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We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
We're leaving single-use plastic back in 2021.
Promising review: "I love to use these lids both for my pots and pans when I’m simmering, as well as for airtight lids with my leftovers. I have a lot of assorted food storage containers and bowls without dedicated lids so it’s nice to have an option aside from plastic wrap or tin foil. All of the size options in the set makes this product extremely useful." —Chasedboyd1
Get a five-pack from Food52 for $40 (available in two colors).
These BPA-free plastic cups are designed to work in any Keurig brewer, old or new!
Promising review: "Really like these reusable K-Cups. I hated wasting so much plastic using regular K-Cups and found this to use as an alternative. I have had these for two years and they have held up great! Easily to fill, clean really nicely, and no complaints! And it's great you can put your own coffee in so you're not stuck to certain brands or flavors. Highly recommend if you are trying to be more environmentally friendly." —Amazon Customer
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $9.95.
Promising review: "Love, love, LOVE Terra Ties and how long they last. I've always had issues with hair ties either not holding my hair tight enough, or just stretching out after a few uses. I have consistently kept a hair tie around my wrist for 10+ years and these have lasted much longer than any brand I've purchased before. Biodegradable is just an added bonus!!" —Samantha
Get 27-pack from Amazon for $14.95.
Based in Oregon, Marley's Monsters creates colorful zero-waste swaps for everyday paper essentials.
Promising review: "These are awesome! I love being able to use a sponge that I can wash instead of throw away after a couple uses. These are great quality and super cute!" —Lauren Traccarella
Get it from Marley's Monsters on Etsy for $12 (available in four backing colors and in multipacks).
Promising review: "We've been using all sizes of Stasher bags for nearly a year — mostly food related — and have not had any issues with a single one. We use them to keep crackers, chips, and bread from getting stale after opened; to keep leftovers in the fridge or freezer; pack sandwiches, meds, dog food, or treats; and so many more things. We sous vide in them, heat up food in the microwave in them, put them in the dishwasher, and marinate in them. They don't leak, they don't smell, are easy to close and open, and don't take up much room compared to traditional Tupperware or other food storage. If you put squishy stuff or liquid in there, soaking with baking soda and vinegar for 30 minutes can make sure the crevices don’t mold as some reviewers mention. They do cost more than regular plastic baggies and require more work because, obviously, you don't just use them once — make the switch and stop with the single-use plastics." —Maison Leach
Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in a variety of sizes and colors).
Made of recycled ripstop nylon, these bags are super durable, hold A TON, and are safe to machine wash!
Get a three-pack from Baggu for $36 (available in 14 styles).
Tushy is a small biz founded in 2015 with the goal of promoting booty bliss and reducing wastefulness. Their line of easy-to-install bidets make is easy to go toilet-paperless and reduce overall water waste. Plus, a portion of Tushy profits go toward building community toilets in impoverished Indian communities.
It comes with everything they need to install their bidet in under 10 minutes! And there's a 60-day money-back guarantee, so if they find the bidet life isn't for them, you can get a refund and buy them something else.
Promising review: "This was our second Tushy! Our first was installed in our master bath. We just remodeled a guest bathroom and could not call it 'finished' without a Tushy in it. Once you get Tushy clean, nothing else will do!" —Teresa S.
Get it from Tushy for $99 (originally $129; available in 10 colors).
Fohm is a small biz launched in 2019 by a husband and wife duo who, after traveling the world together, realized they didn't have to choose between dry TP or "flushable" wipes that are bad for the planet and your pipes. And thus, their one-of-a-kind touchless system was born!
Once you have the starter Bathroom Kit, you'll just need to buy foam refills, which you can automatically have sent to your door every six or 10 months.
My roommates and I have been living the Fohm life for the last year and couldn't be happier with it! We keep it on the back of the toilet and you get all the benefits of a wet wipe without the microplastics, plumbing damage, and waste! And you actually end up using less toilet paper than you would without it! The charger lasts FOREVER and, honestly, so do the foam refills (still on my first container after a year in a two-person household). And now they have a sleek new wall-mounted version, if you have an already occupied toilet basin or simply don't want to have to turn around on your porcelain throne every time you need to apply that foam.
Get a dispenser and a bottle of cleanser from Fohm for $69 (available in larger quantities).
