In preparation for Earth Day, I’ve been thinking about simple, impactful ways to live more sustainably—especially as a mom of three! My kids are young, so my thoughts frequently gravitate towards wanting to leave this place better for both my kids and eventual grandkids.
If you’ve ever searched for ways to be more sustainable or how to live a zero-waste lifestyle, it can start to feel overwhelming. So my tip is to start small and start at home. One thing we can all do right away is switch to eco friendly products that lessen our impact on the environment.
All of these swaps I’m recommending here are easy, sustainable changes that we have made in our lives. Little changes could make a huge difference in the environment if we all did our part!
Also, keep in mind that you don’t have to do it all. Pick one area of your home or life to focus on — or even just one item. These are just suggestions, so make sure to pick whatever eco friendly products and swaps make sense for you!
You also don’t need to toss anything out. Use what you have first (or donate it, if you really want to begin using eco friendly products immediately), then make the switch when you’re ready. Remember that these products may cost more upfront, but they typically last a lot longer, so you actually end up buying less!
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Eco Friendly Products for the Kitchen
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Reusable Food Wraps: Swap plastic wrap for beeswax or silicone wraps. Not only will you cut down on waste, but silicone doesn’t leach chemicals like plastic does when heating and freezing food.
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Cloth Napkins and Towels: Replace disposable paper products with washable cloth ones. I love using these Geometry napkins (my code MKMMBI15 gets you 15% off your order) to make mealtime more fun and these Swedish dishcloths for wiping up spills in the kitchen or at the table. Fun fact: one Swedish dishcloth replaces 15 rolls of paper towels!
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Compost Bin: Start composting food scraps to reduce waste. Toss them in a small compost bin (these compost bags help!) if curbside pickup is an option where you live. Or you can do your own composting at home and use it in your garden beds to improve soil and keep plants healthy.
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Silicone Cupcake Liners: These reusable baking cups work so much better than paper liners! If you frequently bake muffins or cupcakes, you’ll find they pop out a lot easier. You can also use them to hold snacks.
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Reusable Baking Mat: An eco friendly alternative to foil and parchment paper! These silicone mats can be reused over and over for baking, roasting, or food prep.
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Oil Sprayer: This refillable oil sprayer reduces waste (and helps you save money) by eliminating the need for single-use aerosol sprayers. I use mine daily!
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Natural Sponges: These plant-based sponges are biodegradable and come in 100% recyclable packaging. They also dry quickly, making them less prone to growing bacteria, so they’ll last longer.
Tips for using these eco friendly products:
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Throw sponges in the dishwasher to kill any bacteria and help them last even longer.
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Buy oil in bulk for your refillable sprayers — this will save you more money!
Eco Friendly Products for On the Go
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Reusable Water Bottles: Trade single-use plastic bottles for durable, reusable ones that will last for years. This Hydro Flask water bottle is my favorite one for kids.
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Travel Mugs: Did you know that 50 billion paper cups end up in landfills every year? And they take 20 years to decompose! Instead, bring your travel mug along if you need coffee on the go. Many coffee shops will also let you fill up for a discount!
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Eco Friendly Lunch Containers: Use stainless steel or BPA-free reusable containers instead of single-use plastic bags, which never fully decompose. I love these silicone snack bags — just one can replace 260 plastic bags! Or you can ditch all of the bags and put your entire lunch in these cute Bentgo boxes. These Bentgo kids lunch boxes are great for younger kids.
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Tote Bags: Carry reusable shopping bags for groceries and errands. Along with reducing plastic waste, they can hold more items and are more durable, so you only need 2-3 of them. This also makes bagging, carrying, and unloading a lot easier!
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Reusable Produce Bags: Just one reusable produce bag eliminates about 1,000 plastic bags in its lifetime. I like these mesh bags because they come in different sizes to hold any kind of produce, plus they’re easier to open and keep produce fresh for longer!
Tips for using these eco friendly products:
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After emptying and washing produce bags, pop them back into your reusable grocery bags so they’re already there for your next trip.
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Place reusable bags by the door or near your keys. Put bags next to you in the car so you don’t forget them in the trunk.
Eco Friendly Products for Around the Home
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LED Bulbs: Replace traditional light bulbs with energy-saving LED options. They’ll last longer, too!
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Eco Friendly Cleaning Products: Opt for non-toxic, biodegradable cleaners. I love Method’s all-purpose cleaner, particularly this grapefruit one! It smells good, it’s powerful, and it’s made with plant-based ingredients. The bottle is also made from 100% recycled plastic.
