My Favorite Eco-Friendly Products

As you probably know, Monday was Earth Day. Seeing as my blog is called In the Pink & Green, I couldn’t let this week go by without some sort of post about living a more eco-friendly lifestyle! (A topic that I would like to post about more often but somehow pictures of Tahoe and recipes seem to take precedence!) 

Now I am truly a marketer’s dream when it comes to consumer products (which is why Target is my weakness) but I am (slowly) discovering that truly living a more “green” lifestyle is more about reducing consumption vs. buying a bunch of unnecessary things just because they sell them at Whole Foods…or as Cameron likes to say to me “you need to fight the idea that you can buy your way to eco-friendliness!” Le sigh. But it’s so true that cleaning/beauty products you can make at home from natural ingredients in your pantry are often going to be more economical, more effective, and safer for you/the planet then a so-called “green” alternative you can buy at the store. You can check out my post on spring cleaning for some ideas on great products you can make using things like baking soda and vinegar, and Pinterest is filled with many more ideas on these types of solutions! 

That being said, you still need to buy stuff sometimes.
aka I will not be pinning ideas on how to make my own toilet paper anytime soon…or ever.  

So here are a few of my favorite “green” household staples that I buy on a regular basis: 

Green Mission Paper Towels
We try to limit our use of paper towels as much as possible, and we try to buy recycled paper towels when we can. However, some recycled paper towels are horrible because they basically disintegrate as soon as they get wet. These paper towels from Whole Foods are by far the most durable I’ve found, and they’re made from 100% recycled paper.

Seventh Generation Products
Cam is really sensitive to fragrances (they bother his allergies) so we use a lot their Free & Clear products around the house. We currently use their laundry detergent, their dishwasher detergent, their dish soap, and their organic all-purpose cleaner and all the products seem to work well. All of Seventh Generation’s products are non-toxic and plant-based and the company is all about sustainability. (Plus, their products are available at Target and many other chain stores, so they’re easy to find!)

Method Gel Hand Wash
Speaking of Target, this is one of my favorite products there. This soap is naturally derived and biodegradeable, and I like that it doesn’t dry out your hands. Plus, their fragrances are amazing and don’t seem to bother Cam’s allergies–my favorite scent is the Vanilla Chai from their fall collection, so yummy!

Ecover Natural Stain Remover
This stuff is the best when it comes to getting stains out of clothes, but yet it’s plant-based and not as harsh as  conventional stain fighters. I got mine at Whole Foods, and one bottle has lasted me forever!

Yes to Cucumbers Facial Towelettes
I have been using them for years (and I know they’re pretty popular in the blog world!) and I absolutely love them. While the idea of using a wipe on your face all the time isn’t super eco-friendly as it creates a lot of waste, these wipes are biodegradable and FSC Certified, meaning the fibers are produced through sustainable forestry practices. The ingredients in the towelettes are 98% natural and they do an excellent job of taking off make-up, perfect for traveling or those nights when you’re just too tired to wash your face!

Reusable Produce Bags
Cameron and I are pretty good about using our reusable grocery bags when we go to the store, but since we usually buy a lot of produce we end up using a ton of those little plastic bags and end up throwing everything away when we get home. Awhile ago we purchased some mesh produce bags (we bought ours at Whole Foods, so I don’t know the exact brand but these are similar) and they’re a great way to help reduce waste. There are tons of different sizes and styles available on Amazon, it’s a little thing that can make a big difference!

So there you have it, some of my favorite eco-friendly stuff!
Now tell me, are there any “green” products out there that I should know about? I’d love to hear what you use in your home! Xoxo
*Also this was not a paid post, just me sharing my personal opinons (although if any of the above companies wanted to send me free stuff, I’d totally be down)*

{I’m linking up for WILW and Oh How Pinteresting Today!}