I Tried 14 Eco-Friendly Swaps At Home And Ranked Them From Good To Great
Having written about eco-friendly swaps for quite some time at BuzzFeed, it's true that I'm probably more willing to try out sustainable habits than your average person might be. However, if I'm being completely honest, some of these sustainable tweaks are much, much better than others.
@golden_freckles / giphy.com
Some of the hacks I've tested over the years are actually helpful to you and/or the planet, but plenty of others ended up being a big waste of time, supplies, and effort.
With that in mind, let's dive into 14 eco-friendly things I've recently tried that were actually amazing — and what I basically wasted money on.
1.Switching to Compostable Sponges
All the talk about rags versus paper towels versus reusable paper towels got me thinking about what else could use an upgrade in the kitchen and upon looking around, I decided that sponges were next. Instead of using whatever brand happened to be cheapest or on sale at the grocery store, I opted to buy a "plant-based sponge" that very closely resembles what your average sponge looks like.
The brand I've been using lately is made from coconut, palm fiber, and wood pulp, which — who knew? — work really well as a sponge. I've also found that the top/rough side that you really get into scrubbing with is very effective — maybe even better than your average store brand.
I also really like the idea that the sponges will decompose one day into dirt. Thinking about the other options for the sponge (being dumped on the side of the road somewhere, residing in a pile of trash forever, or worse, joining the plastic island in the middle of the ocean) are sometimes too depressing to think about. This is one swap that couldn't be easier to adopt and made me feel like I was doing something good.
Overall Ranking: ♻️ ♻️ ♻️ ♻️ ♻️ (5 out of 5)
How Easy Was It? All you need to do is buy a different brand of sponge.
Should You Try This At Home? Yes!
2.Trying Out Reusable Paper Towels
Last year, I (somewhat annoyingly) declared our home to be free of napkins and paper towels to cut down on waste. Replacing paper napkins with a set of cloth napkins was an incredibly easy switch, but the paper towels...not so much.
I hadn't realized how many things we relied on paper towels for — from cleaning up big spills to using it to clean an everyday household item. Then, I was introduced to Full Circle's reusable plant towels. They're neat because they're absorbent like a regular paper towel (perhaps even more so), but when you're done with them you just rinse them off, let them dry, and use them again. They apparently last for up to 30 uses, but I simply did not get that far.
It pains me to say this, but the reusable paper towels were a flop for me. In my home, we already use old rags for most everything you'd use a paper towel for — and I found that the rags were much more absorbent than the reusable paper towel. Cheap rags for the win, I guess!
Overall Ranking: ♻️ ♻️ (2 out of 5)
Should You Try This At Home? It depends. Will you actually wash and reuse them? That's the biggest question at hand. If not, you might just be introducing more waste into your house.
3.Using Empty Bottles For Plants
I'm a major plant lover, and one of my newer hobbies I picked up during the pandemic has been taking that to another level with propagation. But I started reusing empty bottles to propagate my plants. The process is quite easy — clipping your plant at a specific point and letting the roots grow in water — but I soon started running out of jars to put all of my little plant babies in.
The photos above are just a small assortment of propagations I've got going right now, but please notice what they're housed in: old kombucha bottles, former bottles of tea, and two small glasses that came with a wine sampling set I was gifted. But I'll use pretty much anything you can add water to for this purpose!
To get off the sticky residue, I usually opt for using orange essential oil or Goo Gone with a rag and furiously wiping it off, but you can make a paste out of baking powder and vinegar or water and let it sit for a while, too. Take a look in your kitchen — I bet there are many glass jars that could potentially be repurposed for plant propagation, storage, crafting, or even something to keep your leftovers in.
Overall Ranking: ♻️ ♻️ ♻️ ♻️ ♻️ (5 out of 5)
How Easy Was It? If you already have jars at home, there is zero effort required.
Should You Try This At Home? You bet. I definitely am a person who saves waaay too many boxes, dishes, and glasses for "just in case," but if you aren't like that (LOL) you can easily find jars to use for this inside your fridge. Or, you know, when you're out and about shopping or just living your life... as they say on TikTok, almost anything can be turned into "another box for my trinkets!"
