Sustainable Swaps

We’ve been living more sustainably (much more sustainably) for about 5 years and we’re really into a decent groove now, but it all started with small changes and swaps – one thing at a time. I always try to share my picks for replacement ideas and I wanted to put most of them all in one place for you. So here are a slew of sustainable swaps you can make – all around your house.

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Sustainable Swaps
Since all of our lives and needs are different, you might not see exactly what you’re looking for below. Just remember that you want to focus more on using what you have rather than buying new AND new things should be about reusability, not disposability (reusable, reusable, reusable).
Sustainable Kitchen Swaps
- Reusable Silicone Lids to Replace Plastic Wrap
- Silicone Baking Mats to Replace Foil & Parchment/Wax Paper
- Reusable & Compostable Bags to Replace Single Use Plastic Bags
- Dish Towels + Napkins to Replace Paper Towels
- Non Toxic Cleaning Products to Replace Harmful Cleaning Products
If there’s one place to start making some change in our homes, it’s the kitchen. I think that’s the place where the most money, food, and resources are wasted. And yet it’s such a great place to hang out!! Here are my 5 easy sustainable kitchen swaps!
The kitchen is my happy place and it is for everyone else too since that’s always where gathering happens no matter how big or small the house is! With cooking comes the inevitable situation of food storage and cleaning.
Check out my kitchen appliance organization tips (and what you should keep) as well as these sustainable kitchen products!
Since I have a precarious relationship with plastic wrap and that darn blade on the box, I have a number of reusable kitchen items I’ve been using for years which now, coincidentally, have made our efforts for an eco-friendlier, sustainable kitchen all the more pleasant.
Reusable Silicone Lids
REPLACES: plastic wrap, foil, missing lids and covers
USES: to cover food in containers, to cover pots and pans on the stove, to cover bowls in the microwave, and to cover drinks
My mom discovered these reusable lids years ago (10 years now? more?) and swears by them. Not only are they a suction lid for putting items in the refrigerator, they also go on top of pots and pans on the stovetop, and in the oven (up to 420 degrees).
They come in sizes ranging from a drinking glass (great for keeping coffee warm a few extra minutes) to small and medium bowls and even 9×13 baking pans. They store fairly flat in a drawer in our house and are super easy to clean (they even go in the dishwasher).
You’ll see these silicone lids in the fridge, on the stovetop, and on the drying rack at any given time! These are my absolute must for any sustainable kitchen and were one of 3 items I used as plastic wrap alternatives to do away with cling film forever.

silicone baking mats
REPLACES: parchment paper, wax paper, foil
USES: to create nonstick surfaces on baking pans
Silpat baking mats (made of silicone) have been a mainstay for bakers for YEARS. They’ve been in my kitchen for about a decade and now they’re my parchment paper replacement!
I got tired of buying parchment paper once lemon biscotti became a constant in my grad school days. So I learned about silpat mats – probably from David Lebovitz – and never looked back! They come in different sizes and are a lifesaver for cleaning, baking cookies, and so much more. I have 2 half sheet pan sizes and 2 quarter pan sizes – I don’t need more than that!
I keep ours rolled in our drawer with all the other wraps, bags, and more. Needless to say, we haven’t bought parchment or waxed paper in years and haven’t missed them at all!

reusable ziploc bags
REPLACES: ALL ziploc baggies (big and small)
USES: anything you’d use a bag for!!
I keep raving about our Stasher reusable bags. And to say that I don’t daily find reasons for more than the few I have would be an outright lie. And considering that the single-use bags can only be replaced (if clean) as part of the plastic bag recycling, I’m done with them!
These silicone bags come in a range of sizes and colors. I use the half gallon bags to store homemade broth cubes in the freezer as well as raw meat from the deli and the upright bag is currently holding a block of cheese in the fridge. See what I use each size of bag for in my Stasher bags review!
These are my go-to kids snack container. While they open like a traditional bag, the opening isn’t large, so it can easily spill without losing much (if any) of what’s inside. Con uses them in the backseat while we’re on the road and they’re sturdy enough for him to pass up to me in the front without dropping anything!
I also use them to hold random things like his nail file, some sewing tidbits, and crayons. I’m planning to make one of them into a mini first aid kit to throw in whatever bag we have. And one that accidentally got a cut in it, now just holds some smaller toys of his – still finding a use!
These bags are resealable, freezable, sous-vide (able), and washable in the dishwasher! They’re also great outside of the kitchen for keeping pens and pencils organized, your makeup in a quick place for traveling….basically anytime you’d use a single-use plastic baggie. You can even have color coded bags for different needs or members of your family!
If you still have a need for zip top bags that you can’t avoid, opt for compostable zip top bags! Use code LUCI for 15% off orders over $45.

