Ten Easy and Affordable Swaps for a Zero-Waste Home
Making small changes toward a zero-waste home is doable and satisfying! By incorporating a few simple swaps into your daily routine, you can significantly reduce your environmental impact. Start today by choosing a couple of swaps and gradually add more as you go. Every little effort counts in creating a sustainable future. Let’s explore 10 simple swaps that are easy on the wallet and kind to the planet.
Zero-Waste Kitchen
Reduce your kitchen waste with reusable alternatives to baggies and cling wrap, and a dishwashing routine that leans on naturally biodegradable tools.
1.Reusable Food Wraps vs. Plastic Wrap

Reusable beeswax wraps and cloth bowl covers are fantastic alternatives to plastic wrap and are much more obedient and durable than clingy, flimsy plastic wrap.
Bee’s Wrap Cloths can be molded around fruits, veggies, cheeses, and bowls for a moisture resistant seal. The waxed cotton cloths last six months to a year and can then be added to the backyard compost pile.
Cloth Bowl Covers make dinner clean up a breeze. The elasticized rims secure themselves around a variety of dish and bowl sizes. Perfect for outdoor dining and potlucks, these easy-on-off covers are conveniently machine washable. Choose from covers with a moisture resistant liner for longer term storage or pure cotton breathable covers for short term storage, rising doughs, or cooling baked goods.
2.Compostable Sponges vs. Synthetic Sponges

Compostable sponges are made from natural materials and break down in compost, unlike synthetic sponges which pile up in landfills for generations to come.
Spaghetti Scrub is a clever kitchen tool made from cotton cloth and ground peach pits that offers a gentle but effective abrasive scrubber to tackle pots and pans and caked-on food without plastics or rusty metals. The dishwasher-safe, quick-drying scrub lasts up to six months and can be tossed in the compost bin at the end of its life.
Swedish Dishcloths are made from a long-lasting and fully compostable cotton and cellulose fabric that absorbs 15x its weight. The ultra absorbent cloth has a textured weave that leaves surfaces streak free, and the vibrant prints are a delightful addition to any kitchen cleaning routine.
Zero-Waste Body Care
Add a touch of sustainable sophistication to your sink side and shower shelf with package-free formulas that will keep you and the planet looking your best!
3.Bamboo Toothbrushes vs. Plastic Toothbrushes

Between plastic toothbrushes, synthetic floss in disposable plastic containers, and plastic tubes of toothpaste, everyday toothbrushing can create a lot of long-lasting plastic waste that will linger in landfills and waterways for the next several hundred years. A sustainable oral care routine is an impactful way to make strides toward a zero-waste personal care routine.
Bamboo toothbrushes are an eco-friendly alternative to plastic toothbrushes. Fast growing and sustainably harvested bamboo is naturally antimicrobial which makes it an ideal material for a toothbrush handle. Already using an electric toothbrush? Try a bamboo attachment head! Pair your compostable toothbrush with compostable natural silk floss in a refillable glass container to make a real sinkside sustainability splash!
Unpaste Tooth Tabs are a zero-waste, novel, fun, travel-friendly, and dentist-formulated alternative to bulky tubes of toothpaste. Pop one of the refreshing tabs between your teeth, chew into a paste and brush as normal.
4. Solid Shampoo Bars vs. Liquid Shampoo in Plastic Bottles

Solid shampoo & conditioner bars by HiBar eliminate the need for plastic bottles and are conveniently spill-free travel companions. Each bar is equivalent to 16 oz. of liquid shampoo or conditioner and provides salon quality results with biodegradable ingredients. These sculptural beauties also provide a luxurious scalp massage as you roll them into your hair.
Seed Phytonutrients offers an entire line of hair care products in fully and endlessly recyclable aluminum bottles. From traditional cream shampoos, to powders, to volume and detangling sprays, the low-waste bottles and organic ingredients are perfect for an eco-friendly shower routine.
Zero-Waste On-the-Go
From bags to bottles, the items we carry for convenience when out and about can really pile up in the landfills if we opt for single use disposables. A few simple (and stylish!) swaps to reusables will keep your adventures sustainable and low-waste.
5. Reusable Water Bottles vs. Single-Use Plastic Bottles

Switching to a reusable water bottle is an easy and satisfying way to cut back on single use plastics and save money while you're at it!
Durable stainless steel water bottles are trusty travel companions that can be filled and refilled multiple times throughout the day to keep you hydrated. Add a charcoal stick to keep in your bottle to help naturally filter tap water and add back in essential minerals.
An at-home countertop water filter helps transform your tap water into tasty and purified drinking water. The LifeStraw Pitcher features a pristine glass pitcher that adds sophistication to any kitchen countertop, but more importantly, boasts an exceptional filtration system that not only eliminates the standard chlorine and heavy metals, but an extensive list of other contaminants including forever chemicals (PFAS) that are getting harder and harder to avoid.
6. Cloth Shopping Bags vs. Plastic Bags

