Shopping·13 min read

21 Products That’ll Make Your Kitchen Way More Eco-Friendly

sustainable-kitchen
Design: the Skimm | Photos: Food52, Amazon
April 5, 2023

This post was originally published in April 2022 and has been updated.

Products you buy through our links may earn us a commission. Oh, and if something's out of stock, oops, it was there (and all prices were accurate) at time of publication.

Earth Day is April 22, so sustainability is especially top of mind this month. Especially when it comes to the kitchen items we’re so quick to reach for every day.

There’s likely a lot of room for improvement, like using less paper towels and plastic water bottles. Don’t worry, we’re here to help. We rounded up eco-friendly counterparts to some commonly used kitchen products. Reducing your carbon footprint is important, and every little bit helps.

milk-maker
Almond Cow

A milk maker so you can have your own plant-based milks at home…

Place any oat, seed, or grain in the filter of the canister, fill it up with water, and press the cow button on the top. In about five minutes, you’ll have delicious oat, almond, or cashew milk at home, without all the extra packaging and added sugar and gums. You’ll know exactly what you’re pouring into your bowl of cereal. Psst…use code THESKIMM25 for $25 off when you spend $200 or more. ($245, Almond Cow)

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force-of-nature
Force of Nature

A make-your-own household cleaner kit…

Just fill the Electrolyzer with water, pour one of the capsules in (it contains a mixture of salt, water, and vinegar), and press the button. Once everything is combined, add the solution to the included spray bottle and you’ll have a cleaner that kills 99.9% of germs without bleach, fragrances, dyes, preservatives, or surfactants. Each capsule is recyclable, plus reusing the spray bottle will reduce your plastic consumption. PS: You can also get $50 off the this bundle through the end of April with code GOGREEN. ($69.60+, Force of Nature)

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compostable trash bags and smaller compost liners
HoldOn

Compostable trash bags for your kitchen…

Out with the old and in with the new. These trash bags are made from nontoxic, plant-based materials, so they’re free from microplastics, otherwise known as what’s added to a bag to make it more stretchy. They come in a 13-gallon size for large kitchen trash cans. Use code SKIMM15 for 15% off sitewide until April 23. ($25.70, HoldOn)

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small black food compost bin
Food52

A compost bin to get you started…

Composting is not as difficult as it sounds, and it has huge benefits. Lots of emissions can come from landfills, especially from the food waste that sits there. Methane gets released into the atmosphere, which in time can cause rising atmospheric temperatures. When you compost, those food scraps are disposed of differently, and can instead become nutritious organic material to add to soil to help other plants grow. These bamboo compost bins come with charcoal filters to dilute odors and a handle so you can carry it directly to your drop-off site. If you’re still a bit hazy on the process of composting, we’ve got you covered too. ($40, Food52)

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fruit-themed round reusable sponge cloths
Amazon

A reusable and compostable sponge cloth to replace your current sponge…

Use it on windows, dirty dishes, countertops, and more. It’s somewhere between a sponge and paper towel, but it gets the job done. When it’s seen better days, each sponge cloth is compostable. Chef’s kiss. ($6.99/2 pack, Amazon)

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reusable cellulose colored swedish dish cloths
Amazon

Swedish dishcloths to swap in for paper towels…

Single-use paper towels? We don’t know her. You can use these cellulose cloths all around the house since they’re incredibly absorbent and fast-drying. One can last up to eight weeks and 200 washes before being composted. Customers rave about how easy they are to use and their quick-drying nature. ($16.48/10 pack, Amazon)

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silicone reusable baking mat to replace parchment paper and foil
Amazon

A baking mat to replace foil and parchment paper…

No more baked-on food. This silicone mat will perfectly line your pan. It’s nonstick, dishwasher-safe, and also works as a prep board if you’re rolling dough and working with flour. ($12.79, Amazon)

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cotton produce bags for grocery shopping
Food52

Cotton reusable produce bags to replace the ones you get at grocery stores…

These will help you eliminate the waste from throwing away plastic bags once you’ve unpacked everything. They come in three sizes, so you can use them for fruits, veggies, and bread. You can even use them to organize items in the fridge once you’re home. ($29/8 pack, Food52)

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dishwasher detergent pods
Dropps

A dishwasher detergent pod that won’t call for a prewash…

It’ll make your glassware sparkle and remove caked-on food from bakeware. Ingredients are mineral-based, free from dyes, and never tested on animals. Choose between unscented, lemon, or fresh rain. Packaging is compostable with carbon-neutral shipping, and you won’t need to worry about measuring out the perfect amount. Toss a pod in and presto — clean dinnerware.($25/64 pods, Dropps)

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reusable bottle multi-surface cleaner for the kitchen
Blueland

A multi-surface cleaner with a bottle that can be reused…

The next time your stove looks like a mess, whip out this bottle. Blueland’s formula is tough on grease, and can be used on tile, wood, and stone. If you read the label, you’ll be impressed with what’s inside (or rather what isn’t): no chlorine bleach, no parabens, and no ammonia. You make the spray yourself with the tablets provided (just mix the tablet with water to create the solution). So you don’t need to rebuy bottles. You’ll get three tablets in your purchase, but you can keep buying more separately. ($18, Blueland)