dish towels + napkins
Sadly the excitement for dish towels and ESPECIALLY fabric napkins isn’t high, but it should be!
The abundant use of paper towels is bonkers! We haven’t bought paper towels in 5 years. How do we use so few? Dish towels and napkins that are washed and reused. Whether you have fancy matching towels and napkins or it’s a hodgepodge – it doesn’t matter.
We do have a trash can under the sink that I use as a “hamper” for dirty towels and napkins. They get dirty and then it’s thrown in there. When it’s full, I do a load to wash them (the only load we wash in hot water) and we’re restocked.
Most people seem to have dish towels, but for linens… You can certainly buy new (check out these solids and these patterns), but you might ask an older family member if they have any extra linens or try a second hand store. Check out this full post on paper towel alternatives!

Sustainable Bathroom Swaps
Rather than just giving you a bunch of new stuff to buy, the list of sustainable bathroom swaps below is a combination of areas in which you can replace with different brands along with practices to cut back on the waste in your home. You can start making your home more sustainable!
These items are in no particular order of importance. Add a practice or replace a product as soon as it works for you. When it comes to buying more sustainable items, I like to do it when the old item has run out or is no longer usable, so thereโs no rush. But I do like know what to buy when the time comes!
- toilet paper
- recycle dental products properly
- Shampoo & Conditioner โ Sustainable Swaps
- safety razor over disposable razor
- bar soaps over body wash
- reusable sundries
- no more plastic loofahs
- deodorant
- proper beauty/makeup recycling

Toilet Paper
Cotton toilet paper is what weโre all used to, but the process of cotton production is water intensive and full of pesticides. The fluffier, the more difficult it is for drains and sewer lines. And donโt get me started on the (non-reusable) plastic wrapping. Whereโs my eye roll emoji?
Enter recycled paper and bamboo options. We love Who Gives A Crap? They offer recycled and bamboo options โ we use the bamboo, but I have many friends who use the recycled option (more sustainable and less expensive). Rolls are individually wrapped in paper (as required by US law), but thereโs no plastic and the company is a B Corp! Read my full review of the best bamboo toilet paper.
Recycle Dental Products Properly
There are a slew of sustainable dental care options. From bamboo toothbrushes to silk floss, itโs becoming easier to replace dental products with something more sustainable that suits you!
Toothpastes also come in a slew of options. I have used the toothpaste tabs, which can be a plastic free option. While I have no problem with crunching the tabs and using it as a toothpaste, I havenโt found a tab option with fluoride, which my family uses (to each their own). You can read my natural toothpastes review for all my thoughts on brands (all available at Target even) and formulas.
Regardless what brand or type of brush, flosser, and paste you use, however, is the option to recycle all that packaging!! There is a free recycling program sponsored by Tomโs of Maine and hello brand toothpaste (our preferred brand of them all) for ALL dental product packaging.
Sign up for a free Terracycle account and join the Tomโs of Maine recycling program here! Theyโll send you a prepaid shipping label and you can periodically send off a small package of dental packaging waste to be recycled (even better if you team up with friends/family to recycle more per shipment)!
If you live in the Sacramento area, Refill Madness in Midtown also has a bucket for this program, saving you the hassle of sending it back yourself!

Shampoo & Conditioner โ Sustainable Swaps
This may not be surprising, but my hair is my favorite feature of myself. My not so naturally blonde hair is something I take pride in, so when I talk about sustainable options, please understand that Iโm only recommending items and practices Iโve tried that havenโt been detrimental to my hair in ANY way.
The most sustainable option for shampoo and conditioner are shampoo and conditioner bars. They look just like the bar soap youโre used to, but theyโre formulated for hair. Read my full post on how to use shampoo and conditioner bars, so you can make sure youโre using them correctly.
Iโve done one of each at a time and used two bars in tandem. If youโre new to hair care bars, Iโd recommend starting with a shampoo bar while using your normal conditioner. I find the shampoo bars are pretty foolproof while the conditioner bars take a little (and I mean just a little) getting used to).
If you arenโt ready for bars, find clean hair care first and foremost and then research packaging. Innersense is my go to hair product line for almost all my hair needs. Their plastic containers are actually made from recycled plastic AND theyโre recyclable (not the pumps). Use code luci15 for 15% off your first purchase
Alternatively, look into local refill stores where you can use your own containers and cut back on packaging overall โ great with these DIY beauty labels!
See all my favorite non toxic hair products as well as other hair and beauty posts!
Bar Soaps over Body Wash
This one doesnโt require much explanation โ bar soaps are more sustainable. They tend to be cleaner, donโt take up space or water weight in any part of transportation, and help in limiting unnecessary product being washed down the drain.
Check out some great clean beauty bar soaps (for hands and body) as well as these all natural soaps for men (bar soaps included)! If youโre unwilling to go the bar route, check out these natural body washes that I think are the best!!

