Looking for easy, affordable, eco-friendly products to change your life and save the planet? Below are 13 Eco Friendly Products to swap in your household, on set, or wherever you go that you need to know about!!
With climate change on the rise, now more than ever, it’s important to start looking for ways we can all personally reduce our carbon footprint in our environments. The fashion and beauty worlds especially, can be industries full of waste with things like single use products and fast fashion killing the environment.
It’s never too late to start looking for ways we can reduce and reuse in our communities, especially our work environments while still doing what we love.
And when I first started my journey to sustainability as a plus size model, I didn’t have an endless budget or time to spend on eco friendly products. Which is why I needed eco friendly products that I knew made a difference, but wouldn’t break the bank.
After reading this, you’ll know my top eco friendly products and eco friendly companies to help you make a difference in the world as well as the fashion and beauty industry.
This post is all about 11 Eco Friendly Products that are affordable and easy to swap in your home and career for a better planet.
11 Eco Friendly Products
1. Reusable Straws
One of the most common and easy swaps you can make is using reusable straws. With single use plastic waste on the rise before and esp. during the pandemic, it’s important to eliminate as many single use products as possible.
I personally love stainless steel straws in various colors and sizes! So no matter what your home decor is or what you’re trying to drink – you can find fashionable, eco friendly straws.
However, let’s be real though – you’re most likely not going to throw a reusable straw in your purse wandering around. And you’re definitely not going to let a dirty straw in your purse which is why I love FinalStraw.
FinalStraw is a portable, stainless steel straw that has a compact pouch (I would compare it to Airpods in terms of sizing). That way, you can always have a reusable straw on you as well as keep all your things organized and clean.
2. Bamboo Cotton Swabs
One of my personal favorite eco-friendly swaps I’ve made over the years is bamboo cotton swabs. Cotton swabs are something so many people use not only in their daily lives, but especially when on set for a photoshoot.
Unfortunately, the plastic between cotton swabs is super harmful to our ocean and super difficult to break down in landfills. Fortunately, bamboo breaks down quicker and unlike plastic, it is biodegradable!!
Not only is it the smart option, but you will never be able to tell the difference between using a plastic cotton swab versus a bamboo cotton swab. My favorite sustainable cotton swabs are from Amazon, here. They come in eco friendly packaging, they are affordable, and last a long time.
Definitely, worth mentioning next time you’re on set to your make up artist!
3. Reusable Water Bottles
You really don’t realize how many water bottles you use until after you get a reusable water bottle! You’ll be surprised you didn’t get one sooner! They last forever and come in so many different styles for any fashion queen.
You can reduce your waste on set and be a reminder to those around you for them to get their own reusable water bottle! It’s truly a win win.
There are lots of reusable water bottles, however, my favorite are the transparent ones like the one above. Some reusable water bottles are too dark inside or too small to get your sponge in it. And if you’re anything like me, for cleaning purposes, it just gives me a better peace of mind that I can see what I’m cleaning.
4. Sustainable Underwear
Sustainable underwear is probably the biggest change I made in my life and probably the hardest one in my sustainable journey. I wasn’t wild at first about the idea of free bleeding in my underwear and I am definitely not mentally mature enough to use a Diva cup yet TBH.
However, after using sustainable underwear, I’m soooo mad I didn’t do it sooner!!! The sustainable underwear brand I use is called Modibodi. Not only are they sustainable, they also are size inclusive going up to a 5X. I LOVEEEEEEEE Modibodi. I’ve been using Modibodi sustainable underwear for over 4 years now and they are like MAGIC.
To be fair, I’ve never tried another brand, but I never felt the need to. For more depth, watch my Youtube haul with Modibodi. To be transparent, it is a sponsored video from 3 years ago, but as you can see today, I’m still OBSESSED.
P.S you can use code: HAYLEYK10′ for 10% off your next purchase! Heads up – I don’t make any money from you using this code. This code solely just provides you with a discount! 🙂
I’ve tried a lot of different styles from Modibodi and out of all the undies they have, my two favorites are the Classic Full Brief and Sensual French Cut. I love the classic full brief because it’s super comfortable and I love the Sensual French Cut because of the way it sits on my hips.
The fabric on these two sustainable undies is super soft so whether you’re going to work or going to bed – you’ll be comfortable.
Because of the switch, I’ve saved the environment by not using HUNDREDS if not THOUSANDS of tampons. Also, other amazing benefits from making this sustainable switch are…
- I am no longer putting harmful chemicals into my body that tampons are made with
- I am saving $$$ money
- I’m not putting myself at risk for TSS (toxic shock syndrome)
I HIGHLY recommend making the switch today!!
5. Reusable Bags
When researching eco-friendly products, reusable bags weren’t really something that occurred to me. After I found them, I’ve literally never bought plastic bags again!
My favorite reusable bags are from stasher. They are good quality, come in lots of different shapes and colors, and they stay zipped tight so your food keeps longer.
Throw your snacks for set or a busy audition day in your reusable bags and you’re good to go. Say goodbye to another single use plastic, wahoo!!
