraper
I have a metal tongue scraper which you can find at most zero-waste stores or online pretty easily and I love it. Instantly makes things fresher. This product is pretty standard so I feel like it’s hard to go wrong.
Toothpaste
David’s toothpaste: Back in the day all toothpaste tubes used to be made out of aluminum. However, when people squeezed them, they would crack and leak, which led to the switch to plastic toothpaste tubes. However, there is a solution to the aluminum tube cracking conundrum: a key. It’s a little turn key that slides on the end of your toothpaste and squeezes it in an orderly fashion so your tube doesn’t crack and leak. Easy peasy toothpaste squeezey.
Toothpaste tablets: Not all are created equal. I like them fine. They don’t always have the same satisfying minty freshness, however I love them for travel. They are compact and easy to carry on because there’s no liquid. Ones I’ve liked: Georganics and Bite. Ones I haven’t liked: Lush (mine left a weird film on my lips, maybe from a reaction with the chlorine in the water or something).
Shower
Shampoo
Shampoo bars: I haven’t met a shampoo bar I haven’t liked. Honestly it’s surprising how sudsy they are and how well they work. You just rub them directly into your hair. There is a little bit of a learning curve. Shampoo bars need to be stored in a dry place, so make sure your soap dish has proper drainage. They last a very long time and are great for travel, as they are compact and are easy to carry on being a non-liquid. I recommend buying a tin for them and keeping rubber bands in your tin to hold your shampoo bar up and out of drainage water to dry after use. I have had them get stuck in my tin before, and they are quite difficult to get out. I recommend the large square tins from Lush. Some of my favorite shampoo bars have been from Aspen Kay and from HiBar.
Warning: Do not try to wash your hair with shampoo bars and salt water. Some shampoos react with salt water and form a thick paste which is challenging to get out of your hair. It took me over three washes to get out all the paste.
Shampoo concentrates: Recently Ethique has started making shampoo concentrates and I’m a fan. It’s a small bar that you stir into a measured amount of boiling water, which then magically transforms into shampoo. You can have your cake and eat it too: liquid shampoo without the plastic bottle. Just save an old shampoo bottle or put it in any reusable container on hand.
Everest: I’ve been seeing this everywhere recently, and while I haven’t tried it myself, it seems very promising. Additionally, you can buy it at Whole Foods.
Conditioner
Conditioner bars: Finding a good conditioner bar can be a little bit more of a challenge. They don’t always give your hair that satisfying slippery sliminess it gets when your hair is full of conditioner, so it often almost feels like there isn’t enough product transfer from the bar onto your hair. The best ones I have found are from Aspen Kay and from HiBar.
Conditioner concentrates: Similarly to the shampoo, Ethique has recently started making conditioner concentrate bars. Same thing: you combine hot water, the bar, and voilà—you have liquid conditioner.
Soap/Body Wash
Bar soap: I love my bar soaps. I always go for something local to where I’m shopping, and without or with minimal packaging.
Hand soap: If you insist on using liquid hand soap, Blueland is a great option. You can get a very sleek-looking reusable pump bottle and buy refill tablets that dissolve in water to become foam hand soap.
Body wash: There is an Ethique body wash concentrate too! Same process, super easy. Love it. There is also a company called Plaine Products that makes all your shower basics (shampoo, conditioner, body wash) that comes in a metal container that can be recycled, however it is fairly pricey!
Razor
Safety razor: I love love love my safety razor. It’s an oldie but a goodie. Everyone used to use them, but they got replaced with the plastic disposable head kind, so let’s bring back these vintage bad boys! So it’s essentially a razor that is completely metal, and you replace only the single double-sided metal blade it has. There is even a company called Albatross that will take back these metal blades to recycle them and give you a discount towards buying more! Love that.
Leaf razor: Pivoting head, three blades.
Makeup
I’ve only begun to dabble in zero-waste makeup, but while looking for makeup, please try to find products that are at least vegan/cruelty-free (with a certification or it may not be true) and ethically made.
So far my favorite zero-waste makeup product I’ve tried is from Axiology. They have these little crayons that you can use on your eyes, face, and lips. I regularly use my favorite shade rosé on my lips and my cheeks, for just a touch of sun-kissed rosiness (without the skin cancer risk thing). I also have some shades that work great as highlighter, and others that are perfect for eyeshadow.
Ethique makes lipsticks.
Skincare
Look for shark-free products and Leaping Bunny certificates. Try to opt for zero-waste packaging.
Brands I recommend: Mighty Dew, Activist, Osea Malibu, Earth Harbor
Dry brush: I just got a bamboo dry brush from a local zero-waste market in Miami and I love it! It feels so nice, it’s exfoliating for my skin, and good for my lymphatic system.
