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.
All tagged Sustainable
NOT a buy. We absolutely loved finding ROSERAY Laundry Detergent Tablets as a mess-free option that did not use PVA/PVOH. We also loved that it is mostly recyclable paper packaging for the products. Our clothes came out clean and relatively scent-free (which we love). Unfortunately, the price is so high that can’t recommend this as a viable option.
Mixed. We hesitate to recommend Seaweed Bath Co Face Dewy Face Lotion with SPF given the ingredients that have come to light as well as its cost. We absolutely love the spreadability of the sunscreen and adore the dewy texture it leaves our skin. We also love that it is SPF 30 and that it contains more Zinc Oxide than typical sunscreens, thus relying more on the mineral elements. We will update the article as we learn more.
BUY. Cloud Paper Bamboo Toilet Paper is a BUY. The paper has a slightly softer touch and it is on the cheaper end of bamboo toilet paper. We like that you can buy one-time though the subscription is much cheaper. Also, you can buy a super-bulk option of 80ct if you have the space!
Not a buy. Unfortunately, Amazon Aware 100% Bamboo Toilet Paper is not a buy from us. The convenience of Amazon does not make up for the higher cost and the less-than-stellar softness. While the toilet paper is sturdy and strong, and made of 100% bamboo, there are better bamboo and recycled options on the market.
BUY. If you can give up the softness of the drugstore brands in exchange for sustainability, then Seedling by Grove Collaborative Bamboo toilet paper should be in your bathroom. It’s cost effective and made of super fast growing bamboo, which is much kinder to the earth than cutting down trees. Plus, the packaging is all recycled paper — zero plastic.
Note that Grove Collaborative has a membership, with a generous trial period. EVEN with the cost of membership, and if you just buy TP for one person from Grove, the cost is still below average TP prices.
MAYBE Buy. There are better options for bamboo TP out there. We like that each box saves 36 pounds of trees. We like that Bippy is thoughtful about recyclable packaging, but wish that the rolls weren’t wrapped in extra paper. We like that it didn’t shred or tear apart at all (a lot). Big plus that the TP is unbleached and the price is just below the median, t̶h̶e̶ ̶p̶r̶i̶c̶e̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶a̶ ̶b̶i̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶o̶ ̶h̶i̶g̶h̶ but the paper is just a bit too rough.
BUY. Who Gives a Crap Bamboo Toilet Paper is a great alternative to traditional toilet paper. Bamboo regenerates more quickly and requires less resources than traditional TP. The cost is right on par with Quilted Northern, and even though it is not the cheapest normal toilet paper alternative, the rolls are decently sized. Did we mention that they were soft and strong too (and zero pilling)? Big win.
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.
BUY. Run, don’t walk. Meliora’s Bleach Alternative, which is color safe, is a buy. We love that it’s unscented: clothes come out just smelling clean. The ingredients are limited and Leaping Bunny Certified. Packaging is recyclable and the formulation is super concentrated. The only pitfall for some might be that it’s a powder and not a convenient pod/sheet/tablet — but we don’t mind.
We really like using Meliora’s foaming refillable hand soap - it’s a buy from us! The soap is super concentrated, light-weight and comes in unscented as well as a few scented options like Lavender, Lemongrass, and Tea Tree. The packaging is plastic-free and the soap is also palm oil-free. We have loved Meliora’s Laundry detergent ❤️ in the past and now we can buy the hand soap concentrate all in the same shipment! Plus, it is made in the USA.
Overall, Hawaiian Tropics Tinted Mineral Face Sunscreen with SPF 30 is a buy. Because of the tint, the cast is a bit less noticeable, especially if you blend with foundation. The texture is still liquid (‘milky’) and more easily spreadable compared to other products we’ve tried. In terms of cost, Pipette is a much better deal, but for a tinted sunscreen, the Hawaiian Tropics Mineral is right in the middle in terms of price, which may be worth it given the tint.
Overall, Hawaiian Tropics Mineral Sun Milk with SPF 30 is a buy. While it does leave a bit of a white cast, the texture is liquid (‘milky’) and more easily spreadable compared to other products we’ve tried. Additionally, the Hawaiian Tropics is at the cheaper end, competing with Pipette in terms of cost.
MAYBE buy. We liked using Tushy bamboo toilet paper — and we love bamboo toilet paper in general, since it uses less than gallon to produce versus 37 gallons of traditional toilet paper. We also really liked that Tushy’s TP was unbleached. Big pro that the paper was decently soft and definitely strong. The wrapping adds a nice touch to the bathroom as well. We think it’s a reasonable option if you want an unbleached (yay), sustainable bamboo toilet paper and are willing to shell out a few extra bucks.
It’s a BUY! - we like Thrive Market and think its worth the membership. As a B-corporation, it houses organic, sustainable pantry (and frozen food!) items with some home goods like TP and laundry/dishwasher detergent powder.
We’ll hit you with the bad now: it seems pricey. Membership is $59.95/year and prices look expensive. That said, it is a delivery service that charges nothing for delivery >$49. We compare to Whole Foods in this review, and we think over the course of the year, you can get out ahead by just switching the dishwasher detergent to Thrive Market (details below!).
BUY. Thrive Dishwasher Powder has limited ingredients, the citrus scent is light, there is a fragrance free option, and our dish cleaning experience was pretty good. Each bag (con: it’s plastic, but at least it’s thin plastic compared to the big liquid jugs) contains 75 standard washer loads. The biggest pro yet is that even at the regular price of $6.99, Thrive Market has the most affordable dishwasher powder on the market. At the current sale price, it’s a total steal.
Note: We also reviewed Thrive Market’s Laundry Detergent Powder, which was also a screaming BUY.
Proverb Deodorant, an eco-friendly deodorant is a ‘no’ from us. This is entirely based on price! As one of the most expensive options, we just can’t recommend it. We like the packaging, we like the texture and the scent. Even the ingredients are pretty good and the bar doesn’t leave white streaks. Our favorite part is that the refill has ZERO plastic. If you can spend the extra bucks, we think this is a good choice.
DEFINITELY a buy. We love Friendsheep Eco Dryer Balls. The 100% wool dryer balls are eco-friendly and reusable. While costing more upfront, you make it up in 3 months compared to Downy dryer sheets. We expect them to last for years, reducing carbon footprint significantly over time, and not contributing to landfills. These fun dryer balls are a perfect gift for someone trying to be more green.
MAYBE buy. We liked Who Gives A Crap Bamboo Paper Towels enough to give it a green light: bamboo paper is more sustainable than tree-based paper towels, the cost is reasonable, and the paper doesn’t shred in our hands. It’s not going to be as luxurious-feeling as normal paper towels, which is fine, but we tend to use reusable Swedish dishcloths like Redecker or DII. For those must-one-time-use paper, WGAC is good option.
Elvissmart Bamboo Toilet Paper is a Mixed Buy for us. We like that its bamboo and unbleached. We like that it didn’t shred or tear apart at all - quite thick and tough. In fact we think we used less toilet paper because of it. However it comes in plastic packaging which is a big bummer. Price is relatively reasonable!
No. We just cannot. While we think it’s a clever option for traveling, and the technology of the dissolvable sachet is super cool, Plus Body Wash is a no for us. The product requires using dry (!) hands to open up the sachet as well as a high price point. Leaping Bunny certified, paraben-free, phthalate-free, and sulfate-free, this zero-waste body, very eco-conscious wash also has a nice scent. Maybe it’s a good travel option?
