No home is complete without a kitchen. But what if the products in your kitchen were harming your health and the environment?
Our kitchens are the perfect hotbed for unsustainable items, from toxic cleaning products to plastic cooking utensils.
The solution? Switching to eco-friendly kitchen products is one simple way you can reduce your kitchen’s environmental footprint.
Although it can feel like a challenge to changing up your routine, the myriad of affordable eco-friendly kitchen products out there means it’s never been easier to go green at home.
In this article, we will explore some of the best eco-friendly kitchen products on the market, and the harmful products you should avoid, to help you to lead a more sustainable lifestyle.
The Need for Eco-Friendly Kitchen Products
Harmful materials in the kitchen have become the domestic status quo for many households.
So, before we delve into our list of recommended eco-friendly kitchen products, which harmful materials in the kitchen should you be leaving off your shopping list?
Examples of Harmful Materials in the Kitchen to Avoid
Synthetic Sponges
There’s nothing quite like a kitchen sponge. Known for its quick absorbency, pliable squishiness, and ability to see us through the toughest of cleaning jobs, it’s no wonder the sponge is a popular go-to in American households.
Although a marvel in the kitchen, the traditional synthetic sponge is bad news for the planet. Riddled with plastic, sponges are prone to releasing microplastic particles down the sink. As microplastics are too small to be infiltrated by water treatment plants, they often contaminate the natural environment and pose a threat to marine life.
For hygiene reasons, the general advice is to replace synthetic sponges weekly, with approximately 400 million sponges thrown into US landfills every year – that’s a frightening amount of plastic waste!
Alternative eco-friendly kitchen products: Full Circle Walnut Scrubber Sponge, Marley’s Monsters Washable Sponge, EcoCoconut Twin Pack Scourers
Paper Towels
Did you know that American households consume almost 50% of the world’s paper towels?
Paper goods – including paper towels – are responsible for around 14% of deforestation globally, contributing to rising CO2 levels and loss of biodiversity. The World Green Organization estimates 17 trees must be chopped down and 20,000 gallons of water contaminated to produce just 1 ton of paper towels. Plus, paper towels are single-use and non-recyclable so the majority end up being thrown into landfills.
Alternative eco-friendly kitchen products: Dropps Swedish Dishcloth, Wet & Stone Organic Cotton Dishcloth
Cleaning Products
It’s important to keep our homes hygienic. But what if our go-to cleaning products are putting our health and the environment at risk?
Many household cleaning products – such as dishwasher detergents, cleaning sprays, and chlorine bleach – contain harmful chemicals, including volatile organic compounds (VOC). When released in an indoor environment, VOCs can be dangerous to human health, with studies linking the chemical to chronic respiratory problems, allergic reactions, headaches, and eye and throat irritation.
Moreover, household cleaners are seeping into the natural environment, with chemical compounds bypassing water treatment plants and causing problems for wildlife. Phosphates from dish soap have a fertilizing effect when released into waterways, creating the ideal climate for algae. When algae permeate the natural environment, it drains oxygen from the water, which causes biodiversity loss.
Alternative eco-friendly kitchen products: Grove Collaborative Multi-Purpose Cleaner, Dropps Power Dish Spray
Plastic Wrap
Every year, it’s estimated Americans buy enough plastic wrap to cover an area the size of Texas! Plastic wrap is a firm household favorite when it comes to protecting our food, with over 5 million Americans buying 10 or more rolls in 2020. But how good is this dependable synthetic film for our health and the planet?
Standard plastic wrap often contains a type of plastic called polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Not only is PVC non-recyclable, but studies have also shown this type of plastic is a serious threat to our health and the environment from production right through to disposal.
Alternative eco-friendly kitchen products: Bee’s Wrap Food Wraps, Food Huggers, Stasher Reusable Bags
Disposable Wet Wipes
Ah, wet wipes! Although these handy kitchen staples are great for ridding your surfaces of nasty germs, they can wreak havoc on the environment.
Most wet wipes are made from plastic, with 90% containing polypropylene or polyester. While many are advertised as flushable, wipes can clump together in sewage systems trapping other food and household waste to form unsavory “fatbergs” – a phenomenon now prolific in urban areas. In 2017, a huge fatberg, as long as two football pitches and weighing the same as 11 double-decker buses, was found in London’s sewage systems. Above ground, the UK is finding “islands” of wipes mushrooming across landscapes which are changing the natural shape of rivers.
Alternative eco-friendly kitchen products: Dropps Swedish Dishcloth, Wet & Stone Organic Cotton Dishcloth
Which Eco-Friendly Kitchen Products Are Best?
