21 Compostable Products You Should Probably Switch To
Being kind to Mother Nature is hot...almost as hot as your compost pile.
We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.
1. A pack of reusable beeswax wraps that'll quickly replace the not-so-eco-friendly plastic wrap you used to use. These organic cotton wraps are infused with beeswax, jojoba oil, and tree resin, and will mold around foods and containers with the heat from your hands. Wash them when they get dirty, and they'll last you a year before you can toss 'em in the compost bin.
Bee's Wrap is a woman-owned business based in Middlebury, Vermont. It's been cranking out the most fantastic eco-friendly and aesthetically pleasing plastic wrap alternatives since 2012.
Promising review: "I have never used something like these before but in an effort to be more sustainable and use less plastic I purchased the set. I am loving these wraps. They mold so easily with the warmth of your hands and are the perfect sizes for an assortment of foods. They wash well and they even smell great! Very happy with the purchase and I promptly bought them as a gift for a friend." —Taylor
Get a set of three (one small, one medium, and one large wrap) for $18 from Amazon or Bee's Wrap (available in five prints).
2. Some biodegradable tea bags to satisfy your cravings for a cuppa. You can save money by buying loose tea in bulk *and* you'll be kind to the earth by tossing the used bags and tea in the compost bin when you're had your fill. Or! Buy from companies that already use biodegradable tea bags if you'd rather not faff around with filing your own bags.
If you're not into loose tea and filling bags — because, to be fair, it's extra work that not everyone wants to bother with — buy tea from companies that make pre-filled biodegradable tea bags, like Harney & Sons. I don't know much about tea (and I know even less about describing the multitude of flavors a tea can have) but I love, love, love Harney & Sons' Paris tea. It's a beautifully aromatic black tea with notes of vanilla, caramel, and Bergamot (or so their website tells me); all I know is that it is so damn delicious. Mix it with a splash of oat milk and some sugar cubes and you'll forget all about coffee. *chef's kiss* (Just make sure you select the tea bags since the sachets are not compostable!)
Get 150 tea bags from Food52 for $28 (or similar on Amazon here).
3. A compostable and biodegradable loofah so you can scrub-a-dub-dub without having your shower time reverie ruined by the thought of your plastic loofah sitting in a landfill for the next thousand years.
4. A 100% cellulose compostable sponge cloth for making cleanup fun and eco-friendly. A cross between a sponge and a paper towel, these cloths hold 15 times their weight in water — but they won't crumble, pill, or tear like regular paper. They're dishwasher-safe so they'll see you through many, many messes. Once you're done, toss them in the compost bin.
Promising review: "Fabulous dishcloths! Better than using a dish rag that gets mildewy and stinky instantly. Pricey, yet economic because they last and last! Throw them in the microwave damp to sanitize each night if desired, or wash in the dishwasher. Of course, can be thrown in with your other towels regular wash as well! Just don’t use any bleach or softener!" —pea dee
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $14.20+ (available in 14 colors).
5. But if you prefer the feel of regular sponges, a pack of Trader Joe's pop-up sponges that'll, as the name implies, expand when they get wet. They're made of vegetable cellulose so you can chuck them in the compost pile once they've served their purpose.
Promising review: "I can't believe I am taking the time to write about sponges. These are the best sponges I have ever used by a country mile. I have told dozens of friends about them. So the only downside appears to be if you buy these sponges, you will be the weird person who talks to your friends about sponges." —Laura Tilton
Get a 12-pack from Amazon for $16.25.
6. A LastSwab if cleaning out your earwax is a guilty pleasure but your mounting pile of plastic cotton buds is a bit alarming. This reusable swab lasts for 1,000 uses, rinses clean with soap and water, and comes in a biodegradable case.
The LastSwab case is backyard compostable, as is the swab itself (you'll just need to incinerate it first). And if you just can't give up your cotton swabs, make sure you use the cardboard ones (these are compostable, according to Q-tips' website) and not the ones with the plastic core!
