The everyday household items that we use daily are either made of plastic or other non-degradable materials. Plastic is hard to avoid as it is present in our clothes, used for packaging, it is just everywhere.

What course of action should you undertake to avoid plastic? The fitting answer for it is to use eco-friendly alternatives to common household items, and fortunately, there are one too many available today.

You need not do a complete makeover in one go. Instead, you can wait till the household items you have reach the end of their life; this way, you curb the unnecessary piling of products in already looming landfills. Meanwhile, you can research for eco-friendly alternatives to plastics and make a list of products to buy them.

There are dedicated websites like Upcycleluxe, that help you progress towards a sustainable lifestyle that is good for you and the environment. There are many variants available, but you should carefully select the right eco-friendly products that are best suited for your individual needs.

This extensive guide covers all categories of products that are used daily and will help you to understand the advantages of using sustainable items and eco-friendly household products. Also, it gives you an idea of how beneficial these earth-friendly products are for the betterment of you and planet Earth.

What are Eco-friendly Products?

Eco-friendly products are also called earth-friendly, green goods, and sustainable products that are specifically designed and manufactured by keeping the environment in mind. They are aptly called sustainable products because of their lesser utilization of resources, minimal waste generation, and ultimately ‘reduced environmental impact’.

Such eco-friendly products include categories like green gifts, sustainable fashion, organic skincare, eco-friendly kitchenware, sustainable stationery, and upcycled/ recycled home décor products.

The essential benefits of eco-friendly products are:

• Help in reducing your carbon footprint
• Durable, last long, cost-effective
• Aidin maintaining a sustainable and healthier lifestyle
• Reduce waste and preserve vital dwindling natural resources
• Help in reducing environmental damage and climatic changes

7 Best Eco-friendly Alternatives to Household Items

Now that we know what exactly is an ‘eco-friendly product’, it’s time to check out the best eco-friendly alternatives to everyday household items:

Organic Personal Care Products

Organic personal care products range from hair oils, beauty care, lipsticks, and face packs, to name a few. These products are produced using organic or natural ingredients, which render them safe for your skin. They are environment friendly and ensure that they are not tested on animals, contain parabens, and reduce waste.

Sustainable Fashion

Sustainable fashion goods like clothing, innerwear, accessories, and bags are produced from plant-based fabrics. These products do not contain any toxic dyes and are made using fabrics that are devoid of any chemicals or pesticides, e.g., hemp fabric. One can also purchase upcycled/recycled clothing or even search for thrift stores to buy or rent clothes, thus reducing unnecessary piles of clothes in landfills.

Sustainable Baby Products

An infant or growing kid’s skin is very delicate and they can be prone to irritation or develop rashes. Today, there is a lot of newborn or infant clothing available, like newborn baby giftsets, baby swaddles, baby blankets, dry mats, nappies, leggings, etc., that are made using plant-based fabrics such as organic cotton and bamboo fabric, which are soft on the skin and contain plant-based dyes for colouring. Further baby skincare products are made using organic and natural ingredients, thus keeping the baby/kids’ skin free from irritation.

Eco-friendly Kitchenware

The kitchen is the place where most of the activities happen. One should be careful of what they eat and what it is prepared or served in. Earlier and even now, most of the kitchenware items contain plastic, and that is not good for health. It is best advised to switch to eco-friendly kitchenware products like cutting boards, coffee mugs, glasses, serving dishes, ladles, spoons, coasters, and plates that are made using bamboo, coconut shells, and reclaimed wood. They come in beautiful designs that make them appealing and are also good for health as they don’t transfer any impurities.

Eco-friendly Water Bottles

On an average, humans should consume 2-3 liters of water daily to stay hydrated. The noticeable common trend is using or carrying plastic water bottles or mugs, which can be hazardous to our health. Plastic bottles (PET bottles) take around a staggering 400-500 years to decompose, thus harming the environment and water bodies and increasing landfills. The best alternative is eco-friendly water bottles that are made using plant-based materials like bamboo fibers, cornstarch,  and sugarcane which are completely biodegradable.

Eco-friendly Toiletries

Eco-friendly toiletries contain no parabens and are considered safe for the skin. They are not tested on animals and are cruelty-free. Since they are made using organic and natural materials, it makes them durable. Eco-friendly toiletries such as bamboo toothbrushes, conditioners, handmade soaps, organic toothpaste, sunscreen, shampoos, and towels made using plant-based fabrics are becoming a rage today as buyers are turning to conscious consumerism.

Eco-friendly Menstrual Products

Conventional menstrual products are made using plastic and absorbent fibers. In India alone, an estimated 12.3 billion sanitary pads are used yearly, amounting to 1,13,000 tons of waste. Due to this a lot of waste enters landfills and water bodies, which takes centuries to decompose. The best alternative is switching to eco-friendly sanitary napkins, eco-friendly tampons, and eco-friendly menstrual cups. These eco-friendly menstrual products are made using bamboo pulp, wood pulp, or bamboo charcoal pads. They are chemical-free, plastic-free, and artificial fragrance-free.