Friendly Footprints

Buy less, choose well, make it last

I don’t want to protect the environment. I want to create a world where the environment doesn’t need protecting

“Eco-friendly” and “sustainable” are interchangeable umbrella terms that signify a brand or product’s minimal impact on humans, animals, and the planet. These products or brands will possess one or more of the following traits:

  • Ethically manufactured
  • Fair trade or fair wages and treatment of workers
  • Low environmental impact through waste reduction or use of sustainable materials
  • Investment in carbon removal projects
  • Low-impact shipping materials and methods
  • Recycled or reclaimed materials used
  • Zero-waste alternative to conventional products
  • B Corp certification or other sustainable certifications
  • Natural, organic, plant-based ingredients
  • Donation of proceeds to charities and causes

Some of the Eco-friendly products are:

  1. Seventh Generation 100% Recycled Bath Tissue Paper -: When we most recently tested toilet paper, this recycled option was one of the top performers among the “green” brands. “Recycled is the most sustainable option for toilet paper because you’re diverting waste and skipping new pulp to create the bath tissue,” says Lexie Sachs, executive director of the Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab at the GH Institute.

2. Purifyou Reusable Mesh Produce Bags -: A trip to the grocery store means you’ll probably stock up on fresh fruits and veggies, but skip the baggies next time to help cut back on plastic use. Instead, safely store your food in one of these reusable produce bags. This set lists each bag’s tare weight, so you know exactly how much the empty bag weighs.

3. Tide Purclean Plant-Based Laundry Detergent -: Purclean laundry detergent is Tide’s first plant-based formula, and our home care pros say it cleans very well. What really makes this product stand out is the fact that it’s made using renewable electricity (wind power!) at a site where zero manufacturing waste goes to a landfill. It’s also a USDA-certified bio-based product.

4. Seventh Generation Free & Clear Liquid Dish Soap -: While you might hesitate at swapping out your cleaning products, this rockstar dish soap uses plant-based cleaning ingredients, proving that “green” products can actually work well, too! Our cleaning experts especially like that the brand chooses to list all the ingredients in its products. Its biodegradable formula contains no fragrances or dyes, and it’s also  certified. The whole bottle (even the cap!) is made from recycled plastic.