We love shopping. We love smart, stylish products. And we love our home, planet Earth. In honor of Earth Day, it’s the perfect opportunity to evaluate our impact on our planet. After all, it’s the only home we’ve got! Each of us has the power to make small lifestyle changes that can help Earth big time. With a few thoughtful purchases, you can use products that reduce the waste going to our landfills and increase use of renewable materials.
Wondercide compiled this list of products that fit the mission: Preserve our planet. Whether you’re looking to reduce your daily footprint or decorate your home with art made with recycled materials, this list is for you.
How to reduce your daily environmental impact.
The choices we make when it comes to the products we buy play a bigger role in the environment than you think. Here are 10 smart picks for products that will reduce waste and conserve natural resources.
1. Ditch the single-use plastic bags when buying produce.
Take reusable produce bags to your local farmer’s market or grocery store. Think about this: these bags will last for years! They’re an incredible value for money while reducing your dependence on single-use plastic bags. What a win!
Photo: ECO ROOTS
2. Modernize your snack and sandwich bags.
Move over plastic sandwich bags, a smarter solution is stepping in! Reusable silicone sandwich bags like these from Stasher are a must-have item for people who want to protect their health and minimize their environmental impact. Not only are these bags non-toxic and BPA-free, but they can also be used repeatedly without affecting food's flavor or nutrient content. They’re incredibly convenient and versatile because they’re safe for your freezer, oven, microwave, and dishwasher. Plus, we love the colors!
Photo: Stasher
3. Upgrade your straws.
Stylish. Smart. Good for reducing waste. Switching to reusable straws is a great way to reduce your environmental footprint while still enjoying your favorite drinks. They last for years – no more having to constantly buy plastic disposable straws. Check out these from OXO that have a silicone tip for added comfort, and they add a splash of color.
Photo: OXO
4. There’s no need for microplastics in pet waste disposal.
Our fur babies provide us with so much love, and yah, so much to, um, clean up. Biodegradable pet waste bags are compostable and made to break down over time. Trade your current containment system for one that will break down naturally and won’t leave microplastic waste behind.
Photo: Cardirom
5. Skip the bottled water, but stay hydrated.
Drinking from a reusable water bottle may seem like a small thing, but mother nature will thank you. Worldwide, there are approximately one million plastic bottles purchased every minute, so every little bit helps. This bottle from Nalgene Sustain can hold cold beverages or boiling hot water without degrading the material, which is BPA free and derived from 50% plastic waste – the equivalent of 8 single-use water bottles went into making it and you can keep reusing it. Plus, you can use the measurements on the bottle to track your progress on hydration goals.
Photo: Nalgene
6. Shorten your laundry’s drying time with these vegan dryer balls.
Ecoegg dryer balls are a wool-free alternative to fabric softeners and will increase the energy efficiency of your dryer by reducing drying time. Best of all, unlike wool dryer balls which can fuel the cruelty of the wool industry, these balls are totally vegan and never tested on animals.
Photo: Ecoegg
7. Take care of your behind with bamboo toilet paper.
Yes, we’re going there. Potty talk. Did you know that most toilet paper is not animal-friendly? Some brands test their products on animals. And how toilet paper affects the environment? Here’s the scoop. Bamboo toilet paper is quickly becoming the most popular choice for an eco-friendly alternative to regular toilet paper. The production of bamboo toilet paper uses less water and land than traditional toilet paper, and since bamboo can grow up to 1.5 inches in one hour, it is a more sustainable resource than trees.
Photo: Cloud Paper
8. Save water by washing your hiney.
Take comfort in the facts behind bidets. Tushy bidets, for example, offer options to upgrade your existing toilet to eliminate your reliance on toilet paper. Not only are they affordable, but the water savings alone makes them a great eco-friendly option. If you’re concerned about using water to run the bidet, you’ll find it comforting to know that a bidet only uses about an eighth of a gallon, whereas it takes approximately 37 gallons of water to make just one roll of toilet paper. That’s a big net savings on water consumption.
Photo: Hello Tushy
9. Eliminate paper towels with these cute fabric towels
How many rolls of paper towels do you go through in a month? We’ve got the fix. Unpaper Towels are made of organic fabrics featuring vibrant colors, unique prints and attention to detail that will add environmental-friendly fun to your kitchen. Better yet, these towels are machine washable, so you’ll use them over and over again.
