You are noticing all of the plastic and chemicals you use in your life, and you want to make a change?

That's awesome!!

We all need to shift how we do things to take care of the environment. One of the best ways to start is to think about the things we do the most- shop for groceries, do laundry, eat breakfast, and start there. If you start with your regular habits (instead of your big purchases, you can actually have a greater impact!

So, what is one thing I feel like I am doing all the time?

Dishes. Freaking dishes.

Since dishes are the bane (and constant) of my existence (and maybe yours), green options for everything I use is key to our family having a positive impact. These are the basics to go by:

1. Always think Reusable and Refillable

Anything you can keep using is a huge win for the environment. The longer a "use-life" an object has, the better. For example, I can use the same unsponges for years, where a regular sponge will only last a month or two before it gets janky. The more you can reuse something, the less garbage it makes. This goes for what you already have too- if you already have a dish brush, use it until it is just a nubbin before you get a new one!

Equally great is refillable stuff! For soaps, you can stop buying small bottles and refill the bottle you already have. If there is a zero-waste or bulk store near you, you can refill your bottles there. If not, you still have options like The Refill Revolution.  It allows you to skip the container and eliminate plastic waste.

2. Buy Secondhand

Soap dishes, drying racks, and those spare spoons you need to replace the ones you inexplicably lose are all available used. Save money and minimize the waste you create by looking secondhand first.

3. Buy Local

Lots of the things on this list are not mainstream yet, but you can still find all of them on Amazon. I highly recommend checking Etsy stores and small stores like The Refill Revolution or Tiny Yellow Bungalow first. Check and see how far the nearest zero waste store is- my hometown has one! You may be surprised!

This blog does use affiliate links for Amazon and Etsy, which means we make a teeny bit of money if you buy something you click on here. That said, I totally believe what I said before. You do way more good if you shop local or from small sellers. Shop there. 

Ok, dish time! Let's do this!

from marleysmonsters

Reusable Sponges

Rather than use the Scotch Brite sponges that are wrapped in plastic and made with plastic, consider switching to “unsponges” or biodegradable sponges instead. We use marleysmonsters unsponges. We got three at the beginning of 2018, and we are still using them now (though we added 2 more to the collection). We have a container in our kitchen that we throw them in (wish dish rags and cloth napkins), and they all get laundered once a week. It's super simple.

I love these unsponges, and I would recommend them to anyone.

There are lots of other unsponge options. Check out these ones from HuggableEarth, TheLittleWanderersCo, TheHealthyEarthCo, TheGreenHaven, and PacificNWNursery.

Another option is to use a biodegradable loofah sponge instead. Here is another one to check out (with perfect reviews). They won't last as long, but they will completely biodegrade. Full Circle also sells a walnut-based sponge that will biodegrade as well.

If you need something even tougher, this Redecker copper scrubber might be great as well.

from The Refill Revolution

A Dish Brush

These brushes from Redecker are perfect for getting things clean AND they are made of wood so they biodegrade. I think this little brush is just about the cutest thing ever, though I wonder if you would find the smile mocking after enough dishes. Then again, you could use your aggression against the patriarchy to get your dishes clean? You could also get this Redecker brush with a handle if you want something less fraught with gender stuff (and you can get replacement heads). Redecker sells bottle brushes as well.

Full Circle also makes a bunch of models of dish brushes, and this one is our favorite.

Dish Soap

For the longest time, I was all about Dawn Dish Soap (you can do so much with that stuff), but now I feel a little more skeptical. It is made with petrochemicals, so it brings a lot of unwanted stuff into your home.

No matter what you buy, try for something refillable or AT LEAST in bulk. The larger containers actually create less plastic waste (one giant bottle vs 5 or 6 small bottles really adds up). If you want to get in this habit, The Refill Revolution sells large reused containers of dish soap that you can buy refills for from now on. Then they have refills of dish soap you can buy as well, which is what we are now doing. Biokleen is a pretty great company for this!

