How To Create a “Green,” Zero Waste Home Without Burning Out

Despite the complex modern burdens that come with living in the 2020s (up-to-date on the news, anyone? 🫠), one of the perks is that more eco-friendly household options are commercially available than ever before.

The climate crisis is alive and our world is changing, but luckily, we all have power over where we spend our dollars and how we take care of our homes and families. One of the most accessible ways to support our planet is by making our personal and household care routines as efficient, waste-free, and eco-friendly as possible.

It pays to start small – start swapping out mainstream products for sustainable alternatives as you use up what’s already in your home, prioritizing incremental effort over immediate transformation. 

Our list below outlines sustainable household products available for people to acquire across the U.S., however, we encourage readers to check out what local, sustainable household goods stores are available for them to support small businesses in-person. We are not sponsored or receiving money from any brands below. The list is by no means exhaustive, and we recognize that not all shipping options you’ll find are carbon neutral, but this article stands as a helpful guide for those starting their journey of sustainability.

As The Resilient Activist board member Briana Anderson notes, we’re not helping anyone by putting the entire responsibility of fixing the climate crisis on our shoulders, and much of that responsibility is actually on the major corporations and governments that contribute most to our global “carbon footprint.” 

But we can do our part by adopting a crafty mindset of reuse, staying skeptical of corporate greenwashing, supporting truly eco-friendly brands, and incorporating sustainable products into our lives. Allowing these choices to positively influence our health, finances, and sense of fulfillment can strengthen our personal well-being and capacity for more activism.

Lucky for us, living sustainably can be simpler, cheaper, and easier than it’s made out to be.

As you create a more sustainable homecare routine, consider using the eco-friendly products we’ve researched and outlined below:

Eco-Friendly Kitchen Products

Eco-Friendly Dishwashing Soap

Instead of: Dawn Dish Soap’s $38 38oz liquid soap plastic bottle

Opt for: Attitude’s $6 23oz Dish Soap or Zero Waste Outlet’s $33 22oz Dish Soap Block

You can find solid phosphate-free, sulfate-free dish soap blocks and biodegradable sponges to substitute the plastic mainstream options, which ultimately end up in landfills. Mainstream dish soaps also contain environmentally harmful substances like phosphates, which cause algal blooms and deplete oxygen in waterways. If you have trouble cleaning tough cooked-on food on dishes or pans, simply let them soak with salt and warm water before washing.

Sponges

Instead of: Scotch-Brite’s $12 Pack of Plastic-Derived Sponges

Opt for: Zero-Waste Outlet’s $8 Dual-Sided Eco Sponge or $10 Modular Bamboo Dish Brush

Prioritize using sponges made of coconut scour, loofah, cellulose (a wood product used for sponges for hundreds of years), and/or recycled PET fibers, which are tough on stains without releasing microplastics.

Typical sponges, like Scotch-Brite’s yellow-and-green sponge, contain microplastics that wash into the drain, finding their way into our rivers and septic tanks. This microplastic enters the ecosystem when tiny microorganisms eat it, and up the food chain they will climb!

Drying Rack

Instead of: Shein’s $47 Plastic/Steel Dish Rack

Opt for: Ace Hardware’s $40 Bamboo Dish Rack

Bamboo or wooden dish racks will do the job just as well, and will be quicker to decompose after use.

Ziploc/Reuseable Bags

Instead of: Ziplock bags that will end up in landfills after a few re-uses

Opt for: Stasher’s $45 3-Pack of Reuseable “Essentials” Bags

While made of silicone, reusable bags are more durable and likely to last years into the future, producing less waste than typical ziplock bags.

Trash Bags

Instead of: Glad’s $34 13-gallon Trash Bags

Opt for: Seventh Generation’s $8 20-Count 13-gallon Trash Bags for Tall Kitchen Trash Can

Seventh Generation trash bags are made of recycled material between two layers of 65-percent, post-consumer recycled plastic.

Food Storage

Instead of: Buying new Tupperware

Opt for: Using what tupperware you have, reusing takeout containers, sauce jars, etc.

Coffee Filters

Instead of: Melitta’s $10 80-Pack Coffee Filters

Opt for: Green Paper Product’s $9 100-Pack Basket Coffee Filters for drip coffee machines or Earth Hero’s $14 Chemex Organic Cotton Coffee Filter

To stray away from synthetic filters, many brands offer organic cotton reusable filters or unbleached single-use filters that can be easily composted.

Cutting Boards

Instead of: Buy Plastic’s White $28 Cutting Board

Opt for: Grove’s $14 Bamboo Cutting Board

Look for cutting boards made from sustainably harvested, certified wood (like FSC-certified maple, walnut, or teak), or even better, reclaimed wood. Other sustainable options include bamboo, which is fast-growing, or natural rubber.

Produce Bags

Instead of: Using the plastic bags provided at supermarkets

Opt for: Duebest’s $9 Reusable Mesh Bag or Free The Ocean’s $8 Cotton Produce Bags

Plastic-free, undyed, and durable bags can keep hundreds of one-time-use bags from landfills – most are washer safe, and you can tumble low or hang to dry.

