MIXED Buy. We tried Who Gives a Crap bulk packaged, zero-waste, recyclable TP. Fun and spunky, doubles as décor, this TP gets the job done (thank goodness). We loved stacking these— and playing catch in the apartment during quarantine.
We are two friends living on opposite coasts (Brooklyn, New York and Santa Monica, California) that share a passion for living a minimal, zero waste lifestyle and on a mission to help others do the same.
Harper. Lives in Brooklyn with a +1. Sassy pup. Matcha. Wine. Whiskey. Cheese. Proscuitto.
Charley. Lives in Los Angeles with a +1. Doofy pup. Coffee. Wine. Whiskey. Cheese. Pasta.
MIXED Buy. We tried Who Gives a Crap bulk packaged, zero-waste, recyclable TP. Fun and spunky, doubles as décor, this TP gets the job done (thank goodness). We loved stacking these— and playing catch in the apartment during quarantine.
MAYBE Buy. We liked How We Roll in Bamboo, and given the recent price changes, the large pack of HWR is below the average price of TP. The bamboo and recycled are dye- and chemical-free, using 100% more-sustainable-than-trees bamboo in one and 100% recycled paper in the other. However, the recycled version was not as sturdy as we would have liked TP to be. Also, we do like the added bonus of 1 planted tree per box.
HeySunday Detergent Sheets are a buy! We especially appreciate the very minimal packaging (comes in a slim, uncoated cardboard envelope) and that it is generally less heavy when compared to laundry pods. Our only callouts are that, like laundry pods and other laundry strips/sheets, this product does include PVA…
Very mixed. The Puracy Shampoo refill is a maybe buy but we will not be buying the Puracy conditioner. The ingredients overall are better than your average drugstore brand, which is great. The plastic reduction is also notable compared to shampoo and conditioner bottles - we like that. Cost wise, it’s comparable to other refills but more than drugstore brands. The scent of the conditioner was just too bizarre for us.
BUY. We love using Meliora’s Dish Soap Bar along with our kitchen brushes, particularly when we clean pots and pans. We love that there is an unscented (and lemon) option so that we only taste and smell our food when our dishes are clean and dry. The Meliora soap cuts through grease effortlessly, with ingredients that are non-toxic. And of course, we love how affordable the dish soap is: a little goes a long way and switching from a liquid soaps to solid soaps really is cost efficient.
BUY. We have loved ❤️ using Lulu Organics Hair Powder over the last few months. Made with only 4 ingredients, and virtually plastic-free, we like that the powder keeps us neat between washes. Also, Lulu Orgranics is budget-friendly, comes in a travel-sized option, and has 6 different scent options.
GREAT buy! Bubbsi’s Coconut Oil Balm is our go-to baby balm, particularly helpful in the winter (we’re in New England) when the heat is on and our baby’s skin would stay chapped no matter what kind of lotion we used. We found this to be the most effective in combination with a humidifier. We like the solid form factor and found that a very little bit goes a long way. We also love to use this for baby massages. Appreciate the clean ingredients and refillable tub. It’s a buy!
A GREAT BUY. We love Blueland’s commitment to zero plastic and it stays consistent with their Facial Cleanser— no plastic in packaging, reusable bottle, no harsh ingredients (sulfate, paraben and phtalate free) and hypoallergenic. We also loved the scent and experience — it foamed up from a powder into a creamy gel-like consistency. The ingredients are hydrating, with plant-based Oat, Kaolin Clay and Vitamin E. It is a great everyday use facial cleanser and reduces our use of plastic bottles. Pricing-wise very reasonable when compared to other standard options. The powder format also reduces carbon footprint from shipping — liquid is just so much heavier.
PASS. Given the price point is not alluring enough, the tube is a little annoying, and the residue is something we can’t get over, we are a pass on Attitude’s aluminum-free deodorant. We DO love that it is aluminum free, cruelty-free, and plastic free. AND that there is an unscented option. Also, we enjoy that the application is super smooth and requires no ‘heat up’ time, but unfortunately, at this price point, there are better options.
MOSTLY A BUY. We love Blueland’s commitment to zero plastic and it stays consistent with their Scrubber Sponge— no plastic in packaging, 100% plastic free and made without glues or adhesives (it is hand-sewn with cotton thread instead). We love the two sides — loofah on one side for scrubbing, and 100% FSC certified cellulose on the other side for softer washing. The fact that its hand-sewn makes it more durable than other scrubber sponges we have used in the past — and we really like the light blue color, it’s way more aesthetically pleasing than many other sponges. Only complaint is that it is quite a bit more expensive than even other eco-friendly scrubber sponge options, but if we’re doing an order from Blueland, we’re happy to throw it in with our order.