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Smart Power Strips: Did you know that plugged-in electronics and devices still drain power? Smart strips can detect when a device isn’t being used and will cut off its power to reduce energy consumption.
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Wool Dryer Balls: Replace single-use dryer sheets with wool dryer balls that can last for over 1,000 loads! Not only are they more economical, but they help clothes dry faster, too.
Tips for using these eco friendly products:
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If possible, use LED dimmer switches to reduce your energy use even further and extend the life of your LED bulbs.
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Check out my Essential Cleaning Supplies post to see how you can use everyday kitchen items as alternatives to chemical-based cleaners.
Eco Friendly Products for the Kids (and You)
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Wooden or Recycled Toys: Choose sustainable toys made from wood or recycled materials. Unlike plastic, wooden toys last longer and are biodegradable. Plus they encourage more imaginative play!
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Non-Toxic Bathtub Drops & Bath Bombs: These fizzy tablets make bathtime fun and are a great natural alternative to bath bombs. But if you kids love bath bombs like mine do, these natural ones are a great option.
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Snack Cups: We all know toddlers love to snack! These BPA-free and spill-proof snack cups are perfect for snacking at home or on the go without a huge mess.
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DIY Crafts: Use recyclable or upcycled materials for kids’ crafts, such as paper, cardboard, magazines, and glass jars. Another fun idea is to go on a walk and collect sticks, leaves, and more to create nature art.
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Secondhand Clothes: 100 billion items of clothing are produced each year — and 60% or more of it ends up in landfills. Buy only what you need and shop thrift stores or organize clothing swaps with friends. As a bonus, you’ll save a lot of money and find cute, unique clothing!
Tips for using these eco friendly products:
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Remember that the fewer toys you have, the more likely it is that your kids will play with them! Check kids’ consignment stores, Facebook Marketplace, and your local Buy Nothing Group to find sustainable toys at a more affordable price.
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If going into a thrift store feels overwhelming, declutter closets first so you know exactly what’s in there and what you need to buy. You can also check out online stores like ThredUp or Poshmark to find specific pieces.
Eco Friendly Products for the Bathroom
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Bamboo Toothbrushes: Replace plastic toothbrushes with bamboo ones, which are biodegradable.
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Refillable Soap Dispensers: Reduce your use of single-use plastic by opting for refillable hand soap bottles, using bar soap, or making DIY soap.
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Reusable Makeup Removers: Use washable cotton rounds or a makeup eraser cloth instead of disposables.
- Bamboo Cotton Swabs: Switch from single-use plastic cotton buds to bamboo cotton swabs.
Tips for using these eco friendly products:
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Turn off the water while brushing your teeth. This can save up to 8 gallons of water a day!
- Don't forget to recycle! Rinse bottles and containers out, then discard any pumps or lids.
More Ideas
If you’re looking for other ways to be eco-friendly, here are a few more ideas:
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Bike when you can, carpool, or take public transit
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Avoid letting the water run and turn off lights when not in use
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Visit farmer’s markets to find locally sourced food, or start your own garden
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Check out local services, such as Ridwell, for recycling plastic
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Learn how to mend clothes before replacing them
Making Sustainable Swaps Easy: FAQs from One Mom to Another
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What are the easiest eco-friendly swaps to start with?
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While everything listed above is relatively easy, the key is to start small. Ditch plastic bottles and opt for a high-quality reusable one. Swap paper napkins and paper towels for reusable ones and replace single-use plastic baggies with durable, washable silicone bags. Every time a light bulb goes out in the house, replace it with an LED bulb.
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Do eco friendly products really save money?
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Yes! Despite higher upfront costs, eco friendly products can actually save you money in the long run. They’re designed to be more durable, reusable, and sustainable, which means less waste and fewer replacements. Even small swaps can make a difference! Start with what makes sense for your lifestyle and, over time, these choices will add up to noticeable savings.
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How can busy moms make sustainable choices without stress?
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Sustainability doesn’t have to be overwhelming! For busy moms juggling kids, schedules, and endless to-dos, the key is to start small, keep it simple, and focus on what fits your lifestyle. My recommendation is to make one swap at a time. I love to involve my kids. Let them pick out a cool new reusable water bottle. Next time you bake with your kids, use a silicone baking mat or silicone baking cups instead of disposable kitchen items.
Have more ideas for living sustainably? Or eco friendly products in your home that you love? Please share them with us below so we can try them out! Also, check back here later for a new post on Earth Day activities for kids.
