Products from eco-friendly cleaning brands won’t clean your house for you (we wish!), but they sure can remove a lot of the hazards. Conventional cleaners (ironically) contribute to the build-up of toxic waste and plastic pollution (more on this at the bottom of the article).
Which is why we’re on a green cleaning mission to spotlight natural alternatives from brands that ensure a healthier home and planet, and that surely provides some motivation for those chores.
So after a lot of research, reading ingredient labels, and testing (i.e. cleaning), we’ve rounded up our favorite brands that stick to safe, effective formulations, ethical sourcing, and low-waste packaging.
Our Brand Rating System now takes this further (for cleaning brands who have opted in to be rated) in that we assess them against a wider array of factors, from chemical use to biodiversity considerations in the supply chain. Look out for the rated brands on the list below and find more here.
If you’d like to take matters into your own hands and fully control what goes into your cleaning products, take a look at our guide to homemade cleaners.
We independently research all featured brands, and we ask them to confirm their claims. In many cases we personally review recommended products. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you buy something. We explain this further in our Terms of Use.
The Best Eco-Friendly Cleaning Brands
We’ve tried nearly all of Blueland’s household cleaners, which come courtesy of subtle fragrances, non-toxic ingredients and totally zero waste packaging—even for all your favorite cleaning liquids. Blueland has been comprehensively rated by us on their sustainability credentials – find the full rating here.
Plastno offers multi-purpose cleaner tablets, compostable trash bags and compostable sponges and cloths. Products are packaged in FSC-certified, plastic-free materials and shipped carbon neutral. Plastno has been comprehensively rated by us on their sustainability credentials – find the full rating here.
Transparency, recycled packaging, safe ingredients, concentrated cleaning power—Meliora’s catalog of laundry detergent and home cleaning solutions hit all of our marks and provides some of the best bang for buck considering how much product we need to get the job done.
Index: Sustainable Cleaning Brands
- Blueland Jump to brand
- Plastno Jump to brand
- Meliora Jump to brand
- Full Circle Home Jump to brand
- Redecker Jump to brand
- Miniml Refills Jump to brand
- Ecologie by Danica Jump to brand
- Jungle Culture Jump to brand
Blueland
Carbon Neutral
Brand has been certified as Carbon Neutral.
Cruelty-free
Products are not test on animals at any stage in their production.
Ethical Sourcing
Raw materials have been sourced ethically with people and planet in mind.
Minority Owned
Brand is owned by Black, Indigenous, and/or people of color.
Non-toxic
All products are made with ingredients or materials that are currently considered non-toxic
PFAS Free
Products have been tested and verified to be free of PFAS
Plastic-free
All products are entirely plastic-free
Refillable
Product packaging can be refilled with more product, either at a physical store or via a return program.
Thoughtful packaging
Product packaging has been designed and created with the end of life outcome in mind and can be easily recycled or composted.
Vegan
This brand does not use any animal products or by-products in their products
Woman Owned
This brand is owned by a woman or a group of women.
B Corp
Climate Neutral Certified
Cradle to Cradle
EPA Safer Choice
EWG
Leaping Bunny
MADE SAFE®
USDA BioPreferred
B Corp
The B Corp Certification, administered by the nonprofit B Lab, recognizes companies that meet high standards of verified social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. Certified B Corps balance profit with purpose, committing to responsible practices that benefit workers, communities, customers, and the planet while embedding sustainability into their business model.Cradle to Cradle
The Cradle to Cradle Certified® Product Standard, administered by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, evaluates products for their safety, circularity, and sustainability across five key categories: material health, product circularity, clean air & climate protection, water & soil stewardship, and social fairness. Products earn certification levels (Bronze to Platinum) based on how well they meet these rigorous criteria.EPA Safer Choice
The EPA Safer Choice label, managed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, identifies products made with ingredients that are safer for human health and the environment. Every ingredient is reviewed by the EPA’s scientific team to ensure it meets strict safety and performance standards, meaning products with this label are effective, low in toxicity, and formulated to reduce pollution and environmental impact.EWG
The EWG Verified® mark, issued by the Environmental Working Group, identifies products that meet the organization’s strictest standards for health and transparency. To earn the label, products must avoid ingredients of concern, fully disclose all ingredients (including fragrance components), and follow good manufacturing practices.Leaping Bunny
The Leaping Bunny certification, managed by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC), is the globally recognized gold standard for cruelty-free products. It ensures that neither a company’s finished products nor their ingredients are tested on animals at any stage of development. Brands must also agree to independent audits and supplier monitoring, guaranteeing genuine cruelty-free commitment across their entire supply chain.MADE SAFE®
The MADE SAFE® certification is a comprehensive non-toxic seal that verifies products are made with safe ingredients not known or suspected to harm human health, animals, or ecosystems. Overseen by the MADE SAFE nonprofit, it screens every ingredient against a database of toxicological and environmental science criteria.USDA BioPreferred
The USDA Certified Biobased Product label, part of the BioPreferred® Program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, identifies products made from renewable biological ingredients. It displays the percentage of biobased content verified by the USDA.Price Range: $30–$80 (though refills start at $4.50)
Blueland offers some of the best household cleaners, and we should know—we’ve tried pretty much all of them.