Dishwasher Soap

For a few months, we have used biokleen dishwasher powder for our dishwasher, and it works as well as anything we used to buy at the store with our pretty lame dishwasher. Biokleen also sells a gel version if you feel more comfortable with something more familiar.

We bought our first set in a container, and now we buy refills. I would highly suggest using containers you already have; a yogurt tub or coffee container could hold the powder as well as anything else. This honestly is an easy one to switch.

Drying Rack

Drying Racks get tons of use, but you don't need to buy one all that often. I would recommend looking secondhand first- you may be surprised! People move and what they need changes.  The most waste-free options include bamboo and metal (plastic ones may not last as long, though those are most of the ones made in the US).  Bamboo will decompose (so way better for the Earth) and metal can be reused and then recycled. From a waste perspective, these are better options, but you have to weigh your own priorities.

For Bamboo, check out these racks from Totally Bamboo and HBLife Bamboo.

For metal, you can't do more minimalist than these over the sink racks, which collapse (or this one with perfect reviews rolls up) and could easily be put in the drawer (I wish we had one of these when we were in an apartment). For a more conventional rack, Rubbermaid makes coated metal racks here in the US that look like they will last. For something more stylish check out this cross one, this sturdy one, and this expandable one (you can move it into the sink too).

from mudworks,

Sponge Holder

Sometimes a reused soap dish or even napkin holder can make a perfect place to hold your sponges, but if that is not for you, there are some simple and stylish options that makes your kitchen sink clean and beautiful.

We have a beautiful, simple holder from SawyerCeramics, but Etsy has so many options for beautiful ceramic holders. Check out PurpleHeatherPottery, mudworks, cinderceramics, scarlettwares, and TrilliumFineArts. If ceramics don't fit your style, these concrete folders from CRETETATION are super cool too.

If you use a brush too, I think this scarlettwares holder with spots for both could keep your counter look cleaner as well. If you want something in the sink that isn't plastic, this looks to be your best (most plastic-free) option.

I finish this blog with another sink's worth of dishes waiting for me. It never ends! What is the best eco-friendly switch you made for doing your dishes?



Want more eco-friendly ideas for every nook and cranny of your house? Check out the Green Home page for tons of posts and ideas!

Your sheets have finally bit the dust, and you want to find something greener than your old Target mainstays. We have been there! If you are trying to establish a green home, treating your bed as a green and natural space can transform your whole day and outlook. If you are looking for green options, I have lots of ideas for you.

There are a few steps to take to shift your shopping practices to something greener. It can be uncomfortable at first, but once you get the hang of it, you will never want to go back!

1. Use What You Already Have

Does what you have still work? Why are you ready to move on? We discard millions of still useful items every day. If you can get more life out of your sheets, then the greenest thing you can do is to keep using them. So even if you want to shift your style, consider how to make what you already have work.

Simply buying less is a profound positive change for your life and your world.

If you are ready to be done with something, do NOT throw it away. First, check with your local Buy Nothing group to see if anyone can use it (don't have a Buy Nothing group yet? Check this website for information about the project and to get started). If that isn't an option, you can still donate the vast majority of what you own. Check the bottom of this page for tons of tips on where to donate things. Throwing things away has to be a last resort.

As a side note, you can also buy less for redefining what you "need." 2 sets of sheets is plenty, one to be used when the other is washed. A few extra pillowcases for while some are being washed. In other words, you can minimize waste by simply setting some numbers for what you really need.

2. Buy Used

If you are going to buy something and you want to have a positive impact, you have two options- buy it to last or buy it used. If you can't afford (or it just doesn't seem worth it) to buy the ethically-made stuff, you can always finds tons of sheets, blankets, and pillowcases at Goodwill.

Secondhand shopping used to have a stigma, but it is one of the BEST things you can do for the environment. It cuts down on fossil fuel/shipping waste, sidesteps plastic packaging, doesn't reward unethical labor, AND keeps objects out of landfills. No matter what item we are talking about, the first step is to check your local thrift stores, online spaces, even Ebay to find a used option.

