Finding the best eco-friendly products can be tricky, especially when many brands promote misleading sustainability claims, known as ‘green-washing.’
The easiest way to seek out authentic eco-friendly items is by knowing what to look for—for example, paying attention to ethical and sustainability certifications, choosing the right materials (like recycled or organic materials), considering reusability or refillable products, and so on.
To help you shop for the best eco-friendly products, we’ve created this helpful guide! We reveal the best eco-friendly features to keep an eye out for and showcase brilliant ways you can level up your shopping with sustainable practices.
Dive into this article to discover what makes a product sustainable and learn how you can make a positive impact while enjoying the products you love!
5 Eco-Friendly Features To Look Out For
It’s worth familiarizing yourself with key eco-friendly qualities to ensure you invest in genuine eco-friendly products. By seeking the following five features while shopping, you can lower your carbon footprint, supporting a greener and more sustainable future!
#1 Recycled Materials
Many sustainable brands will craft their products with recycled materials, such as recycled plastic bottles.
This resourceful manufacturing method gives old materials a second life, transforming them into brand-new eco-friendly products. This reduces the impact of waste on our planet and conserves essential resources that otherwise require lots of water and energy to create.
#2 Natural Materials
Nature offers some of the best materials for all types of products. For example, bamboo is among the most eco-friendly and durable materials used to craft sturdy and stylish furniture and homeware.
Natural materials, like organic cotton, bamboo, and hemp, are brilliant eco-friendly alternatives to human-made materials! They offer a huge range of eco-friendly benefits; they are biodegradable, free from harmful chemicals, and renewable, all of which qualities combine to deliver sustainable products that are safe for the planet and yourself.
#3 Sustainable and Ethical Sourcing
Brands that uphold transparency and share where their materials come from and how they are made are more likely to be ethical and sustainable. Steer clear of brands that make eco-friendly claims without sharing how they deliver on their promises — a super common, sneaky green-washing tactic!
Instead, go for brands with fully traceable sourcing so you can verify they truly treat people and the planet fairly. Look out for eco-friendly certifications like ‘FSC-certified wood’ and ‘Fair-Trade certified.’
#4 Reusable and Refillable Products
Rather than choosing single-use products, like single-use plastic wrap, water bottles made from single-use plastics, or disposable paper towels, go for reusable and refillable items instead, such as reusable silicone food wraps, reusable bottles, refillable body wash, or reusable kitchen cloths.
This keeps waste to a minimum while also saving you a pretty penny!
#5 Zero Waste Manufacturing Process
Lots of sustainable brands have zero-waste manufacturing processes. This means they only use the amount of materials and resources they need to craft each product, ensuring nothing gets unnecessarily thrown out. This prevents harmful environmental impacts caused by excessive manufacturing waste.
Made-to-order products and minimal packaging are key signs that a brand has a ‘zero waste’ policy.
#6 Watch Out for Pollutant Chemicals
Many products, such as chlorine, phthalates, and parabens, are made with toxic chemicals that harm our health and our environment. Thankfully, brands make it easy for us to find eco-friendly formulas, by labeling their items with a ‘free from’ stamp.
For example, if you’re shopping for home cleaning solutions, go for products labeled ‘free from bleach, phthalates, and parabens.’ You can also seek out natural formulas, such as cleaning products gently scented with organic tea tree oil rather than artificial and pollutant parfumes.
Sustainable Shopping Habits An Eco-Friendly Shopper Should Adopt
Beyond purchasing sustainable products, we can strengthen our sustainability by adopting eco-friendly shopping habits into our everyday lives, like using reusable shopping bags, choosing second-hand items, supporting eco incentives, and more!
Whether you’re seeking eco-friendly gifts, homeware, clothing, or accessories, shop sustainably by embracing these sustainable shopping practices:
- Use Reusable Shopping Bags: Minimize plastic waste by shopping for groceries with reusable bags.
- Buy in Bulk: Reduce packaging waste while saving money and reducing your carbon footprint when you shop in bulk.
- Support Small Independent Businesses: Lessen the environmental impact of shipping while supporting your local economy by shopping at small and independent retailers.
- Ditch Fast Fashion: The fast fashion industry contributes 92 million tonnes of textile waste each year! It also feeds the unethical treatment of hardworking garment workers. By avoiding the fast fashion industry, you’re supporting a more ethical and sustainable future.
- Shop Second-Hand Items: You’ll be surprised at how many new and interesting things end up in second-hand stores! By shopping second-hand, you’ll help keep perfectly usable items in rotation, which translates to waste reduction.
- Opt for Eco-Friendly Incentives: Many brands offer sustainable incentives that support the planet and communities, such as planting trees with every purchase or donating to charities.
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FAQs
If you have questions about finding the best eco-friendly products, check out these helpful FAQs. You can also leave your questions in the comments.
How To Find Environmentally Friendly Products Online?
The easiest way to find environmentally friendly products online is by searching key terms like ‘sustainable,’ ‘eco-friendly,’ and ‘recycled.’ You will find products that match your eco-conscious preferences.
From reusable plastic bags made from recycled water bottles to furniture made from reclaimed wood, you’ll discover endless types of environmentally friendly options online!
If you want to make a positive impact while you shop, join Tenere for free! We daily list valid coupons that save you money on products while supporting global reforestation. We’re partnered with over 30,000 leading retailers, including Macy’s, Costco, Walgreens, and more, so you’ll have no trouble finding your favorite brands.
How Do You Check if a Product is Eco-Friendly?
To check if a product is eco-friendly, look out for ethical and sustainable certifications, like ‘Fair Trade certified’, ‘FSC-wood certified’, and ‘organic certified’. You can also seek products made from responsibly sourced materials, like recycled plastic or organic cotton.
Furthermore, ensure the store you shop from upholds full transparency regarding sourcing and manufacturing methods.