So, how can you tell which eco-friendly kitchen products are worth investing in? The best and most sustainable, eco-friendly kitchen products feature one or more of the following characteristics:
- Recyclable, reusable, biodegradable, or compostable
- Contains natural and non-toxic ingredients
- Made from natural or recycled materials
- Wrapped in eco-friendly packaging
- Reduced carbon footprint and energy efficient
35 Eco-Friendly Kitchen Products for a Greener Home
Now, let’s dive into our recommended list of eco-friendly kitchen products!
To make your life easier, we have organized each eco-friendly kitchen product into one of the following household categories:
- Food storage
- Cookware
- Kitchen cleaning
- Trash and recycling
- Tea and coffee
- Kitchen tools
- Kitchen linens
- Baking
From reusable paper towels and plastic-free food wraps to biodegradable sponges and natural detergent sprays, there are plenty of high-quality and affordable eco-friendly kitchen products to choose from.
Food Storage
Bee’s Wrap Food Wraps
From $4.99
Offering solutions to the plastic pollution crisis, Bee’s Wrap Food Wraps is made from organic cotton, beeswax, tree resin, and organic plant oil. From food storage to packing your favorite sandwiches, this 100% compostable, eco-friendly kitchen product is an easy sustainable swap.
Shop Bee’s Wrap
Nordic By Nature Lunch Bags
From $14.99
Nordic By Nature is getting rid the need for single-use lunch bags. Their reusable bags are great for when you’re on the go. Nordic by Nature uses aesthetically pleasing fabric that is lead-free, PVC-free, and BPA-free. Plus, each bag is machine washable, which is super handy!
Black & Blum Lunch Boxes
From $14.95
From stainless steel bento boxes to glass lunch pots, Black & Blum makes it easy to swap out to-go boxes and plastic containers for food-safe, eco-friendly alternatives. Stylish and cute, Black & Blum uses sustainable and long-lasting materials such as natural bamboo and sustainably sourced wood fiber. Black & Blum offers replacement parts (such as lids and forks) to encourage conscious consumerism.
Stasher Reusable Bags
From $7.99
Stasher makes an eclectic range of colorful reusable silicone bags that are non-toxic, leak-free, and can go in your dishwasher, microwave, and freezer. Made from platinum silicon which is designed to be durable and long-lasting, a Stasher bag replaces 260 single-use plastic bags every year.
Shop Stasher
Food Huggers
From $11.99
Championing eco-friendly kitchen products that offer zero-waste solutions, Food Huggers keep your leftover fruit and veg fresh and out of landfills. Encouraging people to ditch single-use food wraps, Food Huggers are made from FDA food-grade silicone and are dishwasher, freezer, and microwave safe. What more could you ask for?
Shop Food Huggers
Eco-Bags Product Bags
From $3.96
Instead of using single-use plastic bags to carry your shopping, why not try Eco-Bags, lightweight, reusable produce bags? Available in a variety of sizes, each produce bag is made from GOTS Certified Organic Cotton and is free from toxic dyes and chemicals.
Cookware
Our Place Ceramic Pots and Pans
From $60
Our Place has a minimalist, “do-it-all” concept, designing eco-friendly kitchen products that are high quality and multipurpose. Each product includes a non-toxic, non-stick ceramic coating free from harmful materials such as lead, cadmium, toxic metals, and PFAs. Who knew sustainable kitchenware could be so stylish and practical?!
Shop Our Place
Kana Dutch Ovens & Skillets
From $105 (for dutch ovens and skillets)
Kana’s classic cookware is designed to last a lifetime, creating dutch ovens and skillets from 40% reclaimed iron. All cookware is made in BSCI Certified Factories, can be used on all types of cooking surfaces, and is dishwasher friendly. Try pairing this eco-friendly kitchen product with Kana’s compostable Parchment Paper Rounds for a great cooking experience!
Shop Kana
Xtrema Wok & Stir Fry Pan
From $129
Handmade by ceramic artisans, Xtrema sustainable cookware is 100% ceramic, non-toxic, and free from heavy metals and toxins such as PFOA, Teflon, and PFAS. Xtrema wok and stir fry pan are dishwasher safe, with pure ceramic protecting food nutrients and flavor.
Shop Xtrema
Kitchen Cleaning
MioEco Organic 100% Organic Cotton
$34.99 (an sustainable replacement for paper towels)
MioEco’s organic cotton towels help you reduce waste while keeping your kitchen clean. It is a zero-waste alternative and does a great job absorbing liquids and cleaning messes. They are machine-washable, made from unbleached cotton, and are GOTS certified.
Shop MioEco
Meliora Dish & Hand Soap Bar
From $14.99
Meliora’s unscented, zero-waste soap works soft on hand but tough on grease. They are transparent with their ingredients which are dye-free, palm-oil-free, cruelty-free, and do not contain any preservatives. Because soap residue can linger on our dishes and plates, we love that the EWG gives this clean soap an A-rating. How’s that for offsetting your environmental footprint?
