Click on the category below to learn more
Food Waste
- Reduce Wasted Food – Vermont Dept. of Environmental Conservation
- 25 Facts about Food Waste – Earth.org
- Just Eat It! – Documentary (video)
- 6 Must-See Documentaries about Food Waste – Earth.org
- From Farm to Kitchen: The Environmental Impacts of U.S. Food Waste – EPA
- How to Organize Your Fridge so Food Keeps Longer and your Energy Bill Works Harder – Greatist
- Grocery Budget Calculator – Center for Food Loss and Waste Solutions
- Easy food storage tips – Capitol One Food Waste Log
- Food Stewardship Tips – EPA
- Why We Can’t Afford to Waste Food – BioCycle
Eco Friendly Cleaning Products
DIY household cleaners have the advantage of being non-toxic and generally more budget friendly, as they are made with items you probably already have around your home. Check out the links below tofor recipes that will keep you and your family healthy and won’t break the bank.
- Non-Toxic Household Cleaners – Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District
- How to Make Homemade Cleaner with Simple Ingredients – Family Handyman
- 8 Homemade Cleaners That Actually Work, According to Our Cleaning Expert – Good Housekeeping
Looking to make your cleaning routine more environmentally friendly but don’t want to make your own? Here are things to keep in mind when selecting cleaning products (source: Rolling Stone):
- Formula: Look for formulas that are biodegradable, pH balanced, and free from potentially harmful chemicals, including likely carcinogens or highly irritating or corrosive substances. Unsure about an ingredient? Check out the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) guide to household cleaners. Try to avoid artificial fragrance and look for products that have a low volatile organic compound (VOC) level, which can negatively impact indoor air quality.
- Packaging: Sustainable packaging is a crucial factor when thinking about the impact of our household products. Concentrated formulas are not pre-diluted with water, which cuts down on bulkiness, makes shipping more efficient, and means that you aren’t over-paying for a product that is essentially 90% water. Packaging made of recycled materials is also a big plus.
- Reusable Tools: Use reusable versions of paper towels and single-use spray bottles. Check out our Reduced Waste Living page to learn more about reduced waste swaps for the kitchen and bathroom.
- EWG Guide to Household Cleaners – Environmental Working Group
- RS Recommends: The Best Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products for Home Cleaning – Rolling Stone
- Zero-Waste Cleaning: 6 Brands for Sustainable Sparkle – Sustainable Jungle
- The Best Refillable Cleaning Products for Your Eco-Friendly Home – Martha Stewart.com
Plastic
- Fast Facts About Plastic Pollution – National Geographic
- Planet or Plastic – National Geographic
- Why Choose Silicone vs Plastic? – ECOlunchbox
- What Really Happens to the Plastic You Throw Away – TED-Ed (video)
- Why is Plastic Bad? – Trash is for Tossers
- The Plastic Problem – PBS NewsHour (video)
- The World’s Plastic Problem is Bigger than the Ocean – The Conversation
- Could Just-Add Water Products Save Us? – Vox
Clothing and Textiles
- The Truth Behind Fast Fashion – DW Planet A (video)
- 20 Hard Facts and Statistics about Fast Fashion – good on you
- The High Cost of Our Cheap Fashion – TEDx Talks (video)
- The Brewing Fashion Waste Issue and What Brands Are Doing About It – Waste Advantage
- The True Cost of Fast Fashion – The Economist (video)
- I Broke Up with Fast Fashion and You Should Too – TEDx Talks (video)
- The Unsustainability of Returns in Fashion – Style.me
- 36 Online Thrift Stores for the Best Secondhand Clothing – Sustainable Jungle
Sustainable Products for Green Living
As a wise Waste Warrior once said:
“A first question for yourself before you acquire anything… Do I really need it…is it necessary, is there a substitute, is it sustainably made & produced?”
- Eco-friendly, plastic reducing products
- Green Life Trading Co: Low Waste Sustainable Shopping
- LastObject | Zero Waste Store of Reusable Everyday Products
- Litterless – Find local zero waste resources
- The Net Zero Company
- Plastic Free Products
- The Plastic Free Shop
- Plastic-free, Zero-waste
- Say Goodbye to Plastic
- Toxin-free Household and Wellness Products
- Well Earth Goods – Free Shipping, No Plastic, No Waste
- Upcycled Food: Creating new, high quality products from surplus food
- Vunella Shampoo Bars
- Zero Waste Makeup Brands
- Zero Waste Products and Packaging
- Zero Waste Store – Eco-safe swaps to spruce up your home and sustain the planet
- Give Back Box (pudoin-c.com): Free Amazon program to donate textiles
Neither websites nor products sold on them are in any way endorsed or supported by the LRSWMD.