These are "green" items you can actually trust.
The average person in the U.S. produces about about 4.9 pounds of waste each day, according to a 2018 survey by the EPA — and that adds up to over 292 million tons of trash across the country every year. Of course, it's not always easy to be mindful of your environmental impact, but seeking out sustainably made and/or reusable products in lieu of disposable, single-use items is a great place to start. Gym Towels Bulk
These days, "green" claims are everywhere, from cleaning supplies to sheets, making it hard for consumers to recognize which products are truly sustainable. You'll want to be on the lookout for "greenwashing," which is when a company deceptively puts eco-friendly claims on the packaging of their products with no clear evidence or testing to back up their assertions. To avoid being duped by marketing language, look for products with established, third-party emblems like EcoCert Cosmos or Fair Trade Certified — because even if a product features a logo that claims it’s "earth-friendly," it doesn’t mean anything if the brand designed it themselves.
In fact, sustainability expert Birnur K. Aral, Ph.D., says she prefers to use the term "sustainable" rather than "eco-friendly." The latter implies that a product has no negative impact on the environment, and there really aren’t any products that meet that definition. "'Sustainable' implies that the impact a product has while being made, consumed, and/or disposed of is mindful of the earth's current and future resources," says Aral, adding that while "eco-friendly" is recognized as a greenwashing term and the FTC has strict guidelines regulating it, the term "sustainable" has been gaining popularity in product marketing as well, and should not be taken at face value either.
If you're looking for more help with making sustainable product choices and reducing waste, check out our comprehensive guide to sustainable living.
Stasher's reusable sandwich and snack bags are great because they take the place of single-use plastic baggies that would likely end up in landfills and oceans. They come in multiple sizes, ranging from small pocket-size bags that are perfect for snacks to a half-gallon size that fits up to two strip steaks.
If you need something bigger, you can also try the brand's stacking bowl set which includes five bags that stand on their own and nest within each other (it won one of our Kitchen Gear and Coffee Awards!). Plus, these bags are safe for use in the dishwasher, microwave and freezer.
Not only does this multi-tasking bar soap clean your entire body, but buying it will also give back to the community — the proceeds help create mobile showers for people experiencing homelessness. It comes in a no-frills box made of recycled paper, and the open window on the front means it uses fewer materials. Plus, it's made with Rainforest Alliance Certified palm oil, meaning it's harvested in a way that won't destroy forests.
This GH Sustainability Award winner comes housed in a sleek, chic refillable container that minimizes the amount of single-use plastics in landfills. The company also regularly audits its mica suppliers to assess the humanitarian impact of the ingredient. Typically, mica is used in color cosmetics: chances are if there's a glitter or a shimmer, there's usually mica. While there isn't any mica in this specific product, Beautycounter has other products that do, so they audit suppliers regularly.
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Grove Collaborative is all about cutting down on waste: it packages plant-based cleaners in easy-to-recycle mini glass bottles with aluminum caps. You simply mix the cleaner concentrate with water in the pre-labeled reusable glass spray bottle, which comes with an easy-grip silicone sleeve.
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Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab Director Carolyn Forte says these Swedish dishcloths "are an alternative to paper towels and germ-y sponges that get thrown out after only a few uses." They can be washed and reused multiple times for things like washing dishes or cleaning spills.
If you don't have the outdoor space for a compost pile, the Vitamix FoodCycler is an indoor-friendly, high-tech way to compost your food waste. Even though the main unit is large, the inner bucket is countertop-friendly.
You can stash the main unit underneath the sink and pop in the inner bucket once you're done prepping, cooking and cleaning up after meals. The machine dries, grinds and cools your waste, eliminating odors. You can then mix the processed result into soil or bring it to a local composting center.
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In an industry that significantly contributes to global carbon emissions and wastewater, Patagonia is often considered one of the best sustainable and ethical clothing companies. Its latest launch of NetPlus designs uses 100% recycled fishing-net fabric sourced from fishing communities in South America.
Shop secondhand from a brand you can trust: every pair of jeans and denim jackets listed on this site is verified by the brand, so you can buy a pre-owned product without the risk that it’s defective or a knock-off. Our textile experts enjoy that you can shop Levi's for a fraction of the original cost, and it's a more sustainable denim alternative to shopping new.
Bissell's hardworking portable cleaner can easily tackle dirty armrests, carpet stains and more using a combination of water, cleaner and suction. Taking care of your rugs and upholstery means having to replace them less frequently.
