49 Zero Waste Products We Think You’ll Love
Future generations deserve to enjoy all that we have, so let’s talk about some of the best zero waste products.
Zero waste: that’s just recycling, right?
Errrr, hold the brakes.
When we previously compared zero waste and recycling, we explained the two are very different—but what is zero waste?
Zero waste is a philosophy of circular consumption in which we not only manage waste, but actually eliminate it.
In perfect form, zero waste means throwing nothing in the trash.
But the world is far from a perfect place and we flawed humans can try our best by eliminating most of our waste through some simple zero waste tips and product swaps.
Just remember that your favorite zero waste products should be those that you already have. That’s the ultimate zero waste.
So please only use this list as a resource when something new is absolutely necessary (or perhaps if you’re looking for zero waste gift ideas).
Thank you for joining us on this journey through our list of top zero waste products.
*This post contains affiliate links
ZERO WASTE KITCHEN PRODUCTS
The kitchen is one of the best places to start on a zero waste journey. There are countless products that can take the place of single-use and plastic products—so much so that this list barely scratches the surface!
Check out our zero waste kitchen article for more ideas.
ZERO WASTE FOOD STORAGE
If you’re thinking of zero waste kitchen products, plastic free food storage options likely came to your mind first.
Old glass jars make for the BEST zero waste food storage containers—and, because they can be used for nearly anything, they’re great zero waste home products in general.
For new, Glasslock is a great brand for BPA-free and recyclable glass containers while U-Konserve sells stainless steel bento boxes.
Wax wraps are an alternative to tin foil, plastic bags, and saran wrap—Bee’s Wrap for beeswax wraps and Khala & Co. for vegan soy wax wraps.
COMPOSTERS
Natural Home Brands have collection bins that make apartment composting easy (note, these are only for collecting your waste, not actually composting it). If you want something that actually composts indoors, check out the worm farm from Uncommon Goods or our article on indoor compost bins for more ideas.
If you’ve got the space and are ready to turn fruit and veggie scraps into garden gold (AKA magic compost), Subpod is the way to go for outdoor compost bins.
ZERO WASTE BATHROOM PRODUCTS
ZERO WASTE TOILET PAPER
Are you ready for a zero waste bathroom essential that is not for the faint-hearted?
Zero waste toilet paper isn’t for everyone; if you’re ready to dive into reusable family cloths, Marley’s Monsters will make the process less scary with their brightly-colored Toilet Unpaper.
But don’t stress, as this is not the only eco-friendly bathroom product in this category.
If you prefer to still flush your TP with your wee, Who Gives a Crap makes eco-friendly toilet paper you don’t need to wash between wipes.
If you want to reduce how much toilet paper you use, a bidet from Tushy will help you save more trees (and your bum).
ZERO WASTE RAZORS
For a zero waste razor, switch to a plastic-free safety razor by EcoRoots.
Don’t forget replacement blades (which is the only part that’s disposable but doesn’t need to be replaced very often and can be recycled) and of course a luscious shaving soap bar or zero waste shaving cream.
ZERO WASTE PERIOD PRODUCTS
ZERO WASTE PRODUCTS FOR BEING OUT & ABOUT
For those of us who are constantly on the go—whether for work or play—a zero waste kit can help us out with many of these essentials.
The ZeroWasteStore has one ready to go!
If you already have some items, fill in the gaps as needed with the products below.
REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE & MUGS
Hydroflask and Klean Kanteen’s stainless steel eco-friendly water bottles can keep us hydrated without running our resources dry. With insulation for both hot and cold, they’re great for a run to your favorite coffee shop, too.
REUSABLE CUTLERY
Both To-Go Ware and Spruce & Pine make reusable organic bamboo cutlery, the latter of which also comes with carbon-neutral shipping as an Etsy shop.
REUSABLE BAGS
For organic cotton shopping and produce bags, make an eco focused choice by going with ECOBAGS.
ZERO WASTE SANDWICH & SNACK BAGS
Stasher made us all rethink hard to recycle ziplock bags with their reusable plastic free silicone sandwich, snack, and storage bags. If you want to stick with some all-natural bags, Mama Roars and Ehle At Lunch do things a little differently with water-resistant cotton bags.
Just pack up your sandwich and snacks then toss it all in your eco-friendly lunch bag.
ZERO WASTE BEAUTY & PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS
ZERO WASTE DENTAL PRODUCTS
Several brands are doing zero waste toothpaste nowadays but we like etee’s Chewpaste (toothpaste tablets) for their fluoride and fluoride-free options.
Pop one on a zero waste toothbrush, like the bamboo brushes from EcoRoots. The latter makes one of the few totally plant-based toothbrushes—including the bristles!
Your mother would want you to floss, but Mother Earth would want you to use zero waste floss, like the bamboo floss from EcoRoots. Oh, and don’t forget to rinse with a plastic free mouthwash.
ZERO WASTE DEODORANT
What’s the importance of zero waste beauty products?
More often than not, they’re better for us, too, and nowhere is this more apparent than zero waste deodorant. Plastic tubes of deodorant are also the pits, so we’d much prefer Ethique’s all-natural bar version.
Meow Meow Tweet makes taking care of B.O. a treat with their deodorant creams and adorable compostable tubes of zero waste deodorant.
ZERO WASTE SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER
A decade ago, it would have been impossible to find a zero waste shampoo and conditioner.