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reusable food wrap infused with beeswax to keep leftovers fresh
Amazon

Sustainable beeswax food wraps to replace plastic wrap…

The wrap is made from cotton and infused with beeswax and jojoba oil. It’s washable and reusable, but it works like any other food wrap. It’s also biodegradable and works via the heat from your hands. When you mold the wrap to food items, or bowls and storage containers, a seal will form to keep items fresh. So you can save half-eaten avocados and tomatoes. No more produce going to waste. ($16.99/3 pack, Amazon)

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reusable silicone stand-up bags to store leftovers
W&P

Stand-up silicone bags that’ll store leftovers...

These standing bags can be placed right in your fridge when you need to store the rest of your meal, so no more plastic baggies that quickly wind up in the garbage. These can go in the microwave, dishwasher, or freezer, and can be used to steam and sous-vide. ($30/2 pack, W&P)

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brita water filter pitcher
Amazon

A Brita pitcher so you can get filtered water without plastic bottles…

This pitcher holds up to 10 cups of water so you can keep filling up your reusable water bottle all day long. Standard filters need to be replaced every two months, but the Longlast filter can be replaced every six. If you’re curious, the filter works to remove copper, mercury, zinc, chlorine, and cadmium from your tap. ($34.65, Amazon)

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reusable silicone straws to replace plastic straws
Amazon

Silicone straws that’ll help you ditch plastic ones…

These bendable (yet durable) straws will quickly become your eco-friendly best friend. They’re easy to sip through, can handle thicker liquids, and are fast to clean. The six-pack comes with a tiny carrying case, plus a squeegee to make sure you reach every nook and cranny. If you’re on the fence, silicone straws (as opposed to glass or stainless steel) are unbreakable and temperature-safe. ($12.99, Amazon)

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reusable silicone muffin pan so you can get treats out easily and without paper liners
Amazon

A silicone muffin pan to replace paper liners…

This pan will make muffins (and egg bites) easier to get out of the pan. We’ve all experienced broken tops, and after all your hard work, watching them fall apart at the last step is very frustrating. The heat-resistant silicone is flexible, so once everything is cooled, you’ll be able to easily pop out your creations. No liners needed. When cleaning, just flip the cups inside out to get crumbs left in the bottom. ($12.49, Amazon)

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glass and stainless steel french press
Amazon

A French press so you can brew a cup of coffee every morning…

Without relying on K-cups or coffee you buy from your local chain so you can save a bit of cash and reduce waste. It’s simple to use: add your ground beans to the bottom, pour in your hot water, set your timer (we usually wait four minutes), and then press the lever down once it’s ready. The filter works to collect the grinds at the bottom, making sure you have a delicious, smooth pour every single time. Psst...we’ve used this French press before and find it very reliable and sturdy. ($37.99, Amazon)

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lids
Amazon

A set of lids so you can store food in bowls you already have…

These glass and silicone lids will stretch to fit over bowls and cups of all sizes, eliminating the need for plastic wrap and storage containers. Let’s get real — rifling through your unorganized storage-container drawer or cabinet is always a headache, anyway. You’ll get two sizes made with absolutely zero plastic. An added bonus: You’ll be supporting a women-started small business when you add to cart. ($29.99/2, Amazon)

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travel-cup
Amazon

A travel cup that collapses before your very eyes…

Made out of BPA-free silicone that folds down to just 2 inches, this cup will quickly become your favorite for sipping coffee or a smoothie during your morning commute. It’ll keep hot drinks warm and cold ones chilled, plus it’ll save you from throwing away all those single-use paper coffee cups. It comes with a handy straw and is dishwasher- and microwave-safe. Plus, there are many pretty pastels to choose from. ($19.95, Amazon)

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kitchen-towels
Food52

A set of kitchen towels made from recycled bottles…

These patterned microfiber towels will soak up the messiest of spills, and then dry super quickly. When they’re looking a little worse for wear, just toss them in the washing machine and they’ll come out like new. They’re available in 10 vibrant designs that will look great hanging in your kitchen via the convenient little loop on each one. ($32/2 pack, Food52)

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hand-towel
Pact

A fluffy hand towel that actually saves water…

They’re made from organic Turkish cotton, which uses less water in production and no toxic chemicals. (They’re still highly absorbent and soft to the touch.) They come in three neutral colors and work just as well in the bathroom as they do in the kitchen. When they’ve soaked up all they can handle, just throw them in the wash. ($30/2 pack, Pact)

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paper-towels
Public Goods

A roll of paper towels if you just can’t give them up…

If you can’t let go of your trusty roll, we get it. Just reach for this sustainable version — made of bamboo and sugarcane — instead. They’re completely tree-free, but you won’t have to sacrifice absorbency or sturdiness when tackling a mess. Customers say there’s no difference between these and traditional paper towels.  We love that they’re select-a-size, too. ($6.95/2 pack, Public Goods)

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