Subscribe to have jumbo rolls of recycled toilet paper delivered straight to your door every 8, 12, or 16 weeks!
Promising review: "I can wipe my bum and push the full flush button knowing that it was produced sustainably and it might help people live healthier lives through better sanitation. And it’s delivered to my door. No more fighting people for a stray roll at the supermarket or trying to hide a roll in my bag when I’m leaving work. Everyone’s a winner." —Mark
Get 24 rolls from Who Gives a Crap for $24+ (save $10 when you subscribe).
This dripper is carefully engineered to fit most branded coffee carafes including the 6-, 8-, and 10-cup Chemex Coffee Makers and Hario V60 02 and 03 drippers. To clean, just dump out the coffee grounds and rinse it under warm water. It's also recommended that every two weeks or so, you descale the filter by soaking it with white distilled vinegar and warm water for an extra good clean.
Promising review: "Love this! We purchased a Chemex to minimize the amount of plastics or additional waste associated with making coffee. Also, due to the pandemic, we find we make a lot more coffee at home, which means we go through more filters — this solved our filter waste issue! We now don’t worry about a ridiculous amount of paper filters being tossed out and also the way this filters is fantastic. It fits perfectly, is easy to wash, and makes for a great lid to keep the coffee warm. Would 100% recommend to others!" —Jaycob Simpson
Get it from Amazon for $21.99 (available in three colors).
I started drinking more loose-leaf tea as a way to cut down on the waste of tea bags (It's also more delicious IMO, which doesn't hurt). I settled on a two-pack of these strainers after another, more cutesy strainer ball left me choking back a mouthful of tea leaves when prepping one of my finer rooibos teas. These have been great for close to four(?) years now. I love that they hook onto the mug and come with a little saucer to set the strainer on when it's finished steeping.
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
I bought one of these cloths after including it in previous posts, subsequently selling myself on it (hazard of the job). It honestly works better than I imagined! You really do just need to dampen it with water to have your makeup melting off in seconds. I think this is a great zero-waste option for people (like me) who don't wear a ton of makeup on the day-to-day, because you can get a lot of uses from this cloth without needing to wash it constantly. It also washes up shockingly well. Every time I toss it in covered in makeup and it comes out almost entirely stain free, I'm shocked.
Get it from Amazon for $20 (available in nine colors).
The thing that freaked me out the most about menstrual cups was the thought of having to get up there and break the seal to take it out. So when I saw the Flex Cup, which is specifically designed to make that process easier, I figured why not give it a try. This is a purchase I would definitely file under the "life changing" category. Yes, there is a learning curve, but by my second cycle with the cup I felt like a pro. Even with the pull tab, taking it out can be a little messy (I tend to just do it in the shower), but it's definitely a more controlled experience than if it wasn't there at all. The Flex Cup has made my period less awful. A true feat!
Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in two sizes).
I was SO pleased to see Thinx doing a diffusion line with Target. The price of the original Thinx kept me from purchasing a pair for a long time. It's a risk to spend 30-something bucks on something that might not work for you! I ended up getting my first pair of Thinx for $17 on sale — and that's the exact sweet spot that they've achieved at full price with this diffusion line. So much more accessible, especially if you're trying to stock up on multiple pairs. I feel no real difference between these and my regular Thinx. They're comfy, I've had no leakages (I generally have a light to moderate flow), they wick moisture relatively well, and wash up like a dream. I have two pairs and they've become holy grail staples in my period routine. Combined with my Flex Cup, I now have a zero-waste system that actually makes my entire period experience better than when I was using pads and tampons, which makes me very very happy.
Between each wear, just toss your Thinx in the wash on cold (skip the bleach and softener) then line dry!
Get it from Target for $17 (available in sizes XS–4X and in three colors).
These straws come with two brushes for easy cleaning.
Promising review: "There is always a concern with glass. Is it sharp? Is it too small or too large? I have to say, I was very impressed. The glass straws are about the same size as a 'Golden Arches' straw so the size is just about right. The ends are rolled and polished for smoothness and durability. I can detect no difference in size between the straws — all are uniform and well-made. A very good purchase!" —Ron C
Get an eight-pack (four bent, four straight) from Amazon for $8.99.
