2019 – the year of living my best sustainable life, putting down roots, and happiness. About a year ago I transitioned the blog from a general travel blog to a sustainable travel blog – all because of some beeswax food wraps. Initially, I thought I would make an effort to travel sustainably, including visiting eco-friendly resorts, supporting airlines and companies that have green energy policies, etc. I quickly found eco-friendly and sustainable practices can and should transfer into your everyday life. As I implemented these practices, I found companies and products that make this transition much easier. Check out my round-up of 2018 Sustainable Products.
2019 is already off to a great start. I started the year by making 5 Eco-Friendly New Years Resolutions. In order to fulfill resolution number four – support sustainable brands – I would like to share with you sustainable products I recommend buying for 2019.
Without further ado, let’s just get right into the post…
For Christmas 2018 I gave just about everyone I knew a Stasher Bag. I am obsessed with these reusable ziplock bags. They are microwave-, freezer-, stovetop-, dishwasher-, and even oven-safe. They are the most versatile product in my kitchen right now. I have some storing leftover soup in the freezer, some in my pantry storing dried rice, and one in my lunchbox holding my loose leaf tea. I brought one on my trip to Germany and it held dinner leftovers, goodies for a picnic lunch, and toiletries to get through security. You need these in your life.
Coconut shells sanded down and sealed to make a beautiful, handcrafted bowl you can eat out of – genius. This Austraila-based company is all about repurposing and reducing waste and they do just that. Eating out of these bowls will take you to a tropical, peaceful place. I love eating a savory curry or my morning smoothie bowl out of my Jumbo Coconut Bowl.
I’m officially on the charcoal bandwagon. I invested in Miyabi charcoal filters, and I am so glad I did. The Japanese company uses bamboo to craft their water filters. Bamboo grows much quicker than trees making it a more sustainable product than typical charcoal water filters. Not to mention Miyabi only uses bamboo that is already waste. After the charcoal filter has done its job, smash it up and add it to your compost. There are other charcoal water brands out there, but make sure you read about how they obtain their materials and how they are treated.
Reducing food packing waste is one of my new years resolutions. Eliminating one-time use coffee cups are an easy way to do your part. Keep Cups are my choice for doing just that. The sleek, minimalistic design of their cups are practical and cute. They sell a wide range of materials, colors, and sizes to suit just about everyone’s hot or cold beverage preferences. My favorite use is taking my hot or cold tea to go. The top holds a nice seal so spillage is not a concern. These cups are also quite affordable compared to their competitors.
Ever since the video of the turtle with the plastic straw up its nose went viral, companies have been making move to eliminate plastic straws. I have both bamboo and stainless steel straws and while both are great, I prefer the stainless steel ones. I find they clean up better and fit in more cups. One of my favorite eco-friendly stores, Package Free Shop, sells a great selection of colors and sizes. Don’t forget to purchase a straw brush along with it to keep the inside clean!
Quite possibly my favorite gift of Christmas 2018, this plastic-free wool insulated lunchbox from Life Without Plastic. I started a new job at the beginning of 2019 and I knew I would be taking my lunch daily. I was in search of a sustainably sourced lunchbox that could hold all of my glass containers, snacks, and bamboo utensils. This is it. The space is quite possibly my favorite aspect, followed my the minimalistic design, neutral color, and the fact that it is machine washable. All great qualities to have in a lunch box that I hope to have for many years to come. You can purchase directly from Life Without Plastic or Package Free Shop.
You may have seen these chic netted (produce) bags before. I saw a slew of lifestyle influencers post pictures with them during the summer. They do make a great beach bag, but I use mine as a produce bag. They roll up to just about nothing but hold so. much. food. Seriously, I can get a week’s work of produce (for two) in one bag. They come in lots of fun colors and sizes to meet every need. Plus, they ring in at a very affordable, $14. A pretty decent price for a produce bag that can double as a beach bag.
EcoBags also sell great individual produce bags. They take the place of the plastic bags you see at the grocery store. Check them out here.
Finding sustainable cleaning products has been a challenge, so I was so happy to find Package Free’s compostable dish brush made by German-brand Redecker. This is the best dish brush or sponge I have ever owned. Seriously, it works better than any plastic, wood, bamboo, etc. alternative I’ve ever tried. It is especially great on pots. It appears to have a long lifespan as well. Package Free sells replacements heads so once you have composted your used brush head, you can just pop a new one on and you are good to go.
There are a few products I use that I have yet to find plastic-free, more sustainable options for – shampoo was one of them until I found Plaine Products. There are several reasons I love Plaine Products. 1) The packaging. All of their products are in stainless steel bottles that can be returned and refilled. This is exactly what I want in a beauty brand. 2) The shampoo and conditioner make my hair feel amazing. I was skeptical my hair wouldn’t love the shampoo and condition, but I was wrong. My hair has felt so silky smooth, detangled, and – dare I say – luscious since using Plaine Products. 3) They offer travel or trial size containers. I recommend signing up for a subscription which will save you some money (and time).
I started my love affair with Everlane last year and it is still going strong. Everlane’s ReNew collection is brilliant. All of the outerwear pieces are made from recycled plastic bottles and recycled polyester. I would own every piece from this collection if I could afford to. For now, I own the Fleece Sweatshirt and I adore it. I wear it with jeans, sweatpants, and even pajamas. It is a great versatile piece that I plan on wearing year-round.
6 words. Sustainably sourced, fair trade TENCEL sheets. You need them. Trust me on this one, they are like butter for your bed. I look forward to going to bed every night because of these sheets. They are affordable compared to other sustainable, fair trade brands. They come in a variety of neutral colors and wash up great.
I’ve adored The Little Market for as long as I can remember, but I now have a new appreciation for their fair grade goods. The Little Market sells a wide range of home and lifestyle products all fairly sourced from around the world. Some of my favorite products are the market tote and their wood cooking utensils.
Great tips on healthy living! I’m thinking of getting more eco-friendly goods too, so your article really helped me!
Also when picking the most eco-friendly car for your trip choose the service of https://rental24h.com/usa/phoenix-airport/gmc/ They have a big variety of them!
Great tips on healthy living! I’m thinking of getting more eco-friendly goods too, so your article really helped me!
Also when picking the most eco-friendly car for your trip choose the service of https://rental24h.com/usa/phoenix-airport/gmc/ They have a big variety of them!
It looks like a perfect place for relaxing.. looks good on having some fun in a place like that..
It looks like a perfect place for relaxing.. looks good on having some fun in a place like that..