4.Switching from Plastic Bags to Silicone Bags
Plastic bags have been a part of my life since pretty much forever. My lunches as a kid arrived in them, I organized my life as an adult with them, I kept leftovers and frozen foods in them, and I used bags as a great catch-all for whatever else I couldn't fit into something else.
What is it they say in improv, "Yes, and?" Bags made from silicone can do all of those things AND are reusable. We didn't move to using these overnight; it was definitely a process. And I also quickly learned that a set of two silicone bags would not replace my use of plastic ones. So (unfortunately) if you want to make the switch to silicone bags, I recommend splurging on a larger set of bags than the two I first started out with.
I personally went with the Stasher bags, as they are really durable, freezable, and they can be thrown into boiling water to cook the food inside. I also realized that having different-size bags would be helpful, too, so I invested in a larger set of silicone bags in all different sizes. While this change wasn't cheap, I'm happy with them and knowing that I won't be buying disposable plastic bags in the future.
Overall Ranking: ♻️ ♻️ ♻️ ♻️ ♻️ (5 out of 5)
Should You Try This At Home? Yes! Other than having to pay for a new set of silicone bags, there is not much you'll need to do differently other than to stop buying plastic bags and using your new reusable kind instead.
5.Freezing Vegetables Before They Go Bad
Inspired by my new heavy-duty silicone storage bags, I started freezing any vegetables that are on their way to expiration more often. This might sound like a total "duh" moment, but it's been a long time coming for me. Words like "meal prep" and "meal planning" stress me out, and while I've tried to live that lifestyle, it just has never really taken for me. However, I knew I needed to do something about food going bad in my fridge, since my heart sank with embarrassment every time I threw a piece of spoiled produce into the trash.
My solution? To take an inventory of my fridge on Sundays and freeze what's about to go. It's certainly not the traditional "meal-prep Sundays" that some people do, but it works for me. Essentially, all this means is that I usually get my new groceries for the week on Sundays and freeze any leftovers from that week before the new produce goes in.
I will note in all honesty that I definitely had to learn how to properly freeze every single one of these vegetable first (spoiler: Most veggies require parboiling before freezing), but I'm glad to have learned those skills. It's not the quickest project in the world, but I like to have something to do while watching TV so chopping up vegetables with Netflix on in the background is actually a fun experience for me.
Overall Ranking: ♻️ ♻️ ♻️ ♻️ (4 out of 5)
How Easy Was It? I can admit that it takes a lot of time to clean, prep, and freeze your food. But it's a worthy endeavor for sure.
Should You Try This At Home? Yes! And I bet you'd do a better job than I did, too. The only reason this gets 4 and not 5 stars is for all the prep time doing this takes. When you compare that to the price of already-frozen vegetables in your grocery's freezer aisle... I think it comes down to how much "prep time" you're willing to invest.
6.Testing Out Bar Shampoo
I recently tried a bar shampoo after hearing some rave reviews about it. Upon first use, I can see why people like it — it lathers better than expected and gives a sort of control in the amount of product in your hair that regular shampoo doesn't. It definitely "felt like" I was doing something good for the planet here, I think, because it's so different than my normal shower routine. It did take a minute of some rigorous lathering to get it to my liking, I should note.
My main complaint with bar shampoo is that there aren't a lot of options in the space yet, and as such, not all of them have ingredients or scents I want to use in my own hair. If ~my brand~ of shampoo started to sell itself in bar form, there would be no question to make the switch. But my hair just didn't shine as brightly and feel as smooth using this bar as it does normally. I'd love to see an "anti-frizz" bar shampoo — or any shampoo that you can buy in a bottle, actually — so that the bars can take off in the future.
Overall Ranking: ♻️ ♻️ (2 out of 5)
Should You Try This At Home? I think it depends on how tied to your everyday shampoo and hair routine, but if you're up for it, why not make an eco-friendly swap for the environment?
7.Using Recycled Wrapping Paper
This one snuck onto the list even though I first tried it years ago and haven't looked back since. This is such a good swap to make if you're someone who wraps a lot of presents!
