If there’s one thing becoming moms has taught us, it’s that raising little ones can involve a lotttt of waste. From diapers to food containers and pouches, there are just so many single use products designed for convenience that unfortunately, also wreak havoc on the environment. Just what we moms needed–more guilt.
And as Brenda quickly learned, the more little ones you have, the bigger your footprint. Two kids means double the diapers, double the plastic cups, and double the disposable placemats in the trash.
As for me (Deanna), since I’ve been making most of Ben’s food from scratch, I’ve been using an embarrassing amount of plastic sandwich bags, Saran Wrap, paper towels, you name it.
As moms, we need convenience. But we also really care about preserving the world that our little ones will grow up in. What we really need are eco-friendly alternatives to the every day convenience items that make momming a little easier.
That’s why we compiled this list.
Whether you’re a parent or not, if throwing out plastic sends shivers up your spine, this round-up is for you. From reusable straws to eco-friendly sunglasses, we’ve compiled a list of 2019’s best earth-friendly products. We’ve tried all of these products ourselves, so we can vouch for their quality. And thankfully, our conscious is clean as we cut every corner possible to survive mom life.
So, without further ado, here are our top eco-friendly picks of 2019:
- GlassSipper Glass Straws >
What began as a passion project for founder Aimee Promislow quickly transformed into a thriving, earth-friendly business. GlassSipper sells reusable, toxin-free, environmentally-friendly glass drinking straws with an artistic twist. Featuring adorable designs, flowers or animals at the top, the straws are as beautiful as they are practical. And we love that the adorable designs make it easy to distinguish whose straw is whose… queue the mom sigh of relief. - Ello Food Storage Containers >
Ello makes it easy to ditch the plastic Tupperware with their glass storage containers featuring leak-proof snap lids. Available in a variety of sizes perfect for meal preppers, moms and more, these containers are made from all-natural, sustainable raw material (mostly sand).
And they’re free from BPA, BPS, phthalates and lead, so there’s no risk of these damaging chemicals leaching into your food.
Plus, since glass doesn’t take on odor or taste, your food will always taste like… well, food.
This awesome brand does more than just food storage containers–they’ve got water bottles, tumblers, reusable straws and more. - ETEE Reusable Food Wraps >
After a kayaking excursion was cut short by a pile of plastic so large it caused his boat to flip, ETEE founder Steve Reble decided something had to change.
Inspired by the ancient Egyptians, who used a unique combo of beeswax and tree resins to preserve the deceased, Steve and team created an awesome line of reusable, natural and biodegradable versions of every day kitchen essentials like sandwich bags and plastic wrap.
We’ve been using the wraps on all kinds of produce and leftovers, and can vouch for their quality and effectiveness. We especially love that we no longer have to live with that pang of guilt that comes with tossing plastic wrap in the trash after just one use. - Healthy Human Water Bottles >
Disgusted by the amount of single-use plastic products he noticed people using as he traveled the globe, Healthy Human founder Richard Stanton was determined to put a stop to it. Noting that plastic water bottles were one of the biggest offenders, Richard and the Healthy Human team set out to design the ideal reusable water bottle. They worked with product designers and manufacturers all over the world to get it just right.. From ensuring the bottle’s mouth was big enough for ice cubes, to lining the tops with stainless steel so no plastic ever touches your drink, to designing a comfortable three-finger carry lid, and ensuring the bottles keep drinks cold or hot for hours, Richard and his team thought of it all.
The result? A beautifully and thoughtfully designed bottle that can replace nearly 170 plastic water bottles per year. - Parasol Diapers >
Although no disposable diaper is 100% biodegradable or compostable, Parasol Co has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council as using materials sourced from certified-sustainable forests.
Their diapers are designed for maximum absorbency and softness while using the minimum amount of wood pulp–a component of many disposable diapers that is sourced from trees and impacts our forests and environment.
They don’t use bleach on their products just to achieve a whiter look as some brands do. And because they use super-absorbent polymers that are non-irritating and non harmful to the skin, their diapers are thin, which reduces landfill waste.
The diapers themselves come in adorable, stylish patterns, and the shipments come in boxes with prints that little ones can color.
Perhaps our favorite thing? The brand never does any animal testing or uses any animal products in the manufacturing of their products.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: The Best Organic Candy on the Market > - Silikids Reusable Silimap Placemats >
Dining out with a toddler is kind of like sitting down to a meal with the Tasmanian devil. There’s flying food, smacking spoons, and glass grabbing. Whether your little one is still in the puree phase, or is a full on finger food fan, one thing that can make things a little bit cleaner is a placemat.
Many brands offer disposable, take and toss options that are convenient, but these disposable placemats pile up in our landfills, and are incredibly damaging to the environment.
