In this day and age of rapidly growing daily temperatures and melting ice caps, many people are trying to create as little waste as possible in hopes that they can help reverse the damage that has already been done. However, one person, in the midst of a hundred, can’t effectively create the change that we so desperately need if we want to reverse at least some of the damage we’ve done to the planet.
A big argument against going either low-waste or zero-waste is that it costs too much. Which is sometimes true. If you live in a large city, chances are that you’ve walked into a zero-waste store and walked right back out, without purchasing anything, because everything was too expensive. And although you feel the need to help the environment and create a cleaner environment for your future children, it’s just not worth spending upwards of $10 for a pound of dried pasta when you can get the same amount for less than $2 at any regular grocery store.
But, the good news is that Amazon has a wide variety of low to zero-waste products that are affordable. You’re probably thinking, “but what about all of the packaging from the shipment of the products? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of buying zero-waste products?” To a degree, yes. However, most amazon products are shipped to the buyer in a cardboard box, which is easily recyclable. And the plastic envelope type bags are also recyclable. The packaging for the actual products are compostable, which means that if you have a compost bin or have a garden growing in your backyard, you can always tear up the product packaging and throw it straight into the soil or compost bin!
Although your first choice for anything low or zero-waste should be a local business, Amazon is a much cheaper alternative that can actually help you save money while helping to save the planet. And with the money you save from not purchasing one-use products, it can be used to help support your local zero-waste businesses once you feel financially secure enough.
Here are some great zero-waste products from Amazon to help kickstart your zero-waste lifestyle:
Straws
Back in 2015, a marine conservation biologist, Dr. Christine Figgener, filmed her and her team removing a plastic straw that was blocking the nasal passageway of a sea turtle. The grueling video began to resurface again in the middle of 2018 and sparked a major movement against single-use plastics. Specifically plastic straws. Since then, there has been a huge demand for reusable straws and Amazon has the perfect solution.
Coming in various shapes, sizes, colors, and materials, Amazon has a variety of different kinds of reusable straws. You can get metal straws or silicone straws, both of which are environmentally friendly. However, we recommend the Grilljoy 13 pc Reusable Metal Straws. With 10 stainless steel metal straws, 2 cleaning rods, and a compostable carrying case, this set costs you $8.99 and is a steal. The 10 straws consists of 4 straight straws, 4 bent straws, and 2 thick straws that are great for boba or milkshakes.
Water Bottle
Single-use plastic water bottles, although convenient, can end up costing you a fortune in the long run. Not only do they cause a buildup of trash under our beds from where we’ve tried to hide the evidence from our parents, but they also cause a massive buildup in our oceans from incorrect disposal and lack of recycling. Plus, there are tons of amazing reusable water bottles on the market that don’t cost too much and even keep your drinks insulated. One of the best reusable water bottles on Amazon is the Opard 30oz Sports Water Bottle. For only $11.99, you can get a reusable, BPA-free, plastic water bottle that has a built-in infuser and a scale on the side to help you keep track of your water intake.
If you’re looking for something that is similar to a HydroFlask but is significantly cheaper, then Simply Modern’s Insulate Water Bottle is the one you’re looking for. For $19.99 they come in a wide range of colors and patterns and also come with a straw and spout. Insulated and said to keep your drinks cold for up to 24 hours, it’s a great deal!
Silicone stasher bags
From packing sandwiches and snacks for lunch, to storing items in your fridge/freezer, storage bags are the easiest grab and go items to help you accomplish these tasks. However, these bags are thrown out after one use and not even recycled. Instead of using these single-use bags and wasting your money, consider this zero-waste alternative; silicone stasher bags. You can freeze them, microwave them, heat them up in boiling water, all without worry of contaminating your food. You can get a pack of 6-12 from $15.99-$16.99 on Amazon and you can get a mix of sandwich, snack, and gallon-sized bags.
Produce bags
Although you might have reusable grocery bags, another worthy purchase would be reusable produce bags. These are the bags that you put your fruits and vegetables into while shopping. At the store, they’re made of plastic and are rarely eco-friendly. Unless you only shop at Whole Foods, where the bags are compostable, most of the produce bags at the grocery store are made of single-use plastic, and create an absurd amount of waste. Consider switching to the mesh produce bags that are not only eco-friendly, but also help keep your produce fresh by allowing them to breathe better while in the bags. For $12.99, Naturally Sensible sells a set of 5 reusable organic produce bags.