Lotion: There are many lotion options available ranging from lotion bars and lotion concentrate bars to lotions in metal tins and of course refillable lotions. It’s all really a matter of preference. I like my liquid lotion so I usually refill or have tins of lotion.
Sunscreen: While looking for sunscreen I look for three things: sustainable packaging, zinc oxide (titanium oxide is fine too), and non-nano. There is actually no regulation for sunscreen to be marked reef safe, so many sunscreens will say it even if it’s not true. What makes it reef safe is that zinc oxide and non-nano. I know a lot of people don’t like looking a little ghostly, but there are also clear or tinted zinc oxide options. Favorites I have used are Raw Elements, Badger, and some smaller local handmade sunscreens using coconut oil as a base.
Period Products
Period panties: Alright, I’m going to start here because these things are great. Even if you’re not down to free bleed into a pair of these, they absorb any leakage and clean up so easily. They’re super absorbent, even more than a regular pad, and you just pop them in the wash when you’re done with them. Cannot recommend these enough.
Cups: Each person is different so it’s hard to recommend these. They are made out of food-grade silicone so they’re super safe. I also love that you can keep them in for up to 12 hours and they decrease the risk of toxic shock syndrome. There is definitely a learning curve, and as with most things, they are not all created equal. At first, I really did not think they were for me, until I tried a different type of cup that was better suited for me. Some people are freaked out by ‘the mess of it’ and while I’m not going to lie, it can get messy, most of the time it’s not that bad. Plus, because you can wear them for an extended amount of time, it’s easy to plan for a nice private bathroom to do your dirty work in. I usually dump my cup a few hours before sleep and when I wake up in the morning. Another thing: we’re not all perfect and we don’t have to be all the time. When I know I won’t have access to a good place to dump my cup, I might opt for a tampon that day.
Tampons and pads: We all have our limits, and if you need to stick with traditional products, or use a combo of products, that’s cool. However, when looking for eco-friendly traditional period products, please try to find organic products that do not have a plastic applicator.
Other Bathroom Products
Deodorant: I look for two things in deodorant: aluminum-free and no plastic packaging. Aluminum in deodorant acts as an antiperspirant and blocks you from sweating. Aluminum deodorants have also been linked to breast cancer (in both men and women), so that’s not cool. Switching to an aluminum-free deodorant does mean you will sweat a little bit more in your pits, but that is exactly what your body is meant to do. I have discovered in my research that there is a detox phase after switching from aluminum deodorants, so please stick with it for a while before giving up and saying your body is too smelly. There is also a special bar that helps with the detox process in your pits—it’s called the underarm detox bar by No Tox Life. My favorite stick deodorants that come in a cardboard tube are Hey Humans and Humble. These ones work well smell-wise and have a nice texture.
Hair brushes: There are brushes made out of bamboo! Again, not all brushes are created equal, and different hair types have different preferences, but there are sustainable options out there.
Ear cleaning: I’m sure we’ve all read that Q-tips are bad for our ears, but if you’re having a hard time giving them up, there are a few zero-waste swaps. First, there’s a company called LastObject that makes a reusable Q-tip out of silicone. After each use, you wash and store it again for your next use. If this doesn’t appeal to you, there are Q-tips made out of bamboo sticks and cotton that are at least biodegradable.
Removing makeup: It’s super easy to either make or find little pads to use for things like removing makeup or removing nail polish. Marley’s Monsters has a good set of little makeup pads, but old cut-up T-shirts are great too. These can easily be washed in a delicates bag in your washing machine. I also use a makeup cloth to remove my makeup that I can just throw in the wash after use too. As far as makeup remover goes, I’m not too fancy. Bar soap and water is great.
Toilet paper: You can buy low-waste toilet paper! I personally hate that toilet paper always comes wrapped in plastic, but there are companies fighting back! Who Gives a Crap is a company that is doing just that and ships TP straight to your doorstep. If you’re really hardcore, you can get Marley’s Monsters un-toilet paper, which is essentially washable, reusable toilet paper. Last but not least: bidets! I would love to have a bidet attachment on my toilet, but I live on a boat and water is limited. These get you 10x cleaner and who doesn’t like a nice little warm water spritz for your bits.
Cleaning Products
Spray cleaners: Blueland is a company that makes great refillable products. Most products are a compressed powder tablet. When these tablets are added to water you can have foaming hand soap, glass cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, and bathroom cleaner. All refills come in home compostable packaging.