And you can throw this stuff in the washing machine and have it come out as good as new.

That said, I don't necessarily recommend getting a mattress used. At the least, you should know the person who gives it to you. Bed bugs is no joke.

3. Buy Ethical and Local (and Made to Last)

For about 3 years, we had two pairs of sheets, both from Target. We used one until it literally was threadbare. Our new set of sheets from Holy Lamb Organics feel better, and I am hopeful they last longer, but even if they don't, I feel really good about them for two reasons: 1. When we are done with them, they are made of all organic (not synthetic) material, so they will break down. 2. I know that the people who harvested the cotton and manufactured the sheets were treated well.

For me, I can no longer live with items that I know someone was mistreated to make. I cannot fund someone else's abuse. So I will only buy from companies that manufacture in countries with high labor standards or with fair trade certification.

If companies are concerned with how they treat their people, they tend to also care more about their impact on the environment. It's not a universal rule, but a general trend.

I also believe deeply in buying local (for us that means Made in America, but obviously you need to shop where you are) and avoiding animal products. Shipping is a huge part of the fossil fuel use causing climate change. Shipping tends to be an invisible part of our impact; we don't think about the journeys every item we buy takes, but when our stuff travels way more than we do, it is actually a huge part of the CO2 we are responsible for. In a similar vein, animal products are not only often cruel, but they waste many more resources than the same thing in a plant product.

In other words, cotton trumps synthetic and cotton also beats out wool or down. Whether synthetic or animal product is worse is up to your own priorities, so I still have some of both on the list because I know every person comes to these challenges with their own priorities and challenges. For example, the company Eighth Generation is amazing, American-made, and you can support an undersupported population, but they do use wool. The right answer is not universal here, so options are important (though I will say I can avoid most of these questions in my own life just by doing the vast majority of my shopping secondhand).

So, what can we do?

It takes a lot of research to figure out where one object is made, and the average American home has 300,000 objects in it. Who has time to research that much?  Luckily, I have done that for you. I will give you the best of brand new options, but the first answer is to embrace buying less and buying secondhand. The greenest, most zero-waste plates in the world will still not be as green as just not buying anything.

In the trickier sections, I have marked whether something seems to be vegan or zero waste. I don't think there are many certifications in this area, so no guarantees (hence never trying this before), but if you come to this from wanting to minimize your waste or consume no animals, I hopefully have made the path more clear.

These blogs have Amazon and Etsy affiliate links. I definitely encourage you to shop Etsy, but if you can avoid Amazon, do so.It's the Walmart of the internet. Instead, shop in your locally-owned stores or even places like Costco that are known for their excellent labor practices! 

That said, let's get going.

from moderncre8tive

The Bed

Our Pick- Used! or Local Furniture Makers
Other Options- American Eco Furniture, moderncre8ve, BarnWoodFurniture, GeorgiaArtisan, Lunar Canyon, KnotsandBiscuits (I love this one), TheReclaimedNation, SolidCherryHeirlooms, Maine Cottage, Online Amish Furniture, Vermont Wood Studios, Wren and Cooper, Dutch Crafters,

If you can find a bed used that you love, do that! I have seen people ask for beds on Buy Nothing and happily receive them. Cheap and you are saving the world. Otherwise, you have people who make furniture who live near you. Support your community and cut down on fossil fuels by looking into makers and companies (and Amish people if you grew up where I did) that make beds and other furniture.

You can also find amazing things made in the states by poking around on Etsy (I especially love sellers who make things from reclaimed wood).

Mattress

Our Pick- Saatva (v)
Other Options- Sealy, Plush Beds (v?), Thomasville, Casper (v, not zw), Stearns and Foster (most expensive use some eco-friendly materials), Tuft and Needle (no info either way), Kingsdown, Englander (v), and Cozy Pure (not vegan, zw)

Ok, I have excellent news; TONS of mattresses are made in the USA! The bad news is I have very minimal mattress experience to work with, so choosing a top pick seems tricky. Saatva wins purely because they use fewer synthetic (meaning petro-chemical-based) materials. My best advice is to head to a mattress store with this list in hand (and an eye out for Made in America and organic labeling- they will always brag about it) and find what actually feels good.

