People are fascinated by eco-friendly alternatives to products that they already use and love. Recently someone posted to our forum questioning whether there were any true, eco-friendly make-up they could purchase.
Another was keen to find an eco-friendly solution to getting rid of cockroaches.
There are countless reasons to choose eco-friendly products. On the most basic level, you’ll probably save money. Particularly, if you find a product that you can use again and again.
A great example of this is a frying pan. If you purchase a non-stick frying pan, you’ll spend somewhere around $10. But you’ll need to replace it in just a couple years.
However, if you choose a heavy-duty, eco-friendly frying plan, it will last longer. It can also be used in a variety of different conditions. While this item is more expensive, in the long run, it costs you less.
Eco friendly products are also better for the environment. Products that last a longer amount of time mean less waste. This leads to a reduced build-up in landfills and keeps our environment healthy.
Research even suggests that these products are beneficial for your health. Take laundry detergents as an example. Non-eco-friendly products are often packed full of harmful chemicals. These could damage your health.
Eco-friendly products are made from natural materials that won’t cause this negative impact.
Now you know the benefits, you probably have one question. Where can I get these eco-friendly products?
Buy Or Create?
There are two options to gain eco-friendly products for your home. You can either create them yourself or buy them from the store. Which is the right answer?
Well, ideally, you should be taking both steps. This is due to the fact that there are certain eco-friendly items that are easy to create yourself and others that you are better off buying.
Let’s explore some examples so you can make the right decisions here.
Eco Friendly Products You Can Buy
Straws
Straws are a great eco friendly product that are difficult to make but easy to buy. However, you do have to make sure that you’re buying the right kind.
A major buzz was created when McDonald’s switched to paper straws to help save turtles. Unfortunately, it has been revealed these straws are not recyclable.
Instead, you should invest in metal straws. These can be used multiple times and will last for years without needing replacement. You can take them with you when dining out too.
Make-Up
Referring back to one of our forum topics, you can purchase organic makeup. You just need to ensure that you’re choosing the right brand.
Think about both packaging and what’s included in the makeup too. Packaging should be made from recyclable materials like aluminum and paper.
Eco-friendly makeup also won’t contain micro-beads. These are small parts of plastic that do end up in the ocean after the makeup is used.
Juice Beauty and Elate Cosmetics are great examples of eco-friendly makeup brands you can buy from.
Dishwasher Tablets
Dishwasher tablets can’t be created but eco-friendly options are available to purchase. This includes products from brands like Attitude and Ecover.
By choosing these brands, you can avoid the chemicals typically found in dishwasher tablets that harm the environment.
Drink Bottles
You can buy reusable eco-friendly drink bottles as well. Ideally, you should opt for a drink bottle made from stainless steel. These have increased in popularity and many are 100% BPA-Free
As such, they can be considered a safe, sustainable option that is certainly worth considering.
Bedding
You can also find eco-friendly bedding on the market. This option is available from brands like Bhumi. They provide a wide range of bedding options.
Crucially, these are sourced from farmed cotton that is sustainable and manufactured responsibly.
This is a great time to point out that you should always consider the manufacturing process of any product you purchase.
Recycled Toothbrush
Toothbrushes are typically made out of plastic, particularly the handles. Plastic is a key material to avoid when looking for eco-friendly products.
You can get toothbrushes made from recyclable materials. The actual material used here does tend to vary so be careful about the choice you make.
According to RADIUS, it’s possible to reduce your waste by 93% with this decision alone!
Eco Friendly Products You Can Create
You might think you need DIY expertise or innovative ideas to create your own eco-friendly products at home.
Well, that’s not the case. There are plenty of examples that are easy to create, even for the typical individual.
Shaving Cream
Shaving cream is a product that you might use regularly throughout the week. The products you buy can contain a lot of harmful chemicals.
So, why not create your own. With a mixture of shea butter, coconut oil and peppermint oil, you can achieve this in no time. It’s just a matter of mixing the ingredients into a paste and storing it in a container.
Makeup Removers
Makeup removers are typically not biodegradable or made from recyclable materials. That’s why you should consider creating your own.
You can do this with some paper towels that are dampened with coconut oil. Just make sure you add some tree oil to stop issues with mold.
Hand Wash
It’s difficult to create a pump that provides a hand wash foam, but you don’t need to. Instead, once you have used all the soap, rinse out the container. You can then buy organic liquid soap or dishwashing soap and reuse the bottle.
You’ll never need to get rid of the old bottle and you won’t have to purchase another one.
Herbal Hairspray
This is another beauty product that causes havoc with the environment due to the chemicals often included as ingredients.
You can create your own though. You just need sugar, some essential oils, and hot water. Mix them together within a spray bottle for an eco-friendly product that will hold your hair in place.
Summary
As you can see from reading the list, whether you’re buying eco friendly products or creating your own, there are some great options for eco-friendly products that you may not have thought of.
To continue the discussion, and to find new recipes and products, join our community and chat with others on how to live a more eco friendly lifestyle.
And, lastly, if you found this post useful – please do share it amongst your peers. ??