Dishwasher: I do not have a dishwasher, but if I did, I’m sure I would use Blueland dishwasher tablets. They are also a compressed powder tablet that you can add directly to your machine. All refills come in home compostable packaging. Did you know that those little pods that you add to your machine are very literally making you ingest plastic? It is estimated that an average American ingests a credit card worth of plastic every week. Although convenient, those little pods are made out of an alcohol-based plastic which is designed to dissolve in water, but doesn’t necessarily all wash away, leaving a fine layer of plastics all over your nice clean dishes. The same goes for the pods in your washing machine and your clothes.
Laundry: I love to use Blueland laundry tablets. They are also a compressed powder tablet that you can add directly to your machine. They have the convenience of Tide pods, without the associated plastic. All refills come in home compostable packaging. There are also products to help decrease the microplastics being washed down your drain from your clothes! If you’re interested in this, look into Guppy Bag and Cora Ball. Last but not least, please give up your dryer sheets and instead go for some wool dryer balls. If you want an extra little fresh scent, you can always put some essential oils on your dryer balls before each cycle.
Dish soap: I also use Blueland’s powder dish soap, which is super gentle on my hands which are always allergic to detergents. All refills come in home compostable packaging. Another dish soap I love is a bar dish soap from No Tox Life. It is super sudsy and also doesn’t bother my hands. Between the two, the powder dish soap is more convenient, but the bar dish soap cuts grease slightly better I think (or at least it’s sudsier so it gives that impression).
Sponges/brushes: Bamboo dish brushes are great, and so are plant-based sponges. I honestly use them both for different uses. I also use coconut scrubbing pads.
Kitchen
Stasher bags: These are awesome replacements for Ziploc bags. They’re made of food-grade silicone. They’re freezer safe, oven safe, microwave safe, sous-vide safe (I don’t understand how anyone thinks it’s okay to cook in a plastic bag at all). They’re great for food storage or toiletry storage. They come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes. They’re compact, yet they pop up to fit huge volumes of food. I’m a big fan.
Bowl covers/plastic wrap replacement: The low-maintenance option is silicone bowl covers; the better but high-maintenance option is beeswax wrap. Beeswax wraps often make your food last longer (because bees are amazing), however you can only wash them with cold water and hang them to dry, and you eventually have to re-wax them.
Paper towels: I have really tried to cut down on my paper towel use and there are a few ways to do this. I love my Swedish dish cloths. They’re kind of like an in-between of a sponge and a paper towel. But you can wash them by putting them through the dishwasher or the washing machine. They last for a long time, and then you can get a new one, but they definitely cut back on my paper towel consumption. If you’re less of a sponge person and more of a paper towel one-and-done kind of person, I would recommend Marley’s Monsters un-paper towels. They’re essentially a roll of cloth paper towels that can be washed and put right back onto the roll. (Side note: they also make un-toilet paper with the same concept, but that takes it too far for some people… myself included.)
Trash bags: So, I often use bags that I’m given at the grocery store (if I forget my reusable bags) as small trash bags. Don’t forget to use what you have! But I also have rolls of compostable trash bags that are supposed to break down more easily in the landfill. I also recommend these for your dog’s little poopies.
Compost bin: I cannot recommend this enough. Composting is so important. I used to think it didn’t matter because everything would break down the same in the landfill. Wrong. Because there isn’t proper healthy soil in the landfill, food waste cannot properly break down, which actually is a process that creates a lot more methane than it had to (which is a very potent greenhouse gas). Additionally, your food waste will help your soil’s health. If you don’t already know, soil health is increasingly becoming an issue as the world continues to use lands for monoculture. It’s estimated that a third of the soil on earth has been lost since the beginning of industrial farming. If you haven’t already, go watch the documentary Kiss the Ground! It’s truly eye-opening.
Cast iron pans: Teflon is scary. Please don’t buy non-stick pans in the future. Look up forever chemicals in our water supply and be horrified.
When in doubt in the kitchen and anything with food, I tend to choose the non-plastic option. It’s usually better for the world and for your health.
This isn’t exactly a quick little switch, but next time you’re in the market for a new stove, consider electric. Gas stoves are actually a sizable source of methane leaks into the atmosphere, plus induction stoves are so efficient now. One of the largest impacts you can have as a consumer is switching your home to be electric.
Clothing & Other Items
Sustainable clothing brands: Vintage/resale, Pact, Reformation, Everlane, Faherty, Groceries Apparel, Girlfriend Collective, Waterlust, Wolven
Sunglasses: Pela, Crap Eyewear (climate neutral certified)
On the Go
Final spork, Stojo coffee cups, LastTissue, FinalStraw
Final Thoughts
Remember: the most sustainable choice is always to use what you already have. Every small swap counts, and you don’t have to be perfect. Start where you can and build from there. We’re all doing our best, and that’s what matters.