Shop Meliora
AirNex
From $16.95
Swap your disposable sponge for AirNex’s plant-based and biodegradable sponge. This product is sources its materials from cellulose and coconut husk materials and is great for scrubbing dishes. Its non-scratch composition is also great for delicate surfaces. Finally, the most impressive part about this eco-friendly kitchen product? It can go right into your compost when it’s ready to be thrown away.
Shop AirNex
rE: Pop Up Sponge
$18.95 (10 pack)
Go nuts with rE:’s plant-based, non-toxic scrubber sponge made from 100% biodegradable cellulose. Cellulose is a non-toxic alternative to plastic sponges and is a handy kitchen cleaning tool that can scrub clean just about anything from dishes to countertops.
Shop rE:
EcoCoconut Twin Pack Scourers
$6.99
The “economical choice” for eco-friendly kitchen products, EcoCoconut scourers are 100% plastic free and made from sustainably sourced coconut husks and stainless steel wire. In addition, it’s naturally antibacterial and toxic-free, these scourers have many uses and are biodegradable.
Shop EcoCoconut
If You Care Household Gloves
$5.29
Available in three sizes, If You Care Household Gloves are reusable and free from fillers to ensure durability. Made from 100% responsibly sourced FSC-certified natural rubber, If You Care only partners with rubber tappers who receive a fair trade premium.
Shop If You Care
Trash & Recycling
Full Circle Fresh Air Compost Bin
$39.99
Full Circle Fresh Air Compost Bin is designed to let oxygen move freely through your compost, reducing odors and breaking down organic waste. Every bin comes with five ready-to-use compostable bags and is made from partially recycled steel and recycled plastic free from toxic chemicals.
Shop Full Circle
BioBag 13 Gallon Compostable Kitchen Bag
$23.99
Instead of using plastic trash bags that can take years to break down in landfills, BioBags are 100% compostable and made from Mater-Bi®, an innovative family of bioplastics that derives from plants, vegetable oils, and compostable polymers. Plus, BioBag is certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute ASTM D6400.
Shop BioBag
Tea & Coffee
KeepCup Brew Cork Reusable Cup
From $30
Enjoy the barista standard with KeepCup Brew Cork Reusable Cup! First designed to be long-lasting, KeepCup is an advocate for repairing what you have, offering replacement parts as opposed to buying new ones. The drafted vessel cups are made from tempered glass, and the cork band is repurposed cork waste sourced from wine cork production in Portugal.
Shop KeepCup
Hydro Flask Coffee Mug
$27.95
Snuggle down with Hydro Flask Coffee Mug! Smooth to the touch, the mug is made from 18/8 pro-grade stainless steel, and the lid is BPA-free and phthalate-free. TempShield™ insulation means your drink will stay hot or cold for hours.
Shop Hydro Flask
CoffeeSock Reusable Coffee Filter
From $14.99
Make your morning brew a little more sustainable with CoffeeSock Reusable Coffee Filter! These filters are zero-waste and derive from sustainably sourced organic cotton, and can last up to a year before popping them in your compost. This is not one to miss off your eco-friendly kitchen products shopping list!
Shop CoffeeSock
FORLIFE Reusable Tea Infuser
$17.70
Say goodbye to disposable tea bags with FORLIFE’s reusable tea infuser. Made from stainless steel, the FORLIFE tea infuser is food-safe and comes with a handy BPA-free carrying case – perfect for when you’re on the go! The extra-fine infuser circulates the tea more efficiently, creating the ultimate flavorful brew.
Shop FORLIFE
Kitchen Tools
Bambu Kitchen Tongs
From $7.00
Made from USDA-certified organic bamboo, Bambu Kitchen Tongs are perfect for indoor and outdoor cooking. Besides being free from glues and lacquers, Bambu Kitchen Tongs are highly durable, finished with natural food-grade, certified organic flaxseed oil, and are naturally stain-resistant and antimicrobial.
Shop Bambu
Huski Cooking Utensils Set
From $16
Ideal for day-to-day cooking and serving, Huski’s eco-friendly kitchen utensil set is hand-carved using coconut wood. With a focus on circularity and recycling natural waste that would otherwise be discarded, the Huski Utensil set is made from coconut wood sourced from coconut trees that no longer bear fruit.
Shop Huski
Natural Home Brands Slotted Turner
From $8.99
Made from Patented 100% Molded Bamboo®, Natural Home Brands Slotted Turner is BPA-free and a sustainable alternative to chemical plastic-based kitchen utensils. In addition, it’s available in 3 aesthetically pleasing colors (Charcoal, Cherry, and Natural), this eco-friendly kitchen product is dishwasher safe and shipped in recycled packaging.
