A couple months ago, I decided to try and start using less plastic in my daily routines. While a large part of pollution and climate change in our world is due to inadequate regulation and policies by large corporations, I still wanted to try to find products I liked that were less wasteful. Unfortunately, eco-friendly products can be expensive, and it can be hard to tell if the product will actually work for you. So I asked my pals on Instagram what their favorite eco-friendly products were, and I was surprised by all the brand, product, and DIY recommendations that I received! Without further ado, here are eight recommendations for moving towards a more environmentally conscious lifestyle, one step at a time:  

1. Bamboo Toothbrushes

  I got my boyfriend to buy me a pack of bamboo toothbrushes for Valentine’s Day (so romantic, I know) and I love them! You can get packs of them in bulk on Amazon for really cheap. (Also, pro tip: if you go to Amazon’s Customer Service chat box, you can request all future orders on your account to be plastic free when possible.) If you would rather not go through Amazon, there are many other companies that sell bamboo toothbrushes, like the brand Package Free!  

2. Recycled Plastic Toothbrushes and Razors

  One person recommended the brand Preserve to me for toothbrushes and razors, and their products are mostly made from recycled yogurt cups! (You can also get these at Trader Joe’s.) Another brand that can be found in many mainstream stores is Tom’s of Maine, who have toothbrushes with handles made of recycled plastic as well.

3. Recyclable Packaged Toothpaste

  Typical toothpaste tubes are not recyclable. If you want to avoid the hassle of recycling altogether, the brand Bite offers refillable glass containers for their little chewable toothpaste “bites,” and they use recycled paper materials for shipping. Tom’s of Maine has recently released a recyclable tube for some of their products. Unfortunately, the new tube isn’t accepted for recycling in all areas, but they also have a partnership with TerraCycle where you join a waitlist for a bunch of free recycling programs that accept hard-to-recycle plastic waste.  

4.  Bar Soap, Shampoo, Lotion, etc.

  Plastic soap bottles are typically recyclable, but sometimes recycling isn’t as reliable as you would think. I live in a rural area that recently stopped offering recycling for most types of plastic due to a lack of recycling facilities. You can get bar soap at most stores, and then you can avoid using so many plastic bottles! One of my followers also recommended the brand Ethique Eco-Friendly Beauty Bars for hair products and lotion. If you live in the dorms, and don’t have a private bathroom, you can also buy bar soap travel cases to easily store your soap. Ethique also has travel cases made out of compostable materials, but they are a bit pricey. If you want a cheaper version, reusable plastic cases can often be found at Target or Walmart.

5. Reusable Food Storage Bags

  There are multiple types of washable food storage bags available. One of my followers recommended the brand Russbe, which has bags made of durable plastic with very cute patterns (like clouds and animals!). There are also some made of silicone, like the ones made by Stasher.  

6. Beeswax Wrap

  Another person recommended Bee’s Wrap, which is basically washable wax coated fabric that can be used as an alternative to plastic food wrap. These can be a little pricey, but can last for up to a year. Just be careful not to expose them to hot food or water, as it could cause the wax to melt. Similar beeswax wrap products can be found at Walmart, Trader Joe’s, and your local Co-op. You can also DIY your own with cotton cloth, beeswax and jojoba oil (see a tutorial here).  

7. Reusable Grocery Bags

  Reusable bags are pretty common, especially since many places are starting to charge for plastic bags in stores. However, making them can be a fun DIY activity! There are many Youtube tutorials (including this one) on making totes from old t-shirts or extra fabric, and you can even personalize them with embroidery or paint!