Zero Waste

Zero Waste Shopping: Where To Buy Zero Waste Online

published on January 20, 2021 by Angela Hamilton
updated on May 12, 2023

Do your new years goals involve reducing waste? (Perhaps you received a sustainable gift that inspired a new path.) While a pandemic is not an ideal time for *anything* there actually are some benefits to adopting zero waste habits in the midst of this chaos—such as more time at home and and a fresh perspective on what really brings meaning to your space. Whatever it is, you’re ready to dive in, and we’re here to show you where to buy plastic free products online, because thankfully there are plenty of zero waste shops out there! We’ve compiled a list of 15 online zero waste stores along with each company’s ethos in a nutshell.

But before you read, make sure you’ve scrolled through our tips for shopping more sustainably online, as this absolutely applies to everything you buy… even at a zero waste shop. Btw, we’re super proud to say, three of these shops are actually based here in Seattle! (Though they all offer shipping.) Hopefully it’ll inspire you to look up some local businesses that can meet your needs as well.

where to buy zero waste online

Plastic Free Pursuit | plasticfreepursuit.com
Everyday essentials to promote a waste free lifestyle.

Eco Roots | ecoroots.us
Zero waste products, plastic free shipping, and 1% for the planet.

Eco Collective | ecocollective.com
Skincare, hair care, journaling and wellness for the zero waster.

Package Free Shop | packagefreeshop.com
Zero Waste Products that reduce waste in your daily routine! Carbon Neutral & Plastic Free shipping!

Mindful Goods | mindfulgoods.com
Intentionally designed products for a sustainable lifestyle and a healthy home.

The Waste Less Shop | thewastelessshop.com
High quality, sustainable home and body products in environmentally conscious packaging!

A Public Shop | apublicshop.com
Thoughtfully considered reusable and refillable options that result in less waste.

Goldrick Natural Living | goldricknaturalliving.com
Goldrick inspires people to see the beauty and purpose in nature.

No Tox Life | notoxlife.com
Mother & daughter team making vegan body + home products since 2014.

Protea | proteazerowaste.com
Hawaii’s first zero waste refill store! Inviting people to take care of our Earth through a zero-waste lifestyle.

Zerovana | zerovana.com
Get inspired to reduce your waste with sustainable, eco-friendly alternatives to plastics and simple everyday swaps that add up to a huge impact.

Tare Market | thetaremarket.com
Eco-friendly products and educational resources that will help you live a more sustainable, zero waste lifestyle!

Way of Being | wayofbeing.co
Low waste swaps that actually work.

ZeroWasteStore | zerowastestore.com
Shop 1,000+ plastic-free essentials to create a sustainable routine.

Etsy | etsy.com

I love searching Etsy stores for zero waste goodies from independent makers. Be sure to read each shop’s descriptions and policies, and DM them for any questions you have. I know there are plenty of misleading businesses operating on Etsy (it’s such a large marketplace), but if you are a discerning buyer, you can find incredible small brands to support in your sustainable living journey. If you shop there, make sure the brand describes the item thoroughly, discusses how it will be shipped (no one wants a zero waste kit shipped in plastic, ahem, Amazon), and that the price point makes sense for what you’re purchasing!

Now Closed: Scoop Marketplace | scoopmarketplace.com
Zero Waste Grocery Store with Bulk Goods & Reusable Products.
*If you’re looking for a local zero waste shop in Seattle, try The Naked Grocer.

Now Closed: Wild Minimalist | wildminimalist.com
Sustainable, zero waste alternatives for home and on-the-go.

Of course, if you have a zero waste or bulk/refill store in your city, it’s most sustainable to buy local! However, if restrictions due to the pandemic or lack of options in your area have brought you to shopping online, it’s nice to know that these shops are also committed to low waste and plastic-free packaging! ✌️

Where do you buy zero waste goods and supplies online?