That’s why we love the Silimap reusable placemat. It’s a portable, 100% silicone placemat that contains no hazardous chemicals, and sticks to any surface. It has pre-sectioned panels that can be wiped clean then folded up and tossed in the diaper bag, making it perfect for traveling or dining out. It is also dishwasher-safe (for those times a simple wipe down won’t suffice).
But that’s not all. What makes the Silimap placemat extra unique, is that it is covered in a large map of the United States that can be colored with washable marker, crayon or pen, and easily wipes clean. This makes it a great learning tool (and a much needed distraction) for your little ones. - KoffieStraw Silicone Coffee Straws >
If you know anything about us, you know we love coffee almost as much as we love our children.
That’s why, when we learned that KoffieStraw founder Rita DiOrio had designed a 100% silicone straw that can be submerged in a hot cup of coffee without leaching BPA, lead or other harmful chemicals into our drinks, we knew we had to try it out.
One sip, and we were in love.
Why even use a straw for coffee? Well, when you drink it as much as we do, you run the risk of staining your teeth pretty badly. Using a straw helps prevent that from happening. Plus, let’s be honest: Everything is better with a straw–as long as it’s reusable. - Blue Planet Sunglasses >
We have to admit, we didn’t know the impact sunglasses manufacturing can have–until a friend told us about this amazing company.
See, as it turns out, most sunglasses are manufactured with materials like plastic, metal and paint that leave behind large deposits of waste–much of it toxic.
Blue Planet strives to eliminate the burden manufacturing sunglasses places on our environment.
The company’s eco-processed polarized collection is repurposed with reclaimed plastics and metals. And their bamboo and wood sun collection is made from natural bamboo or wood, recycled and reclaimed plastics and metals and polarized lenses on several styles. With both lines, the standard polarized lenses provide 100% UVA/UVB protection.
And they’re super stylish, too. They’ve got every shape, size and color. We’re just happy they’re so affordable because we can’t stop adding more to our collections. - Rebel Green Tree-Free Paper Products >
It might be hard to imagine toilet paper and paper towels being made from anything but trees, but Ali Florsheim and Melina Marcus, the founders of Rebel Green, figured out how to do it.
Since trees can take 30 years to regrow, the impact of using them to create paper products is pretty substantial. That’s why Ali and Melina are committed to creating 100% tree-free paper products made from sustainable bamboo. Bamboo grows very quickly–it takes just three to four months for bamboo to fully mature and be ready for harvest again. Thus, Rebel Green’s tree-free paper products are safer, earth-friendly, and gentle on the planet. Plus, they’re carbon neutral.
And to add to the pile of pluses, whenever possible, Rebel Green only creates products made right here in the U.S. that are specifically designed to minimize waste and motivate a fundamental shift in thinking about the planet we share.
We also love their all natural cleaners, hand soaps and produce sprays. - SeaStraws Steel Reusable Straws >
By now, it’s probably clear: We love straws. And SeaStraws is one of our absolutely favorite sustainable straw creators. They make paper straws from SFI certified paper from renewable forestry, and they manufacture them right here in the U.S. The straws break down within 60 days, which is a marked improvement over the 200 years it takes for a plastic straw to decompose.
They also make silicone and steel straws, and cutlery from FSC-certified wood. - Organic Basics Undergarments and Leggings >
I admit: I’ve become a total stereotype. I’m officially THAT mom–the one who wears leggings every. single. day. But thanks to this awesome brand, my mom uniform isn’t just comfortable, it’s also stylish. More importantly, though, it’s also environmentally-friendly.
Organic Basics puts sustainable thinking at the center of everything.
They only work with trusted, certified factory partners who have the same sustainable vision, and work hard to reduce their environmental footprint. These factories also ensure that their workplace is free of child and forced labor. Their workers are provided a safe working space, paid a living wage, and are offered employee perks like free lunch and childcare.
Not only that, Organic Basics handpicks every single fabric they use based on its environmental footprint and lifetime durability. We only ever use Class A and B fibers, and the most responsible fabric material and technology available. That means natural, renewable, recycled, biodegradable and or low-impact textiles only.
We hand-pick GOTS-certified organic cotton, chemical-free organic cotton that’s grown on the coast of the Aegean Sea and is regarded as some of the softest and most durable cotton in the world. This certification also guarantees that those who make this cotton are paid fair living wages and treated like humans.
We love the Burgundy leggings–not only are they insanely comfortable, they are super flattering, and the color sets them apart from every other pair of black leggings we own. We also love their bras and underwear. They’re comfortable and fit perfectly, plus they have a sleek look that makes us feel a little less mom, a little more style maven.
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