When you first realise how much plastic you have in and around your home it can be quite depressing. It’s also depressing whenever you go into a supermarket and see shelf after shelf of plastic wrapped goods. It seems that plastic is hard to avoid, it’s in your clothes, it’s used as packaging for almost everything and it’s here forever (either ending up in landfill or the ocean). Fortunately there are some sustainable eco-friendly alternatives for common household items.
First off don’t get rid of everything in your home to buy the new eco-friendly alternative. Wait until the items you already own have reached the end of their life. There’s no point filling landfills if you can still use something.
This post was inspired by my Mum who is trying very hard to pick eco-friendly alternatives but is also finding it hard to find those alternatives in the shops.
Please note that some of the products linked to below may contain a small amount of plastic as this is often used to seal containers. Wherever possible I try to find plastic free items (e.g. natural rubber seals).
There are some affiliate links in this article. I may earn a small amount of money, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase something. I’m also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, which enables me to earn money by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Read more in my disclaimer.
In America? Check out Life Without Plastic. They sell a whole range of household items for those looking to live plastic free.
Eco-Friendly Alternatives
Some of the easiest eco-friendly swaps for common household items.
1. Cling Film -> Waxed Cloth Wraps
I’ll be honest, I’ve never really been a fan of cling film anyway, it always folds on itself and is annoying to use. Cling film also can’t be easily recycled and more often than not ends up in landfill. The chemicals used in cling film (some which contain BPA’s) can leach into your food and be harmful to your health.
So when your cling film runs out why not check out Beeswax Wraps? If you look after them they’ll last for ages and they can be refreshed by buying a wax block.
Vegan food wraps can also be bought, or an alternative vegan friendly wrap is a simple reusable cotton cover.
Explore more Eco-Friendly Food Wraps
2. Plastic Food Containers -> Glass / Stainless Steel Containers
Everyone seems to end up with a kitchen cupboard full of plastic containers, but once they can’t be used any more, and you want to buy eco-friendly food containers, check out some stainless steel ones. They can usually safely be used in the freezer and you know that no nasty chemicals from the plastic is contaminating your food.
There are a variety of eco-friendly food containers available made from different materials.
Explore more Eco-Friendly Food Containers
3. Disposable Coffee Cups -> Reusable Coffee Cup
It’s really convenient to go to a cafe and walk away with a nice hot coffee for your journey to work. But the majority of those coffee cups just end up in the trash. Some coffee shops will take back the disposables but they are difficult to recycle and the lids often can’t be recycled at all. Buy yourself a reusable coffee cup and don’t forget to carry it with you when you’re out and about. A lot of cafes will give you a discount for using your own cup anyway, so it should pay for itself after a time.
Please don’t buy a bamboo coffee cup, even though you’ll find them all over the place.
Explore more Reusable Coffee Cups
4. Bottled Water -> Reusable Water Bottle
In countries like the UK the tap water is perfectly safe to drink, so just fill your own reusable water bottle at home rather than buying a plastic bottle of water every time you leave the house.
There are loads of reusable water bottles on the market. You can get yourself a (BPA free) plastic water bottle which is at least reusable, ideally though try to go for a stainless steel one.
Explore more Reusable Water Bottles
5. Shampoo Bottles -> Shampoo Bars
There are quite a few companies now that make shampoo bars, some you’ll love, some you’ll not be so keen on. Don’t give up, you will find one you love. The ingredients in shampoo bars tend to be a bit more natural than what you normally find in a shampoo bottle.
Many shampoo bars are homemade from 100% organic materials and some even come with a handy tin to keep it in.
Explore more Shampoo & Conditioner Bars
6. Disposable Razors -> Safety Razors
We’ve become quite accustomed to using disposable razors, or buying razors where you replace the whole head. 3,4 or even 5 blades are not needed for a good shave, instead just invest in a good quality safety razor. (Why buy a safety razor?). Only the blades need to be replaced but both sides can be used, and the blades themselves can be recycled.
If you’re trying to avoid any plastic be aware that quite a few safety razors come with a plastic travel case or the ‘eco-friendly packaging’ seen in the photo to the right might actually arrive with a plastic covering over the top, depending on where you buy them.
7. Plastic Nail Brush -> Wooden Nail Brush
A wooden nail brush is one of those items that should be easy to find, but isn’t (at least according to my Mum who hasn’t found one up to now). When looking at wooden nail brushes make sure you don’t accidentally purchase one with nylon bristles, try to go for one which has natural bristles.
Follow the instructions on how best to care for your natural nail brush to extend its life, then just throw it on the compost.
Explore more Wooden Nail Brushes
8. Liquid Soap -> Bars of Soap
I’m not sure when everybody started using liquid soap instead of a good old fashioned bar of soap but most houses seem to have liquid soap bottles in their kitchens and bathrooms.
The argument for them can be that they’re more hygienic, but I don’t really believe that’s true. If it is, please let me know.
9. Tampons / Sanitary Towels -> Menstrual Cups / Cloth Pads
Sanitary towels and tampons just end up in landfill or down the toilet and pretty much all of them contain some form of plastic. Tampons are also a cause of Toxic Shock Syndrome so it’s weird to me that people still use them.
Although strange to get used to, menstrual cups last for years (they are made of a form of plastic but at least they’re reusable). Alternatively look into reusable cloth pads or even the newest kid on the block, period-proof pants.
