10 Eco-Friendly Products That Make Life Easier
No matter how much research you've done, making the jump from a standard practice to an eco-alternative can be intimidating. For many of us, we don't just value convenience, we need it. I hear so many people express that though they are interested in making their lifestyle greener, they don't feel they have the time to spare. Despite continuous cultural shifts in favor of sustainability, there is still a widespread belief that adopting more eco-conscious behavior necessarily means sacrificing convenience.
Fortunately, that is no longer the case. Many eco-friendly swaps are just as, if not more, convenient than the standard practices or products they replace. Each item on this list embodies ease and convenience, and just happens to be sustainable as well.
Cotton swabs are an iconic multi-purpose tool. We reach for them to clean keyboards, belly buttons, and mascara smudges. With so many uses, traditional cotton swabs are quickly used up, or otherwise lost in handbags and junk drawers.
The Last Swab is a reusable swab that replaces 1,000 traditional cotton swabs. It comes with a case, meaning you can toss it in your bag and clean up your makeup on the go, and washes clean with warm water and gentle soap. In terms of convenience, this swab cleans more efficiently, is transportable, and allows you to permanently cross Q-Tips off of your shopping list. All of these benefits vastly outweigh the 5 seconds it takes to wash the Last Swab after use.
2. Stasher Bags
As far as food storage goes, plastic bags are an insufficient product. I used to work in childcare, and I can't count the number of improperly sealed Ziplocs, and subsequently spilled pretzels, I've observed. Nor the number of Ziplocs I've seen become stab victims, holes so easily poked through and the product rendered useless.
Even in a childless home, Stasher bags are the move. They seal better, they're more durable, you can pop them right in the microwave or freezer, and straight into the dishwasher once they're empty. With the variety they offer, you'll always have the perfect size bag on hand for your needs, never suffer a spill, and never again double bag something "to be safe."
Sweden doesn't play when it comes to efficiency, and Swedish dishcloths are proof. Paper towels run out quickly, and reaching the end of a roll only serves as a reminder of all the sheets sitting in a landfill. Sure, you can use kitchen towels or rags for some spills - but they're just not as absorbent. Swedish dishcloths also famously come in the cutest prints imaginable, to bring a smile to your face every day.
If you're tired of pouring money into your trash can, invest in some Swedish dishcloths. When it comes down to emergency response time, Swedish dishcloths prove more convenient than traditional paper towels. Imagine: You've just knocked a glass of juice and it's spilling off the edge of your kitchen table. Would you rather frantically yank sheets off a roll, or simply pick up a nearby cloth?
4. French Press
Any coffee lover pressed for time (no pun intended) should own a French press. We all know how quickly it can add up to buy coffee out, and most at-home coffee makers don't stack up quality-wise. The French press brews a beautiful cup and only really requires you to put the kettle on.
After a cup or two, you can easily discard the coffee grounds in your compost, or right into your planters. It takes just as much time as tossing a filter, or K-cup, into the trash!
5. Lomi
The Lomi may not be for everyone, but for a city-dweller, it is life-changing. Lomi is significantly more convenient than other, more traditional compost methods: no worms, no need for outdoor space, significantly less time involved, and almost no effort required. It is exactly as convenient as not composting at all: simply drop food scraps into the bucket of Lomi, rather than the trash.
The benefits? You won't have to walk your food scraps to a local city compost drop-off. Your trash will no longer stink, since there's no food in it. You'll have nutrient-rich dirt to add to your houseplants or garden. (Side note: the dirt is always very fragrant, in a lovely, sweet way.) And, you have just as much time in your day as before you composted at all.
Personally, I can't stand the feeling of dryer sheets - that almost greasy feeling. Not only does this eco swap eliminate that 5-second discomfort of grabbing a dryer sheet, but it also doesn't require a new habit. Rather than grabbing a sheet, simply reach for the wool dryer balls and toss them in.
Even better? They'll reduce your dry time significantly. Save on your energy bill, and stop staying up waiting for the dryer to finish.
7. Depop
For so many of us, online shopping is a habit more than anything else. It almost has to be, as online clothing stores boast seemingly endless options, and it can take forever to scroll through and scout what you're looking for. I turn to Depop first any time I need to shop online because it is so customizable. When you join, you'll fill in some information about your general tastes and preferences, and from there, prepare to be met with a feed of items you like.
Not only is the search experience faster and more convenient, but the buying experience also tends to be better. Almost every seller is extremely kind, shipping is always fast, and purchases frequently arrive with a personal touch: a handwritten note, free stickers, and more.
8. Baggu
As far as reusable shopping bags go, Baggu reigns supreme. Urban environments require a bag that you can pack full, and still carry comfortably on the subway or walk home. In the suburbs, you'll need a bag that they'll remember to pack in the car. Baggu's Standard Reusable Bag is the solution to both unique dilemmas. It folds up into a compact pouch, so it's easy to carry and remember. It expands to hold a lot of groceries, and it comes in the cutest prints.
What makes this so much easier than just grabbing plastic or paper bags from the store? It's incredibly durable. Countless times I've thought I've really done her in this time, and awaited my overloaded bag to break on my way home, and it never ever has. There is truly no inconvenience like picking your groceries up off the ground and carrying them home with the mangled remains of a useless bag. Use it again and again, load it up each time, get used to carrying fewer bags than usual, and look great doing it.
9. Silpat
This is an incredible timesaver when it comes to baking. Frankly, parchment paper is not our friend. Do you ever rip a piece off with ease, get exactly the right size, and happily go about the rest of your day? Of course not. Parchment paper is a logistical nightmare: frustrating to pull off the roll, and unsuitable for most pans that aren't large rectangles.
A Silpat will reduce these frustrations significantly. Simply place it on the appropriate pan, watch in admiration as your fresh baked cookies/perfect parmesan crisps/ooey gooey cinnamon rolls lift off with ease, and give it a quick wash. Even if you have mastered the parchment paper rip, this is simply a better product.
10. Imperfect Foods
Grocery delivery is more popular than ever, and for good reason. Just like takeout relieves the stress of having to cook and prepare a meal, grocery delivery relieves the stress of having to collect ingredients. And it's a big stress. I love a farmer's market as much as the next person, but they can be difficult to track, and most of us just can't make it there every week.
Sustainable produce deliveries, like Imperfect Foods and Misfits Market, rescue food that would otherwise go to waste - items with cosmetic imperfections, size or weight differences, or just excess - and use them to fill produce orders. It takes only a few minutes each week to select the produce you'd like delivered, a fraction of the time it takes to actually go to the grocery store. In my experience, much of the produce looks just as normal as its so-called "perfect" counterparts, and it always tastes amazing!
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