Promising review: "This reusable ear swab is amazing, and I have wanted it for the longest time. I highly recommend everyone try this; it is a great addition to a low-waste lifestyle. Very soft and easy to clean." —Kayla P.
Get it for Amazon for $12.95 (available in three colors), LastObject for $12 (available in two styles and seven colors) or Package Free for $12 (available in seven colors).
7. A box of compostable cutlery because outdoor picnics and camping trips are no excuse to not be eco-friendly. (An even better option would be to bring the silverware you use for regular meals but that's none of my business...)
8. A box of Nespresso-compatible Pod & Parcel compostable coffee pods (yeah, the ones from Shark Tank!) that'll ~energize~ you to save the planet...one pod at a time. But first, let's enjoy a hot mug of Melbourne's best coffee.
Just FYI, these are compatible only with the Nespresso Original and not the Vertuo.
Promising review: "I'm a first-time purchaser, and I'm very happy with what I’ve tried so far. And I am happy about the pods being compostible!" —Andrew Bolton
Get a sampler pack of 60 pods from Pod & Parcel for $47 (and check out the rest of Pod & Parcel's flavors here).
9. Or Keurig-compatible compostable coffee pods from SF Bay Coffee to treat your tastebuds to some truly A+ coffee. Better ~latte~ than never to be kind to the planet!
Promising review: "We drink a lot of coffee and everyone likes different types of coffee, from roast to flavor preferences. This offers something for everyone here unless they want decaf. The pods are easy to use with our Keurig Vue. The thing we like most about it is that there's supposedly little that sits in the landfill forever. Almost every part of the pod is compostable (breaks down into small pieces). Even the outer packaging is compostable (breaks down in <180 days)." —N
Get a variety pack of 80 pods for $34.99 from Amazon or SF Bay Coffee.
10. Some compostable coffee filters so you can make coffee the old-fashioned way. Feel free to toss the filter (coffee grounds and all!) in the compost bin when you're done.
Promising review: "I really like these. No matter what coffee I brew, the taste comes through well. I have not seen any grounds at all in my cup of coffee since switching. A small difference, but I won't be switching back if I can help it." —Jessica S.
Get 100 filters from Public Goods for $3 (or similar on Amazon here).
11. Some Mrs. Meyer's compostable dryer sheets for minimizing static, softening clothes, and reducing your single-use product...use.
Promising review: "I chose the lavender scent. These sheets left my clothes static-free and smelling lovely. I also love that they are completely recyclable unlike regular dryer sheets." —Lauren S.
Get a box of 80 sheets from Amazon for $8.49 (available in more scents) or Grove Collaborative for $8.99 (available in three scents).
12. Or some wool dryer balls if you want a compostable solution that'll make your laundry dry faster. These wooly spheres reduce dry time by up to 25%, are reusable (they last up to 1,000 washes!), and soften your clothes just like dryer sheets.
Promising review: "We love these woolly balls. They really help with the dryer. Clothes dry faster and are really soft. I recommend them!" —Amazon Customer
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $9.50.
13. A box of compostable dog poop bags because, "Woof woof." I can speak dog and Fido just said you should buy these.
While you can compost these bags, you should not add them to your backyard compost if they're holding dog poop. Instead, you'll need to get a special compost bin just for dog waste. Yes, it's an extra step, but it's a worthwhile one!
Promising review: "We've been trying to eliminate single-use plastics, and felt guilty about putting two-plus plastic bags into the trash each day from our pup. These bags are really great. We've been through two rolls and none have ripped or degraded in our palms (haha). They're sturdy, hold in the scent, and you'll feel good about using them." —Anonymous
Get 120 from Amazon for $15.99.
14. A biodegradable dog toy that'll keep Fluffy entertained for hours. It's made with nontoxic cotton and vegetable dyes, plus the knotted texture is great for teething puppies and even acts as dental floss to help improve their oral hygiene.
Both Jax and Bones toys are biodegradable and compostable.
