The 30 Best Eco-Friendly Products of 2022

2022-07-01 22:55:08 By : Ms. Maggie Ding

By Marissa Miller | Published Jun 27, 2022 9:41 AM

As we collectively expand our appreciation for the planet, shopping for eco-friendly products has never been an easier way to make an impact and create a more sustainable home. According to a recent study from GreenPoint, over two-thirds of Americans prefer to spend a little extra on eco-friendly or sustainable products, but nearly three quarters of respondents don’t know how to identify them.

While many eco-friendly products tend to be labeled as green or sustainable, it’s important to read the packaging or do your research to determine if it’s part of “greenwashing” (which is where a brand simply says it’s sustainable for marketing purposes) or if the product truly is better for the environment. Maybe the brand uses renewable resources, doesn’t ship long distances, or omits wasteful packaging and harmful pollutants.

We’ve scoured the internet for some of the best eco-friendly products of 2022 to shop right now, from Stasher reusable bags to the celebrity-approved Blueland cleaning products to eco-friendly laundry detergent.

Harsh chemicals might be doing more harm than good when it comes to you and your clothes. Opt instead for our expert’s most highly recommended eco-friendly and hypoallergenic laundry detergent from Ecos that deep cleans clothes for 100 washes and also works wonders as a stain treatment. Plus, it’s not tested on animals and uses only seven ingredients—none of which are animal-derived.

Between all the single-use packaging and questionable ingredients, keeping your home clean can often be a balancing act. Save your sanity and the planet with the ever-popular Blueland cleaning kit. It contains three reusable bottles and three eco-friendly tablets that dissolve in water to turn into powerful (and safe!) cleaning products.

If your daily Starbucks habit is starting to weigh on you from an ethical perspective, be sure to bring your Stojo along for the ride. The reusable and collapsible cup is made of food-grade silicone that supports both hot and cold beverages, comes in 12 or 16 ounces, and is available in 19 colors from steel blue to sage.

Made of non-toxic, hypoallergenic and temperature-resistant silicone, these reusable Stasher storage bags make a great alternative to single-use plastic. The dishwasher-safe bags come in all the usual sizes—gallon, half gallon, sandwich, and snack—for all your freezing, thawing, baking, microwaving and even sous-vide cooking needs.

It’s no secret plastic water bottles can wreak major havoc on the planet and your wallet. Turn every water source on your next hiking or camping trip into a drinking-safe one with the award-winning Lifestraw. The handheld device operates as a personal water filter by removing over 99.99 percent of waterborne bacteria, parasites, and microplastics so you can stay hydrated wherever you go.

Instead of working with single-use finicky plastic wrap, grab these playful reusable food wraps made of organic cotton, harvested beeswax, and jojoba oil. Available in small, medium, and large sizes, they create a natural seal using the warmth of your hands. Plus, their unique patterns from forest animals to gold stars make the food packing process a blast.

Toilet paper has become a hot commodity—mainly because it uses finite resources and we all require at least a handful of it every day. Enter a more sustainable solution: The reviewer-approved Tushy bidet attachment that’s designed to cut down your toilet paper use by 80 percent and clips easily onto your toilet. Select your knob style, from bamboo to platinum, for a personalized look, and take advantage of its water pressure options for a long-lasting clean feeling.

Most toothbrushes come in single-use plastic with questionable bristle materials. Maintain your piece of mind—and your oral hygiene—with these popular eco-friendly toothbrushes. Each handle is made from splinter-proof and sustainable bamboo that dries easily and won’t accumulate mold.

Ruggable is one of the hottest brands in the home decor space not only for how easy its rugs are to maintain, but for its sustainable properties. Each rug made of predominantly recycled materials is made to order and also washable, which reduces waste in landfills. This Ruggable best-seller comes in multiple shapes, shades, and sizes for a unique look to your home.

Elevate your work-from-home setup with this sustainable standing desk that keeps you, well, elevated. The durable hand-harvested bamboo desk is made with an anti-scratch coating, comes in two shapes (rectangle and ergonomic curved), five sizes, and supports 220 pounds at its highest height of 46.5 inches. For every desk sold, One Tree Planted will donate one dollar and plant one tree to offset carbon emissions.

While laundry detergent cleans your clothes, it doesn’t exactly clean the planet. Opt instead for these concentrated lavender vanilla detergent squares that omit the need for plastic bottles. Our editors named the plant-based formula as one of the best eco-friendly laundry detergents. It’s made without any dyes, parabens, or other unsafe chemicals—instead, it uses natural enzymes to lift dirt from your clothes.

Do your part in protecting the planet with these zero-waste makeup remover pads made of natural bamboo cotton. Suitable for the eyes, face, lips, and neck, they’re an ideal addition to your primping routine, and come with a drawstring-lined mesh bag to keep them organized.

Single-use plastic grocery bags are a major source of waste, and you likely already have a pile of them taking up space under the kitchen sink. Switch to a more sustainable option with these six foldable and reusable grocery bags with a ripstop fabric that supports 50 pounds of items. They fold into the attached mini pouch and feature roomy pockets.

