The Best Eco-Friendly Kitchen Products
With all the news about global warming and climate change, you might be wanting to create a zero waste kitchen to help reduce your carbon footprint. Fortunately, you don’t need to make any big and expensive changes, you simply need some of the best eco-friendly kitchen products!
When you’re ready to take some small but impactful steps toward a more sustainable life, take a look at a few of these top reusable kitchen items and pick out your favorite ones today.
1. Reusable Food Storage Bags
You don’t have to waste money going through box after box of disposable plastic bags when you make the switch to reusable food storage bags. Fortunately, you have a variety of options that can fit all of your needs.
Silicone Bags
These Stasher reusable silicone bags are my absolute favorite because they’re so versatile. They’re made from 100% pure platinum silicone, which means they’re non-toxic, hypoallergenic, and free of BPA and BPS. They’re also safe to use in the freezer, refrigerator, microwave, oven, stovetop, and dishwasher!
The sizes range from small snack bags to large half gallon bags, so you can easily find what you need. You can even get them in bright colors to help jazz up your kitchen!
Related: 55+ Genius Alternatives to Single-Use Plastic
PEVA Bags
If you’re looking for food storage bags that are a little easier on the budget, consider Greenlife reusable bags. They’re made from food-grade, eco-friendly PEVA that’s BPA-free, PVC-free, and safe to go in the freezer.
Related: How to Go Zero Waste on a Budget
If you’re just getting started, this deluxe bundle comes with all the sizes you need. If you’re trying to round out your collection, you can find everything from small snack bags to stand-up storage bags.
Snack and Sandwich Bags
What about times when you don’t need something as heavy-duty as silicone? That’s when you can use these reusable snack and sandwich bags. These are the bags I personally use when I’m packing my son’s zero waste lunch for school or when I simply need to bring some snacks when we’re on the go.
Not only do they come with really fun designs, but they’re also very affordable and freezer safe. When you need to clean them, you can simply put them in the dishwasher or toss them in the washing machine.
Interested in some different options? Then be sure to check out this post on the best reusable sandwich bags for all types of bags you’ll love.
Plus, for times when you absolutely must have something disposable, you can pick up these unbleached paper sandwich bags. Even though they’re grease resistant, they’re not treated with any type of wax, which means they’re recyclable and compostable!
2. Reusable Beeswax Food Wrap
You can say goodbye to annoying and wasteful plastic wrap forever when you make the switch to beeswax food wrap. I absolutely adore these beeswax food wraps from Etee and feel like they’re one of the best eco-friendly kitchen products I’ve ever purchased.
The reusable wraps form a protective, breathable seal over pretty much anything you need to store, including leftovers, bowls, and dishes. After you use them, you can hand wash them in cold water, lay them flat to dry, and they’re ready to go again.
Related: Everything You Need to Know About Beeswax Food Wrap
Since they’re made with all-natural materials, you can toss them in the compost bin when they reach the end of their useful life. Plus, you can get reusable beeswax food bags to make it even easier to store leftovers without using plastic.
Are you vegan? Not a problem! You can also get a set of vegan food wraps that work just as well as the traditional beeswax ones.
If you’re feeling crafty, you can even make your own homemade beeswax food wraps. Looking for even more great options? Be sure to check out our post on the best beeswax wraps for all kinds of styles!
3. Reusable Bowl Covers
Do you often use plastic wrap to cover bowls in your refrigerator or when you’re heading out for a cookout? Then make the switch to reusable bowl covers!
This set of 10 reusable bowl covers comes in fun prints and patterns and has 5 different sizes to fit a variety of bowls. After you use one, you can simply wash it and reuse it again.
If you want something that’s a little stronger, go with these silicone bowl covers. The 12 pack has 6 different sizes and is safe to go in the refrigerator, microwave, and dishwasher.
4. Organic Cotton Reusable Produce Bags
There are several reasons why you want to avoid those flimsy plastic produce bags at the grocery store. The first and most obvious reason is that they’re plastic and wasteful. But did you also know that leaving fruits and vegetables in those plastic bags can make them spoil faster?
Related: The Best Places to Buy Affordable Organic Food Online
Instead of using those plastic bags, pick up a set of these organic cotton reusable produce bags. The set of 7 bags includes 3 different sizes to easily hold everything on your grocery list.
Each bag has a convenient drawstring closure and includes the tare weight so you only pay for the cost of your produce, not the bag. Plus, not only can you carry all of your fruits and veggies home from the store in these strong and washable bags, but you can also use them to store everything in your refrigerator or cabinets.
Related: The Complete Guide on Zero Waste Grocery Shopping (Even Without a Bulk Store!)
5. Unpaper Towels
Do you automatically reach for a paper towel every time you need to wipe up a mess? You can save trees, reduce paper towel waste, and save money all at the same time by making the switch to these unpaper towels.
Related: The Best Reusable Paper Towels for All of Your Needs
Unpaper towels are versatile, absorbent, and designed to be used over and over again. After you use one, you simply toss it in the washing machine to clean it.