Now, boycotting the bottle is simple with brands like Superzero and Ethique, who pack all those sensational suds into a compact bar.
While Plaine Products does use a bottle, theirs is made from recyclable aluminum and is refillable.
To take your zero waste shower products to the next level, don’t forget a loofah sponge for your organic body wash.
ZERO WASTE SKINCARE & SUNSCREEN
Fat and the Moon uses plant oils in their zero waste skincare products to keep our skin feeling over the moon.
Meow Meow Tweet does the same, and their zero waste skin care products are often Fair Trade and 100% vegan!
For zero waste sunscreen, SPF your way to summer bliss with the reef-safe tins from Raw Elements.
ZERO WASTE MAKEUP
Zero waste beauty brans are changing the way we think about plastic, refills, and ingredients!
Pucker up in a planet-friendly way with Axiology and their vegan-10-ingredient-or-less lipstick. DAB Herb offers refillable, vegan makeup of all sorts and Elate has us feeling elated with their vegan, cruelty-free, and plastic-free makeup products (in gorgeous bamboo housing!).
For a full-blown, eco-friendly makeover, there are several other zero waste makeup brands worth checking out for some green glam.
ZERO WASTE CLEANING PRODUCTS
ZERO WASTE DISH SOAP
No one likes doing the dishes, but at least our planet doesn’t mind when we use zero waste dish soap.
Both No Tox Life and etee have bar versions for one of our least-favorite daily activities, though etee also sells liquid dish soap concentrate.
ZERO WASTE LAUNDRY DETERGENT & ACCESSORIES
Next time you do a load, take a load off the planet by dropping in a Dropps laundry pod. It’s fully biodegradable, doesn’t contain scary chemicals, and is sent using carbon-neutral shipping.
Tru Earth does something similar in paper form and Zero Co. provides a refillable laundry detergent option for Australians.
In addition to your zero waste laundry detergent, don’t forget a Guppyfriend washing bag to capture all of those microplastics from your fleece and other synthetic fabrics.
OTHER ZERO WASTE CLEANING PRODUCTS
For sustainable spring cleaning that puts a spring in our planet’s step, check out the ZeroWasteStore or EarthHero for all your scrub-a-dub needs: brushes, sprays, sanitizers, scrubbers, wipes, rags, eco mops etc.
In fact, both zero waste online stores are some of the best places to find all types of zero waste products online.
OTHER ZERO WASTE PRODUCTS
ZERO WASTE SCHOOL PRODUCTS
Zero waste school supplies are fun to shop for and they certainly won’t leave our planet feeling burned out by the time the seventh period rolls around.
Onyx and Green is a great place to turn to for all of the zero waste products for school: recycled sticky notes, eco-friendly pens, notebooks, recycled erasers, and more.
AGood Company is exactly that. This brand takes care of office or school supply needs while simultaneously planting trees in Zambia, Africa for every purchase.
Jot down notes in your climate-positive notebook with Sprout World’s non-toxic, sustainably-sourced, plantable pencils.
ZERO WASTE FOOD PRODUCTS IN BULK
Fresh food can generally be purchased with zero waste from grocery stores. Just remember to bring your produce bags and avoid those silly wrapped things (like bananas?!?).
But what about dry food and all the layers of laminated cardboard and plastic bags?!
Finding bulk food stores that allow you to bring your own containers is key here.You can find one in your area by using Zero Waste Home’s map.
If there isn’t one near you, look into some of the bulk stores online.
WHAT WE LOOK FOR IN ZERO WASTE PRODUCTS
Materials:
Whether it’s reusable, refillable, returnable, or compostable, we don’t mind—as long as it’s plastic-free! For packaging, this might mean tins, glass, or cardboard.
When it comes to certain materials (organic cotton, for instance), it’s even better when it comes with a certification so we know we’re not composting any chemical pesticides or other toxic materials used in manufacturing.
- Certifications: OEKO-TEX, GOTS, Fair Trade
End of Life:
Zero waste ultimately means sending nothing to landfills, which requires a little innovation on the part of these brands—and is why we’re seeing products like refillable laundry detergent and plantable pens.
At the end of the day, these products consider the 5 R’s: refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, and rot. If a product doesn’t fit at least one of these (recycling being the last choice), then it’s not zero waste.
Sustainable and ethical business practices:
We’re lucky to have brands that go above and beyond when it comes to protecting our planet.
These include the zero waste fashion brands that not only support circular economies, but also provide us with programs to send back old garments to be recycled.
Offering products for zero waste living inherently makes a company somewhat sustainable.
Most of these companies, however, go above and beyond by supporting fair trade initiatives (which ensure employees receive fair wages, safe working conditions, and other protections), carbon-neutral practices, environmental efforts like tree planting, or are members of 1% for the Planet.
- Certifications: Fair Trade, Certified B Corp, Climate Neutral
FINAL THOUGHTS ON ZERO WASTE PRODUCTS
Going zero waste can certainly be intimidating… but it can also be all sorts of fun!
When it comes to living a low waste lifestyle, perfection isn’t the prime objective.
Simply swapping out one or a few of your “normal” items for these zero waste products is a significant move—one that will encourage more companies like these to better mind the waste their products incur.
Even if you’re not in a position to buy a zero waste shampoo bar or try out a menstrual cup, you can still support the zero waste movement by sharing this article with friends and family.
Together, we can pave the way towards a better future with less waste.