There are seriously so many American-made mattresses, though not all have as high environmental standards. If you want to research some of your own, I would check out this list from my beloved USA Love List.

If you have a well-worn or not quite right mattress, many and most of these companies also sell mattress toppers. This is a perfect way to keep using what you already have longer and minimize your impact. Just prioritize ones made of organic materials.

Blankets

Our Pick- Something homemade
Other Options- Amana (v and zw), American Made Dorm and Home (mostly v and zw, but not all), Brahms Mount (zw, have some blankets with an alpaca mix), Eighth Generation (zw, except the edge band), Faribault (zw), Holy Lamb Organics (zw, not vegan), Maine Heritage Weavers v and zw), Pendleton (not zw, but super high sustainability rating, including how they treat the sheep), Woolrich (zw)

Oh there are so many blanket options out there. One of the great ones is to make one yourself or make something made. Quilts on Etsy are freaking amazing, but they are definitely pricey. Some of the blankets on here use materials like down and wool, and those come at a higher environmental (and ethical) cost than

Yes, these blankets are more expensive than what you are used to. That's because the person who made it was treated well. There are a few all cotton gems that are both totally biodegradable and completely animal-product free. I would start there.

Sheets and Pillowcases

Our Pick- Cozy Pure and Holy Lamb Organics
Other Options- Linoto, Kelly Green Organics, Native Organics,

There are tons of options for sheets out there, and lots of them use organic cotton and are made in the US. I feel like we will slowly test all of these companies, but it will take a while, because we only have 2 sets at a time.

Pillows

Our Pick- Casper (v) and Cozy Pure (some zw, not vegan)
Other Options- Tuft and Needle (v, uses down alternative), The Company Store (has zw down and v foam, but I don't see anything that checks both boxes), Holy Lamb Organics (zw, not vegan)

I don't often say this, but I don't recommend getting pillows used. Just not worth the risks.

Since I have shopped at Cozy Pure, I would maybe take the leap and buy an organic foam pillow from them (down has always made my face itch, and we avoid animal products). That said, mostly I think you need to actually feel a pillow before you buy it. Keep a look out for Made in America, Organic, or even Fair Trade stickers on the packaging. If you don't see anything like that, move on to the next one.



Want even more Bedroom options and ideas? Check out our wedding registry, which is damn thorough. For even more ideas about how to make your home, wherever you live, greener- check out the Green Homes page!

You have some things you would like to buy, but you are trying to take care of the environment. Good on you! Your table is a place for food and togetherness, so why not add to those good feelings by also making it a space of stewardship?

You can find green options for ANYTHING, and I will help you skip the research.

If you need something for your table, check out this list for green options for everything from:

Cereal Bowls
Glasses
Mugs
Napkins
Plates and Place Settings
Silverware
Salt and Pepper Grinders
Salad Bowl
Straws
Tablecloths/ Placemats
Vases

There are more things that go on your table, but this starts you off with the basics. If there is something in particular you are looking for, please comment and we will track it down!

There are a few steps to take to shift your shopping practices to something greener. It can be uncomfortable at first, but once you get the hang of it, you will never want to go back!

1. Use What You Already Have

Does what you have still work? Why are you ready to move on? We discard millions of still useful items every day. If you can get more life out of your plates or silverware, then the greenest thing you can do is to keep using them. So even if you want to shift your style, consider how to make what you already have work.

Simply buying less is a profound positive change for your life and your world.

Consider checking if your family or neighbors have hand me downs they are ready to part with too. It's greener, and you save tons of money!

If you are ready to be done with something, do NOT throw it away. First, check with your local Buy Nothing group to see if anyone can use it (don't have a Buy Nothing group yet? Check this website for information about the project and to get started). If that isn't an option, you can still donate the vast majority of what you own. Check the bottom of this page for tons of tips on where to donate things. Throwing things away has to be a last resort.

