Living a sustainable lifestyle and reducing our plastic waste as consumers continues to be an important practice. Since discovering a zero waste lifestyle in 2018, I’ve had the chance to slowly swap out plastics and choose products that are better for me and the environment. It’s been a joy to discover so many local and Canadian made products, and I’m excited to share some products worth trying.
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This week, I’ve partnered with Net Zero Company to bring you a wide range of products to check out and help you decide what will be a good addition to your daily routine. I’ll be reviewing the top 10 zero-waste products, including everything from self-care beauty products to kitchen must-haves and more. If you find something that catches your eye, there’s a special discount code for you at the end!
10 Sustainable Swaps Worth Trying
1) Bamboo Dishwashing Brush with Handle
This brush will help you to deep clean any stubborn grease or stain while avoiding direct skin contact with the dishes, soap or water.
This dishwashing brush is made from organic materials and it’s 100% compostable! It’s great for washing larger surfaces, such as plates and skillets. This dishwashing brush can also last up to 1 year, which can keep dozens of plastic dish sponges out of the landfill.
The rich formula will create fluffy foams that will cut through all difficult stains, grime and grease while being gentle on your delicate skin!
This dish block is big, smells incredible, and is very gentle on your skin. It’s a great price for the size and only contains 8 ingredients. It creates a very generous lather with only a few swipes. I can guarantee it’s tough on grease because I put this block to the test with my homemade burgers!
Our beeswax food wraps are lightweight and flexible to wrap and store your food leftovers. Made with 100% natural ingredients, the natural Food Wraps are an easy go-to to reduce or cut out single-use plastics in your kitchen.
I love the design for these beeswax wraps. They come in 3 sizes, small, medium, and large, which makes it easy to keep just about anything fresh. It’s got a very nice grip, so you know your food will be tightly sealed. Once you’re done using them, just wash them with mild soap, cold water, and hang to dry.
4) Net Zero Laundry Detergent Strips
These laundry detergent strips are ultra-concentrated, hypoallergenic and create over 90% less transportation pollution. Our sensitive formula delivers a powerful clean to eliminate tough stains, restore whites and keep colours bright.
These laundry detergent strips are a perfect swap from traditional liquid detergents that come in plastic bottles filled with harmful ingredients. I liked the cleaning power, and while I typically prefer unscented products, I decided to try ‘Fresh Breeze.’ It’s a gentle and clean smell that’s quite unnoticeable, but I like it that way!
5) Zero Waste Lip Balm with Paper Packaging
Reconnect your senses with nature and save the planet with zero-waste lip balm. Each plastic-free chapstick is filled with soothing ingredients like coconut oil, olive oil, shea butter and is hand-poured with love.
This zero-waste lip balm is lightweight, yet provides the perfect amount of hydration. It nourishes dry and chapped lips without leaving behind a greasy or sticky residue. I love the size of the balm, it’s bigger width wise, which makes it easy to apply. I love ‘Fresh Mint’ but I’m excited to try their other scents as well.
6) Bamboo Makeup Removers 14 Pack
These double-sided rounds are made with an absorbent material that effectively removes all products without leaving behind pesky residue on the skin.
These bamboo rounds are bigger than I thought! They’re the size of your palm, which makes it great for cleaning your entire face. Although I didn’t find it effective for removing regular mascara, it did do a wonderful job taking off foundation and excess oils.
7) Organic Soap Dish Tray Dark Wood
The bamboo tray will elevate the soap block and help to preserve the lifespan of any organic soap bar. Crafted from biodegradable materials, our dish is a chic accessory for any space in need of some extra storage.
This organic soap dish tray is a must. Whether you’re using it for bar soap, body bar, or your shampoo and conditioning bar, it truly extends the life of your soaps while adding a beautiful touch of nature to your space. I chose tan because I love how the color pops in a neutral space.
8) Shampoo & Conditioner Bar Duo
Made with a vegan formula of hydrating and balancing essential oils and amino acids for strength, elasticity, and resilience. Enjoy a refreshing, natural clean with no trace of SLS, silicone, parabens, phthalates or palm oil.
