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This Earth Day — as well as the other 364 days of the year — you can do your part to protect the environment by swapping some common household items with their eco-friendly counterparts. Not only will you feel good about cutting down on plastic pollution, you may end up saving money in the long run because you will buy less things.
Switching just a few products, like trading in plastic straws for metal ones and carrying a reusable water bottle, can help you and your family do your part to make the planet cleaner and safer for future generations. No matter what you choose, you can feel good knowing your small sacrifice will leave a lasting mark.
Keep scrolling forFIRST’spicks for the best eco-friendly products, so you can reduce your carbon footprint and make the world a greener place.
We write about products we think our readers will like. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the supplier.
Almost 7.5 percent of all plastic in the environment comes from straws and stirrers, but you can help reduce this dramatic figure by opting for eco-friendly metal straws. This set comes with eight metal straws of varying lengths, as well as FDA-approved silicone tips to prevent accidentally scalding or freezing your lips. Cleaning them may seem like a pain, but these come with two bendable brushes that will get rid of any leftover smoothie, iced coffee, or whatever liquid you want to enjoy. But most importantly, once they're cleaned, you can toss them in your purse and you'll never have to use a wasteful plastic straw again.
If you're queen of the block party, you know it just doesn't make sense to serve lemonade (or your favorite beverage) in glass cups — but throwing away plastic cups feels so wasteful. Instead, pick up a pack of compostable cups and have your guests toss them in the compost bin when they're done. Even though these recyclable cups from Repurpose Compostables are made from plants instead of toxic plastics, they are sturdy enough to hold any cold drink.
Harvest Pack's innovative eco-friendly plates are made from bagasse, the fibrous leftovers when sugarcane and sorghum stalks are crushed for their juices. This strong, sturdy material is durable enough to handle wet potato and macaroni salads at any neighborhood cookout, and you don't have to feel guilty about making more waste. Just toss dirty plates in your compost pile and watch them decompose in a matter of months.
A bento box is an eco-friendly lunch box option that can easily fit in your work bag or purse. This one comes with three stackable compartments you can load with leftovers and your favorite snacks. Don't worry about having to buy disposable plastic silverware, the set comes with a fork and spoon that double as chopsticks!
Reduce plastic waste in your house by using silicone sandwich bags. Not only are they great for transporting lunches, you can also use them for sous vide, a cooking method where food is placed in a plastic bag and cooked in a water bath. You can even steam veggies in the microwave inside these silicone sacks from Stasher. When you're done with them, simply toss them in the dishwasher to use again.
As you drift to sleep each night on your Saatva mattress, you can feel good about your eco-friendly purchase. Not only is this mattress incredibly comfortable, but it also meets CertiPUR-US' rigorous environmental standards. The coils inside are made of recycled steel and the flame-retardant barrier comes from natural thistle pulp rather than a chemical spray.
Canway's yoga mat is made from thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) instead of harmful polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or phthalates. Each side has a different pattern that provides grip and prevents both the mat and your feet from slipping. The five-star yoga mat is easy to carry thanks to a detachable strap and even easier to clean; just wipe it down with water and a bit of soap.
Dentists recommend changing toothbrushes every three to four months, which means a lot end up in the landfill. Enter Isshah's charcoal bamboo toothbrushes. These eco-friendly tooth-scrubbers are made with a biodegradable bamboo handle so you can feel better every time you brush. Even the packaging is biodegradable! The soft bristles may take some getting used too, but this toothbrush still has all the scrubbing power of a traditional plastic version.
Glass water bottles not only reduce plastic waste, but they're also totally free of the harmful chemicals, like PVC, phthalate, BPA, lead, and cadmium, you might find in the plastic versions. Veegoal bottles have a sleek, stylish design and come with a leak-proof bamboo lid and a protective sleeve that makes it easy to grip. But if you do happen to drop your water bottle, its high-strength borosilicate glass likely won't break.
Reef Repair's sunscreen is safe for coral reefs, safe for kids, and safe for you! It's made with organic ingredients like coconut oil and red raspberry seed oil, which moisturize and repair damaged skin. So you can enjoy up to 80 minutes of UVA and UVB protection, even in the water, and have smooth not greasy skin!
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