Fashion

11 Eco-Friendly Etsy Products You Can Buy Now To Reduce Your Waste Later

It's time that we all reduce, reuse, and recycle — everything. We have billions of feminine hygiene products begin thrown away every year. Over 100 billion plastic bags being unnecessarily used and discarded, with pieces of them found in ocean dwellers, birds, and even camels. This earth is a gift and we need to treat it with respect, care, and love. And the time to do that is now — by opting for eco-friendly versions of the products you use everyday.

There's no time like the present: This Wednesday April 22 will mark the 45th anniversary of Earth Day. Launched in 1970, the initial Earth Day is considered the birth of the modern environmental movement. Up until then, very little attention was being paid to the damage we, as human beings, were causing the earth.

While you may think that being an avid recycler is doing your part to help the Earth, the truth is, we could all be doing a bit more. Just opting out on use of unnecessary plastics and paper can really have a positive impact, and you won’t feel even the slightest bit inconvenienced.

Here are 11 everyday changes you can make to be a more Earth friendly person, courtesy of Etsy, of course.

Fleece Panty Liners

In North America alone, 20 billion pads, panty liners, tampons, and applicators are thrown away each year. Just think about that number, and the fact that panty liners are made up of both plastic and paper-like material! By switching over to these fleece panty liners, you’re not just helping the environment, but your wallet. They’re probably pretty comfy too — just throw them in the washing machine, and you’ll never have to buy liners again.

Price: $4.00

Image: MommyFrouFrou/Etsy

Fabric Snack Bags

I actually have a couple of these at home that I got for a gift — and I love them. I can use them for whatever snacks I bring with me, and can toss them in the fridge with whatever veggies I haven’t eaten yet. They’re great for the environment, and just a lot cuter than any plastic bag you’ll find at any supermarket.

Price: $14.00 (for three bags)

Image: bleuroo/Etsy

All Natural Vegan Soap

While I won’t get all preachy about why going vegetarian or vegan is great for the environment, I will say that when it comes to protecting the environment, reducing the amount of animal-based products you buy matters. (A study by Cornell found that the U.S. could feed 800 million people with the grain that is given to keep livestock doing their thing.)

In choosing products that don’t contain animals, you’re making a cruelty-free choice and sticking to natural products that are void of dyes, unnecessary scents, and are even made in a way that’s good for the environment.

Price: $20.00

Image: PipandLola/Etsy

Crocheted Tampons

OK, yes, I, too, was all “WTF” when I stumbled across these, but for those who maybe aren’t totally in love with their menstrual cup, this is another sustainable option. They’re made of unbleached cotton, come in three sizes, and are totally reusable. We already know we don’t want to contribute to that aforementioned 20 billion feminine products that are thrown out every year, so give it a shot! At the very least, they’ll make a great conversation piece…

Price: $34.99 (for 16 tampons)

Image: rgilliland/Etsy

Cloth Tissues

Or as your Grammy would call it, a hanky. They come in many colors, and once it’s all covered in snot, just toss it in the washing machine instead of the trash … like they did in the olden days.

Grossed out by the idea? Well, consider this: between tissues and toilet paper, each person in the U.S. disposes of over 50 pounds tissue products a year.

Price: $24.00 (for pack of three)

Images: SnottyBrat/Etsy

Vegan Dry Shampoo

Anything that doesn’t involve the creation of chemicals or the testing on animals is better for the environment. Since dry shampoo is all the rage, why wouldn’t someone go for a brand that’s chemical and animal free?

Price: $12.00

Image: MeadowlarkBotanical/Etsy

A Glass Water Bottle

Unless you’re a big fan of ingesting BPA chemicals and adding to the over 18 billion plastic water bottles that end up in landfills every year, glass water bottles are the way to go. They’re reusable, can easily be washed, and you’ll know your body’s endocrine system is staying nice and healthy.

Price: $17.58

Image: ModernGlassware/Etsy

Vegan Deodorant

Your deodorant is loaded with chemicals, including aluminum that has been linked to Alzheimer’s, parabens that are thought to cause breast cancer in women, triclosan which is actually a pesticide, among a few other things you probably don’t want on your body — or to be made out of animals.

Price: $3.50

Image: HeleniumBathBodyHome/Etsy

Reusable Paper Towels

Over 13 billion pounds (yes, pounds) of paper towels are used every year, which breaks down to roughly 45 pounds of paper towels per person each year. It’s a damn shame! But these reusable paper towels made of flannel and terry cloth, and held together by snaps, will never make you feel guilty again. They even perfectly fit the paper towel holder you already have.

Price: $39.00

Image: CuteLittleBugs/Etsy

Cloth Bowl Covers

Made of polyethylene that’s either thrown into landfills or burned with other garbage (lovely thought, isn’t it?), plastic wrap is another enemy of the Earth. But for those who haven’t invested in glass storage containers, it can seem like a necessary evil. Luckily, reusable cloth bowl covers not only keep your food from drying out but they’re also ― wait for it ― awesome for the environment.

Price: $10.50

Image: sarahdesigns/Etsy

A Reusable Tote Bag

With Americans throwing out 100 billion plastic shopping bags every year, and so many cute fabric tote bags out there just dying to replace those them, it’s silly not to give a tote a home. And once you think about the thousands of landfills across the world full of plastic grocery bags, it just makes sense to choose reusable totes.

This one is even fair trade!

Price: $11.44

Image: ceridwenDESIGN/Etsy

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