2. Buy Used

If you are going to buy something and you want to have a positive impact, you have two options- buy it to last or buy it used. If you can't afford (or it just doesn't seem worth it) to buy the ethically-made, long-lasting silverware, then buy one of the bags of silverware at Goodwill.

Secondhand shopping used to have a stigma, but it is one of the BEST things you can do for the environment. If you want to live a greener life, this is a necessary step. It cuts down on fossil fuel/shipping waste, sidesteps plastic packaging, doesn't reward unethical labor, AND keeps objects out of landfills. No matter what item we are talking about, the first step is to check your local thrift stores, online spaces, even Ebay to find a used option.

You will be amazed how many things are out there secondhand. You can find almost anything!

3. Buy Ethical and Local (and Made to Last)

You can buy a 40 dollar set of dishes instead of a 200 dollar set of dishes. But if you have to replace it 5 times in the same 40 year period you will use the 200 set, you have wasted your time and money. An immediate deal will often cost more in the long run, and though expensive does NOT necessarily mean better, better often does mean more expensive.

For me, I can no longer live with items that I know someone was mistreated to make. I cannot fund someone else's abuse. So I will only buy from companies that manufacture in countries with high labor standards or with fair trade certification.

If companies are concerned with how they treat their people, they tend to also care more about their impact on the environment. It's not a universal rule, but a general trend.

I also believe deeply in buying local (for us that means Made in America, but obviously you need to shop where you are). Shipping is a huge part of the fossil fuel use causing climate change. Shipping tends to be an invisible part of our impact; we don't think about the journeys every item we buy takes, but when our stuff travels way more than we do, it is actually a huge part of the CO2 we are responsible for.

So, what do I do? 

It takes a lot of research to figure out where one object is made, and the average American home has 300,000 objects in it. Even if you only research for half an hour for each thing, you have still spent 150,000 hours researching? That's 17 years of your life! Who has time to research that much?  Luckily, I have done that for you. I will give you the best of brand new options, but the first answer is to embrace buying less and buying secondhand.

 The greenest, most zero-waste plates in the world will still not be as green as just not buying anything.

These blogs have Amazon and Etsy affiliate links. I definitely encourage you to shop Etsy, but if you can avoid Amazon, do so. Instead, shop in your locally-owned stores or even places like Costco that are known for their excellent labor practices! 

That said, let's get going.

Cereal Bowls

Our Pick- Circa Ceramics 
Other Options- Calibowls, Fiesta, Corelle, inherwordsceramics, LindaReneePottery, Lesliefreemandesigns

Ceramics are glazed and some of the chemicals are more desirable than others. In most cases, it doesn't matter too much, but if you tend to heat your ceramic plates (microwave oatmeal, etc), then you do want to look into that part of it.

This one really depends on your taste. You can find super simple and clean from Fiesta or Corelle, or you can find something with a more handmade feeling on Etsy. Just buy something made locally and built to last you (so pick something that will fit your taste for a long time). Another pro is you can write them and specifically request they only use compostable packaging.

Anchor Hocking from Amazon

Everyday Beverage Glasses

Our Pick- Anchor Hocking 16 oz glasses
Other Options- Stainless Steel, mason jars, Anchor Hocking's wavv, squared off, classic, grid , and curved sets. Novica recycled blue glasses, Fiesta everyday glasses, and Libbey

There are lots of recycled and American-made glass sets, but we are committed to our Anchor Hocking glasses. They are dang cheap but incredibly tough, made for commercial use. I am confident these glasses will last us forever!

If breakable glass doesn't appeal, you could also try stainless steel tumblers, which are super durable and will basically last you forever. We also use secondhand 8 oz mason jars for our juice cups now, which stand up really well to two toddler boys.

Mugs

Our Pick- Used or Circa Ceramics
Other Options- American Mug Pottery, Etsy, Fiesta

There are so many used mugs in the world, waiting at your local thrift shop, dying to be used. I don't care where you are and where you live, you can find used mugs.