I grew up in a house with a mom who wrapped presents perfectly with beautiful bows and dad who'd use the latest newspaper to wrap the gifts he picked out himself. The wrapping paper from the brand I've come to rely on, Wrappily, is a perfect blend of the two: gorgeous designed prints on a newspaper-like wrapping paper.
I really like this brand because they have both seasonal and all-occasion papers, as well as many eco-friendly ribbons, bows, and other wrapping supplies to work with. Also, all of their papers come double-sided for a pretty inside as well. They're also much more storage-friendly than the big rolls of paper because they come folded into 8 x 11 sheets, meaning you can store them pretty much anywhere. I also like to travel with these when needing to wrap a present on the go!
Overall Ranking: ♻️ ♻️ ♻️ ♻️ ♻️ (5 out of 5)
How Easy Was It? A really easy switch to make.
Should You Try This At Home? If you like to wrap presents, absolutely! If not, you might be better off reusing a newspaper...
8.Using Eco-Friendly Laundry Pods
One easy way to get rid of a little extra plastic in your life is to stop buying laundry detergent that comes in a bottle and start using laundry pods instead. I thought I was doing my part by selecting laundry brands that touted being "natural" and avoiding specific ingredients here and there. However, I was still buying detergent that included plastic. At first I stopped buying plastic bottles and started to use a brand who shall remain nameless that came in a mostly-cardboard carton instead — but it still came with a plastic cap.
Instead, I'm now using laundry pods from a brand called Dropps. Their packaging is fully compostable, their ingredients are ones I can feel good about, and the company is completely carbon neutral. I was so pleased when I first tried their laundry pods that I actually now use their dishwashing detergent pods, too!
Overall Ranking: ♻️ ♻️ ♻️ ♻️ ♻️ (5 out of 5)
How Easy Was It? So easy a baby could do it (but they shouldn't be anywhere near your detergent pods, obviously...).
Should You Try This At Home? Yes! I will never go back to "regular" detergent. The pods are so easy to toss into the laundry — without any dripping detergent — and I really love the fresh scent.
9.Switching to Reusable Dryer Sheets
I'll admit that I've never totally understood the "science" of how dryer sheets work. I know they keep your clothes from sticking to you with static cling, but what's in a dryer sheet, why are they scented, and why do they feel so greasy to the touch?
Enter these reusable dryer sheets I found! They basically look almost like a towel but don't smell at all or have any residue to the touch. I don't 100% understand how these work without the chemicals that regular dryer sheets use, but these totally get the job done. I've been using them for a few weeks with good results and the box says they last for "hundreds of uses" so I'm interested to see how long they really actually last.
Overall Ranking: ♻️ ♻️ ♻️ ♻️ (4 out of 5)
How Easy Was It? These are much bigger and thicker than the average dryer sheet, so it might blend in with the rest of your laundry. But as long as you don't mind digging them out, you're golden.
Should You Try This At Home? Absolutely! I'm thrilled to not constantly be finding balled up dryer sheets in the random nooks and crannies all over my apartment anymore.
10.Switching to Bamboo Toilet Paper
A few years back, I mentioned how I had upgraded my toilet paper in a previous story about eco-friendly swaps and comments pointed out that the product I was praising was actually wrapped plastic. At the time, I was just excited to find the bamboo toilet paper in the first place, but I understood the criticism and, realistically, utter hypocrisy of this brand wrapping their "earth friendly" option in tons of plastic.
Now I'm pleased to report that I've been using a much better option, the Who Gives a Crap brand, which boasts both bamboo and recyclable TP options. Their rolls of toilet paper come wrapped in recyclable paper (not plastic!) and are easy on the bum. They're also wrapped in cute designs. The brand also offers eco-friendly paper towels and tissue paper, if you're looking for that too!
Overall Ranking: ♻️ ♻️ ♻️ ♻️ ♻️ (5 out of 5)
How Easy Was It? As easy as hitting "click" or adding it to your online cart.
Should You Try This At Home? Yes. Buying toilet paper made from bamboo or recycled paper is a ridiculously easy swap to make. My bathroom looks a lot more minimal without a 12-pack of toilet paper jammed into it, and I've really grown to like how the wrapped rolls of TP look.