These bars are on the smaller side, but they were much easier to grip and use in the shower. The shampoo bar was gentle on my scalp and the conditioning bar was so easy to work with. My hair is on the thicker side and neither of these products weighed down my hair, which is great! I chose ‘Citrus Mint Bliss’ and while I didn’t notice the citrus, I did notice very subtle hints of mint.
Featuring a handle and bristles crafted entirely from 100% sustainably-sourced bamboo. And because bamboo is antibacterial, you can rest assured that this plastic-free brush won’t just keep our planet cleaner, but your hair as well.
I’ve been meaning to replace my old plastic hairbrush with a bamboo one, and this paddle brush doesn’t disappoint. I’ve noticed less breakage, static, and love how gentle the bristles are. It’s antibacterial and has two cute characters to choose from, Kiwi the Turtle or Nana the Narwhal!
This borosilicate glass coffee mug is perfect for getting your caffeine fix during busy mornings. With room to hold up to 12 ounces of your favourite drink, they fit nicely in your car’s cup holder and feature a silicone sleeve to keep your hands safe from hot beverages.
This mug was the only item in my order that was shipped separately, as it was coming from the U.S. While it took a bit longer in transit, it was worth the wait. I’ve been replacing my plastic tumblers with stainless steel and glass, so this was a perfect addition. I do recommend washing and airing out the silicone lid for several days, as there was a bit of a smell that lingered. Other than that, I’m excited to bring this on my summer road trips!
Final Thoughts
I am incredibly impressed with Net Zero Company. Within a few hours of placing my order, 9 out of 10 items were shipped. Since one package was coming from Burnaby, BC, I received my order within 2 days. There wasn’t a single piece of plastic used for packaging, everything was either recyclable or could be composted.
I’m very fortunate to have found products that work for me and a company that I can trust to replenish my zero-waste needs for the future. Net Zero Company is providing my readers with a 15% discount off your order using the code ECOFAM15! If you need to stock up on any zero-waste products or want to try something new, it’s the perfect time to do so! Which products do you want to try? I’d love to hear your picks. For more posts relating to sustainability, visit my tag here.
Su - Caadian Senior Savings says
I love the idea of the dish detergent bars – no plastic packaging to tote when you are camping. I really appreciate how you shared about using the dish detergent with greasy hamburger dishes. Greasy dishes are the bane of my existence – I eat a lot of foods with olive oil and it is so frustrating to do dishes over and over and over and not be able to get them clean.
Her Digital Coffee says
Isn’t it a great idea! I’m happy this dish bar is effective with greasy dishes, because Dawn is typically my go to. It’s nice to have a plastic free alternative that works. Thank you for reading!
Brigitta says
Oh, thats a good list, will see what changes I can make at my home.
https://brigittapasztor.blogspot.com/
Her Digital Coffee says
That’s great Brigitta! Thank you for reading.
Karalee says
These are great suggestions for sustainable alternatives! I definitely want to look into the laundry detergent strips.
Her Digital Coffee says
I highly recommend them! It’s a wonderful plastic-free alternative and they’ve got great cleaning power. Thank you for reading Karalee!
Heidi | The Frugal Girls says
So many great ideas. I especially love the simple ingredients of the 4 different lip balm you linked to… the Strawberry Rose sounds so tempting.
Her Digital Coffee says
Strawberry Rose does sound wonderful! I’m in love with Fresh Mint and I’m looking forward to trying them all. Thank you for reading Heidi!
Radi says
Love brands that do good for the planet. All very beautiful essentials!!!
https://fashionradi.com/
Her Digital Coffee says
Thank you for reading Radi!
Sam says
The bamboo products look great. Love the washing up brush!
Her Digital Coffee says
Great eye! The washing brush has been a great addition to the kitchen. Thank you for reading Sam!
Nikki - Notes of Life says
Very useful products!
Her Digital Coffee says
Thank you for reading Nikki!
Corinne says
I love my bamboo makeup pads! I actually find they work really well on my mascara!
Corinne x
Her Digital Coffee says
That’s wonderful Corinne! I’m glad to hear you’ve found something that’s effective and reusable. Thank you for reading!