The Clean Essentials is the perfect starter kit, and it’s what started our love of Blueland, too. It includes their Glass + Mirror, Bathroom, and Multi -Surface cleaning sprays as well as their foaming hand soap.
While each of these products end up as liquids, they don’t start that way. Instead, they come in the form of tablets in composable packets. Just drop in water and let the cleaning magic begin. When you need a refill, order the tablets alone and keep using each colorful spray bottle received in the initial kit for years to come.
As a Certified B Corp, Blueland ensures its supply chain and labor practices are ethical. The Climate Neutral company also has certifications from Cradle to Cradle, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Safer Choice, MADE SAFE, USDA BioPreferred, and EWG.
Blueland only uses gluten-free, vegan, cruelty-free, and plant-based ingredients in their products—all of which contain the Leaping Bunny stamp of approval.
Their efforts have eliminated over one billion single-use plastic bottles from the ocean and landfills. The company continues to support social causes like DigDeep to bring clean water to homes in America and Lonely Whale to help reduce plastic waste even further.
Blueland has been rated by Sustainable Jungle. Find the full rating here.
Our Personal Review of Blueland’s Clean Essentials Kit:
“We’re now regular Blueland users, and this kit started it all. Its three household cleaning sprays pretty much cover all our cleaning needs in an all-natural and lightly-scented way (read: our home smells like a field of flowers, not a chemical factory on cleaning day!). We love how effective these products are and how waste-free they are. Because everything comes in tablet form, the only waste is a paper refill packet we can toss in our compost bin once we’ve moved them into Blueland’s elegant, reusable containers. If you only select one product from the Clean Essentials Kit, I recommend the Multipurpose spray. It can be used on everything the bathroom and glass cleaners are designed for and seems equally effective in my experience.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head Of Content
Plastno
Circular
All or some products are circular in nature - such that no part of the product needs to end up in landfill at the end of its life
Compostable
All or some products are compostable, either in an industrial facility or at homeEthical Sourcing
Raw materials have been sourced ethically with people and planet in mind.Non-toxic
All products are made with ingredients or materials that are currently considered non-toxicRefillable
Product packaging can be refilled with more product, either at a physical store or via a return program.
Small business
This brand is a small business run by less than 15 people
Sustainable Materials or Ingredients
Either all or most products are made with sustainable materials or ingredients.Thoughtful packaging
Product packaging has been designed and created with the end of life outcome in mind and can be easily recycled or composted.Vegan
This brand does not use any animal products or by-products in their products
Zero Waste
Products are made with a low or zero waste approach where ideally no or limited waste is created throughout the production process or at the end of life.
BPI
Leaping Bunny
TUV
BPI
The BPI Certification program is a third-party verification of ASTM standards for compostable products in North America, and the starting point for every company wishing to make compostability claims on products and packaging.Leaping Bunny
The Leaping Bunny certification, managed by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC), is the globally recognized gold standard for cruelty-free products. It ensures that neither a company’s finished products nor their ingredients are tested on animals at any stage of development. Brands must also agree to independent audits and supplier monitoring, guaranteeing genuine cruelty-free commitment across their entire supply chain.TUV
The TÜV certification is issued by independent TÜV organizations such as TÜV SÜD, TÜV Rheinland, or TÜV Nord. It verifies that products, systems, or manufacturing processes meet strict safety, quality, and environmental standards in line with national and international regulations. TÜV marks are widely recognized as symbols of tested safety, reliability, and compliance across industries ranging from electronics and textiles to sustainability and management systems.Plastno is a US based brand that offers low-waste, plant-based cleaning and kitchen alternatives. Their multi-purpose cleaner tablets are naturally derived, and free from harmful chemicals. Just drop a tablet into water and reuse the bottle you already have. These non-toxic formulas are safe for homes with kids and pets, and the optional reusable spray bottles are made from recyclable PET.
Every product, from their refillable cleaning tablets to certified compostable trash bags and plant-based, compostable sponges, is part of Plastno’s mission to remove single-use plastic from household routines.
Products are made in BSCI-certified facilities, and designed by a small, minority-owned team dedicated to transparency and impact. Products arrive in FSC-certified, plastic-free packaging and are shipped carbon neutral.
