Looking for ways to live more lightly on the planet? Sustainable living doesn’t always require drastic changes. By making some simple swaps around the home, you can say goodbye to some staple single-use items and easily contribute to the fight against plastic pollution.
Check out our top eco-friendly alternatives for a better you and a better planet too.
Aotearoad
The Aotearoad range offers personal care products with purpose. Handmade in New Zealand, their earth-friendly range of natural deodorants, moisturisers, and haircare products are vegan, made with organic ingredients and are wrapped up in 100% plastic-free cardboard packaging. Simply pop into your recycling or add to your compost once you’ve finished.
A fan favourite is their top rated Rose + Vanilla Natural Deodorant. Aluminium free and made with all natural ingredients including Rose Geranium essential oil and protective coconut oil, this vegan deodorant combats odour causing bacteria without clogging pores or leaving any sticky residue.
“This is the best
natural deodorant I’ve tried…I love it so much I’ve posted some to my daughters
in Australia. So glad I’ve found this and don’t need to use the awful chemical
ones anymore. Got my husband the cedar one and he’s very happy too.” – Fay 
Nil
For ethical kitchen essentials, look no further than the nil range. Their plastic-free and eco-friendly kitchen accessories make clean up a breeze, and you can feel good knowing their products are made with GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified and fair trade fabrics, as well as biodegradable and compostable materials.
We love their beautifully designed organic and reusable beeswax food wraps, available in a number of different designs and created by local designers. Their plant-based bin liners are great for the kitchen and bathroom, and being made from 100% corn starch they break down within 3 months.
“Just the right size
for the kitchen bin!” – Jo
CaliWoods
Ditch single-use plastic for a sustainable change with CaliWoods high quality reusables. From stainless steel pegs and razors, to reusable straws and cutlery, CaliWoods provide eco-friendly, sustainable alternatives to help reduce plastic pollution.
Their best-selling stainless steel pegs resist any salty breeze so won’t rust away on you, plus they come with a 10-year guarantee.
“I
love these stainless steel pegs! They have a superior grip than previously used
plastic ones and hold up with sheets and towels in our sometimes extreme wind
environment. They also leave less peg marks on my washing and will not
deteriorate in the rain or sun!” - Frith
Patch
Say goodbye to plastic, with Patch’s range of hypoallergenic bamboo adhesive bandage strips. Made with biodegradable bamboo fibres, Patch offers a natural alternative to wound care that your skin and the earth will love. Latex free and gentle enough for sensitive-skin, these natural bandages are available with infused coconut oil, aloe vera or activated charcoal to help soothe abrasions and draw out impurities from minor wounds.
“I
brought these for my five year old son who is not a fan of plasters, and he
loves them. The pattern on them is super friendly and they stick really well.
Easy to pull off without causing any pain to him as well. Highly recommend!” –
Jessica
Absolute Essential
Absolute Essential is committed to ethical, environmental and fair trade practices. Their range of certified organic essential oils are sourced sustainably from artisan producers around the globe, and provide a variety of therapeutic grade essential oils and blends without any toxic solvents or environmental pollutants.
Their organic Immune Care Essentials range includes the ultimate trio of Immune Plus, Breathe Easy and Sinus Clear, to support against winter chills and congestion. Presented in a beautiful, hand-crafted box made from Nepalese Lokta-bush paper, its packaging supports the sustainable forest enterprise in recovering earthquake communities.
The Good Cube
These eco-friendly superstars are zero waste, vegan and cruelty-free. With over 100 washes per bar, their multitasking 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner bar recently took out top prize in our Best of Natural Awards for Body and Hair. Made with unique New Zealand native plant ingredients and packaged in recyclable cardboard, Good Cube’s products are 100% soap free, so won’t dry out skin, or strip hair. Good things really do come in small packages!
“I have been using
this twice a week for the last 2 weeks. It is gentle and nourishing on my long,
curly hair, washes nicely without stripping, and I am very happy with how my
hair is feeling and looking.” – Rachael
The Block Dock
Hold your sustainable soap bars with The Block Dock’s 100% recycled soap dishes. Designed for quick draining, your soap and shampoo bars will dry faster and keep longer, so you can save money on bars – and cleaning! Available in a range of colours to suit every home, you can buy once and use forever. It’s the ultimate eco-accessory to keep your planet safe soap in tidy order.
The Swag
Extend the life of your fresh fruit and vege with The Swag’s reusable produce bags. Made from 100% natural, unbleached and unseeded cotton, The Swag’s unique three layer design protects your fresh produce while allowing it to breathe, meaning fewer trips to the shops and less food wastage. Simply dampen your Swag bags, fill with fresh produce and pop into the crisper of the fridge to keep your produce fresh for up to two weeks! Built to last, The Swag produce bags are machine washable, produced with ethical and fair trade practices and are 100% compostable.
“Love these bags - they really
do everything Swag says they do and I highly recommend them.” – Barbara
Safix
Made with natural coconut coir fibre, Safix scrub pads are a great alternative to synthetic polyester scrubs and sponges which don’t break down in the environment and add to microplastic pollution. Perfect for the kitchen, bathroom or anywhere that needs a good scrubbing, each Safix scrub pad is 100% biodegradable, compostable, and doesn’t attract odour causing bacteria.
As well as being planet-friendly, Safix products also provide economic empowerment via employment for hundreds of women in rural India who otherwise have little access to employment, education or healthcare.
Try their regular or large scrub pads for any kitchen clean-ups and their foot and body care scrub pad as an all-natural body exfoliator.