11.Trying the Cora Ball to Avoid Microplastics
What is this contraption, you ask? It's a Cora Ball, a ball you put into your laundry to help keep the microplastics from your clothes out of the ocean, rivers, and other local waterways. Despite it's odd look, it's incredibly easy to use: Just toss it in your machine-wash laundry, and let it do its thing.
The small loops throughout the ball are said to pick up the microplastics in the water and trap them there. After every few washes or so, you just remove what's in the loops and throw them in the garbage. Yes, the extra tiny waste particles clothes you probably didn't realize was going into our water goes into the garbage, but it's better there than in your drinking water, no?
I realized after using the Cora Ball a few times that it wasn't really picking up much of anything during my washes. I don't know what I was expecting, but a whopping "nothing" wasn't it. That said, I realized that the majority of my clothes are cotton-based, so that could be part of why this didn't work for me. Regardless, I am a fan of its intention and hope it works better for other people!
Overall Ranking: ♻️ ♻️ (2 out of 5)
Should You Try This At Home? Do you have a lot of workout clothes? If so, then go for it! If not, maybe skip this one.
12.Upgrading My Metal Straws
I think I can finally admit that paper straws are a pretty horrible drinking experience. So eventually, I gave in and bought some metal straws — but they were so long and tall that they really only fit some of my glasses at home. So then I bought a set of short metal straws that fit my drinks better. This might seem like overkill to you, dear reader, but after switching to using metal straws, I did feel like there was a need for a smaller size of straw. Putting a long metal straw in a short glass not only looks awkward, but it is a recipe for disaster (aka spills, which I have done aplenty).
I found a cute set of shorter straws from U-Konserve that are a little more than half the length of a regular straw, thus making them perfect for your smaller drinks. I like to use them with cocktails and in soda cans, but the possibilities are kind of endless. They're a bit wider than a regular straw, but it doesn't make a bit of difference to me.
Overall Ranking: ♻️ ♻️ ♻️ ♻️ (4 out of 5)
How Easy Was It? A simple switch (once you've bought the straws).
Should You Try This At Home? If you're someone who wants to stop using paper straws but is really picky about your straws, this might be for you. But if you could care less about straws, this might be one to skip. I personally love these straws, though, and find myself using them all the time.
13.Using Biodegradable Garbage Bags
I'm phasing out using plastic bags for garbage and buying biodegradable bags instead. I couldn't help but analyze the bags that we keep it all in, too. So I started a search for better options and came across a few different brands that offer a more eco-friendly option. The photo above features two brands that I like so far: BioBag and Evolution Bags. Both are fully compostable and come in recyclable packaging.
However, I will note that some cities have specific rules regarding the color of bags they accept for trash, and I'm not entirely sure what to do about those. (If you have a suggestion, put it in the comments!)
Overall Ranking: ♻️ ♻️ ♻️ ♻️ ♻️ (5 out of 5)
How Easy Was It? You'll have to buy new bags, but other than that you're done.
Should You Try This At Home? Yes! It's a simple switch that anyone can make. That said, will any of us be alive by the time these bags actually start to break down into compost?
14.Trying Reusable Facial Masks
I'll admit that I don't have a tried-and-true skincare routine that I live by, but I've always enjoyed using face masks and under-eye masks on occasion (especially when kept cold in the refrigerator). So when I found out that Pacifica had launched a set of reusable masks for both the forehead and eyes, I was really excited to try out the eco-friendly replacement.
Surprisingly, the price of these reusable masks aren't that much higher than what you pay for a regular mask (depending on the quality, of course). Both come in a cute case so that you don't have to worry about the mask getting dirty or dusty out in the open.
If you have a skincare routine you can't do without and are using facial masks, this could definitely be a smart switch — it's a more eco-friendly alternative that might make sense for you. But for me, a skincare novice, it was ultimately a completely unnecessary purchase that I've only used once so far.
Overall Ranking: ♻️ ♻️ (2 out of 5)
How Easy Was It? It does require some cleaning and upkeep of the masks.
Should You Try This At Home? If you're a seasoned at-home skincare expert and/or will actually use the masks.