Beeswax food wraps
When you want to keep food fresh or cover containers that you have conveniently misplaced the lids to, you’re most likely to reach for the plastic wrap. However, the worst part about plastic wrap is that you can’t reuse it once you’ve removed it because it bunches up and it’s hard to straighten it back out. So, you’re forced to remove another piece of plastic wrap from the roll to redress the container. Instead of wasting plastic wrap and disposing of it incorrectly, try using beeswax paper. A reusable alternative to help keep your produce and foods fresh. Made from cotton cloths covered in beeswax, these food wraps are an amazing way to reduce your waste and keep your foods fresh. Orgawise Reusable Beeswax Food Wrap Set sells a set of 6 beeswax papers for $12.99 in three sizes that are perfect for replacing your plastic wrap!
After you use your beeswax paper wraps, you’ll have to wash them. So, it is recommended to use a mild dishwashing soap and cold water, to keep the beeswax from melting. However, after a few months of use, it is recommended that you refresh your food wraps. You can do this by purchasing beeswax bars and reapplying beeswax to your food wraps.
Makeup remover pads
If you wear makeup, then you’re familiar with makeup remover and makeup removing methods. Some of these methods utilize the use of makeup remover wipes or cotton rounds that you douse in makeup remover. However, one you use these removers, you have to throw away the wipes or cotton rounds and they are not recyclable and can end up in landfills which then go on to create more pollution. The best way to change up your routine and become more eco-friendly as well as create less waste is to switch to reusable makeup remover pads. Greenzla Reusable Makeup Remover Pads have a 20 count organic bamboo cotton pad pack that even comes with a washer bag so that you don’t lose your pads in the washer and dryer.
Dryer balls
Speaking of the dryer, do you use dryer sheets to help make your clothes smell fresh and be less static-y when they come out of the dryer? Well, those sheets are once again a single-use option and although you may be recycling them, it is still creating a lot of waste and you’ll probably end up paying more money in the long run. Switching to reusable dryer balls is not only going to save you the hassle of having to remember to place the dryer sheets in the recycling bin, but also save you tons of money! You won’t be saving money just from not having to purchase dryer sheets, but also because dryer balls can reduce the amount of time needed to use the dryer by 25%! Wool Dryer Balls by Handy Laundry sells a pack of 6 large wool dryer balls for $7.99 on Amazon as well as a pack of 12 for $14.99.
You might be wondering how to get your clothes to smell fresh if these cotton balls don’t come pre-scented. The solution is a simple fix, you can always purchase essential oil bottles of the scents that you like to sprinkle onto the dryer balls before you pop them into the dryer along with your clothes.
Keepcup
If you’re someone that loves getting coffee at your favorite coffee shop instead of making it at home, you might want to consider buying a keepcup; a reusable coffee cup. You may not realize it, but your daily medium latte creates a lot of waste from the cup, lid, and the koozie used as a barrier between your hands and the hot cup. Instead, invest in a reusable cup that is of a similar size to the cup of coffee that you get from your coffee place. This way you’re helping to create less waste, and many coffee shops even offer discounts for customers that provide their own cups, so you’ll even be saving a bit of money. A really great keepcup from Amazon is bioGo Cup which is made from Rice Husk Fibers and is $13.99. It comes with a lid and a koozie sleeve to protect your hands from the hot coffee. It’s also offered in a variety of colors.
Baking supplies
If you’re an avid baker, you’re probably buying a lot of cupcake liners and parchment paper to help line your tins and trays. However, that not only costs you a lot of money, but also creates a lot of waste. Waste which you can’t even recycle because there’s food waste on the liners. A great alternative to these single-use products are reusable cupcake liners and reusable baking sheets. AmazonBasics offers a 3-pack of silicone multiple-use baking sheets for $14.99 as well as a pack of 12-24 colorful cupcake liners for $7.99-$11.99. These are great alternatives because once you use them, you can wash and reuse them for your next baking adventure!