Shopping Bags

Instead of: Using the plastic or paper bags provided at supermarkets

Opt for: Buying a reusable bag from your local grocery store or Good Store’s $25 Tote Bags

Non-Toxic Cleaning Products

Some sustainable brands now offer affordable subscription services or “bundles” of cleaning supplies to offer eco-friendly cleaning goods at a cheaper price (some options include Good Store’s EcoGeek Build Your Own Bundle or Blueland’s Clean Suite Kit).

Glass Cleaner

Instead of: Hope’s $6 Perfect Glass Cleaner

Opt for: Green Llama’s $3 Glass Cleaning Tablets in a spray bottle

The great thing about these cleaning tablets is they come in small compostable packages, and all you do is add the tablet and water in a spray bottle. If you don’t already have a spray bottle lying around, you can buy EcoGeek’s sturdy glass spray bottle.

All-Purpose Cleaner

Instead of: Lysol’s $31 32 All-Purpose Cleaner

Opt for: Green Llama’s $3 All-Purpose Cleaning Tabs in a spray bottle

If you opt to buy these from Green Llama, 100% of thier proceeds go to saving coral reefs. 

Bathroom Cleaner

Instead of: Clorox’s $5 Bathroom Cleaner

Opt for: Green Llama’s $3 Bathroom Cleaning Tabs in a spray bottle

Hand Soap

Instead of: Softsoap’s $12 Antibacterial Hand Soap

Opt for: Blueland’s $10 Hand Soap Starter Set

Blueland’s soap starter set comes with a reusable glass soap dispenser with plastic-free soap tablets that you can refill at $2.25/tablet.

Sustainable Laundry Products

Laundry Detergent

Instead of: Tide’s $20 Liquid Laundry Soap

Opt for: Earth Breeze’s $17 Laundry Detergent Eco Sheets

Mainstream detergents (like Tide or Xtra) can leave behind a sneaky layer of residue you can’t see, including chemicals like 1-4 Dioxane (Carcinogen), hormone disruptors, and artificial dyes. Alternative brands like Earth Breeze or Good Store offer pre-measured detergent sheets that dissolve quickly in water, leave no chemical residue, and eliminate the need for bulky plastic jugs.

Dryer Sheets

Instead of: Arm & Hammer’s $15 50-ct Dryer Sheets

Opt for: Good Store’s $7 dryer sheets or $20 Alpaca Wool Dryer Balls 3-Pack

If you opt to buy wool dryer balls, it’ll be more affordable in the long run, because as long as you have them, you’ll never need to buy dryer sheets again.

Dishwasher Detergent

Instead of: Cascade’s $68 120oz Dishwashing Detergent

Opt for: Good Store’s $23 40-count Dishwasher Tablets

When you purchase sustainable, dissolving dishwasher tablets in compostable packaging, you opt out of the plastic waste that comes from big detergent jugs and the phosphates and  surfactants that ultimately end up in our waterways. Like mentioned earlier, 100% of EcoGeek / Green Llama proceeds go to saving coral reefs. 

Sustainable Bathroom Products

Toilet Paper

Instead of: Charmin Ultra Soft’s $66 60-Ct Toilet Paper

Opt for: Who Gives a Crap’s $68 48-Ct 100% Recycled Toilet Paper

Mainstream toilet paper brands like Charmin are known to require water-intensive production, high energy use, and contaminate waterways with chlorine-based bleaching chemicals. “Who Gives a Crap” toilet paper is compostable and free of inks, dyes, and scents, and 50% of their profits help build toilets in countries where clean water and toilet access is low. 

Additionally, there is a misleading “FSC Mix” label found in major toilet paper brands, which indicates the use of some sustainably sourced material, but also allows for using “controlled wood” that has not actually been audited for responsible production (I smell greenwashing!).

To Bidet or Not Bidet?

Instead of: Spending $471 more per year on toilet paper by not utilizing a bidet

Opt for: Buying TUSHY’s $112 Classic Bidet Attachment or Luxe’s $39 NEO 120 Bidet Attachment

Bidets are plumbing fixtures that come in the form of bidet seats or bidet attachments (as cheap as $40) you can install onto your existing toilet seat. Bidets offer superior hygiene by using water to wash away bacteria more effectively than dry paper, which can help prevent UTIs and other irritations. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), using a bidet can reduce toilet paper consumption by 75% (saving the average American household $471/yr), reducing costs and conserving natural resources like trees and water. 

While their attachments can be pricier, the brand TUSHY donates a substantial portion of their profit to build toilets in India. Their bidet attachment can save approximately 50 gallons of water per week.

Feminine Hygiene Supplies

Instead of: Tampax’s $34 20-Ct Tampon Pack

Opt for: Cora’s Easy-Does-It $30 Menstrual Cup (which can last up to 10 years with proper care)

Mainstream tampons and pads often contain dyes, phthalates, and BPA that can leech into our bodies, and eventually our environments (upon going in the trash). Reusable, medical-grade silicone “cups” (paired with period underwear, such as Period.co’s underwear) help avert this problem by omitting unnecessary dyes and chemicals. They offer a less wasteful options than conventional pads and tampons, and help us save money as well.