As we’ve collectively become more mindful about disinfecting our surfaces, so too has our carbon footprint gone up with all the waste these wipes leave behind. Grab these compostable unscented Clorox wipes made of natural plant-based fibers that are safe to use around kids, pets, and food, and are suitable for most sealed surfaces like wood and granite.

Dryer balls don’t only cut down your laundry’s drying time by up to 40 percent, they also make your clothes come out a lot neater with fewer wrinkles. Our editors rave over these Friendsheep dryer balls made only of pure New Zealand wool that’s ideal for those with skin sensitivities. They’ll stay strong for over 1,000 loads, and the more you use in one cycle, the better they work.

There’s a lot that makes this coffee maker a more sustainable solution. It comes with a reusable coffee pod (read: no more wasting those paper funnels), it includes a reusable BPA-free coffee tumbler to stylishly carry around your iced coffee, and it comes with a measuring scoop to prepare the perfect cup of joe you’ll never want to pour down the sink.

The worst is when you need to decide whether something is really worth cleaning up if it means reaching for a single-use paper towel. Get the best of both worlds with these highly absorbent Swedish dishcloths. Each cloth is biodegradable, reusable, and machine-washable, and said to replace the job of 25 rolls of paper towels.

Whether you have a large family to feed or live with pets, messes are bound to happen. If you’re going to use paper towels, ensure they’re made with 100 percent recycled paper like this popular option from Seventh Generation free of inks, dyes, or fragrances. The brand claims that if every household in the US opted instead for one roll of recycled paper towels, we could save over eight million trees.

When you’re constantly cooking up a storm, sponges tend to deteriorate quickly, leading to lots of waste. These eco-friendly hemp sponges in a variety of shapes work quadruple duty as dish sponges, skin exfoliators in the shower, surface cleaners, and produce scrubbers. Made without plastic, they’re kind to the planet—and your wallet.

Made from compostable sugarcane fiber and dissolvable cornstarch, this 250-piece cutlery and dish set is a fantastic option for feeding large crowds come picnic, wedding, or BBQ season. The pieces are heat resistant up to 248 degrees Fahrenheit (which is perfect for heating up leftovers), and create a strong barrier against oil and leaks for a mess-free dining experience.

The ironic thing about Tupperware and all its offshoots is that it’s made from plastic, making meal prep not all that planet-friendly to begin with. Opt instead for these reusable containers made with recyclable non-porous glass and anti-bacterial bamboo lids. The set contains five sizes, and each lid operates as its own serving plate.

For many people, toilet paper is a necessary evil, but it doesn’t have to be. Instead of trees, this kinder option from Betterway with over 5,000 reviews is made of responsibly sourced bamboo. Its three-ply construction is a great bet if you need your toilet paper to last a little longer while providing ultimate comfort and absorbance.

If you’re part of the Bring Your Lunch To Work Club, kudos to you for the sustainable habit. To keep your packaging plastic-free, and thus better for the planet, grab this stainless steel, dishwasher-safe bento box with a leak-proof silicone seal. It even comes in zero-waste packaging.

A full shower isn’t always the most economical option, nor is using 30 squares of toilet paper each bathroom visit. Freshen up the planet-friendly way with these ultra-gentle flushable wipes made with soothing plant-based ingredients like chamomile, aloe, lavender, and rose. They come in a recyclable dispenser for easy use and portability.

Between cold season, allergy season, and year-round tears of joy, tissues are always crucial to have on hand. Go the sustainable route with a pack of LastTissue, which is said to replace 3,000 pieces of single-use tissues. The silicone case contains six organic reusable tissues with a separate compartment to store soiled ones to prevent cross-contamination.

Compared to those giant stacks of printer paper in the office, floss doesn’t possess as big an environmental impact, but it is a great place to start. Unlike its popular silk floss counterpart, this eco-friendly floss is made of bamboo and charcoal that breaks down quickly and comes in recyclable plastic-free packaging. Bonus: 10 percent of its profits go towards environmental conservation efforts.

Constantly replenishing your greenery stash when it inevitably dies? Keep all that supply chain action to a minimum with a single purchase of these super popular faux vine leaves. With nearly 41,000 Amazon reviews, this 24-piece greenery arrangement makes a sustainable addition to wedding arch garlands, party backdrops, tablescape decor, and more.

No matter how careful we are, accidents are bound to happen. When protecting your precious skin, do the planet a favor as well with these biodegradable bandages. Made of bamboo and plastic-free, these hypoallergenic bandages decompose in only a couple of weeks, so you won’t have to feel as guilty if they ever happen to slip off onto the ground during a vigorous game of tag or beach volleyball.

If you tend to go through pens quickly, all that plastic use might be adding up. This option made of a renewable kraft paper barrel and lid and a stainless steel ink chamber is partly recyclable and biodegradable. Reviewers love that the pens are lightweight and comfortable to hold and last a long time.

Trash is a tricky thing, because you want to get rid of it, but in a way that doesn’t harm the planet. These durable and tear-resistant trash bags designed by two acclaimed scientists completely degrade into humus (organic matter in soil), carbon dioxide, and water when composted, and come in a tear-off roll for easy dispensing.

The prices listed here are accurate as of publication on 6/27/22.

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