Our cleaning pros love that the cleaner itself is made from recycled plastic, while the box it comes in uses recycled materials. Plus, Bissell eliminated styrofoam from this product's packaging, which helps cut down on waste.
Designed to add volume to thin hair, this 2-in-1 product reduces the need to purchase shampoo and conditioner separately. Our pros say that bars have much less water content in comparison to liquid shampoo and conditioners, which can contain 50% or more water. Less water content means that it helps preserve water resources and usually means fewer carbon emissions during the distribution of products.
Aveeno's bath treatments are made of 100% pure colloidal oatmeal, which can help relieve itchy skin due to eczema. Our experts like that the packaging and ingredients are sustainably sourced. Plus, its manufacturing process produces lower levels of greenhouse gases (a factor in climate change) and generates reduced industrial and hazardous waste.
Beeswax food wraps are an earth-friendly replacement for single-use plastic wrap made of cotton, beeswax, jojoba oil and tree resin. Beeswax wraps are food-safe and can be used over and over again — simply rinse them with cold water and mild soap between uses. Just note that they're not airtight, so they won't keep highly perishable foods fresh.
A trip to the grocery store means you'll probably stock up on fresh fruits and veggies, but skip the baggies next time to help cut back on plastic use. Instead, safely store your food in one of these reusable produce bags. This set lists each bag's tare weight, so you know exactly how much the empty bag weighs.
Formulated with moringa oil and red raspberry oil, this glossy lipstick will moisturize your lips and provide rich color. It doesn’t come with unnecessary packaging like secondary boxes, and the tube is made from 52% recycled plastic. It’s lighter than other lipsticks since the tube doesn't contain any metals or magnets — that means it has a smaller carbon footprint during shipping.
Since plastic bags can't be recycled in your blue bin, bring a reusable bag with you every time you go shopping to avoid wasting single-use plastic bags. This cult-favorite tote is a great option to stash in your purse or car: It's super lightweight, it comes in fun patterns and colors, and it folds into a compact pouch.
While you might hesitate at swapping out your cleaning products, this rockstar dish soap uses plant-based cleaning ingredients, proving that "green" products can actually work well, too! Our cleaning experts especially like that the brand chooses to list all the ingredients in its products. Its biodegradable formula contains no fragrances or dyes, and it's also EPA Safer Choice certified. The whole bottle (even the cap!) is made from recycled plastic.
A favorite of Aral, this conscious body wash has an uplifting herbal scent: a mix of geranium, rosemary and sage. The bottle is made of 100% recycled plastic — 20% of which is ocean plastic. Since the pump has no metal spring, it's fully recyclable as-is.
With this refillable glass cleaner, there's no need to purchase an entirely new bottle each time you run out of product. Our Cleaning Lab experts love these reusable bottles from JAWS (the name stands for "Just Add Water System"). All you need to do is fill it with tap water and place a refill pod inside. The brand also makes refillable cleaning products for the kitchen, shower, granite and more.
GH editors love Allbirds because they're comfortable, lightweight and machine washable. We're also fans of the brand's sustainable approach to materials: the merino wool is a natural fiber and follows ethical standards, the polyester in the laces is from recycled water bottles and the packaging is made of 90% recycled cardboard.
We all know plastic straws are polluting our oceans, so the best way to make a difference is by opting for reusable straws instead. Our kitchen appliance experts like that this affordable set comes with four straight and four bent straws, so there's no need to drink from a disposable plastic straw again. It also includes two brushes so they're easy to clean.
Jacqueline (she/her) covers all things e-commerce in beauty, lifestyle and beyond for the Good Housekeeping Institute. Before joining GH in 2021, she was a style and beauty reviews fellow at Insider, testing viral trends, reviewing sustainable brands and more. She's a graduate of the University of Florida's School of Journalism, with a specialty in magazines and mass communication.
Abigail (she/her) is product reviews writer who has covered everything from kitchen gear to mattresses and smart blinds. She graduated from Louisiana State University with a B.A. in creative writing and earned her M.S. in publishing digital and print media from New York University. She currently works at Wirecutter, but has also spent time on staff at Good Housekeeping and The Southern Review literary magazine. In her free time you can find her quilting, cross-stitching or trying to figure out how to squeeze one more bookshelf in her tiny apartment.
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