DIY Natural Avocado Dye with Zuahaza

published on December 17, 2020 by Angela Hamilton
updated on May 22, 2021

Our friend Tatiana of ethical home decor brand Zuahaza is here today with a DIY natural avocado dye tutorial that is so thorough and easy to follow even novice dyers will be able to pull it off! If you aren’t familiar with Tatiana’s work, be sure to check out their studio tour and behind the scenes of their latest collection of textiles, inspired by Colombian fruits. Now for her tutorial, below…

As a brand dedicated to revitalize the craft of weaving and naturally dyeing, we are invested in learning and teaching the beautiful and ancient art of natural dyeing. Natural dyeing is the practice of using natural ingredients such as plants and food waste to obtain colors to dye fabric with. However, with the invention of synthetic dyes, the entire textile industry has relied heavily on petroleum-base substances to dye our fibers, contaminating our water sources, soils and affecting the health of the people who directly interact with these dyes. Natural dyes on the other hand, are biodegradable and cause minimal environmental impact when used with safe mordants. For our business, using natural dyes instead of chemical ones is a way we can directly minimize our environmental impact, creating products that can be 100% biodegradable at the end of their life cycle.

We also love how fun this craft can be! It makes for a great science and art project for families and kids learning at home during this season of quarantine. You only need to save some of your natural waste material and/or find local plants to dye some old cotton t-shirts or new wool yarn to knit with. We decided to start with a very simple recipe many people can do at home because all you need is your avocado pits and skins! We will be sharing more recipes over the next months, but we though this one was an easy one for those who have never dyed with food waste material before! Let’s get started.

DIY Natural Avocado Dye: What You’ll Need

Avocado skins and pits. I normally collect them over 2 weeks and place them in a bag and put them in the freezer to avoid them collecting mold. Collect enough to make up around the same weight as your fiber goods. For this project I recommend between (100-200g). Also, make sure to wash off the green remnants of avocado well. I recommend using the hass avocados instead of the bigger ones.
100-200g of any natural fiber fabric or yarn. Natural dyeing only works with natural fibers. Make sure that the yarn skein or cloth that you pick is made out of cotton, wool, linen, alpaca, any animal or vegetable fiber. That means no polyester or nylon fabrics.
Alum powder or an aluminium stone. There are some great websites that sell natural dyeing materials. Dharma Trading sells alum powder, you can order online here. If you are using powder, you will need only 1 tablespoon of powder per 100g of fiber. If you are in Colombia or in other countries outside the US and Europe, I recommend buying aluminium stone, which can easily be found in pharmacies or online. They sell small packs of 1 stone in pharmacies and you just need 1 or 2 for this project. (I am using alum stone for this tutorial).
A large staining steel pot.
A pair of heat resisting gloves.
A wooden spoon.
Optional: If you wish to do some shibori (tie-dye) design to your piece then you’ll need rubber bands, cotton rope and/or wood blocks.

DIY Natural Yarn Dyeing: How To

MORDANTING YOUR FIBERS

Firstly we are going to prepare your fibers to soak up and adhere to the color as much as possible. Avocados have a great advantage over other dyestuffs and is that they contain tannins. Tannins are found in wood, bark, leaves and fruit of plants as various as oak, rhubarb, tea, walnut, cranberry, cacao, grapes and wine. The purpose of tannins is to protect the fruit or plant from animals eating them before they are ripe. But most importantly, tannins are natural mordants for dyeing fabric. In other words, avocado dyeing has an advantage and is that it already contains natural mordants to make sure the color won’t wash off. However, I personally prefer to always mordant all my fibers with aluminium prior to dyeing because it makes the colors stronger and even more long lasting. Is a simple easy step that helps you rest asure your color won’t wash off after dyeing.

Boil enough water in a medium size pot. Just enough to cover your fibers.
Introduce 1 aluminium stone or 1-2 teaspoons of aluminium powder (based on the weight of your fibers)
Mix thoroughly until dissolved.
Wet your fibers. Make sure your fibers (t-shirt or yarn skein) are fully wet before introducing.
Introduce your fibers to the hot pot and simmer for 1 hour.
Move your fibers around every once in a while. Do not let the fibers sit. This will avoid having uneven color and help you get nice even results
Remove and wash with cold water.

