7 Eco-Friendly Sponges For The Kitchen And Bathroom

By cleaning up with something biodegradable (like say, a loofah alternative), we’re reducing fossil fuel consumption and landfill waste with something that can be responsibly returned to the earth at the end of its life.

With all that said, we’ve rounded up the best sustainable sponges, scrubbers, and scour pads so you can wipe away dirt without wiping out our planet.

You may notice “rated” brand(s) on the list below. This means they have been rated by us on their broader sustainability credentials using our Brand Rating System. Look out for rated brands on the list below (they need to opt in) and explore other rated brands here.

Price Range: $4–$9

ZeroWasteStore.com is a our go-to for all kinds of home essentials, both made by the shop themselves and sourced from other ethical and plastic-free companies. Of course it helps that they’re climate neutral and a member of 1% for the Planet.

ZWS offers three different types of biodegradable sponges: a 100% natural loofah sponge, slim coconut scour pads, and basic dish sponges made with 100% wood pulp and capable of absorbing 10x their weight in liquid. For hard grease and stuck-on food residue, the coconut kitchen scourers are made from waste coconut coir and natural rubber latex.

All can be tossed in your indoor compost bin after use, along with the recycled kraft packaging printed with soy ink they come in.

Price Range: $5–$8

Full Circle Home offers a variety of sponges, scour pads, and dual-sided combos of the two. The scour sides are made of either coconut coir or walnut shells, while the spongy bits are plant-based cellulose.

They’ve also released the new Clean Ocean Netted Scrubbers. These aren’t compostable like their other options, but will last a bit longer and they’re crafted from woven fishing nets collected from the oceans.

If you prefer dish clothes to sponges, they also carry Swedish dishcloths and Kind organic cotton dishcloths. The latter we’ve used in lieu of paper towels for over a year—and they’re still going strong!

A Certified B Corp, Full Circle Home is committed to better alternatives for everyday essentials like eco-friendly mops and much more. By the end of this year, they’ll have plastic-free packaging and by 2025, the only plastic they use will be recycled. In the meantime, they’re a Plastic Neutral Company, working with Plastic Bank to remove the same amount of waste from oceans and waterways for every piece they use.

Price Range: $5–$12

With toxic-free products made from wholesome, clearly-labeled ingredients, Public Goods is an ideal source for healthy grocery, household, and personal care shopping.

Their antibacterial and antifungal Natural Sea Sponge is gentle enough for kids and babies. These sponges are sustainably sourced from Greece. If you want an all-purpose washing up solution, the 100% natural agave Ayate Washcloth offers a sustainable way to scrub bathrooms and bodies alike.

For something that’s more abrasive to use on counters instead of skin, the Walnut Scrubber Sponge combines a natural vegetable cellulose sponge with a walnut-based abrasive side.

For packaging, Public Goods uses sugarcane bottles, tree-free paper products, and biodegradable alternatives to single-use plastic, and all your orders will be shipped carbon free (via offsets) and packed in 100% recycled packaging. On top of planting a tree for every order, they regularly donate to local food banks and organizations like Feeding America.

Price Range: $12

Love is at the heart of Nash & Jones, the family-owned brand that recognizes that what we put on our bodies is just as important as what we put in them. Which is why they offer just one luxurious eco-friendly bath sponge.

The Silk Sea Sponge is more a buffer which has minerals naturally contained in sea sponges. Theirs are harvested off the coast of the Philippines. Divers hand cut each one to ensure at least an inch of the root remains to properly regenerate. The sustainable sea sponge can be soaked in a baking soda/water solution to refresh it. At the end of its life, it can be composted.

Their whole range of plant-based personal care products is free of preservatives, petroleum, dyes, fillers, and perfumes. They’re also cruelty free and use plastic-free packaging designed for reuse or recycling.

Price Range: $5–$15

From hand to laundry soap, Grove Collaborative has your back with their range of eco-friendly cleaning products for pets, personal care, and beauty. Besides their own line of products made in the USA, their vast selection also includes brands like Dr. Bronner’s, Mrs. Meyer’s, and Seventh Generation.

They make non-toxic sponges for your every need: dish cloths, walnut scrubber heads for a dish brush, scrub pads, and more. Cellulose appears to be the main material in all options, along with coconut and walnut scrubbing components. They’ve also got cellulose and cotton-based European Dish Cloths.

The company will be plastic-free by 2025 and is currently Plastic Neutral, an EPA Safer Choice recipient, and a Certified B Corp.

Price Range: $8–$32

Hailing from Eugene, Oregon, a focus on reusability defines Marley’s Monsters. A one-stop-shop for your wipes, cloths, towels, sponges, dusters, and more, they’re probably most well-known for their organic cotton reusable UNpaper Towel.

But when messes are too much for reusable paper towels, they also offer two washable sponge alternatives. One is made with cotton, a polyester mesh for scrubbing, and recycled filling, while the Chenille sponges are made with the same recycled filling with softer 100% cotton outers.

Both are mildew resistant and can be tossed in the dishwasher or washing machine for regular disinfecting. These sponges are not compostable or plastic-free, though all packaging is.