*Promising review: "I never knew how awful my metal compost bin was until I got this beauty! Easy to open with one hand, the bag stays in place, and it's lightweight. Everything that's wrong with the traditional countertop compost bin, this bin solves. Life changing." —Emma
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in two colors).
The Pela Case is made of Flaxstic, which is comprised of compostable bioplastic elastomer and flax straw materials. When you're ready to retire your phone case, you can send it back to Pela and it will either be composted or upcycled into a new case. You can also toss it in your home composting bin.
Get it from Amazon for $18.95+ (compatible with Apple iPhone and Android models) or from Pela for $19.95+ (compatible with Apple iPhone and Android Google, Samsung, and Huawei models).
Promising review: "I got the three-pack, one for me and two as gifts to friends who are trying to reduce waste. We all love these lighters because a single charge really does last, we don't have to buy any more disposable lighters for the foreseeable future, and the length is perfect for hard-to-reach wicks. Getting used to how to place the arc on the wick and understanding that there was a safety timeout took me a bit to get used to but wasn't frustrating." —Salim
Get it from Amazon for $15.95 (available in three colors).
They're made from sustainable, organic bamboo — one roll replaces 60 paper towel rolls. Plus they're machine-washable and SUPER strong! They can be used ~120+ times~ before discarding.
Promising review: "Don't let the quantity discourage you, I cut mine in half! One half-sheet takes the life of dozens of sheets of regular paper towels and cloth towels! My regular cotton towels cant compete with one sheet of these bamboo towels! No lint left behind, it doesn't break apart in my hand, and is as strong as Magic Erasers, if you've tried them before! Not gross when you think on the lines of using rags, but one sheet has lasted over a week with rinsing with hot water and soap and hang drying. This is a game changer!!!" —Neela921
Get a set of 20 from Amazon for $8.54.
Loosewarp is a Jackson, New Jersey–based small business supplying all your reusable produce bag needs for a more eco-friendly lifestyle.
Each set comes with six bags: two small, two medium, and two large.
Promising review: "I love these bags so much! I bought them so I could cut down on plastic and they work great. They have more than enough room for all my produce and are very sturdy. And they are an amazing price! Five stars." —Olivia
In a pre-COVID world, I was someone who worked in an office and often ate lunch at said office. I was not loving how much plastic cutlery I was going through every day bringing lunch back to my desk, so I bought this little set to keep in my work tote. It makes it so that when I grab a takeout lunch, I don't have to use any plastic cutlery in the process. And I always have a straw on me when I grab a coffee or smoothie!
This set includes: a knife, fork, spoon, chopsticks, straw cleaning brush, straight straw, bent straw, and a carrying case.
Get an eight-piece set from Amazon for $10.99 (available in four colors).
Promising review: "Great at removing the lint from my wool coat. I had a scarf that shed all over my coat and made my expensive coat look like garbage. This got every last piece of lint off my coat and it looks great again. I love that it is reusable and I don’t have to buy wasteful plastic refill sheets in order to use this brush. I used the bristle side to remove some dirt from my suede boots. I haven’t tried the shoehorn feature but everything else works great and I would recommend this to anyone looking for an eco-friendly alternative to the adhesive covered plastic rollers." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $11.99.
Because it doesn't rely on adhesive paper, you only have to buy it once and can reuse it — cleaning the hair off the brush when it gets clogged, of course!
Promising reviews: "Finally a lint roller that really works. Now I have an obsessed husband picking up German shepherd hair off the couch. Worth the price paid. It will pay for itself. No more sticky tape rollers!" —Blanca LInda Hatter
Get it from Amazon for $24.95.
Promising review: "Great for shaving legs! I bought this to go with my new safety razor. Smells great, works up a great lather with just some water and rub either between your hands or directly on your legs. Highly recommend!" —Sadie M
Promising review: "I have very sensitive skin and have used this in place of traditional shaving cream. Every canned shaving cream I have tried leaves my face very dry and razor burned but I feel that this product is more rich and moisturizing. I would recommend this to people who struggle with canned shaving cream drying out their face and those with a strong tendency for razor burn." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $5.59.
This hand warmer heats up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius) with six heat settings for just the right amount of warmth. The battery lasts for roughly nine hours when fully charged.
