It doesn’t matter how many pleas scientists or activists make, some people refuse to make the changes necessary to prevent pollution-related environmental devastation. Luckily, more and more brands are getting smart to the fact that many people do care and that something needs to be done by offering products that can help us be more eco in our everyday lives. In fact, not only are these products as good as their polluting counterparts, they’re often better.
Here’s a look at some easy ways to be more eco in your everyday life.
[ Next: Go Green: 50 Eco-Friendly Fashion and Beauty Products to Shop Now ]
Easy Ways To Be More Eco In Your Everyday Life
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Eco Straws
Eco at Heart Reusable Straws, $15 at Amazon
An astounding 500 million straws are used every day in America. Not only do they pollute our waters and beaches, but they harm countless animals. Straws are often mistaken for food by animals and, because of their cylindrical shape, cause suffocation and death. Use these instead — and no, they won't rust.
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Eco Water Bottle
S'well Sparkling Champagne 9oz Stainless Steel Water Bottle, $25 at YogaOutlet
With S'well, there's no reason not to use a reusable water bottle. Not only are the brand's designs exceedingly stylish (gold water bottle!) but they actually keep your beverage cold for 24 hours or hot for 12. What bottle of Fiji can do that?
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Eco Storage
Vejibag Variety Pack, $60 at Vejibag
Not only are these reusable bags good for the environment but they'll actually help keep your vegetables fresh for longer (up to two weeks) than plastic bags.
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Eco Honey
Heavenly Organics Honey, prices vary at Heavenly Organics
You may already know that bees are disappearing, something that has very far-reaching consequences. Heavenly Organics ecologically harvests its honey, protecting 500 million bees per year in the process.
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Eco Athleisure
Beyond Yoga Eco-Friendly Collection, prices vary at Beyond Yoga
Some of the best Beyond Yoga styles are crafted using eco-friendly fabric made from recycled fibers.
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Eco Sunscreen
Bare Republic Mineral SPF 30 Sport Citrus Cooler Sunscreen Spray, $14.99 at Bare Republic
Bare Republic makes what it calls "healthy, eco-active mineral sunscreens," meaning they're formulated without chemical actives, synthetic fragrances, petroleum, parabens and pretty much anything else that shouldn't be on your skin or dumped into the environment.
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Eco Tabletop
Bambu, prices vary at Bambu
Bambu makes a long list of hand-produced, 100 percent certified organic bamboo tabletop products, including compostable, disposable items.
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Eco Makeup
Dr. Hauschka Sheer Lipstick, $22 at Dr. Hauschka
Dr. Hauschka's products are often considered the gold standard for natural beauty since the brand is an industry pioneer. Its clean line of products (which includes both skin care and makeup) is made using garden ingredients ranging from black tea and calendula to quince and avocado.
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Eco Nuts, Cookies and Energy Snacks
Shoreshei Tzion Raw Vegan Products, prices vary at Shoreshei Tzion
Made in Israel with worldwide shipping, Shoreshei Tzion makes raw vegan snacks and sweets using organic, soaked and sprouted seeds and nuts. Soaking and sprouting helps digestion and absorption of essential nutrients. All ingredients in the handmade products come from sustainable organic farmers and are sustainably packaged.
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Eco Tees
Crave the Day T-Shirts, $39.50 at Crave the Day
Express your health-minded humor with Crave the Day and its water-based shirts made with eco-friendly inks. The brand also sources eco-friendly packaging materials (either recyclable or biodegradable).
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Eco Skin Care
Youth To The People, prices vary at Youth To The People
If it looks like you could drink this line, it's because you basically could. All Youth To The People products are made with 100 percent vegan ingredients, cold-pressed extracts and come in Earth-friendly packaging. The Age Prevention Cream, for example, contains kale, spinach and green tea in addition to traditional actives like hyaluronic acid.
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Eco Hair Care
Seed Phytonutrients, prices vary at Seed Phytonutrients
Seed Phytonutrients is the first beauty brand to create a shower-safe paper bottle and use seeds from organic, American farmers as the base for its entire collection.
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Eco Baby Care
Thinkbaby Sippy of Steel - Pink, $13.99 at Thinkbaby
Research has linked many commonly used chemicals to cancer and hormone disruption — no one should put their baby at risk. All of Thinkbaby's products are as safe for children as they are for the environment.
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Eco Deodorant
Vapour AER Next-Level Deodorant, $24 at Vapour
Vapour is a pioneering green and sustainable brand that uses only organic and natural ingredients (it makes everything in a USDA-certified lab in Taos, New Mexico). What many may not know is that it also makes an amazing deodorant!
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Eco Mouthwash/Oil Pulling
Kopari Coco Oil Pullers, $28 at Kopari
Kopari is a coconut oil-based brand that uses 100 percent organic coconut oil sustainably sourced from the Philippines as the base for all its products, which are also free of sulfates, silicones, parabens, GMOs and other harmful ingredients. Besides body and hair products, it makes Coco Oil Pullers. (Here's everything you need to know about oil pulling.)
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Eco Chocolate
Alter Eco Sweets, prices vary at Alter Eco
Here's chocolate you can actually feel good about eating. Alter Eco is crafted with sustainably harvested fair trade ingredients and even the packaging is sustainable. Check out this informative illustration.
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Eco Hairbrush
Olivia Garden EcoHair Collection, prices vary at Olivia Garden
Olivia Garden's EcoHair Collection is made using bamboo with an anti-slip grip and ergonomic handle. Bamboo is a 100 percent natural renewable resource, unlike wood, that preserves the natural forests and surrounding ecosystems.
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Eco Shopping
Aplat, prices vary at Aplat
Everyone knows grocery shopping with throwaway plastic bags is wasteful. There are endless stylish and, frankly, way more convenient options for reusable bags and now, thanks to Aplat, there are also reusable ways to tote around delicates, like herbs, wine and even baguettes.
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Eco Umbrella
Leighton Umbrellas Eco-Friendly Umbrella - The Protector, $30 at Green Home
This umbrella may look like your ordinary rain protector, but it's made with recycled material and reclaimed wood.
