The Zero Waste Starter Kit Guide: Everything You Need To Know
Reduce Your Impact With Our Zero Waste Starter Kit! Everything you need to know including tips and resources for all 16 zero waste products is in this guide!
Estimated Read Time: 7 minutes
We know it can be hard to find eco-friendly replacements for items you use every day. And the truth is, a comprehensive zero waste starter kit doesn’t really exist… until now!
We got the team together (dogs included) to brainstorm how we can help people reduce their waste by making simple swaps with everyday items. The result?
Our absolutely favorite zero waste products combined into a 16-piece kit we wish existed when we were getting started on our own journeys!
Every product has been hand-picked, tested, and approved by the whole ZWS team!
Whether you just bought your kit and are looking for some advice or you’re still debating, read on to learn about each product, what it’s made of, what it replaces, and how to dispose of it.
Zero Waste Starter Kit Product Breakdown
1. Sponge Cloth - Black Stripes
Each sponge cloth can replace up to 17 rolls of paper towels! Holding up to ¾c liquid, these wood-cellulose cloths easily replace paper towels and sponges. Use as an alternative to dish sponges, paper towels, and single-use cleaning wipes. They’re completely dishwasher and washing machine safe.
End of life: Backyard compostable.
SHOP SPONGE CLOTH
2. Long Handle Dish Brush
Each sponge cloth can replace up to 17 rolls of paper towels! Holding up to ¾c liquid, these wood-cellulose cloths easily replace paper towels and sponges. Use as an alternative to dish sponges, paper towels, and single-use cleaning wipes. They’re completely dishwasher and washing machine safe.
End of life:
SHOP LONG HANDLE DISH BRUSH3. 12-Pack Reusable Paper Towels - Earth Tones
The forests thank you for going paper-free. Made with a cotton-flannel blend, these reusable paper towels are machine washable, endlessly reusable, and will vibe with your kitchen decor. Use them as alternatives to paper towels, single-use cleaning wipes, and napkins. After they wear down (years later) add them to the rag pile!
End of life: Endlessly reusable and washable, ultimately compostable.
SHOP REUSABLE PAPER TOWELS
4. Bamboo Toothbrush
Plastic is not a key ingredient to a clean, healthy mouth! Equipped with a bamboo handle, a couple of metal staples to hold the bristles in place, and 100% plant-based bristles, scrub your pearly whites while being gentle on the planet. Keep your old brushes and use them as a small cleaning brush, a nail brush, or a plant stick/label.
End of life: The bristles & handle are backyard compostable, and the metal staple is recyclable.
SHOP BAMBOO TOOTHBRUSH5. Bamboo Charcoal Floss
Plastic is not a key ingredient to a clean, healthy mouth! Equipped with a bamboo handle, a couple of metal staples to hold the bristles in place, and 100% plant-based bristles, scrub your pearly whites while being gentle on the planet. Keep your old brushes and use them as a small cleaning brush, a nail brush, or a plant stick/label.
End of life:
SHOP bamboo charcoal floss
6. Sunshine Shampoo Bar
Plant-based salon quality ingredients? Yes, please! Wash away dirt, grease, and dandruff with our best-selling Sunshine shampoo bars. Made without any of the ‘icks’ and with all of the best ingredients, you’ll see the quality after the first wash! Use as an alternative to plastic-bottled shampoo.
End of life:
SHOP SHAMPOO BAR7. Sunshine Conditioner Bar
Where would shampoo be without conditioner (and vice versa)? BFF to the Sunshine shampoo bar is the Sunshine conditioner bar! Made with plant-based nourishing ingredients, this bar is proof you don’t need plastic or harsh chemicals for soft, shiny, luscious hair.
End of life:
SHOP CONDITIONER BAR
8. Plastic-Free Soap Dish - White
It may look like plastic and it may sound like plastic but it’s not! Keep your shampoo and soap bars dry between uses with our corn starch-based soap dish. It’s sturdy enough to run through the dishwasher and the bamboo grid insert keeps your soap dry and long-lasting. Use as an alternative to plastic soap dishes, no soap dish, or the shower insert.
