21 Genius (& Affordable!) Product Swaps That’ll Make Your Kitchen Eco-Friendly

Wettex Swedish Dishcloths 10-Pack

We’ve written about Swedish Dish Cloths before, and for good reason — they can save tons of waste in your kitchen. These super-absorbent, reusable kitchen cloths come in tons of cute patterns, and can be used as an eco-friendly paper towel substitute.

Solid Dish Soap Bars

If you’re sick over how many plastic bottles you end up throwing out or recycling every time you have to get more dish soap, then we present this affordable solution: solid dish soap bars. These are popular around the world due to the fact that they don’t require lots of water to manufacture. Just rub your damp sponge on the soap bar, work up a lather, and you’re ready to go. They can last a month or more. It even comes with a loofah slice that can be used to hold your soap, or as a dish scrubber.

Microfiber Spray Mop

We totally get the appeal of using a Swiffer — after all, it’s nice to have a lightweight, spray-and-go mop for daily clean-up. But all of those mop pads — and the plastic packaging they come in — are less than desirable. Instead, try this spray mop that comes with six washable, reusable microfiber pads that pick up floor grime way better than those storebought pads do anyway. It also has a refillable bottle you can fill with the eco-friendly floor cleaner of your choice — we’re fans of just using hot water, white vinegar, and a small amount of powdered dish detergent.

Reusable Silicone Storage Bags

These are just as convenient and easy to use as those disposable plastic bags you’ve been buying for years, but these will reduce the amount of plastic piling up in landfills. These silicone bags by W&P come in a array of chic colorss that are way more stylish than plastic and various sizes and shapes—even ones with a flat bottom that stand up on their own! 

SodaStream One Touch

Raise your hand if you’re a sparkling water mega fan. Yeah, our hand is up too. The only part of our habit that bugs us is all of the cans that eventually pile up. Yes, you can recycle them but you can eliminate them altogether by purchasing a SodaStream. This little machine can make all the sparkling water you’d ever need — no cans necessary. 

SodaStream, which recently announced plans to meet 10% of their global plant’s total energy requirements with solar energy by 2022 is also taking things one step further in honor of Earth Day with their Don’t Just Share, Care campaign. They’ve teamed up with Randi Zuckerberg to encourage everyone to do more than share posts on social media and take some action. I can’t think of a more delicious way to take action than swapping out all of those sparkling water cans for a sleek SodaStream machine.

Safely Cleaning Products

Swap out your single-use surface sprays and hand soaps for these smart refillable ones by Safely, the buzzy cleaning brand co-founded by none other than Chrissy Teigen and Kris Jenner. They’re plant-based but super effective and are made with soothing scents crafted by the best perfume and candle makers out there. If you hate cleaning, these hardworking products will make you fall in love with the process—seriously! 

Reusable Dish Scrubbers

Instead of tossing your sponge every few months, opt for a dish sponge that will last much longer and is washing machine-safe. Plus, it’s quick-drying, preventing foul odors.

Bee’s Wrap

Plastic wrap is another major contributor to excess kitchen waste, but you can easily swap it out for these cute and reusable food wraps instead. This extra-large roll is made from organic cotton, beeswax, and jojoba oil and lets you cut off the perfect size for anything you need to wrap up—from a loaf of bread to vegetables. Just wash it with soap and water when you’re done using it, and you can use it again and again. 

Recycled Trash Bags

Trash bags are one of those necessary evils in life, but now, there’s finally a more sustainable version that’ll make taking out the trash a lot less dirty for the environement, if you will. Grove Collaborative, a go-to online marketplace for all things natural cleaning and eco-friendly, is changing the household game for the better with their 100 percent recycled plastic trash bags. Better yet, each purchase supports efforts to remove litter from rivers and waterways in the U.S. 

Dishwasher Tablets

You may already use dishwasher tablets, but are they sustainable (or this cute)? Cleancult is the gold standard when it comes to eco-friendly cleaning products, and their dishwasher tablets are a must in the kitchen. Everything from the product and packaging to the shipping process is eco-friendly, so if you haven’t checked out Cleancult, it’s time to make the switch for the good of the environement and your home. 

Always Pan

Stay away from Teflon pans and opt for a non-toxic ceramic one instead, like the cult-favorite Always Pan by Our Place, which happens to be super stylish too. Teflon isn’t good for the environment as it releases toxic fumes and substances into the air. Glass and cast iron are also eco-friendly cookware alternatives. 

Bentgo Stainless Travel Utensil Set

One of the easiest, but most impactful, ways to eliminate waste is to carry a travel utensil set with you at all times so you don’t have to use plasticware when grabbing food on the go—or for the office (whenever that happens again). This sleek set is compact so it won’t weigh down your bag. 

Reusable Paper Towels

Most people don’t even realize the enormous amount of paper towels they use every day. In homes with small kids, they’re a necessity! But when you want to cut back on waste, these bamboo paper towels are a great replacement. They come in a pack of 10 and simply toss them in the wash after you’ve used them. 

Reusable Straws

Ditch the plastic straws, and opt for reusable straws. Carry them in your bag so you don’t have to use one when you go get your iced coffee. 

Food Prep Bowls

Prepping your food for the week does not have to involve single-use plastic bags. These food prep bowls from S’Well work just as well (if not better) and will stop a lot of unnecessary plastic from ending up in landfills and our oceans. 

longzon-silicone-stretch-lids

If you’re looking for another plastic wrap alternative aside from Bee’s Wraps, these reusable silicone food wraps are another solid choice. They’re sturdier, dishwasher-safe, and cling and form to food, dishes and containers to store in either the fridge or freezer. 

Reusable K-Cup Pods

Not only are these particular reusable coffee pods BPA-free and dishwasher safe, but they’ll also save you money and help the environment. Plus, you can freshly grind your own coffee, so it’ll taste like your favorite coffee shop’s cup of joe. 

Reusable Mesh Coffee FIlters

In the same vein as the K-Cup pods, single-serve paper coffee filters are wasteful and costly in the long run. So, for those of you who also use the traditional drip coffee maker, why not switch to reusable? That way, you’ll also never run out. 

Silicone Baking Mats

Ditch the disposable liners and cooking sprays. Give these easy-to-clean nonstick silicone baking mats a shot instead.

resusable-produce-bags

If you’re already using reusable shopping bags, try bringing reusable produce bags on your next grocery run too. Just toss them in the laundry when they need to be cleaned! 

Stojo

This collapsible (and chic!) silicone bowl not only saves space in your cabinets, but helps save the earth too. Use it to take your lunch on the go or for food storage at home.