EXTRACTING DYE FROM AVOCADO PITS AND SKINS

After mordanting your fibers, you can leave them inside a bowl or hang them to dry while you work on extracting the dye from the avocado pits and skins. For these next steps you are going to need the avocado skins and pits you stored. Some dyers will use the skins and pits separately and you can also do that. In this case I am using both together to see what shades and depths of colors we get. As a rule, I normally use a 1:1 Ratio. With cotton, colors tend to be less strong, so I would recommend using the same weight of your fibers and dyestuff to get as much depth of color as possible. You will get deeper shades with animals fibers like wool. So, In this case for 150g of fibers I will use 150-200 grams of avocado stones and pits to make sure we get as much color as possible.

In a medium size pot, heat enough water to cover fibers until it’s simmering. It’s very important to NOT boil the water. If you do, you can burn and “brown” the dye and only get brown shades.
Add your avocado skins and pits.
If you decide to add baking soda, add 1/4 to your pot and dissolve.
Stir occasionally and leave simmering for an hour and a half. You will start noticing the water changing color from a light peach to a dark orange and finally to a dark red/purple within the 1st hour.

DYEING THE FIBER

Add the wet mordanted fiber and stir to make sure you get all the fibers evenly dyed.
Leave simmering for another 2 hours and stir occasionally.
Leave your fibers in the pot for 24 to 48 hours. (Colors will get darker the longer you leave your fibers in the pot) Natural dyeing is a SLOW PROCESS! You will notice the dye getting darker the longer tome you leave it to sit.
When you are ready to take your fibers out, wash off until you see clear water running. This will ensure your cloth won’t run anymore dye when you wash it next time.
With a strainer, separate the remaining bits of the avocado stones and skins. You can dry them and try extracting more dye out of them a second time. You can also store your liquid dye and try to use it for another dye bath. It will probably be good to use one more time but you might get lighter shades.

DIY NATURAL AVOCADO DYE: THE RESULTS

1. The peach cotton yarn skein from my first experiment. I left it in the dye for 48 hours. No baking soda was used in this dye.

2. The one in the middle is a lighter pink shade I got from non-dyed cotton yarn skein and was left for 24 hours in the dye bath.

3. The t-shirt from the bottom and the darker dusty pink yarn skein were both pre-dyed with a peach dye bath first (from the first experiment) and then re-dyed for 48 hours with the redder dye bath. There were the deeper results because they were technically dyed twice and longer.

Notice the the difference in color of the peach yarn which came from the dye bath with no baking soda and the depth of color that came from the extra 24 hours of the pre-dyed peach t-shirt and yarn skein. This can help us understand that avocado dyeing can give us many results, from very light peach shades to deep burgundy colors. It all depends on the amount of time you leave your fibers to soak dye and playing with changing your ph (acidic or alkali) from your water by adding baking soda.

Thank you, Tatiana!!! Be sure to stop by Zuahaza’s blog for the full DIY avocado dye tutorial, including even more tips + tricks for a successful batch of avocado dyed yarn! And if you can’t get enough, she also has a DIY natural dye with red cabbage tutorial here!

25 Sustainable Gift Ideas for Zero Waste Enthusiasts

published on November 16, 2020 by Angela Hamilton

Hope you are enjoying our sustainable gift ideas this holiday season so far! Don’t forget to read our self care gift guide and our ideas for sustainable home gifts! Today’s guide is full of zero waste gift ideas, whether for the seasoned zero waster or newbie. Doesn’t a zero waste stocking seem like a ton of fun to fill? Just sayin.

The Etsy shop inOILS, out of Portland, OR, offers zero waste bars of soap in small and travel sizes, and you can even just order the “shreds” (which are surprisingly beautiful!).