Promising review: "My dog is a chewer and makes quick work of most soft toys. She is really enjoying the multiple ropes that come together to make this toy and the challenge of destroying each one! Although she is destroying it, I am pleased with the amount of time it's lasted and her continued interest. I would definitely buy this or something similar again." —Asha
Get them both from Chewy, the seal for $15 and the lobster for $20.
15. A box of durable compostable garbage bags to just do the dang thing without breaking down and spilling trash everywhere. In fact, you can fill it with compost and then just toss the whole thing in the bin!
Promising review: "I am a huge recycler at my home and everywhere else in life. I have been living this way forever so it's not terribly difficult to sustain. What does help immensely are these UNI bags. Gone are the days of my drippy paper grocery bags containing my compost scraps and all the other items that we compost or recycle. I had used the big name brand bags, which ALWAYS split in the larger sized compost bags. These had a nice price tag on them and have been very effective for me. I thoroughly recommend this brand." —Greeniesf
Get 50 13-gallon bags from Amazon for $16.95.
16. A package of Terra Ties so your bad habit of always — always! — losing your hair ties doesn't contribute to more plastic use. These no-pull ties are great for all hair textures and won't cause creasing, slipping, or snagging.
Promising review: "I love that these are biodegradable! I'm sure everyone like me goes through soo many hair ties (I'm constantly loosing mine...), so I feel much better knowing these will at least be better for the environment :)" —Yuki F.
Get a pack of 27 for $14.95 from Amazon or Package Free.
17. A hard-working dish brush for loosening stuck-on food with ease. The brush head (which is completely compostable) is also removable so you can easily replace it without having a buy a whole new brush. The wood handle is also compostable (although the metal pieces are recyclable but not compostable).
Promising review: "I've been searching for a nonplastic alternative brush and it seems like all of the other brands I've tried, the bristles are really flimsy and bend outward after a couple of uses. However, not this brush! The bristles on this brush are firm enough to stay in place but also flexible enough to be able to bend and clean glasses. I'm really happy with this nonplastic brush!" —Bridget L.
18. A toilet brush if you want to plant your tushy on a sparkling clean porcelain throne every day. This wooden brush is made with durable coconut bristles and is perfectly curved to clean under the rim of the toilet bowl. Once it's ready to be retired, toss the whole thing in the compost bin and recycle the scrap metal.
Get it from MeMotherEarth on Etsy for $14.98.
19. A bamboo toothbrush because good oral hygiene *and* being eco-friendly aren't mutually exclusive.
The bamboo handle is compostable, but you'll need to remove the bristles first (and recycle them wherever nylon is accepted).
Promising review: "This is our first time purchasing bamboo toothbrushes and while it does feel a little different than what we're used to, my husband and I really like them. I feel like they clean my teeth well and I love that it's an easy eco-friendly switch from their plastic counterparts." —Belinda P.
Get it from Package Free for $4.49 or a four-pack from Brush With Bamboo for $20 (or similar on Amazon here).
20. A spool of compostable floss that'll loosen any food that's wedged between your teeth while making you feel like royalty since it's made of silk (silk!).
Promising review: "This floss is not bulky, overly waxy, and difficult to use, and is very smooth when using. Many flosses I’ve tried are gritty and some make my hands sticky from the wax after use. I will be buying these refills from now on!" —Amanda
Get it from Package Free for $7 (includes one spoon and a refillable glass container) or similar from Well Earth Goods for $12 (includes two spools and a refillable glass container).
21. A zero-waste bamboo hair brush to do all the things: work through knots, massage your scalp, distribute your scalp's natural oils, and then gracefully break down in the compost bin when its life is over.
Eco Collective is a woman-owned zero-waste small business based in Seattle.
Promising review: "Ever since I bought this brush, I kid you not it has helped to make my hair look amazing. It distributes the oil from my scalp evenly through my hair and gives it more life, volume, bounce and vitality." —Nicole C.
Get it from Eco Collective for $20.
A few simple swaps here and there can really make a huge difference!
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.