It is a buy! We think Weleda Skin Food is a BUY! We love the simple ingredient list and it really is a magical, thick cream that we can use on body and face. Its free of synthetic fragrances, colors, preservatives, parabens and phthalates. Ingredients include flower, fruit and root extracts, minerals and essential oils. It smells slightly herbal and altogether cozy. We love that Weleda is a Certified B corporation, and has been certified with UEBT (Union for Ethical Biotrade) and NATRUE (certified natural). This will be a mainstay in our cabinets!
Better, but not great. Given how much we liked Blueland's cleaning products, it is disappointing to report that we wish Blueland Dishwasher tablets worked better. Even though they are zero-waste dishwashing tablets with no chemicals or strong smell, they are too pricey to not work as well as other options. However, given the update regarding PVA in other brands, we believe that it might be worth revisiting Blueland dishwasher tabs. We had previously rated them a NOT buy given the product did not dissolve and was on the pricey side. Since then, other brands prices have increased faster than Blueland’s. Most importantly, Blueland is a PVA-free, convenient tablet option.
: ITS A BUY (if you highly prefer liquid body soap over bar soaps). We love Blueland’s commitment to zero plastic and it stays consistent with their Body Wash— no plastic in packaging, no PVAs in the formula, no harmful ingredients. We also loved the scent and experience — the powder, when combined with water, becomes a creamy consistency, which was a lovely surprise. We like the scent and the ‘forever’ bottle that comes with the first purchase that we can reuse over and over again. Of course, the powder format also reduces carbon footprint from shipping — liquid is just so much heavier.
IT’S A BUY. We love Blueland’s commitment to zero plastic and it stays consistent with their Cloud Cloth— no plastic in packaging, made of 100% FSC-certified cotton fibers and cellulose, water-based and VOC free inks, and bleach-free. These cloths are VERY absorbent, reusable (can replace as many as 1,500 paper towel sheets!) and machine-washable. We also like the bold blue colors!
OK buy. Puracy Stain Remover worked very well in lifting old and ink stains on our white clothes. We liked that there was no scent or fragrance and the wait time was 15 minutes. The ingredients, while better than mainstream brands, still contain questionable ingredients, but we think it is a step in the right direction. Price-wise, Puracy beat our old reliable Oxi Clean spray on a cost per ounce. Puracy also offers bulk purchases and refills to make the price even more easy on the wallet.
Not a buy. Unfortunately, ecoHiny 100% Bamboo Toilet Paper is not a buy from us. The brand has its own website, but it is conveniently available on Amazon. Unfortunately, while the toilet paper is sturdy and strong, made of 100% bamboo, and dye-free/chlorine-free, there are better bamboo and recycled options on the market that are a touch softer and not as pricey.
MOSTLY A BUY. We love Blueland’s commitment to zero plastic and it stays consistent with their Pop-up Sponge— no plastic in packaging, 100% plastic free and made of FSC-certified plant cellulose. It’s also certified by EPA Safer Choice and Leaping Bunny. We do love that it arrives super flat and compact (1/5th the size of a regular sponge) and ‘pops up’ when you add water. We’ve used it for 3 weeks now and that sponge has stayed remarkably fresh — we haven’t even had to throw it in the dishwasher yet — and we really like the light blue color, it’s way more aesthetically pleasing than many other sponges. Only complaint is that it is quite a bit more expensive than even other eco-friendly sponge options, but if we’re doing an order from Blueland, we’re happy to throw it in with our order.
After trying and reviewing 125 (and counting) zero-waste and eco-friendly home products, we thought it miiight be nice to organize all these articles and make it easier for you to find them all — whether you’re looking for our big roundups or all of the compostable dog poo bags that we’ve tried!
Its a STRONG BUY! We really loved the experience of using Evolved by Nature’s Hand Soap. It smelled incredible, felt amazing on our hands (they really do feel more moisturized after!) and you really can’t beat this price. This product is really a win-win in almost every regard. This will likely be our go-to non-foaming hand soap from now on!
We purchased Stack Man’s 100% Compostable 7 inch Bagasse Plate for everyday grilling and entertaining, and it’s the perfect size for appetizers, tapas style meals or dessert! We love that the plates are made of bagasse (by product of sugar cane production) and bamboo, and appreciate that they are very sturdy and thick plates. However, when we compared against other options, including other compostable bagasse options, it was one of the most expensive — and we’re not seeing anything particularly special here to warrant the higher price. We will try other brands and report back!