As a lover of glitter I was pretty bummed to find out that it is NOT a sustainable product… but then I learned about eco friendly glitter, YAY! Problem solved. This biodegradable glitter is from Package Free Shop.

Eco Collective has these breath mints made from plants that would make a cute addition to any zero waste care package.

Sustainable AND colorful is always a win in our books. How about some eco-friendly bath bombs by Earths Thanks?

IMO, all scrunchies should be of the zero waste variety. They’re so small and the world has fabric scraps aplenty! Love the print on this oversized scrunchie from LunAndMo, who uses secondhand fabric.

If your recipient is already well into the zero waste lifestyle, surprise them with an Alum stone, which is a deodorant CRYSTAL made of mineral salt. It’s a pretty neat (and very unique) idea. Learn more here.

Hate that we gotta stuff protective masks into our loved ones’ stocking, but love that we can support small biz in the process. These are Ikat Linen Face Masks by LEIF.

If your zero waste living friends are super committed, they probably don’t buy a lot of formal tabletop or entertaining wares. But if they love artisan textiles, they’ll appreciate having a well-crafted set of hand-dyed placemats from Arles Studios, or other goodies for those special occasions, at the ready.

Bestseller starter set from Humankind including deodorant, mouth wash, floss, and hand sanitizer containers that they’ll compost, and order refills when needed.

These zero waste face masks from Lykke Wullf come in a 6 pack so you can spread the protective joy.

Am I recommending eco friendly toilet paper as a holiday gift this year? Why yes, yes I am. If you have a pal who is just getting into a low waste / zero waste lifestyle, I’m certain that they’d love to have this subscription! You can order the first couple months as a test or as big a supply as you’d like! They also sell bamboo paper towels.

This copper scrub pad from Housework would make a cute lil’ stocking stuffer too, yeah?

100% believe that reusable bags can be like, really fun. No plain canvas here! This is a leopardo Tote Bag from Korissa.

Love these Found Paper Mache Bowls from LEIF for the seasoned zero waster. They’d look lovely in a minimalist home, and will be an absolute surprise!

Paper lovers rejoice because Package Free Shop offers cards made from 100% recycled paper and plastic free packaging!

Every low waste newbie needs a No Tox Life dishwashing block for their zero waste kitchen!

Help them stock up on colorful bamboo toothbrushes from Good Intent… These are more durable than other bamboo toothbrushes because their non-toxic paint tips prevent decay (since the bamboo interacts with water so often). Also, each color represents a different cause, with 5% of the purchase donated to whichever you choose!

Another gorgeous take on the sustainable market bag from Mano Made.

Haven’t purchased dryer sheets since I ordered these Wool dryer balls by coliandme from Etsy–a great zero waste swap for those just starting out!

Produce bags, but make it fun… colorful drawstring reusable bags from DarlingSavage.

Zero waste shampoo bars from Eco Roots are good gifts for those already living a pretty low-waste lifestyle, that might want to up their commitment in 2021.

So I’m obsessed with Axiology’s Lip to Lid Balmies, which come in singles or trios, in lots of shades, all in an amazing zero waste package. There are very few beauty products I’ll shell out the big bucks for and this is truly one of them! It’s an all-over highlighter that I personally use for lips, eyes, and cheeks. Because they’re not in the lipstick tube, the crayons appear super small, but that’s actually what a “full size” stick looks like, just without all that plastic wrapped around it! I keep it in the little paper box and smile inside every time I slide the lid off. If you’re looking for a beauty gift for a sustainable-living friend (or not, still good!) this one is 100% #ecoclubapproved.

Do you dry brush? It’s another skincare/beauty ritual you can maintain while going zero waste. These are Japanese Body Scrub Brushes from member Territory.

For a similar effect to the scrub brushes, there’s this gently exfoliating Sisal Wash Cloth from LEIF, made from one of the strongest natural renewable materials (kind of like jute!).

Do you have any zero waste gift ideas to add to this collection? If you’re not so sure about the practicality of zero waste gifting during a pandemic (I get it), read our take here!

