Living an eco-friendly life doesn't have to be a struggle. By swapping conventional household products for eco-friendly options, every individual can do his or her part to reduce pollution.

An Introduction to Eco-Friendly Products

When making the transition from standard home items to eco-friendly products, it's important to understand what makes something environmentally friendly. At the most basic level, the term eco-friendly simply refers to products that don't harm the environment. While every eco-friendly product should fulfill this basic criterion, they differ in terms of qualifications.

Some eco-friendly products, for example, are sustainably grown, which means that they don't drain their ecosystems. Eco-friendly may also refer to fruits and vegetables that are grown without the use of pesticides or products that are biodegradable. Products made from recycled materials, like plastic or glass, also fall under the eco-friendly umbrella. By selecting products that meet eco-friendly qualifications, a person can reduce his or her environmental footprint.

Limit Environmental Impact With Eco-Friendly Products

Every living creature, from the largest mammal to the tiniest insect, has an impact on the environment. Humans cause a great deal of environmental degradation, though, so it’s important for everyone to take measures to limit the impact. When people use eco-friendly products in their homes, they protect their health and that of the planet. These items are designed to conserve resources, create sustainability, reduce waste, and mitigate consumer excess. Over time, these individual efforts add up, which has a tangible effect on the environment.

Eco-friendly products also make the home a safer place in which to live. Many mainstream household products reduce indoor air quality, contain toxic substances, trigger allergies, and more. By getting rid of these potentially harmful products, it greatly limits exposure to unsafe substances.

Essential Eco-Friendly Products

When selecting eco-friendly products for use in the home, it's impossible to run out of options. Shoppers can find eco-friendly versions of most household items, and the available items range from bags to bathroom soap. The following is information about the crucial eco-friendly products that environmentally conscious individuals should keep around the house.

Must-Have Eco-Friendly Product No. 1: Shopping Bags

Many people still use plastic bags at the grocery store. They're a convenience that's hard to resist. Nonetheless, everyone should invest in eco-friendly shopping bags. These affordable, reusable shopping bags are an excellent alternative to single-use shopping bags, and they're much better for the environment.

While using grocery store shopping bags is certainly convenient, studies show that they're a massive source of pollution. Every year, the global population uses between 500 billion and 1 trillion disposable plastic bags. While these bags are used for mere minutes, they can pollute the environment for years to come. The fact that they end up in landfills and oceans isn't the only environmental issue. Most plastic bags also are produced using fossil fuels.

When choosing an eco-friendly shopping bag, there are many options. Mesh bags are great for toting produce, and organic cotton bags are always popular. These bags are available in a variety of sizes, making them perfect for any shopping trip.

Must-Have Eco-Friendly Product No. 2: Water Bottles and Cups

Bottled water is yet another environmental scourge. The bottles used by most water bottling companies can take more than 1,000 years to biodegrade, and not all of them are recyclable. In fact, some statistics suggest that only one out of every five water bottles is recycled. This means that landfills across the world are brimming with them. It also takes water to produce plastic bottles. For every 1 liter of bottled water, 3 liters of water is required during the packaging process.

Reusable water bottles have practical and environmental advantages. They're easy to use, carry, and clean. High-quality bottles also have better insulation than disposable water bottles, ensuring that water stays cooler for longer. Many eco-friendly water bottles are BPA-free, which means that they're not made using the industrial chemical bisphenol A.

Must-Have Eco-Friendly Product No. 3: Household Cleaners and Supplies

There are many eco-friendly products designed for home use, but household cleaners are perhaps the easiest to incorporate into a normal lifestyle. They work just as well as conventional cleaners but minimize the environmental impact. Standard household cleaners contain non-biodegradable and toxic chemicals that can pollute streams and enter the local food chain. The packaging of these cleaning supplies can also be a problem as many of them come in plastic containers, which take years to biodegrade, or aerosol cans, which harm the ozone layer.

When people use eco-friendly household cleaners, most of these environmental impacts are mitigated. These products contain natural ingredients as cleaning agents, and many of them pass tests to ensure they aren't harmful to the environment. There are many different types of cleaning products available, including floor cleaners, window cleaners, all-purpose cleaners, and fruit and vegetable washes. These cleaners may provide additional benefits to people with sensitive skin as they're less likely to cause irritation.

Must-Have Eco-Friendly Product No. 4: Dishwashing Supplies

Families can also turn their daily dishwashing duties into an eco-friendly activity. Eco-conscious consumers can purchase environmentally sustainable dishwashing products in a variety of formulas. These eco-friendly liquids are free of carcinogens and toxic chemicals and are CO2-neutral. They may also be vegan and safe for use with septic tanks. Eco-friendly household gloves are also available. These reusable dishwashing accessories are often made from fair trade rubber and other renewable resources.

Many people want to live an environmentally conscious life but don't think to stock their homes with eco-friendly products. For individuals who are looking to make a lifestyle change, standard dishwashing detergents should be the first thing to go. Mainstream products are rife with harmful chemicals and substances, including chlorine bleach, which can create a toxic indoor air environment. They also have synthetic fragrances, which can add to the air pollution. Sulfuric acid is yet another popular ingredient in mainstream detergents. This corrosive acid can trigger bouts of asthma. When people want to keep the environments in their homes as safe as possible, they should ditch the standard dishwashing liquids for eco-friendly options.

Must-Have Eco-Friendly Product No. 5: Bath and Shower Items

There's no reason to use bath and shower products filled with toxic chemicals when there are so many eco-friendly soaps, shampoos, and shower gels available. Mainstream personal care products contain ingredients that can affect both a person’s health and that of the environment. Many shampoos, for example, contain sodium lauryl sulfate, a detergent that's contaminated with a carcinogenic byproduct during the manufacturing process. They also have parabens, which can impact hormone production, and phthalates, which can impact the reproductive system. To reduce the potential hazards of conventional bath and shower products, people shouldn’t put anything on their skin that would harm the body if ingested. Essentially, eco-conscious shoppers should look for personal care products made with all-natural ingredients.

The options are endless. Shoppers can find eco-friendly deodorants, shampoos, conditioners, body lotions, body washes, and more. These products generally consist of vegan-friendly, plant-based formulas that protect the body from harsh chemicals. They're just as effective as conventional options. Many hair conditioners, for example, contain super-hydrating, all-natural ingredients like jojoba oil and aloe vera gel. These ingredients get rid of frizz and add shine to the hair without impacting one’s personal health or the environment.