End of life:
SHOP PLASTIC-FREE SOAP DISH9. Short Handle Safety Razor (+10 Free Replacement Blades)
This zero waste safety razor is the last razor you’ll ever buy. Seriously. This stainless steel razor will last you for decades while keeping millions of disposable razors out of landfills. It comes with 10 free blades and works with any safety razor blade. Use it anywhere you want to remove hair as an alternative to disposable and plastic razors.
End of life: Endlessly reusable, ultimately recyclable. Blades can be returned and recycled with Albatross.
SHOP SAFETY RAZOR
10. Loofah Sponge
Not to be confused with a sea sponge, Loofah plants are members of the Gourd family. When dried they make excellent scrubs for your body, dishes, or cleaning! Use a Loofah scrub as an alternative to a plastic shower loofah, dish sponges, general cleaning sponges, face and body exfoliators, face sponges, and fruit & veg cleaner.
End of life:
SHOP LOOFAH SPONGE11. Box of Laundry Detergent Sheets - Fresh Linen Scent
The easiest, eco-friendly way to keep your ‘fits fresh and plastic-free. 60 pre-measured sheets come in a lightweight box and work in any type of washer, at any temperature. Never think about spills or measuring again! Use as an alternative to liquid laundry detergent, laundry powder, scent additives, or soap nuts.
End of life:
SHOP DETERGENT SHEETS
12. 3-Pack Wool Dryer Balls
Wool you like to reduce your clothes’ drying time? Toss in your wool dryer balls, and let them circulate in the air to dry your clothes faster and use less energy! Add a drop or two of essential oils to the balls to add a scent to your laundry. Use as an alternative to (plastic) dryer sheets or tennis balls.
End of life:
SHOP WOOL DRYER BALLS13. Straw Kit (2 Straws, 1 Cleaner)
Our on-the-go straw kit contains 2 straws and 1 agave fiber straw cleaner to help you say no to plastic straws all day every day. Share one with a friend, or keep it handy for an emergency. Use as an alternative to plastic straws, paper straws, and straw-straws.
End of life:
SHOP STAINLESS STEEL STRAWSSHOP STRAW CLEANER
14. Love Your Mother Organic Cotton Tote Bag
Keep your new organic cotton tote handy to always remind yourself that every small action you take helps the planet. Use it as an alternative to plastic grocery bags, plastic tote bags, purses, backpacks, produce bags, and/or shopping bags.
End of life:
SHOP LOVE YOUR MOTHER TOTE15. Mesh Reusable Produce Bag (Bundle of 2)
Skip the plastic produce bag at the grocery store next time with these mesh produce bags. The mesh is small enough to fit berries and other fruits and the drawstring top helps it stay sealed together! Use as an alternative to plastic produce bags, plastic-wrapped produce, it can also serve as an emergency bag.
End of life:
SHOP MESH PRODUCE BAGs
16. Muslin Reusable Prodce Bag (Bundle of 2)
Muslin bags are great for fruits, vegetables, and bulk foods like rice, nuts, chocolate, dried fruit, and more! Use as an alternative to plastic produce bags, bulk containers, and plastic-wrapped produce.
End of life:
SHOP MUSLIN PRODUCE BAGsMany Items Are Listed as Backyard Compostable, What Does That Mean?
Eco-friendly products are becoming more mainstream and common, which we leave! But in order to end their life as an earth-friendly product they must be composted in an industrial compost facility which many people do not have access to (or do not know). These facilities handle more waste and create stable higher temperatures which a backyard compost cannot match.
To make the end-of-life of our products eco-friendly and accessible for all, every product listed as backyard compostable will degrade into nutrient-rich compost in any type of simple backyard composting environment.
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