6. Sustainable Package Free Shampoo
I was SHOCKED when I found a package of free shampoo for my hair that I loved. Sustainable shampoo can be so hard to find.
After testing out many different sustainable shampoo’s, my favorite sustainable shampoo is from the LUSH. They have a few different scents and types, but my go to shampoo from LUSH is their Montabano Shampoo Bar.
Another great way to find package free shampoo and conditioner, is to find if you have any local eco friendly stores. A lot of eco-friendly store fronts sell shampoo and conditioner in glass bottles that you can come back and refill.
I’ll admit though, I’m still in the search for a great package free conditioner. I will update this post when I find it!
7. Plastic Free Toothpaste
Plastic free toothpaste packaging is a quick and painless switch to make on your zero waste journey.
Another benefit of using package free toothpaste is that I am no longer putting harmful chemicals into my body that toothpaste is actually made with. No seriously… if you look closely at most toothpaste packages, you’ll see in the warning section to call poison control if you swallow it – LIKE WHAT??
Another great way to keep your million dollar smile as a model, is to make your own toothpaste!! You can keep it in a glass jar and just keep refilling it. Heck – you could even make it as gifts and give it to your friends!
Click here to learn an easy, affordable way to make your homemade toothpaste.
One of my model friends makes her own zero waste toothpaste, and she has one of the best smiles I’ve ever seen despite her being a heavy smoker!
Super easy and a lot of the ingredients are household items you already have.
8. Bamboo Toothbrush
Did you know that it takes a plastic toothbrush a minimum of 30 years to even START breaking down in a landfill!?!? There are toothbrushes older than YOU thriving in landfills right now in perfect condition. Tooth brushes are one of the #1 most UN-eco friendly products we use and buy.
Bamboo is biodegradable and recyclable so you don’t have to worry every time you reach for a toothbrush. Because if you really think about it, in a lifetime, we go through a lotttttt of toothbrushes.
My favorite bamboo toothbrushes are from Amazon. I love these because they come in a pack of 10 which is perfect for when I have guests and visitors! I also can’t believe how affordable they are!!
9. Sustainable Toilet Paper
When it comes to sustainability, you probably didn’t think toilet paper. But, yup, unfortunately toilet paper isn’t safe either.
Regular toilet paper made from trees has a short life span, has 3x the climate impact, and harsh chemicals that contribute to it’s negative environmental impact.
Who Gives A Crap is my favorite sustainable toilet paper. They have two options. Toilet paper made from recycled toilet paper and bamboo toilet paper. Both VERY sustainable options, but I use the recycled toilet paper because it is the most eco friendly option out of the two. AND they’re SUPER affordable for a pack of 24 so you save $$$!
10. Reusable Bamboo Utensils
Now this is probably the most challenging product on this list. Solely for the fact you have to remember to bring the utensils in and out of your car to clean them. Other than that, you’re saving LOTS of plastic.
Did you know that you can’t recycle plastic utensils? Unfortunately, plastic utensils are too small to fit in the machine that helps recycle plastic break down therefore, all plastic utensils just get sent to landfills.
I love this reusable bamboo utensil set from Amazon because it comes with a little pouch that carries not only a fork, spoon, and knife, but also chopsticks and straw! Perfect to put in your car or purse and you can throw the pouch in the washing machine for a quick clean!
11. Eco Friendly Natural Deodorant
When switching over to natural, eco friendly deodorant a lot of my friends asked if I was sacrificing “quality”. Aka they wanted to know if natural deodorant actually worked and I’m living proof, it really does work!!
Some of my favorite natural, sustainable deodorants that I’ve personally tried are…
I love these deodorants because their packaging is eco friendly and the formula is quality that REALLY works throughout a long day! And an added bonus: after 14 days from using a natural deodorant, your body naturally detoxes the aluminum from your previous deodorants.
12. Recycle Trash Can
When I first started living on my own, I assumed everyone liked to recycle! However, I was very wrong. I would have guests over and they would just throw recyclables in the trash can.
Later, I would dig the things out of the trash which wasn’t the most glamorous thing.
Then one day, it occurred to me, they probably weren’t recycling because they didn’t visually see somewhere to recycle like we do in public. I immediately rushed to amazon where I bought a recycle trash can so you couldn’t miss it and immediately my guests knew recycle was there!
I love this recycle trash can because it’s affordable and the blue signals people immediately that it’s specifically a recycle trash can. It also comes in different colors if you want something more aesthetically pleasing.
13. Reusable Food Wraps
Say good bye to foil, saran wrap, parchment paper, and other wasteful wraps!! We go through SO much waste wraps made out of materials that will not break down for years and aren’t biodegradable.
Reusable food wraps are made out of beeswax so there are multiple benefits…
- washable
- compostable
- keeps food fresher, longer
- reusable
These are my favorite reusable food wraps because they come in different sizes and they have lots of patterns and colors to choose from!
This post was all about easy, affordable eco friendly products that will help you save the planet.
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