This Earth Day, it is more important than ever to find sustainable alternatives to the products we buy. It is no secret that we have not been kind to our planet in the past. Right now there are about 8 million metric tons of plastic in our oceans.
It can be overwhelming to read about the state of the Earth, but there is hope for the future, and it begins with all of us. With smart purchases and products, we can take steps to reduce our energy consumption, product waste, and plastic usage. To quote Anne Marie Bonneau, who writes Zero-Waste Chef: “We don't need a handful of people who live lives without generating waste. We need millions of people to clearly lower the waste they generate. ”
We have found alternatives to single-use plastics, products made from biodegradable and recycled materials, and even products made in facilities that use hydroelectricity. These are some of our favorite eco-friendly and sustainable products when it comes to lifestyle and tech gear.
Phone cases
Peel Clear Case for iPhone 6/6 / s / 7/8 / SE ($ 44.95; pelacase.com)
This Pela case is completely clear and fully compostable. All of Pela's products, including phone cases and AirPod cases, are 100% biodegradable, which means they will not take up space in a landfill or accumulate in our oceans. When you buy a case, you get a second one for free. If you are looking for more information on how Pela is working to create sustainable products, you can read more here.
Incipio Organicore Case ($ 39.99; incipio.com)
Organicore by Incipio is another 100% biodegradable phone case. This case is made from plant materials and is soft to the touch. Like the classic Incipio cases, this case offers total protection for your cell phone and maintains an elegant and minimalist design. Organicore cases come in a variety of colors, so you can stay stylish while saving the planet.
LifeProof WAKE Case ($ 39.99; lifeproof.com)
This phone case is eco-friendly and stylish. Made of 85% recycled plastic, the wave design on the back will remind you that you are helping the planet. Protects your phone from drops up to 6.6 feet. To top it off, after your purchase, LifeProof will donate a dollar to one of its non-profit partners.
Travel
S'well ($ 35; amazon.com)
Single-use water bottles are known to harm our planet. A reusable stainless steel bottle, like this one from S'well, is a great alternative. The bottle is sturdy and comes in many exterior designs to suit your style. It will keep beverages cold for up to 24 hours and hot for up to 12. S'well has launched initiatives in the past to work with corporations and schools to eliminate the use of plastic bottles. Currently, for every S'well purchased through April, a bottle will be donated to a front-line healthcare worker.
Stojo Folding Coffee Mug ($ 25; amazon.com)
This cup of coffee is perfect for hot and cold drinks. Made of silicone and other recyclable materials, this reusable option will last a long time, so you can choose not to use single-use plastic and paper cups, which have a huge negative impact on our environment. The Stojo Folding Coffee Mug is available in a variety of colors and size options. The coolest feature of this cup is that it folds up, making it extremely easy to travel with. The largest cup (24 ounces) collapses into a 4.5-inch diameter and 2.5-inch-high disk, so even the largest cup can fit in your back pocket. There is also a silicone straw included with its folding cup.
Incase Laptop Sleeve for MacBook Air 13 ″ ($ 69.95; incase.com)
This laptop sleeve will protect your MacBook Air and the environment. It is made from a biodegradable and compostable material called ecoNEUE, which is created in a hydro-electric powered factory and returns all water to the environment as clean or cleaner than when it entered the plant. Through its ecoNEUE collection, Incase supports sustainable reforestation and participates in the 2 for 1 reforestation practice. For each tree cut, two more are planted.
LiveLarq ($ 95; livlarq.com)
This option for a reusable water bottle, while expensive, has some important advantages. For starters, this water bottle is self-cleaning. It has a UV-C LED light inside that can remove 99.99% of biocontaminants from the water and the bottle. Weighs 13.5 ounces but has double-walled insulation, so Larg says it can keep drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 12. Made of BPA-free stainless steel, this water bottle is designed to last and will reduce bottle usage single-use plastic. The battery for the UV-C LED light is rechargeable with the micro USB that comes with the bottle.
Kitchen
My K-Cup Universal Reusable Coffee Filter ($ 14.99; keurig.com)
If you're a Keurig fan, you've probably felt guilty throwing out a used K-Cup (or two or three) every day. The company offers a much more sustainable option with this universal reusable coffee filter. It looks like a K-Cup capsule and should fit most single-serving brewing machine models. Just fill your reusable filter with ground coffee, put it in the machine and start brewing it. This eco-friendly coffee filter is dishwasher safe making cleaning easy.
SodaStream ($ 129.99, originally $ 139.99; amazon.com)
SodaStream allows you to make sparkling water at the push of a button. This gadget is sustainable as it reduces its single-use plastic count. The company says that a SodaStream can remove more than 3,000 single-use plastic bottles or cans. This device comes with everything you need to get started, including two CO2 cylinders, two reusable SodaStream bottles, and two flavors. You will save money and protect the environment with this device on your kitchen counter.
House
Ring A19 Smart LED Light Bulb ($ 14.99; amazon.com)
Smart light bulbs are an amazing way to save energy in your home. To get started, you will need a Bridge Ring to connect the bulbs. Once connected, you never have to worry if you've left the lights on when you're away from home. With access to light bulbs through the Ring Bridge app, you'll save energy and money on your electric bill.
Belkin Wemo Insight Smart Plug ($ 39.99; amazon.com)
This smart plug will save you money and energy use in your home. This small device fits directly into your electrical outlet. Once you download the free app, you can start saving. The Smart Plug allows you to turn devices on or off from anywhere through the application. The application will also control your energy consumption and cost. We really like this feature, because knowing your energy consumption better can help you reduce it.
Fibaro Wall Plug Z ($ 39.99; amazon.com)
The Fibaro Wall Plug Z is another smart plug that can help you reduce your energy consumption. You'll need a Z Wave Hub to get started, but once it's connected you'll be ready to install it. The application associated with this device will show you how much energy you are using through the power outlet and will help you set timers, turn devices on and off, and keep your power consumption low, all through your cell phone. This is another great option to improve your smart home technology and create more sustainable energy habits.
Office
MacBook Air ($ 979; amazon.com)
Apple has been working to make its products more sustainable and environmentally friendly. MacBook Airs are made entirely from recycled aluminum. It uses three times less power in sleep mode than the first generation laptop of this type. Additionally, 100% of the wood fiber used in Apple packaging comes from recycled materials or responsibly managed forests. Apple also offers a used product exchange program: it will reuse or recycle your product to help reduce waste.
HP Elite Dragonfly ($ 1,599; amazon.com)
This HP laptop is extremely eco-friendly. Over 82% of Dragonfly G2 is made from recycled materials and the outer box packaging is 100% sustainable in origin. HP is taking many steps to ensure that this notebook is more sustainable and environmentally friendly than other products on the market.
Rocketbook Wave Smart Notebook ($ 20.73; amazon.com)
If you learn best by writing things, but want a way to take notes without paper, the Rocketbook Wave Smart Notebook is a great option. This notebook is reusable: once you put it in the microwave, your notes will be erased and the pages will be ready to use again. However, before you put it in the microwave, use the Rocketbook app to scan the notes and save them to the cloud storage app of your choice. The application will scan high-quality images.
It is very important that we all pay attention to the devices and products we use and how environmentally friendly they are. From water bottles to laptops to plugs in our home, we can all take steps toward a healthier planet. Today, many companies are launching planet friendly initiatives to help reduce waste and be more energy efficient. Happy Earth Day!
Note: The above prices reflect the price at the time of article posting.