Top Everyday Reusable Home Goods To Conserve and Save The Planet

Around 64 percent of Americans say that protecting the environment should be a top priority for the President. While the biggest changes in environmental policy can only come from the government, there are things you can do as an individual to help reduce your overall footprint. You probably remember the three Rs of waste management - reduce, reuse, and recycle. In the past, there was a lot of emphasis on the recycling portion, but today there’s a growing focus on reuse efforts as many states are now banning single-use plastic straws and bags and encouraging people to bring their own. 

Of course, it’s not just straws and bags that should be reused. Don’t confuse recycling with reusing. Recycling requires a mechanical process to turn a used item into a new one. Reusing, on the other hand, keeps materials out of the waste stream since people are not throwing these items out. Since it does not require heavy processing, it has grown in popularity as it uses fewer resources, less energy, and less labor.

There are plenty of small changes you can make in your life that can have a significant impact on the environment. While it might seem like one person might not be able to make a difference, your actions might encourage other people to follow suit. The nice thing is that reusable no longer means unfashionable or ugly. In fact, there are plenty of chic reusable items that will turn heads. 

Type of Reusable | Reusable Food Wrap
Benefits | Certified B Corp, Sustainable, Natural Plastic Wrap Alternative, Washable, Reusable, Biodegradable, GOTS Certified, Sustainably Harvested, Made in the USA
Sizes | S, M, L
Price | $18 

Our first review is of Bee’s Wrap reusable food wrap. Say goodbye to plastic wrap and sandwich bags. These reusable food wraps are made from a combination of GOTS-certified organic cotton, beeswax, jojoba oil, and tree resin. The lovely pale yellow hue combined with the honeycomb pattern gives these wraps a playful yet fashionable touch. 

The food wraps come in three sizes: small, medium, and large. Since these are flat pieces of wrap, you can easily store them anywhere in your house. Thanks to the coating of beeswax these wraps are easy to clean and they actually cling quite nicely. More importantly, they keep the food fresh.

SHOP BEE’S WRAP

Type of Reusable | Reusable Drink Kit
Benefits | Certified B Corp, Sustainable, Stainless Steel, Recycled Polyester, Water-Resistant Finish
Price | $58

Our next review is of the reusable drink kit. As the name suggests, you’re not just getting a water bottle. You’re also getting two cups, two straws, two silicone tips, and a bristled cleaning brush. It’s perfect for picnics or for hikes. You also get a handy waterproof case to store your items.

The average person dumps 100 plastic bottles in nature every year. Even if you have the best of intentions and throw your empty water bottle in a recycling bin, there’s no guarantee that it will ever make it to the plant. In fact, many still end up in landfills while others fall off the trucks and into the streets and water. Luckily, using reusable bottles and drinking cups can limit the amount of trash you produce and save you money. It’s a win-win.

SHOP THE DRINK KIT

Type of Reusable | Reusable Water Bottle
Benefits | Certified B Corp, Double-Wall Insulated, Stainless Steel, Vacuum Sealed, Made Responsibly
Size | 18 oz.
Price | $28

If you’re looking for a stylish water bottle, you’ll want to check out our review of the Woodgrain Travel Bottle. Sure there are hundreds if not thousands of different water bottle designs available. Not all of them are created equal, though. If you want something that will stand out from the crowd but not in a neon pink way, then you’ll love the woodgrain travel bottle. 

While the woodgrain pattern on the water bottle isn’t exactly understated, the beige color gives it a much broader appeal. More importantly, the water bottle works like a charm. Made from 100 percent stainless steel and double insulated it will keep water drink inside hot or cold for up to 12 hours. The flip top lid makes your drink easy to access and the screw top gives you ample space to properly clean the inside of the bottle.

SHOP WOODGRAIN TRAVEL BOTTLE

Type of Reusable | Reusable Snack Bag
Benefits | Certified B Corp, Sustainable, 100% Pure Platinum Silicone, Non-Toxic, Reusable, Women-Owned, 1% For The Planet
Size | 9.9 fl. ounces
Price | $10 

Up next is our review of the Stasher Snack Bag. Sometimes, you need the security of a sealable bag to keep your snacks from spilling in your purse. Sandwich bags might be your go to, and hey they are reusable, plastic isn’t really the best thing for the environment. Even if you reuse the bag, the process of making plastic creates a ton of pollution and hazardous byproducts. 

What sets the Stasher snack bag apart from your standard plastic zip bags is the fact that it is made from 100 percent platinum silicone. Silicone is more durable, lasts longer, and does not leach chemicals into food like plastic does. This particular snack bag is also dishwasher safe, making cleaning up a breeze. Plus, the dark yellow/honey color really makes this snack bag easy to find around the house.

SHOP STASHER SNACK BAG

Type of Reusable | Reusable Utensils
Benefits | Certified B Corp, Stainless Steel, Silicone Straw, Recycled Polyester, water-resistant
Size | 3.25” x 10”
Price | $24 

Our next review is of the handy utensil kit. In the United States alone, more than 100 million plastic utensils are used every day. Due to their size, shape, and inconsistent materials plastic utensils are hard to recycle. However, bringing your own utensils out to eat can be a hassle since you’ll have to deal with having dirty silverware in your bag (and who wants that). That’s where the utensil kit comes in.

You get a complete set of utensils for all your needs including stainless steel chopsticks, two straws, a spork, one straw cleaner, and one silicone straw tip. It all comes bundled within a polyester case so if you don’t have time to wash the items right away, you can just stash them away. The case rolls up into an easy-to-carry size so you can easily put it away in a backpack or purse.