Plastno has been rated by Sustainable Jungle. Find the full rating here.
Meliora
Meliora has not been rated.
Price Range: $8-$34 ($58-$77 for bundles)
Meliora is most well-known for its Eco Laundry Powder, which uses the power of organic plant-based ingredients to clean without compromising the health of our planet. Everything is made with non-toxic ingredients, like organic coconut oil.
Some of their most popular offerings include all-purpose home cleaning spray, a home cleaning scrub, Castile dish soap, and a refillable glass cleaning spray bottle that can be used with cleaning spray refills.
Meliora started with a question: can you name five of the ingredients present in your cleaning cabinet? Most of us can’t, and neither could Kate, the co-founder of Meliora. Once she started doing a little digging, she found most weren’t even listed. Even worse, there weren’t laws in place that required a company to disclose what their products contained.
Years later, Meliora proudly discloses all plant-based ingredients and only uses those that are effective, people-friendly, and planet-friendly. All products feature the Leaping Bunny and MADE SAFE certification, and are vegan, phthalate-free, and sulfate-free.
Aside from packaging products in compostable and or reusable containers, they ship in plastic-free and recyclable containers. Everything is produced in their environmentally-responsible Chicago factory by workers who receive living wages.
Giving back is essential to this Certified B Corp, which is why they partner with 1% for the Planet to support the organization Women’s Voices for the Earth.
Meliora also offer bulk purchase options for many of their popular products.
My Personal Review of Meliora’s Gentle Home Cleaning Scrub:
“I’m all about keeping my cleaning supplies simple—cluttered under-sink cabinets are a no-go for me! Meliora’s Gentle Home Cleaning Scrub helps with this, as the powder is suitable for all hard surfaces. It works like any all-purpose cleaner but with some extra scrubbing power, and I especially love using it on my stovetop. Regular sprays just can’t tackle stuck-on food, but the granules in this scrub do all the heavy lifting, especially when paired with a coconut coir pad. Everything just lifts right off.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Full Circle Home
Full Circle Home has not been rated.
Full Circle Home offers a thoughtful range of sponges, scour pads, and dual-sided combinations, with scrubby surfaces made from natural materials like coconut coir or walnut shells and absorbent layers crafted from plant-based cellulose.
Their latest range (pictured) is made from 100% recycled fishing nets.
As a Certified B Corp, Full Circle Home is pushing for more sustainable household cleaning staples. They’re also a Plastic Neutral Company, partnering with Plastic Bank to offset their plastic use by cleaning up ocean-bound waste.
Redecker
Redecker has not been rated.
Redecker offers a wide range of durable household essentials—from dish and toilet brushes to dusters and makeup tools—all made with natural, biodegradable, or recyclable materials like sustainably sourced wood, plant fibers, and metal.
Redecker’s story began in 1935, when founder Friedel Redecker—who lost his sight as a child—turned his talent for brush making into a livelihood. What started as handcrafted brushes has grown into a renowned family-run business known for its commitment to sustainability, and quality.
Miniml Refills
Miniml Refills has not been rated.
Price Range: £2.50 (refill) – £25 (bundle)
Miniml Refills has a closed-loop product design. It works like this: You purchase an initial reusable glass bottle, purchase a refill of your choice, refill your bottle, and send back the empty packaging for cleaning and reuse.
They do contain “perfumes” to get scents like Sorrento lemon, blood orange, wild rhubarb, and cucumber, which likely means they’re synthetic. All their cleaning supplies are free of VOCs, chlorine bleaches, solvents, lanoline, sulfates, parabens, and phosphates.
The returned, empty containers are cleaned and sanitized in a large industrial washer at the Miniml Headquarters in Yorkshire Dales. They also have in-person refill stations across the UK, including in numerous zero waste shops in London.
Miniml Refills plant-based cleaning products are vegan and cruelty-free, they provide a full list of the ingredients they include and don’t include. Items are shipped in recyclable cardboard boxes with paper tape.
My Personal Review of Miniml’s Starter Bundle
“I loved testing out their Clean Kitchen Starter Bundle. It was super effective, tough on grime, fairly concentrated too, so a little goes a long way. Good value for money at the price point, not to mention the circular approach which is novel in the cleaning niche. I would suggest the Ultimate Household Bundle is the easiest way to get in on the whole system, as it includes dish soap, hand soap, a multipurpose cleaner (which I use for just about every bit of mess and dirt), and a white vinegar solution—each shipped in reusable spray bottles.”
Review by Jenny Bell, SJ’s Senior Writer
Ecologie by Danica
Ecologie by Danica has not been rated.