Explore more Plastic Free Periods
10. Toothpaste -> Natural Toothpaste in Glass Jar
Almost all toothpastes come in plastic tubes and often the ingredients list can be a bit disturbing. You can find toothpaste in metal tubes as one eco-friendly alternative or why not try Georganics toothpaste, some toothpowder or even some toothpaste tablets which all have 100% plastic free packaging.
Learn more about eco-friendly dental care.
Explore more eco-friendly alternatives for Dental Care
11. Multi-Purpose Spray -> Make Your Own
The most eco-friendly alternative to multi-purpose spray is to make your own. Although more environmentally friendly versions can be bought they often come in plastic bottles so if you’re trying to avoid plastic, making your own is the best thing to do.
If you have neither the time, nor the inclination, to make a multi-purpose spray alternative then make sure you go for an eco-friendly alternative like Ecover or Method, because at least they don’t have the nasty chemicals.
Explore more multi-purpose cleaners
12. Paper Towels -> Old Rags
Paper towels are useful, they easily mop up spills and they can be used to absorb oil from food you’re about to serve. By their very nature they’re single use and of course they usually come wrapped in plastic.
You can buy recycled paper towels that come in biodegradable packaging (like GreenCane), reusable kitchen rolls or the most eco-friendly alternative is just to use old bits of cloth.
Explore more Eco-Friendly Kitchen Towels
13. Clothes Made From Synthetic Materials -> Sustainable, Natural Materials
One thing to be aware of when washing your clothes is that microplastics from the synthetic fibres are released down the drain. Buying clothes made from natural fibres is better when cleaning them and in terms of the manufacture and production of the clothes (which can use lots of water and energy as well as some chemicals).
Check out some Eco-Friendly Underwear for women.
Explore more Eco-Friendly Clothes
14. Batteries -> Rechargeable Batteries
Buying rechargable batteries means far less waste. There’s not much more to say really.
They will always be more expensive to buy initially, especially as you have to purchase a charger as well, but over time they’re a good investment if you use batteries often.
Explore more Rechargeable Batteries
15. Plastic Dog Poo Bags -> Biodegradable Dog Poo Bags
It’s the law to pick up your dogs poo, so that could mean an awful lot of plastic being used by every dog owner.
Always try to buy the biodegradable alternative whenever you can, just be aware that if you throw your dog poo bags into your household rubbish it’s going to end up in landfill.
Biodegradable Poo Bags for Dogs
16. Plastic Picnic Ware -> Compostable Wooden Picnic Ware
Let’s be honest, sometimes it’s just not feasible to pack all your normal cutlery and crockery if you’re heading out to the beach for a picnic. So if you’re looking for picnic ware that’s a bit more convenient and not disposable, check out some wooden knives, forks and spoons. Beware of seemingly ‘eco-friendly wooden cutlery’ that comes wrapped in plastic.
Paper or wooden plates can also be purchased instead of plastic ones, again watch out for plastic packaging. Whenever possible though, try to use reusable items rather than single use.
Explore more Eco-Friendly Cutlery
17. Plastic Produce Bags -> Organic Cotton Mesh Bags
One thing that really gets to me is how many people buy loose fruit and vegetables and then put them in a plastic produce bag provided by the supermarket. You can of course just not use a bag at all, but admittedly bags can be handy.
These organic cotton mesh produce bags are a great alternative, they’re washable and come with a cotton tote bag as well.
Explore more grocery Shopping Bags
18. Make-Up Remover Pads -> Reusable Cotton Pads
Single use cotton make-up pads are such a waste. A waste of money as well as just filling your bin with more trash. It’s time to look at buying reusable make up removers.
These Bambaw Wipes look great and you get 12 soft bamboo velvet pads and 4 ‘scrub’ bamboo Terry pads and a 100% cotton wash bag as well.
Explore more Make Up Pads, Removers & Facial Wipes
19. Cotton Buds -> 100% Biodegradable Cotton Buds
You can actually buy reusable ear buds but I’m not entirely sure I’m ready for that just yet. Instead you can buy biodegradable cotton buds which have no plastic stick and don’t come in plastic packaging (as usual it’s finding an item without plastic packaging that’s the most difficult part).
The ones pictured and linked to are a good option for those of us not quite ready to switch to reusable ear buds.
20. Disposable Notepad / Journal -> Infinitely Reusable One
Personally I’m a sucker for a notepad. I always have one nearby whether that’s to write down my ‘To Do’s’ or just a shopping list. I get through quite a few of them each year, so this alternative is fantastic news for someone like me.
The notepad pictured has a more traditional feel than other digital alternatives and anything you write in it can be saved to the cloud. All you have to do is wipe it clean and you have a fresh sheet of ‘paper’ to write down more notes! You can even microwave it to erase the ink once it’s filled up.
Alternatively, get yourself a nice recycled paper notepad.
Rocketbook Everlast Smart Reusable Notebook/Journal
21. Bleach – Make Your Own Toilet Cleaner
Bleach is nasty. It contains chemicals which let off fumes which aren’t particularly good to inhale, and those chemicals end up going down the drain. I can’t deny that bleach is a great way to clean the loo, but you can use far more natural materials to make your toilet bowl sparkle. Get yourself some baking soda and distilled white vinegar and you can clean all sorts of things!
Have a read through The Eco-Friendly Way to Clean Your Bathroom.
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