Promising review: "I bought one just to test out because my father always has cold fingers. He's 88 so I needed to know if it was something easy to operate...IT IS! I tried it out and it is SO WONDERFUL!! I'm keeping this one and buying more for Christmas gifts!" —Sandy
Get it from The Grommet for $44.95+ (available in two styles and in four colors).
Beeswax wrap is great! I personally don't use it as a lid for bowls of leftovers (I would rather transfer it to a food storage container), but it's really great if you have half a vegetable left over, or a hunk of cheese you need to wrap up. The heat from your hands softens the wrap and makes it stick to itself like cling wrap, but it's reusable! When you're done just rinse it off and let it dry.
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in four styles).
This might just be the holy grail of natural deodorant. It's so so SO much more affordable than a lot of other eco-friendly and natural products on the market, and it really works! I have had my fair share of issues with natural deodorants, from painful rashes to just plain stank. This has saved me from all of that — truly life changing. I even got my boyfriend to start using it! As far as odor protection goes, I think it works just as well (if not better) than the drug store brand I was using for most of my life until recently. The only con is the packaging does start to break down with repeated use. The edges of the paper can start to flake off, but that doesn't really detract at all from the user experience and is a small price to pay for the Earth-friendly joys of no plastic. Like any solid, paper-packaged deodorant you need to hold it in your hands for 10ish seconds to soften it before applying. If you do that, it'll be a silky-smooth 10/10 experience.
Get it from Target for $4.99 (available in additional scents).
Promising review: "I was skeptical, but always hated the waste of plastic brushes. WOW! They have a nice finish, so the wood doesn't 'stick' like you'd expect. The bristles are incredibly soft, as my dentist recommended, and SO fine! It takes less effort to clean between teeth, because the bristles get in deeper, but don't hang up; or shed. They are also quite small, like the nicer brand-name brushes- so you can reach further back. I will be purchasing these again, and again." —Sarah Gibson
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $5.99.
Huppy is an Asian-owned small biz creating plastic-free toothpaste tablets out of sustainably and ethically sourced ingredients. Everything is vegan and GMO and cruelty free. Best of all? Huppy donates 2% of revenue to fund sustainability initiatives!
I was familiar with other brands making plastic-free tabs, but hadn't found one that felt adequately cost efficient — until now! I love how zero-waste the process is with Huppy. You get a forever tin (pick from blue or blush) and then buy refills that come in compostable pouches. The whole chewing thing can be weird at first (my boyfriend found it aggressively minty; I just think they taste like Altoids) but both of us got used to it quickly. With water, the tabs foam up pretty instantly, and after that, it's just a normal teeth-brushing experience. In fact, I'm actually finding that not dealing with drippy toothpaste and tiny screw-on caps is actually pretty delightful. A cleaner process both in and out of my mouth.
Get it from Huppy for $12+ (available in two sizes, two colors, and four flavors; subscribe and save 33%).
This kit includes three reusable spray bottles, a reusable soap pump bottle and refill tablets for each. Just drop the correct cleaning tablet into your forever bottle and fill it with water! That's it!
Promising review: "The low-impact packaging is what attracted me to Blueland, but how well the products actually work is what made me fall in love. Hands down, this is the best nonbleach bathroom cleaner I've ever used, and the joyfully colorful bottles make me actually want to pick them up and clean. Not to mention, they smell good!" —Alyson D.
Get it from Blueland for $39.
SallyeAnder is a small business making soap from locally produced fresh goat milk from Edgwick Hudson Valley goat farm.
Promising review: "BEST SOAP EVER! HONESTLY WILL NEVER BUY ANYTHING ELSE! My husband purchased this as a Mothers Day gift for me and it’s the best soap I’ve ever tried. It leaves you feeling super clean and smells delicious! Most importantly it’s 100% natural!" —Zachary Lefebvre
Get it from SallyeAnder on Amazon Handmade for $8.95.
It also comes in a LastSwab beauty version with a pointed tip for eye makeup removal, which I use all the time to take care of rogue mascara.
Promising review: "OK I admit it's not soft and plushy, but it cleans perfectly and you’re producing less trash considering I use one and so does my whole family daily!!!" —Jannette N. Joly
Get it from Amazon for $11.97 (available in six colors).