10. Protect the bees with a biopesticide they love.
If you haven’t been using biopesticides to protect your pets and family from bugs, you’ll wonder what took you so long to give it a try. A biopesticide is different from a conventional pesticide. It’s typically more targeted and bioselective. Take Wondercide's yard sprays for instance, they're lab proven to kill bugs like mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks but the residue is safe for the good bugs like bees and butterflies. That’s a win-win all around!
As seen on Shark Tank, Wondercide has a full line up of plant-powered solutions for pets, people, and all the places they roam (in the yard or on the go). The non-harsh formulas are lab tested and independently verified, so you know they work to get rid of the bad bugs like ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, roaches, ants, fruit flies, and more.
Applauding earth-conscious artisans.
When art meets eco, we’re all about it. Shopping for sustainable art means you can find some truly one-of-a-kind pieces that could be the star of any room. Plus, by investing in art made with recycled materials, you're contributing directly to the work of talented artists who are dedicated to finding sustainable solutions while they make amazing creations. Bravo to these artisans!
1. A hand-carved coconut bowl will add character to your kitchen.
A bowl isn’t just a bowl when it’s a carved coconut bowl. Each of these bowl and spoon sets are handcrafted from coconuts that would otherwise be discarded as waste.
Photo: HOLLISandHANH
2. Beautiful baskets made with recycled newspaper.
When recycled paper meets artist, design flourishes. Here’s an artist who creates paper crafts and rolled paper baskets using recycled newspaper tubes. The colors vary based on the paper used to make each paper tube, so each piece is entirely unique. “Rolled with Joy” is the name of the Etsy shop, but to us, also describes the buyer!
Photo: RolledwithJoy
3. Reclaimed wood provides attractive file storage.
Woodn’t you love this? Using reclaimed wood is a great way to reduce waste and create beautiful furniture, like this reclaimed wood filing cabinet. You can choose your preferred finish to help this unique piece match your existing decor.
Photo: UrbanIndustrialNW
4. April showers bring May flowers.
Seed paper makes an interesting craft practical and fun. These seed bombs are about the size of a marble and resemble the look of planet Earth. Follow the directions to plant these balls in the soil and water them until you sprout some pretty flowers. Gift these to yourself and your friends.
Photo: PlantablesAndPaper
5. Cover your bowls in style.
Plastic cling wrap or aluminum foil are so passé. Switch to these colorful bowl covers. Available in multiple sizes, these reusable covers can be used to cover a variety of containers. People might think you’re doing it just for the designs, but how smart for the environment, too!
Photo: DevinitaArtCreation
6. Inspired by sea glass, this jewelry is très chic!
See how gorgeous sea glass design can be. Recycled glass is turned into sea glass style beads for this beautifully simple sea glass necklace. This necklace is both sustainable and eye-catching.
Photo: SmartGlassKP
7. Bring style to your countertops.
We’re into the details, and that includes the sponges sitting next to the kitchen sink. Reduce the waste in cleaning your kitchen with these cute washable sponges. What a great way to combine the convenience of a sponge with the washability of a dish cloth!
Photo: thewhiteturtleshop
8. Put your thoughts on paper in this elegant journal.
Just look at this cork fabric journal! It keeps the beauty and durability of leather binding without requiring any animal products in production. It’s a great place to jot down your favorite recipes, your thoughts for the day, your goals and aspirations. This journal is good for your mental health, and for the environment!
Photo: ForestNine
9. Add some character with a unique sculpture.
You might hear, “Cool sculpture.” That’s your cue to tell them the story. These sculptures made from metal blinds are eco and innovative.. Upcycling discarded metal blinds to make art is such a smart way to reuse materials. And animal lovers, rejoice! There are many animal artworks from which to choose!
Photo: WindowWhimsy
10. Make a colorful statement while protecting your furniture.
What kind of statement are you making with your coasters? I’m stylish. I’m smart. And I’m environmentally-conscious. Protect your furniture from water rings with these recycled newspaper coasters. They’re modern and sustainable, and you can select from a variety of color options. Cheers to that!
Photo: ByAmberAndRose
We’ll never give up shopping. But we can make smarter choices while being stylish and plant-savvy. Eco-friendly items can also be high-quality, good for you, and good for the world. Mindful shopping also supports eco-conscious companies and artists who want to make a difference that will benefit us all. In honor of Earth Day and every day, now is a great time to start making small changes in your life that will have a long-lasting impact on our precious planet.