We fold our unpaper towels and keep them in a basket on the counter. However, they’re designed to cling together, so you can also get them pre-rolled and use them on your paper towel holder.
Are there some messes you just have to clean up with a disposable paper towel? Then make sure you choose one of these best tree-free paper towels to help protect our forests!
6. Swedish Dishcloth
These Swedish dishcloths are another fantastic alternative to paper towels. You can use them to wash dishes, scrub countertops, clean appliances, wipe up spills, and more.
In addition to being able to absorb 20x their own weight, they also don’t breed bacteria or create odors like conventional sponges. Each one can be washed and reused up to 200 times. When they reach the end of their useful life, you can compost them right in your own backyard.
7. Eco-Friendly Sponges and Brushes
As you’re working your way toward a more eco-friendly kitchen, don’t forget about that yucky disposable sponge. Not only are most sponges made from plastic, but they’re also a breeding ground for bacteria.
These eco-friendly alternatives to sponges are much better for your health and the environment. You’ll find so many outstanding options, you’ll have no problem choosing the perfect swap to suit your needs!
8. Zero Waste Dish Soap
Once you pick out the perfect sustainable sponge and dish brush, you need some zero waste dish soap to go with them. This plastic-free dish soap bar is a great option because it offers plant-based cleaning power that’s gentle on your skin but tough on grease.
Simply rub your cloth or brush on the soap to get a lather, and then clean like usual. Since a little bit of soap goes a long way, it’s incredibly economical.
If you prefer liquid dish soap, take a look at this ingenious dish soap concentrate. The all-natural, bio-based dish soap comes in a biodegradable pod. All you have to do is empty the soap into a dispenser with 12 ounces of water and you’re ready to get cleaning.
In addition to unscented soap, you can also get lavender lime scented soap and citrus sunshine scented soap. If you’re looking for even more great options, be sure to check out this list of the best zero waste dish soap.
Also, don’t forget you can get your hands naturally clean and effectively banish dirt and germs by choosing one of these best eco-friendly hand soaps.
Related: Is Dawn Dish Soap Toxic and Bad for the Environment?
9. Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
Now that you have your dish soap taken care of, it’s time to make sure all of the cleaning products you use in your kitchen are eco-friendly.
This bundle of DIY natural cleaning product recipes has everything you need to keep your kitchen and the rest of your house spotless without all those toxic chemicals found in traditional cleaning products.
Do you have dirty dishes in the dishwasher? You can get them clean with the convenience of detergent pods and without all of the nasty chemicals when you use Dropps dishwasher detergent pods. Or you can check out this list of the best eco-friendly dishwasher detergent for even more outstanding options!
10. Biodegradable Trash Bags
Even though you’re trying to reduce waste in your kitchen, you’ll probably still have things you need to throw away. Rather than use a plastic trash bag that only creates more waste, make the switch to an eco-friendly trash bag.
This list of the best biodegradable trash bags has options in all sizes, so you’ll have no problems finding the ones that will best suit your needs.
11. Glass Food Storage Container Set
Glass food storage containers are one of the best eco-friendly kitchen products you should get right this second. Why do I think this is such an important swaps? For several reasons.
First and foremost, researchers are discovering that even BPA-free plastics are leaching the same exact chemicals that got BPA banned in the first place. Not only is this happening when the plastic is warmed up (like in the microwave), but it’s also happening when the food is simply sitting in it.
Since these chemicals can have a serious negative impact on our hormones, behavior, brain function, and more, it’s also crucial to protect our children by making the switch to the best plastic-free baby bottles and the best non-toxic sippy cups.
Plastic storage containers also get stained, retain odors, and wear down over time. Since you can’t recycle them, you just have to throw them away.
When you use glass storage containers, you don’t have to worry about any of that. Most glass food storage containers are also freezer, microwave, and pre-heated oven safe.
Related: How to Freeze Food Without Using Plastic
This set comes with 7 glass food storage containers in different sizes to easily store all of your leftovers. If you’re looking for something beautiful and sustainable that you can leave out on your countertops to hold nuts, grains, dried fruit, snacks, coffee, tea, and more, check out these glass storage jars with bamboo lids.
You can also check out this list of the best plastic-free and eco-friendly food storage containers to find even more excellent options for safely storing every type of food.
Related: The Best Compostable Coffee Pods for an Eco-Friendly Pick-Me-Up
12. Food Huggers Reusable Silicone Food Savers
Sometimes you need a half of an apple or a few slices of cucumber. Then what do you do with the leftovers? You probably stick them back in the refrigerator. You might even put some plastic wrap over them thinking it will help them stay fresh.
But as we’ve already learned, plastic wrap is wasteful, bad for your health, and doesn’t help your food last longer at all. That’s why you should pick up some Food Huggers.
