My Top 10 Favorite Zero Waste Swaps
Zero Waste for Beginners
March 20, 2019 | Kathryn Kellogg
Last Updated on January 23, 2024
Every Wednesday I publish a little YouTube video. I’ve decided I want to do a short (or long) blog post to accompany the video!
This one is going to be a short run down of my 10 favorite zero waste swaps!
If I decided to become super wasteful tomorrow, (which I won’t) but for the sake of this post we’ll pretend like I’m going to…. these are the 10 swaps I would NEVER give up.
Some of the links below are affiliate links. For more information please see my disclosure policy.
They have all made my life easier in some way!
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Table of Contents
1. french press:
It should come as no surprise that I LOVE to make tea in my french press. I find that it works much better than using a tea ball or a reusable tea bag.
If you have a small kitchen, it’s important to have items that can perform multiple tasks.
I like the french press because I can use it to make tea, coffee, or nut milk. Yes, your french press can strain your nut milk!
Get my tips for making almond milk and for making iced tea with loose leaf tea.
2. bidet attachment:
The bidet attachment is one of both Justin and my favorite zero waste swaps.
The National Resources Defense Council just released areport that Americans use almost 3 rolls of toilet paper a WEEK!
That’s so crazy to me. Justin and I don’t even go through a roll of toilet paper a week, and that’s thanks to our bidet attachment!
We’ve had both a Brondell and a Tushy and both work great.
For more information on bidets check out this post Everything You Need to Know About Bidets.
3. thinx:
Thinx are my preferred zero waste menstrual product of choice! I love them because they feel just like wearing a regular pair of undies.
When you’re feeling crummy and crampy, it’s nice to feel somewhat normal without wearing a bulky pad.
I am a #ThinxLeader which means if you’re interested in purchasing any Thinx you can get $10 off your order with this link.
Of course, there are several other zero waste options, check out this blog post How to Have a Zero Waste Period for more info.
4. fountain pen:
Now, this swap came as a total surprise to me. I’m left-handed, and if you’re left-handed, you’ll understand the ink on pinky problem. I thought using a fountain pen would be a TRAGEDY. But, you hold the pen differently when you’re using a fountain pen vs. a ballpoint pen.
I have a Dryden that I’m really happy with and use Parker Ink.
Check out this post, if you’re looking for more zero waste office and school supplies.
5. cloth napkins:
I’m surprised that cloth napkins are one of my favorite switches seeing how much I hate doing laundry, but I do love my cloth napkins.
These ones are especially dear to my heart because I hand stitched them. When I first started going zero waste I was on a super tight budget so I bought about a yard or two of fabric from the thrift store and stitched the napkins up.
Check out these tips for Going Zero Waste on a Budget.
6. bamboo toothbrush:
This was one of the first switches I made and it honestly made shopping for toothbrushes so much easier. I was always overwhelmed by the toothbrush options at the grocery store.
I could never remember the brand or type of toothbrush I used… so thanks to Brush with Bamboo I don’t have to worry about that anymore.
Check out this post on DIY Toothpowder.
View this post on Instagram
7. glass straw:
This switch really surprised me, but I really, really love drinking water from a straw. It helps me drink a lot more water. My favorite straw is the glass straw.
Check out this blog post if you’re wondering Which Reusable Straw is Best?
8. glass snapware:
I LOVE my glass snapware. I like that it’s so versatile. You can buy food or even get zero waste takeout the containers. You can cook in them, freeze in them, microwave them, and of course, use them store leftovers.
They work so much better for me than just shoving everything in a mason jar. Check out this post if you’re looking for ways to Store Leftovers Without Plastic .
9. handkerchief:
The best thing about cloth handkerchiefs is that your nose doesn’t chafe like with paper. When you blow your nose with a paper tissue small pieces of paper can get up your nose causing you to sneeze.
Most of my handkerchiefs are vintage from my great-grandmother, ones that I’ve picked up from a garage sale for about .25 cents a piece, or bandanas!
10. bar of soap:
Last but not least, is a bar of soap. It’s such a simple swap to make from plastic body wash to a bar of soap. I think it looks so much nicer in the shower and it’s just really luxurious.
What’s one of your favorite zero swaps you’ve made?
