In a 2018 survey conducted by the information firm Nielsen, 48 percent of consumers said they either planned to or wanted to change their behavior to reduce their carbon footprint. The very next year, over 38 percent of consumers surveyed said they had purchased eco-friendly products in the last twelve months. These figures have been consistently increasing over the last decade, and the eco-friendly-product market is expected to grow exponentially as a result.

If you’re looking to change your lifestyle to lessen your impact on the environment, now is the time to do it. More and more companies are entering the marketplace with a forward-thinking mission of protecting both consumers and the planet, making it easier to shop in an ecoconscious way. And your home is a great place to start implementing these changes for the long term.

However, it’s not as easy as reading the label, because terms like “green” and “sustainable” can often be used haphazardly. Here is a list of brands you can start supporting today to better protect the future of our planet and the generations who will inherit it.

Products for cleaning

Many of the most recognizable household cleaning products on the market are made with potentially hazardous chemicals like bleach, formaldehyde, and ammonia. By replacing your current collection of products with more natural ones, you can help keep your home both clean and safe for your family.

Blueland

Part of the problem with mainstream cleaning products, aside from what’s in them, is the fact that they come in nonreusable plastic containers. Blueland is hoping to eliminate that problem with its line of cleaning tablets and reusable bottles. Consumers can purchase kits that contain an array of spray bottles and containers, along with cleaning tablets for different needs, such as hand soaps and dish soaps. All you have to do is place the tablet in a bottle, add water, and mix to combine it into a solution. According to its website, the company has helped prevent one billion single-use plastics from entering the ocean and landfills since 2019.

Earth Breeze

If you’ve ever purchased liquid laundry detergent, you know how heavy and thick the plastic jugs can be. And even if you purchase powdered detergent, which often comes in a box, the chemicals in both varieties can be extremely dangerous. Earth Breeze has a solution—plastic-free detergent sheets that get clothes clean without waste or harsh chemicals. The packaging is recyclable, and the laundry sheets are vegan, hypoallergenic, and cruelty-free. In addition, for every pack of sheets purchased, Earth Breeze donates ten loads of detergent to nonprofits and charities.

Products for storage

In 2020, an estimated 5.3 million Americans used ten or more rolls of plastic wrap, and, with the average roll containing seventy-five feet of wrap, that’s approximately 3.98 billion feet of plastic! Instead of using throwaway plastic film to store leftovers or transport covered dishes, reusable containers and bags are a great option to reduce waste and can even help keep your food fresh for longer.

Food Bunker

This California-based company offers resealable bag options in a wide variety of sizes to cover all your storage needs. Its bags are also BPA-, phthalate-, and lead-free, as well as microwave, oven, and dishwasher safe. They can be used to freeze leftovers, preserve cut produce and meats, and pack
meals for transport. But perhaps the most convenient part of buying from Food Bunker is the company’s quick shipping time; most orders are processed and shipped within one day.

Abeego

It might be hard to believe, but beeswax paper makes for an excellent, all-natural alternative to plastic wrap. Abeego was founded on the principle of selling only plastic-free, all-natural, naturally preserved, edible, and food-safe products. Its wraps range in size from “small,” sold in sets of six, which are great for half-cut produce like avocados and lemons, to “giant,” sold in single units, which are perfect for storing bread or covering prepared dishes. All wraps can be cleaned with cold water and reused, and, when they’ve reached the end of their life, can be composted or used as fire starters.

Products for your lifestyle

We all want the products we buy to make our lives better and easier, and you don’t have to sacrifice sustainability to achieve this. Plenty of homeware brands make products from biodegradable materials so you can rest easy when you lay your head down at night on your eco-friendly pillow.

Avocado

We spend approximately eight hours a day on our mattresses, so they need to contribute to our well-being, not hinder it. Avocado’s founders wanted to create a green mattress that was genuinely affordable, and the company has since expanded to offer a full line of other sustainably made sleep products, including pillows, bedding, and bed frames. The company owns its own farms, where sheep are raised for sustainably harvested wool, and operates its own latex-processing facility. Because Avocado is so transparent about where all of the materials in its products come from, you can
be sure you’re shopping sustainably, ethically, and in a way that’s healthier for you and the environment.

Unni

Because trash bags are the main receptacle for our garbage, it probably comes as no surprise that 313.8 million Americans used plastic trash can liners in 2020. Plastic bags like this can take decades to decompose. Unni has an alternative: 100 percent compostable bags made from plants. It offers a variety of bag sizes for different needs, from 2.6 gallons up to 65 gallons. The company also makes pet waste bags from 120 to 360 counts.

Living sustainably doesn’t have to take a lot of effort. Companies like these are making it easier than ever to shop green and make your home a happier, healthier place to be.