Price Range: $6.50
Ecologie by Danica’s Swedish sponge towels will help you say goodbye to the paper towel.
The reusable paper towel brand makes these handy little towels from 70% sustainably-sourced cellulose and 30% cotton, and can be used for everything from absorbing spills (holding up to 15 times their weight in water), to removing tough stains on the dishes or cleaning bathroom surfaces.
Ecologie by Danica’s cleaning supplies are made using traditional techniques from the 1950s and screen-printed with fun designs using non-toxic inks. The cotton in each cloth is “waste cotton,” or cotton fibers that are too short for traditional textile usage.
They’re shipped in recyclable packaging and made in Sweden and Ecologie donates a portion of its sales to Education Without Borders.
My Personal Review of Ecologies’ Swedish Dishcloths:
“I own a couple of Ecologies’ cleaning cloths and can confirm they absorb an impressive amount of liquid. What’s even more impressive is how long they last. They don’t strike you as something that will stand the test (and justify the extra expense, than say something less sustainable like disposable cloths) but so far we’ve been using ours almost daily for most cleaning jobs and they’re still going strong after about 9 months. They’re also odor-free, dishwasher safe (which I love), and because they’re 100% biodegradable, I can compost them when they’re finally checked out.”
Review by Joy McConnochiel, SJ’s Co-foudner
Jungle Culture
Jungle Culture has not been rated.
Price Range: £5–£13
Jungle Culture develops a wide variety of zero waste bathroom and home goods.
But their Natural Dish Brush set is the perfect biodegradable plant-derived cleaning product for a eco-chic kitchen. The brushes are made from plant-based materials like bamboo and fibers from coconut husks and sisal plants. The plant-derived brushes are completely organic, vegan-friendly, and biodegradable. The natural coarseness of the sisal and coconut fibers gets rid of stubborn stains and soap scum and doubles as a kitchen tile cleaner if you’re in a pinch.
The UK-based company ships everything in plastic-free packaging made from recycled kraft paper. Jungle Culture works with small farms and craft workshops across Asia in places like Vietnam. They regularly visit their partners in person to ensure they meet their ethical manufacturing practices.
A member of 1% for the Planet, they donate a portion of sales to various environmental organizations.
My Personal Review of Jungle Culture’s Brush Set
“My husband and I are regular users of their brush set. Very good quality, we used the main dish brush for about 6 months before it started to show real wear and tear, and even then we continued to use it for a while longer. We also especially appreciate the fact that the dish brush has the option to easily replace the heads via a bit of wire when the wood or bristles start to look a bit worse for wear. Having a permanent handle means just a little waste—even if that waste is 100% natural materials.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Why Use Products From Eco-Friendly Cleaning Brands?
Most of the products we use to clean are those that end up making our planet and homes much dirtier. Not only do they come packaged in single-use plastic bottles (that mostly end up in landfills, despite being thrown in the recycle bin), but they contain dangerous ingredients we mostly can’t pronounce.
According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), cleaning supplies often produce fumes that may trigger health problems, are known carcinogens that cause chemical burns and poisoning, among other health concerns. Chlorine bleach is an eye, skin, and respiratory irritant (and can be fatal if mixed with ammonia, another common cleaning agent).
Speaking of ammonia, it can blind you and burn your skin. Triclosan and Triclocarban (used in dish soaps) are linked to hormone imbalance and breast cancer. The list goes on.
These ingredients are just as toxic for our environment, releasing volatile organic compounds that cause smog and contributing to eutrophication—AKA nutrient overloading in water bodies that can be toxic for aquatic species and lead to algal blooms. Somehow a bright and shiny toilet bowl doesn’t seem worth the damage to our biodiversity.
So why use products from sustainable cleaning brands who prioritize plant based and non-toxic ingredients?
Because chemo-kills are doing the opposite of cleaning, where it counts, chasing dust bunnies or removing stains with products that have less of an impact is far better for you, your home, and our shared home.
Joy has been a passionate advocate for the environment since she was a small child. She grew up in South Africa and has been lucky enough to be exposed to the wonders of nature not just in Africa but all over the world. She founded Sustainable Jungle (together with her husband Lyall) back in 2017 after becoming enraged by the devastating impact of palm oil. She then founded the Sustainable Jungle Podcast and together with Lyall interviewed remarkable people from all over the world who were finding ways to create positive impact. Outside of Sustainable Jungle, Joy has always worked in the corporate world, starting out as an auditor and later moving into management consulting. More recently she specialized in Climate Investing for the Asia Pacific region. Given her experience, her current passion is Brand Ratings. She is very much enjoying going deeper on what it really means to drive sustainability performance and true impact through business operations.