If you do need a new mug, there are almost 500,000 on Etsy of every cute persuasion. I would recommend ones that were made (not just some sort of picture put on a mug) so you are supporting ethical manufacturing. I also think the

Napkins

Our Pick- Clear Sky Home and Oh Little Rabbit
Other Options- Creekside Kid, moocowmomma, thehighfiber, CHOWwithme

Maybe you have never thought about cloth napkins before, but you should! These simple cloth napkins can be thrown in with the rest of your laundry and are actually a much more attractive addition to your table (without being fussy). We have now only used cloth napkins (except for big parties) for 4 years, and I would never go back. Just such an easy and fun way to do good.

I have napkins from these two etsy stores (we are up to about 16 now that we just filter through) so I can vouch for how great these napkins are, but there are so many options, so browse and pick a pop that fits your style.

from Emerson Creek Pottery

Plates and Place Settings

Our Pick-Heath Ceramics and Emerson Creek Pottery Go Green
Other Options- Bauer Pottery, Bennington Potters, Fiesta

There are so many beautiful plate sets out there that are made in the US- there is no reason not to buy local! I love Heath Ceramics for their style and Emerson Creek Pottery for just being so earthy and beautiful and eco-minded. They are both beautiful but not too fussy, like you want to sit at that table. That said, there are plenty of options out there (not to mention secondhand) including really mainstream ones!

Another piece of advice? When in doubt, pick white or neutral. I am a color girl, I love color, but life is long and tastes change. Unless you are consistently committed to one color, I would lean neutral.

Silverware

Our Pick- Liberty Tabletop
Other Options- Used, Heath Ceramics, Bamboo

A lot of well-made flatware is on the expensive, and there is ALWAYS cheap silverware at secondhand stores. If you can't imagine or afford this stuff, just go secondhand. Liberty Tabletop is an American treasure, and they have styles from super traditional to modern. We have started buying replacement spoons from them (why do our spoons go missing? I WISH I KNEW), and they are awesome. If you need something more stylish, Heath Ceramics can't be beat.

If you are ready to step out of the norm, you could also do bamboo silverware which will completely compost when you are done with them. Truly zero waste!

Salt and Pepper Grinder

Our Pick- Fletchers' Mill
Other Options-William Bounds and Chef Specialties

Fletcher's Mill makes their grinders in the US. This may not seem like a necessity, but we got these and then buy our salt and pepper in bulk, so we can cut way down on packaging in our house. If you  like to really season food, this may be a great place to cut down waste.

Table Cloth

Our Pick-Mountain Laurel Mercantile
Other Options- Secondhand (including antique stores) or make your own

I absolutely love our Mountain Laurel Mercantile tablecloths, which you can find easily on Amazon. We received one as a Christmas two years ago; it looks pretty and stands up really well to the tough life of spills, crayons, and craziness. We bought another one, we loved the first so much. They have a bit of a rustic feel, but I think with a white on white cloth, you could probably appeal to any taste.

This can also be a good place to shop secondhand or super local at craft fairs or flea markets. Secondhand and homemade options are definitely out there! Go look!

Vases

Our Pick- Wait. Life has a way of delivering vases.
Other Options- Secondhand, Libbey

I feel like vases just kind of multiply in our life. We started by buying one, and now we have a small army of vases. If you need one, do look secondhand. I guarantee you there is a 99 cent vase at your Goodwill right now, just waiting for you.

Finally, Remember...

You will buy plates a very few times in your life, but you buy groceries every single week. The greenest thing you can do at your dining table is reduce your food waste, buy fewer plastic-packaged items, and MOST IMPORTANTLY eat less meat. You don't have to give it up completely, but American meat consumption is out of control (and a major cause of climate change) so consider slimming your portion sizes and eating more meatless meals! If you need inspiration, we have TONS of meatless recipes here.



Want even more Dining Room options and Ideas? Check out our wedding registry, which is damn thorough. For even more ideas about how to make your home, wherever you live, greener- check out the Green Homes page!