A run to the grocery store can land you with a dozen-plus plastic bags or a stack of paper bags destined for the landfill. But reusable cloth produce and shopping bags make low-waste shopping totally manageable.
Flip & Tumble’s Reusable Mesh Produce Bags are made from an ultra lightweight nylon mesh that is super strong, breathable, and conveniently machine washable. A whole set can fold up discreetly into your pocket so you’ll have them at the ready when selecting your favorite avocados, tomatoes, carrots, or trail mix. From leafy greens to heavy potatoes to bulk bin rice, these bags carry it all and have a drawstring tops that sinches up tightly.
Baggu shopping bags are designed with ultra-durable recycled ripstop nylon that can hold a whopping 50 lbs. of groceries each! Plus, the outstanding designs are cult-classic sensations that are sure to make you the most stylish shopper in the market. And when they aren’t hauling home groceries, these versatile bags double as purses, beach bags, and overnight satchels.
Zero-Waste Cleaning
Deep cleaning and daily upkeep doesn’t have to end in a wastebasket full of dirty paper towels and a cabinet of half-full, neon cleaning liquids in plastic bottles. Powerful cleaning concentrates, refillable spray bottles, and reusable cloths will keep your home sparkling clean and lighten your footprint on the environment.
7. DIY & Refillable Cleaning Solutions vs. Commercial Cleaners

Vinegar and baking soda are two common household ingredients that are also powerful and effective cleaners. Mix up your own solutions or reach for an eco-conscious refillable cleaner.
Streamline your cleaning supplies with MightyNest’s All Purpose Cleaning Tablets and Refillable Glass Bottle and keep surfaces all around the house free of grease, grime, and streaks. Safe for glass, tile, stainless steel, appliances and solid surfaces, the dissolvable tablets are made from a simple four ingredient coconut-derived soap that is free of fragrance, preservatives, and dyes. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to add in some naturally antimicrobial aromatics.
Method’s Refill + Reuse All Purpose Concentrate Cleaner features a sturdy and reusable aluminum bottle with an attractive ombre finish, plus liquid concentrates that come in small recyclable glass bottles. Just add water!
8. Reusable Cleaning Cloths vs. Paper Towels

Reusable cleaning cloths can be washed and reused many times, reducing the need for disposable paper towels. Keep them on the countertop for splashes and spills, in a basket at the table for fingers and mouths, and stacked in the cleaning closet for surface and window cleaning.
Tidy Dish Cloths by Full Circle are a game changer for cutting back on paper waste. These organic cotton dishcloths feature a textured stitching for gripping and scooping up dirt, grease & grime, while also increasing their absorption. Keep a stack of 5, 10, or 15 at the ready and you’ll find they do all the jobs a paper towel can do - but better! If your paper towel holder is looking lonely, pair it with a roll of felted cotton UnPaper Towels by Marley’s Monsters to add a touch of sustainable style and convenience to your kitchen countertop.
E-cloth microfiber cleaning cloths activate with just water and the results are truly miraculous! No cleaning solutions are required and we promise you’ve never seen a window, mirror, or oven range so impeccably clean and streak free. The exceptionally high-quality microfiber weave resists shedding and traps dust, grease, grime and over 99% of bacteria. Just rinse and wring between uses and drop in the washing machine for a deep clean.
Home Compost & Waste Management
Food waste is one of the biggest contributors to landfill overflow every year. Composting your food scraps can help turn that waste into nutrient rich soil and keep your trash output a lot leaner.
9. Home Composting vs. Throwing Away Food Scraps

Don’t have a yard? Don’t have much counter space? Don’t worry! Composting doesn’t need to be complicated. It can actually be really simple to get started collecting your food scraps at home.
The sleek, natural aesthetic of Bamboozle’s Bamboo Compost Bin is an elegant and sustainable enhancement to any kitchen decor. The repurposed bamboo fiber material is dishwasher safe so you don’t need extra liner bags, and the 100% hemp filter in the lids absorbs and neutralizes odors.
For something a little less permanent on your counter, pop open a Scrap Happy Compostable Food Waste Bag during meal prep. The natural kraft paper bags have a vegetable-based, leak-resistant liner, so throw in your food scraps and toss the whole bag in the compost pile. If you don’t fill it up, roll down the top to seal and add more the next day.
For more information on composting, visit EPA's Composting at Home Guide. To find a compost service near you, check out Find a Composter.
10. Biodegradable & Reusable Trash Bags vs. Traditional Plastic Bags

Now that you’ve cut back on single-use plastics, excess packaging, and disposable paper towels, your trash cans won’t fill up as quickly! Make that last bit of waste management more eco-friendly with sustainable materials and are designed to reduce environmental impact.
Compostable Trash Bags by If You Care line a standard 13-gallon kitchen trash can and are made from non-GMO “starch potatoes" and blended with a certified, fully compostable polymer. Starch potatoes are non-food varieties that are easier on the environment because they require no irrigation, only natural rainfall, and require 40% less land to produce the same amount of starch as corn. If your garbage liner needs to contain liquids, try the Recycled Trash Bags from If You Care that are made with 89% post-consumer recycled plastic and are super durable.
Reusable Pail Liners by Marley’s Monsters are the ultimate eco-friendly waste bin companion. Available in both large and small sizes, they are made with an easy-to-clean, endlessly reusable, laminated, water resistant fabric. The seamless bottom prevents leaks and the drawstring top secures around various pail sizes.
Zero-waste living is a transformative approach to reducing our environmental impact. By making small, affordable changes, we can significantly decrease the amount of waste we produce and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Do you have your own zero-waste tips or success stories? Share them in the comments below!