Safety Razor over Disposable Razor
Ahh, yes, the reusable (โsafetyโ) razor. In lieu of plastic heads that are thrown away, safety razors are a much more sustainable option. I had to try two before finding the one I liked (I was ready to go back to disposable until this one). Because there isn’t all that plastic in the way, swivel heads are actually less safe, I feel, and you need something to really hold on to. See the best double edge razor blades for the best experience.
Reusable Sundries
Iโm not sure what to call the category of items including cottons ball, cottons pads, and qtips, but that one!! Each of these items has reusable replacements. Reusable cotton pads (replacing the balls and pads) are great for removing makeup, applying toner, or whatever other needs you might have. Just launder with towels!
Weโve even used these reusable Q tips โ the โoriginalโ is the best option here. I donโt find the beauty ones to be great for removing makeup imperfections. While I donโt think these reusable Q tips are saving the world, I do enjoy that theyโre reusable and that they take up almost no space as compared to that big box of Q Tips we used to have! We each have a different color, so we know whose is whose.
No More Plastic Loofahs
I used to love a good plastic loofah, but letโs be real โ theyโre plastic, non-recyclable, and that dye canโt be natural. Instead opt for bar soaps OR use washcloths or even natural loofahs (far more exfoliating) instead.
Check out these tips for towel storage in small spaces!
Deodorant
This one is wildly specific, but do you know that deodorant originally came in cardboard packaging? Now some companies are making the switch back to the cardboard packaging.
My favorite natural deodorant brand actually sells quite a few of their scents in the plastic-free packaging, including unscented and their sensitive lines!

Skin Care & Products โ Recycle Properly
Just like dental care, the packaging around skin care, hair care, and makeup is one of the biggest offenders in the house. Some packaging can easily be recycled or even reused (see how to wash and clean containers for reuse).
Clean beauty brands Beautycounter and Crunchi also have disposal/recycling information on EVERY product page to help you do it right! To see what brand is right for you, read my Crunchi review and my picks for the Best Beautycounter products! And don’t miss my Crunchi Discount Code.
For all those impossible to recycle items however (e.g. pumps, plastic tubes, etc.), check out these makeup recycling programs and tips!

Sustainable Cleaning Products
This one sounds kind of funny, but we often forget about what we send down the drain and out with the trash. The ingredients in the cleaning products we use do matter since the water slowly makes its way back into waterways with animals and plants.
The brands I love for cleaning products at home are Branch Basics, Common Good Co. (use code LUCI for 15% off your order), Seventh Generation, Puracy, and ECOS (also available at my local refill store).
Items such as dish soap, hand soap, and dishwasher detergent/pods are great items to swap out and easily make your kitchen more sustainable! And remember if you buy in bulk (or even just refill size packs), you’re saving packaging and transport with every purchase!
Also, try using this stovetop, natural air freshener – it naturally deodorizes the room!
One more easy swap? Try compostable bags for trash, composting, and even single-use plastic bag replacements. Compostable isn’t as great as reusable, but it’s infinitely better than single use.
Eco-Friendly Kitchen Products

Recycled Plastic Water Pitcher
Made with recycled materials. See more recycled products for everyday life.

Glass Pyrex Storage Containers
Recyclable glass, helps avoid food waste. Read when to throw away food.

Reduces food waste & create compost for gardening. Read my compost machine review!
Small Home Living Tips
Want some organization tips for small home living? Check out these posts of kitchen appliance organization, how to store reusable bags, seasonal clothing storage, and mail and paperwork organization! If you’re working to downsize your closet, see my step-by-step tips for a minimalist wardrobe (that feels anything but small).
You’ll also want to read how we’re making our home more sustainable; my go to clean home cleaning products; and how to declutter your mailbox!
Keep an eye on this constantly updated list of sustainable product reviews for every aspect of life! Don’t miss these refillable cleaning products! And if you shop online, you’ll want to read these tips for shopping more sustainably on Amazon.