SHOP THE UTENSIL KIT

Type of Reusable | Reusable Sandwich Bag
Benefits | Certified B Corp, Sustainable, 100% Pure Platinum Silicone, Non-Toxic, Reusable, Women-Owned, 1% For The Planet
Size | 15 fl. ounces
Price | $12 

If you’re tired of dealing with broken seal tops and zippers, then you’ll want to check out our review of the Stasher sandwich bag. Unlock the plastic sandwich bags, the stasher bag uses a pinch-loc seal so you don’t have to worry about the bag not closing properly. It’s also completely non-toxic as it is made from 100 percent pure platinum silicone.

Of course, the bag is 100 percent reusable and will last for many years. It’s dishwasher safe so you can keep it clean and odor-free. Even though it’s called a sandwich bag, you can put whatever you want in it from trail snacks to small electronics.

SHOP STASHER SANDWICH BAG

Type of Reusable | Reusable Meal Kit
Benefits | Certified B Corp, Sustainable, Recycled Polyester Ripstop Case, Water-Resistant, Stainless Steel, Reusable
Size | 15 fl. ounces
Price | $38

Up next is our review of the reusable meal kit. It’s perfect for taking on a picnic or while you’re hiking and comes with two stainless steel bowls, two cups, and two sporks. It comes in a water-resistant case small enough to fit in a backpack but with enough space to fit additional items if you need it.

Everything is super easy to hand clean including the carrying case. The bowls, cups, and utensils are very durable and won’t ding even if you drop it on the ground. The case is also high quality with excellent stitching so you don’t have to worry about the seams busting after a couple of uses. It’s the perfect companion to bring with you if you want a more sustainable option than plastic and paper items. 

SHOP THE MEAL KIT

Type of Reusable | Reusable Bottle
Benefits | Certified B Corp, Sustainable, Powder-Coated Stainless Steel, Vacuum-Sealed Lid, Double Insulated, Made Responsibly
Size | 32 ounces
Price | $38

Our review is of the Signature 32 oz. stainless steel bottle. Now you might be thinking that $38 is a lot to pay for a water bottle, but consider the cost of buying a cup of coffee every morning or a water bottle every day when you’re outside. You’ll have recouped the cost in one to two weeks. 

This stainless steel reusable bottle is double insulated so you can keep hot and cold drinks at the right temperature for up to 12 hours. The large size means you don’t have to worry about refilling it often, which is great when you’re hiking in the woods. It comes with a braided paracord so you can easily hang the bottle from your bag or belt loop.

SHOP SIGNATURE STAINLESS STEEL BOTTLE

Type of Reusable | Reusable Bag
Benefits | Certified B Corp, Sustainable, Recycled Polyester, Durable, Lightweight, Reflective Print, Reusable
Size | 20” x 17”
Price | $12 

Many states are slowly trying to phase out plastic bags from stores and encouraging people to use reusable tote bags. Of course, you can still get bags, you just need to pay a small fee. Still, if you shop often, that small fee can add up over the months. While you can reuse your plastic bags, eventually it will end up in the landfill. Currently, a single person uses 700 plastic bags a year! 

Using reusable bags like this packable tote is a great way to cut back on your waste. It’s made from 100 percent recycled polyester It also folds down to a tiny size and comes with a clip so you can easily attach it to your purse or keychain. That way you’ll never forget to bring it with you when you go shopping. The bag is large and durable enough to carry some heavy groceries. Grab a few and keep them on hand in case you need a few bags for your next shopping run.

SHOP PACKABLE TOTE BAG

Type of Reusable | Reusable Straws
Benefits | Certified B Corp, Sustainable, Reusable, Sustainably Harvested, Made in the USA
Size | 20” x 17”
Price | $10

Our last review is of the stainless steel straw pack. Every day half a billion plastic straws are thrown away, leading to a glut of plastic items both in landfills and in nature. In some states, plastic straws have been replaced by recycled paper ones. While it’s a bit more environmentally friendly than plastic, paper straws still lead to unnecessary waste. 

For those who truly want to reduce their waste, these reusable stainless steel straws are the perfect option. This pack comes with four straws and one straw cleaner (so you can clean out any potential gunk that builds up). The straws are made from 100 percent stainless steel so you won’t have to worry about chemicals leaching into your drinks. They will also last a very long time as long as you take care of them. If you do end up damaging it beyond repair, you can go to your local metal recycling facility and drop it off for recycling.

SHOP STAINLESS STEEL STRAW PACK

United By Blue Top Everyday Reusable Items To Keep Stock In At Home

Every year the world generates at least 3.5 million tons of waste. The past few years have seen a shift to the other two ‘Rs’ of waste management - reducing and reusing. Today, there are many companies including United By Blue jumping into the reusable market as more states start pressuring businesses to get rid of single-use plastics.

The initial investment in reusable items, at first glance, seems expensive. However, when you factor in the cost of constantly buying disposable items with environmental factors you’ll see that it ends up being more cost-effective. The list above can give you a good starting point for your new, reusable lifestyle. From there, you can start looking into other options that suit your lifestyle.

Jessica Lauren is Founder, contributing Author and Owner of Citrus Sleep. Citrus Sleep is an online publication that highlights brands, sleep products, women’s fashion, subscription services and ideas creating positive social change and promoting a healthy lifestyle. After spending nearly a decade working in PR and marketing for several brands and startups, Jessica knows what truly drives conversions, sold-out launches and guest posts.

Follow Jessica at @jessicalaurencs | Jessica Lauren

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