Founded in 2020, Goldune is a POC woman–owned small biz founded by Azora Zoe Paknad with the goal of creating an inclusive marketplace for sustainably sourced and produced goods — from home decor to food — that prioritizes working with woman- and BIPOC-owned companies.
This bento box is hand-wash only!
Get it from Goldune for $25 (available in five colors).
I've been looking for a plastic-free lotion that wasn't a thick body butter for what seems like forever. So when I saw this, I was so excited to try it. Fortunately, it didn't disappoint! I use it as a hand cream in our bathroom, and it creates a light, creamy lotion with a pleasant (but not overpowering) scent. It's perfect for refilling pump bottles you already own!
Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in three scents).
Shopping editor Heather Braga swears by this stuff. In her own words:
"My sisters and I swear by these little tins! They taste as good as they smell — so remember not to accidentally take a bite. ;)"
Promising review: "This lip balm is the real deal and one I've been using going on 10 years. They work and have the cutest gloss sheen without any stickiness. I love the adorable tins they come in as well." —Kelly
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $15.30.
Touchable Linen is a Ukraine-based small business run by Margarita Mazalova, who creates gorgeous linen home essentials, from bedding to tablecloths.
Promising review: "These are absolutely 100% beautiful. The perfect color, perfect description, perfect quality of linens. I would not hesitate to purchase from here again. The price was very fair...and shipment wasn't long either. Absolutely happy with my purchase. Thank you!" —Tammy
Get it from Touchable Linen on Etsy for $2.80+ (available in eight sizes and in 30 colors).
These flexible, tear-resistant mats are oven, freezer, and dishwasher safe!
Promising review: "Ordered these along with some new cookie sheets. They are great! So nice to not have to waste foil or scrap the sheet. Easy to clean and really are nonstick. Wish I discovered these sooner." —Taci Thompson
Get a two-pack from Amazon $14.45.
Uncommon Goods provides super-easy instructions to get these bad boys set up! Basically, just add water to the reservoir, plant the seeds of your choice, and put the jar in a sunny spot. Pick from basil, cilantro, mint, oregano, parsley, and sage. Or collect them all for a bursting indoor garden!
Promising review: "I have had a few of these home grow kits, one even had a grow light. They never grew anything! I set this up and in two days I had basil growing. It was so easy and fun." —Janet
Get it from Uncommon Goods for $22 (per individual herb kit; available in five herbs).
Each set is dishwasher, microwave, and freezer safe and can be used in a muffin tin or freestanding — no need for grease or nonstick spray!
Promising review: "Love that this takes up almost no space. It is a great alternative to a traditional muffin pan! The colors are so cute, and I also love that it doesn't create all the paper waste. Would definitely buy again!" —medici28
Get a pack of 12 from Amazon for $9.98+ (available in two sizes).
AND they include a mesh laundry bag for easy washing!
Promising review: "These cloths are super soft and perfect for removing makeup, cleansing with micellar water, or applying toner. I like these better than washcloths because they are not abrasive at all (don't buy these if you were hoping for a little exfoliation). They are easily washable and nicely absorbent. I go through a lot of cotton squares in my skincare routine, and I wanted to be less wasteful. These are a great solution. I am planning on buying more!" —Steve P
Get a pack of 16 from Amazon for $7.99 (available in six color combinations).
Promising review: "Bought this pad set at the beginning of September because the Swiffer wet pads seemed so wasteful. These have worked great. I usually use a spray cleaner for spot cleaning or a cleaner like Mop-n-Glo and it works really well. Super absorbent and does a great job cleaning the floor. I can use the pad for a few days before it needs to be washed. I’ve been washing them regularly for two months and they’re still fine. No falling apart or Velcro coming off or anything like that. Fully recommend." —Heather B.
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $11.97 (available in two styles).
Coli & Me is a small biz run by Tida, who handmakes premium home goods and jewelry. Currently, Coli & Me is only offering their high-quality, pesticide-free, humanely raised and sourced wool dryer balls.
Promising review: "These are AMAZING and I am officially obsessed with how much more efficient my dryer is now. These dryer balls are high quality and the drawstring bag makes storage convenient and cute!" —amd609
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.