Britt says
I’ve been hearing a lot about the beeswax warps recently and have been debating trying those. We live in a literal cabin in the woods, grow as much of our food as we can, and do our best to embrace a green lifestyle. That being said, as soon as you start focusing on that, you begin to notice how many areas there are for improvement in our lives. This reminds me that I do want to give those a try! I also love that we can easily bring them with us on our many adventures camping/hiking.
Her Digital Coffee says
That’s great to hear Britt! It’s true, there’s always room for improvement but it’s great that we can go at our own pace. I’ve been loving the beeswax wraps. I’ve been getting used to the stickiness, but so far it’s been wonderful for keeping foods fresh. They would be a great addition for summer adventures! Thank you for reading!
ER LeVar says
I’ve definitely been looking at beeswax food wraps! I hate all the waste that comes with preparing food, right down to keeping leftovers. This list is great. Thanks for sharing!
Her Digital Coffee says
I agree, it’s been lovely not having to reach for plastic saran wrap! Thank you for reading!
Winnie says
I love the idea of laundry strips! You don’t have to lug around a heavy jug of detergent when doing laundry. 🙂 I think my next hairbrush is also going to be a bamboo hairbrush because I just can’t seem to keep any of my hairbrushes clean! I also tend to lose quite a bit of hair on mine so the fact that these promise less breakage is very appealing to me. Nice post!
Her Digital Coffee says
Switching from heavy laundry jugs to laundry strips has been a game changer! I definitely recommend a bamboo hairbrush. I’m really impressed by how gentle it is, especially with wet hair. Thank you for reading Winnie!
Candice Sandler says
I just came across your post on 10 sustainable swaps worth trying, and I must say, it’s fantastic! Your suggestions for eco-friendly alternatives are not only practical but also impactful in reducing our environmental footprint. It’s inspiring to see how small changes in our daily lives can make a significant difference. Thanks for sharing these valuable tips and motivating us to embrace a more sustainable lifestyle!
Candice x
theblogsocial.com
Her Digital Coffee says
Thank you Candice! Absolutely, it always starts with small changes. Whether it’s laundry strips or a bamboo cotton pad, they all have a lasting positive impact. Thank you for reading!
Harry Jack says
We can change so many little things to benefit the environment. I will undoubtedly consider how to be more sustainable and the swaps I can make once.
Her Digital Coffee says
Absolutely! I’m glad to hear that, thank you for reading!
Leslie says
I’ve been looking for a new way to do laundry. I really don’t like those big jugs of detergent that are basically filled with water anyway not to mention all the room they take up in landfills. This seems like a nice company to check out. Anything to make life a little easier without having to think is great. Thanks for the review!
Her Digital Coffee says
Right! They’re so heavy and we’re mostly just paying for water. I definitely recommend the laundry strips, they’re so easy to use. Thank you for reading Leslie!
Lauren says
These are such great suggestions to help reduce your waste and impact on the planet. One thing I do want to try is shampoo bars. Thank you for sharing.
Lauren
Her Digital Coffee says
You should! I’ve tried so many and this one has been the most hydrating one so far. Thank you for reading Lauren!
Fransic verso says
These are interesting ideas and good things to try. I’m going to save this list and try them. Thank you for sharing.
Her Digital Coffee says
That’s great to hear Fransic. Thank you for reading!
Lucy says
The smallest of sustainable swaps can make the biggest difference! I’ve started making some sustainable swaps in my life and I’ve loved it! x
Her Digital Coffee says
Absolutely! That’s the great thing about sustainable swaps, no matter how big or how small, it all makes a positive impact. Thank you for reading Lucy!
Jodie says
I love these swaps and the fact these alternatives are from a Canadian company! The beeswax is the product I want to try first!
Her Digital Coffee says
It was great knowing certain items were handmade and shipped from Canada! Great choice with the beeswax wraps, I especially love the cute design. Thank you for reading Jodie!
Jenny in Neverland says
Great post! There’s so many small swaps we can be making to help the planet. When I finally move into my own home in a few weeks (fingers crossed) I will definitely start to think about how I can be more sustainable and the swaps I can make. It’s difficult when you live with other people who don’t want to make the swaps.
Her Digital Coffee says
That’s wonderful Jenny! There are so many personal swaps you can make and hopefully it’ll inspire others to do the same. Thank you for reading!