Want plastic-free, zero waste shopping that’s NOT on Amazon? Here you go!
Why Plastic-Free, Zero Waste Shopping?
Plastic is a scourge on the planet. It’s trashing everything – especially the oceans – killing birds, fish and turtles, and ending up in our own bodies. According to Well Earth Goods, one in four fish tested contains plastic – so if they’re fish we eat, we’re eating that plastic, too!
Here’s another benefit to shopping plastic-free and zero waste. Toxic chemicals, like “endocrine disruptors” that wreak havoc on our hormones and can cause a variety of problems (like ADHD) in kids, are added to a variety of conventional products, despite the cumulative impact they can have on our health. Plastic-free products often are made with healthier ingredients.
Though it can be hard to find plastic-free non-toxic choices, there are plenty available to meet all your needs if you only know where to look. These six on-line shopping sites will point you in the right direction. Shopping at any one of these means you’ll also produce a lot less waste, because the sites we’ve chosen are committed to both (mostly) plastic-free and zero waste.
NOTE: Six may seem like a lot of places to shop, so I suggest you take a quick look at them all and then start with one or two. You may want to try them all, or you may happily stick with just one. All of them will make it easier to do your non-toxic, plastic-free, zero waste shopping at a price you can afford.
What Does “Zero Waste” Mean?
“Zero Waste” describes products that are reusable and easily recyclable so that even when they can no longer be used, they can easily be recycled rather than thrown away. They might be packaged in paper or maybe in no packaging at all, and shipped in a cardboard box or a reusable box that can be picked up by the retailer and used again.
Zero waste protects Nature by reducing the amount of energy, water, trees, and other materials needed to manufacture and deliver a product to you. It saves you money, too. Fully one dollar of every eleven we spend, we waste on throwaway packaging!
6 Top Plastic-Free, Zero Waste Online Shopping Sites
Well Earth Goods – Well Earth Goods sells pretty much everything you need for day-to-day living, from shampoo to cotton coffee filters to silicone sandwich bags to stainless steel baby bottles that turn into sippy cups. Plus, “All Well Earth Goods products are packed in 100% recyclable paper based materials including recycled paper tape, recycled labels, recycled mailer envelopes and recycled paper for cushioning. No plastic is ever used, and the smallest boxes or envelopes possible are used to reduce materials.”
Life Without Plastic – Life Without Plastic sells hundreds of products easily organized into categories like “Plastic-Free Essentials,” “Home & Sero-Waste Living,” “Eat & Drink,”, “Bath & Bobdy” and “Kids & Babies.” Their website has good background information on common plastic types, plastic in oceans, phthalates, and Bispheol A (BPA). They ship in non-plastic packing materials and sometimes reused boxes and packing materials. (They sometimes use packing “peanuts” made from cornstarch which re reusable, but not recyclable.)
EcoCollective – This online retailers prioritizes “zero waste, sustainable options for skincare, haircare, journaling, wellness and home.” They ship 100% plastic-free and carbon neutral, using recycled paper boxes and envelopes, paper stuffing, paper tape, and compostable paper shipping labels. Tey use a shipping service that offsets the emissions for every shipment. You’ll find lots of shampoo bars and soaps and shampoos in reusable glass and aluminum bottles you can refill.
Public Goods – Shop plastic-free and zero waste in all the essential categories, including personal care (shampoos, soaps, menstrual care), bathroom (tree free toilet paper; refillable hand soap dispensers), groceries packaged in paper, glass and aluminum, pet supplies, and even CBD oils and salves. Save money on discounted “surplus” items. BONUS: Public Goods will plant a tree for every order placed.
Mighty Nest – Mighty Nest offers eco-friendly, non-toxic choices in most household categories, including kitchen, cleaning, body, wellness, and “on the go.” The majority of the offerings seem to be plastic-free, and shipping is done using post-consumer recycled and recyclable packaging. For a monthly fee, you can become an “exclusive member” and get discounts and free shipping. Once you get to the site, search for “zero waste” to find reusable non-plastic choices.
Earth Hero – Earth Hero chooses products and companies that use materials like organic hemp and sustainably harvest wood, are BPA-free, and offset carbon emissions. They prioritize products made in the USA, and like the others on this list, ship in recycled packaging. Click on their Zero Waste tab to get started.
Want to know what to look for? Get some ideas from this useful post:
7 Plastic-Free Organic Hand Soaps That Fight Coronavirus and the Flu
What’s Your Favorite Plastic-Free, Zero Waste Shopping Site? Please click on over to the Big Green Purse Facebook page and let us know!