Shop Natural Home Brands
Bambu Cutting Boards
From $14.25
Perfect for all types of chopping, Bambu Cutting Boards are made from sustainably sourced bamboo (a renewable resource) and are 100% toxic-free and biodegradable. Each board has a water-based, food-grade adhesive, we recommend adding this to your eco-friendly kitchen products repertoire!
Shop Bambu
Redecker Potato Peeler
$9.49
Only using natural and renewable materials, Redecker Potato Peeler hand crafts oiled beechwood, and sources the rust-resistant stainless steel blade from the Solingen region of Germany.
Shop Redecker
Kitchen Linens
Full Circle Oven Mitt
$7.99
Protect your hands while cooking with Full Circle Oven Mitt, made from 100% organic cotton and plant-based dyes (pomegranate, turmeric, and indigo), which bring style and natural beauty to your kitchen. What’s more, these oven mitts are quick-drying and machine washable.
Shop Full Circle
Darzah Apron
From $29
Handcrafted by women artisans in the West Bank, Darzah Aprons are the epitome of Palestinian tatreez embroidery. Darzah Aprons makes their products from high-quality local materials and adorned with traditional tatreez motifs. Moreover, 80% of every order contributes to long-term job opportunities for Palestinian women.
Shop Darzah
Everlastly Tea & Kitchen Towels
From $18
Everlastly tea and kitchen towels are created from earth-friendly materials and come in a variety of aesthetically pleasing colors to brighten up your sustainable kitchen. Plus, Everlastly holds several sustainability certifications (such as the GOTS certification) and provides an environmental rating for all its eco-friendly kitchen products, so you can feel confident about your purchase.
Shop Everlastly
Full Circle Pot Holder
$5.99
Full Circle Pot Holder is made from terry organic cotton and environmentally-friendly plant-based dyes, adding a natural aesthetic to your cooking space. Considering durability and end of life, this pot holder is machine washable and biodegradable, with Full Circle shipping all eco-friendly kitchen products in recyclable packaging.
Shop Full Circle
Dropps Swedish Dishcloth
From $12
Dropps Swedish Dishcloth is not only made from FSC-certified cellulose and repurposed cotton, but is also 100% compostable. A great alternative to conventional paper towels, Dropps Swedish Dishcloth, is suitable for all cleaning jobs (including heavy duty) and can be thrown in your washing machine or dishwasher to be used again and again!
Shop Dropps
Wild & Stone Organic Cotton Dishcloth
$6.93
Wild & Stone knitted reusable cloths are made from organic cotton and come in a range of stylish colors. Biodegradable and naturally antimicrobial, Wild & Stone dishcloths are durable, highly absorbent, and dyed to Oeko-tex Standard to prevent harmful chemicals from polluting the natural environment.
Shop Wild & Stone
Baking
Net Zero Co. Silicone Baking Cups
$12.99
Made from food-grade and BPA-free silicone, Net Zero Co. Baking Cups are an easy green alternative to single-use baking cups. Available in stylish pastel shades to brighten up your kitchen, these reusable baking cups are dishwasher and freezer safe. Moreover, Net Zero Co. accepts old silicone-based eco-friendly kitchen products as part of its Silicone Takeback Program.
Shop Net Zero Co.
Natural Home Brands Measuring Cups
$12
Perfect for baking pies and cakes alike, Natural Home Brands Measuring Cups are made from Molded Bamboo® and are 100% plastic free and BPA-free. Not only do these measuring cups come in a beautiful selection of colors, but they are also highly durable and can be washed many times in the dishwasher.
Shop Natural Home Brands
Bambu Kitchen Basics
$16.50
This Bambu sustainable trio contains an oval spoon, a round spoon, and a spatula. Made from USDA-certified organic bamboo, each utensil is naturally stain-resistant, antimicrobial, and hand-burnished to create a sleek feel. These eco-friendly kitchen products are just what you need to become a baking success!
Shop Bambu
Eco-Friendly Kitchen Products: The Bottom Line
So, there you have it! Our carefully curated list of some of the best eco-friendly kitchen products on the market.
There’s no doubt that opting for eco-friendly kitchen products is one of the most effective ways to reduce your household’s environmental footprint.
With heaps of sustainable brands now creating high-quality and affordable eco-friendly kitchen products, it’s clear there is a growing appetite among consumers to implement a more conscious domestic lifestyle.
The world may not change overnight, but choosing eco-friendly kitchen products is certainly a step in the right direction.
Christie Johnson is a writer and digital marketer for ethical brands and publications that strive for a better world. She…