Food Huggers are made from 100% FDA-approved food-grade silicone. Since they’re flexible, they easily stretch over produce of different sizes. Best of all, they help food maintain 23% more moisture than when it’s stored in baggies or plastic containers, which helps your food stay fresh longer and reduces food waste.
Related: How to Easily Reduce Food Waste at Home
In addition to the original Food Huggers set that has five different sizes, you can also get pieces designed for unique food. This includes the avocado Food Huggers, which are specially designed to combat browning, as well as the Butter Hugger, which is made to cover the open end of a stick of butter.
You can get Food Huggers from EarthHero, which is one of the best zero waste online shops for all of your top eco-friendly kitchen products. If you decide to shop at EarthHero, be sure to use the code EARTHFRIENDLY to take 10% off your order!
13. Countertop Compost Bin
Even though you have the right storage tools to prevent food waste, you’re going to end up with kitchen scraps you simply can’t use. But you don’t have to throw them away! Instead, you can compost them.
Related: Everything You Need to Know About How to Compost
If you have room for an outdoor compost bin or pile, you’ll need something in your kitchen to hold the food scraps until you can take them outside. We use this easy-to-clean food scraps bin because it’s the perfect size to stick in the corner of our countertop.
But what if you don’t have the outdoor space for a compost bin or pile? That’s not a problem when you get a Lomi!
Lomi is a sleek countertop composter that turns food scraps into beneficial soil with just the push of a button. You can then use that dirt in your garden, your yard, or even your indoor houseplants.
Related: The Best Houseplants That Naturally Purify the Air in Your Home
14. Non-Toxic Cookware
A lot of people use non-stick cookware to make cooking and clean up easier. But what they don’t realize is that the chemicals on their non-stick cookware could be leaching into their food and making them sick.
This is why non-toxic cookware is one of the most important eco-friendly kitchen products you can get. Interested in learning more about the dangers hiding in non-stick cookware and which non-toxic cookware options are the best? This detailed post goes over everything you need to know!
You can also make sure all the delicious treats you bake are safer and healthier when you take a look at these top non-toxic baking sheets and these best non-toxic muffin pans that prevent dangerous chemicals from getting into your food.
15. Silicone Baking Mat
Non-toxic cookware isn’t the only way you can reduce waste and cook healthier meals at the same time. Instead of wasting aluminum foil or parchment paper every time you bake something, use a silicone baking mat instead.
These silicone baking mats come as a set of 3 and include 2 large mats and a smaller mat, so you’ll have the perfect size for your different baking sheets. Since they’re made from food-grade silicone, they’re BPA-free, non-toxic, and odorless.
They can also withstand temperatures up to 500°F. After you finish using them, you can either rinse them off or stick them in the dishwasher. Best of all, since they’re non-stick you don’t have to use oil when cooking, which helps you eat healthier as well!
Related: Ready to Eat Less Meat? Here Are 100+ Vegetarian Recipes to Help You Get Started!
16. Reusable Straw
Paper straws are exponentially better than plastic straws, but let’s be honest, it gets rather annoying when they start to get soft and mushy after being in your drink for a bit. Fortunately, we have plenty of other (superior!) options when it comes to reusable straws.
Not sure which type to get? Check out this guide on the best reusable straws. It goes over straws of all types of sizes and materials, including silicone, stainless steel, glass, and bamboo. With so many options available, you’re sure to find the ideal reusable straw to suit your needs.
17. Reusable Water Bottle
Are you tired of throwing away plastic water bottles every day? You should be! It’s basically like throwing away money each and every time. Plus, making the switch to a reusable water bottle is one of the easiest swaps you can make.
Since your goal is to avoid as much plastic as possible, I recommend skipping the plastic water bottles and choosing glass or stainless steel instead.
This Contigo glass water bottle doesn’t contain any plastic parts. Instead, it has a glass bottle, stainless steel cap, and silicone protective outer sleeve.
Another option is this LifeSky stainless steel water bottle, which is double wall vacuum insulated to keep liquid cold up to 24 hours and hot up to 12 hours.
If you typically buy bottled water because it’s filtered, take a look at this Brita stainless steel water filter bottle. It has a filter in the straw for great tasting water without the waste from plastic bottles. Plus, since it’s stainless steel, it can keep your water cold for up to 24 hours.
Eco-Friendly Kitchen Products to Help You Go Zero Waste
The average household kitchen produces a ton of waste, but your kitchen doesn’t have to. When you make the switch to these best eco-friendly kitchen products, you can reduce your waste, save money, and enjoy a healthier kitchen!
More Outstanding Eco-Friendly Tips
Did you enjoy learning more about these best eco-friendly kitchen products? Are you interested in discovering even more helpful information about sustainable living? Then please be sure to take a look at some of our other popular posts:
- How to Start an Indoor Herb Garden
- Genius Ways to Reuse Orange Peels Around Your Entire Home
- How to Do a Home Waste Audit (And Why You Should!)
- How to Create an Eco-Friendly Sanctuary in Your Bedroom