Cora’s silicone, washable cup linked above is rated “Best Menstrual Cup for Beginners” by Wirecutter. You simply wash the cup with a pH balanced or fragrance-free soap, and it is recommended to boil it at the end of each cycle.

Deodorant

Instead of: Old Spice’s $5 Pure Sport Deodorant

Opt for: Wild’s Refillable Stick Deodorant ($16 for pack + refills, $7 for refill)

Brands like Wild offer reusable aluminum cases for deodorant with refills that reduce waste and are free of mainstream deodorant’s plastic, aluminum, parabens, and/or triclosan ingredients, which have raised health concerns due to their possible links to hormone disruption. Additionally, if you opt for a subscription model to receive deodorant refills, you’ll save money in the long run.

Tooth Brush

Instead of: Colgate’s $4 Plastic Toothbrush

Opt for: Zero Waste Outlet’s $4 Bamboo Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Instead of: Colgate’s $8 Whitening Toothpaste (in Plastic Packaging)

Opt for: Bite’s $32 248-ct Jar of Toothpaste “Bits” (available with or without fluoride)

Unfortunately, many mainstream toothpaste brands contain microplastics in the form of microbreads that you ingest with use. However, there are many natural and safe exfoliant alternatives that can accomplish the same goal without harming the environment, coming in the form of toothpaste “bits,” toothpaste powder, and more. If you’re interested in other toothpaste options that are not bits, check out Dentafari’s Sensitive & Whitening Tooth 100g Powder.

Floss

Instead of: Oral B Glide’s $9 Floss

Opt for: Zero Waste Outlet’s $9 Bamboo Charcoal Floss

Brands like Eco Roots and Zero Waste Outlet offer some glass refillable jars to hold your bamboo floss, with refills available, which reduce landfill waste. If you live in a city with sustainable refill stores, stop by to see if they offer floss refills.

Shampoo and Conditioner

Instead of: Pantene’s Pro-V Miracle Shampoo and Conditioner Set

Opt for: Seek Bamboo’s $27 Rice Water Shampoo and Conditioner Bars

Countless brands (Hibar, Seek Bamboo, The Earthling etc.) now offer shampoo and conditioner bars that omit the typical plastic packaging, and luckily for us, they’re often more cost-effective in the long run because of their concentrated formulas. 

Many of these brands use natural, customizable formulations for specific hair needs and offer a lower carbon footprint due to their smaller size and lighter weight during shipping.

Bar Soap

Instead of: Irish Spring’s $4 Original Bar Soap

Opt for: Zero Waste Outlet’s $6 Vegan, Palm Oil-Free Soap Bars

If you see Sodium Palmitate or Sodium Palm Kernelate in your soap’s ingredient list, that means palm oil is included. It’s wise to be wary of palm oil, as its mainstream production is notorious for causing deforestation and biodiversity loss.

Creating a Sustainable, Zero Waste Home One Step At A Time

While it can be tempting to completely discard everything in our home in favor of perfectly curated sustainable items—cue the image of a Pinterest-worthy pantry of jarred goods, or immaculate zero-waste kitchen—taking on too much at once, buying unnecessary goods, and ultimately burning out doesn’t benefit the planet.

If your family traditions (such as Christmas) involve materialism or excessive gift-giving, consider discussing your values with your family and/or refreshing your gift list with sustainable alternatives to everyday consumable products. To learn more on skirting overconsumption during the holidays, read our guide on the topic by board member Briana Anderson.

As we incorporate more sustainability into our home, the embodied knowledge of how we are benefitting the planet through our choices can offer an added layer of nourishment, contributing to the feeling of home as “sanctuary.” Learn more about exploring this overlap between mindful and sustainable homecare in our blog, Creating a Sanctuary of Comfort and Care.

As we begin this process of “going green,” we benefit from using up the products we already own, while gradually integrating more sustainable alternatives into our daily lives. 

This is not a race, but a long game—one that ensures our efforts lead to lasting impact.

Embracing Eco-Friendly Living and Activism Without Burning Out

Engaging in eco-friendly lifestyles and environmental activism is not easy work, and can lead to overwhelm without proper pacing or nourishment. Even when people find enough space to engage in advocacy, its emotional urgency can lead to burnout and disempowerment.

Self-care is non-negotiable for activists.

By teaching people how to self-tend, set boundaries, prioritize joy, and find a style of activism that invigorates them, The Resilient Activist is transforming the environmental movement from the inside out.

If you’re interested in finding a style of activism that is sustainable for the long run, check out our Four Steps for a Resilient Life workshops. These offer an empowering journey to cultivate resilience, optimism, and hope in the face of the climate crisis and the resulting social injustices. Additionally, check out our free EnviroTips – simple, commonsense answers to living mindfully in relationship with the environment, based on our Five Essentials for a Resilient World framework.

For those seeking to connect their sustainability journey with others, consider joining our monthly Resilient Activist Conversations – virtual gatherings where our community shares their current experience within the polycrisis, listen to others, learn resilience skills, and fill their cup.

Let’s stay rooted in resilience, together. 🌱