Where To Find The Best Sustainable Cleaning Supplies

published on August 19, 2020 by Angela Hamilton
updated on May 1, 2023

Adopting a low waste or zero waste lifestyle might have you thinking you need to toss out all your old products in favor of DIY detergents and wooden brushes. Of course, it’s a lot more practical, and sustainable, to use what you have and restock (replacing empty items with eco-friendly alternatives) only when necessary. Well, it took us about two and a half years since we moved into our apartment to run low on all of the conventional cleaning supplies we started with.

We’re a household of two (plus two surprisingly messy kitties), so we don’t go through cleaning supplies very quickly. Of course, I started to realize how much we’d run out of conveniently as everyone was stocking up on TP and cleaning supplies during the first wave of Coronavirus. Luckily many of the zero waste shops and brands selling sustainable cleaning supplies that I’ve had my eye on were ready to help consumers make the switch!

So to restock, with a more sustainable and natural kitchen in mind, I looked back on all the sources I’d collected via blogs and Instagram, knowing I’d try them eventually. The first thing I ordered was Blueland’s Clean Essentials Kit. I’d been intrigued by their concept of purchasing the packaging for your supplies once and reusing it for life by ordering refill tabs that you mix with your own water. I didn’t love the idea of purchasing acrylic bottles (only the hand soap is glass) but it definitely beats single-use containers. So far everything works just fine and I love that all I need to do next time is order the tablets!

Edit November 2021: I’ve used Blueland’s clean essentials for about a year and a half now, and I’m sad to report that two of my three acrylic bottles have already broke. There’s only two of us in our household, so it’s certainly not overuse. One just shattered while in my hand (no, I didn’t drop it). I hope they’ve since improved this design. Obviously, as a low-waste enthusiast I don’t want to have to replace acrylic!

Like I mentioned on Instagram, I’ve always wanted to try No Tox Life’s beloved Zero Waste Dish Block. I’d already been using a few wooden/natural cleaning brushes from them and Package Free Shop, so I just needed the block to get scrubbing. I’ve been using it for a couple of months now and don’t have any plans to go back to conventional dish soaps. It’s truly one of the most natural cleaning supplies you can opt for! It’s easy to work into a lather and if you get the proper dish brushes, you’ll have no problem cleaning dishes. Side note: We do have a dishwasher so most things that need a heavy-duty scrub can be done there. Though, I hand wash my cutting boards and serving platters and this does the trick.

For all natural cleaning brushes and soap blocks, you’ll want to make sure you let everything dry completely. Otherwise you’ll waste the soap, and the brushes can mold or rust (depending on materials). I’m currently storing the block in this ceramic sponge holder but would benefit from something bigger.

Another great place to find sustainable cleaning supplies is your local zero waste shop. One of our local favorites, Public, is in West Seattle. Not only do they sell the Dish Block but many other natural household supplies. Eco Collective is another well-stocked spot. Both have products available online as well.

Where do you find your sustainable cleaning supplies? Give your favorite shops a shoutout!

PS: Learn why now is the actually the perfect time to give zero waste a try, here.

What You Should Know Before Going Zero Waste

published on August 12, 2020 by Angela Hamilton
updated on November 2, 2021

Questioning why someone would write a post encouraging a lifestyle switch like going zero waste during a pandemic? Be sure to start with this post, then come on back.

Confession: I live a “low waste” lifestyle, not a zero waste one. Oh and about that label… I made it up. There is no actual standard for low waste. I’m conscious of how much waste I create, tend to go pretty far out of my way to avoid creating it, and when I do I am very thoughtful about how I dispose of it. I think of zero waste as more of an ideal than a short-term goal, green living is not all-or-nothing, waste not or waste all, but that’s just me. That said, I love to share zero waste tips because I’ve learned a lot and I get a lot of questions from people about it. There are many inspiring guides on going zero waste for you to Google too. But I think it’s important to first consider what zero waste actually means for you. Here’s a few thoughts to help you figure it out.

You decide how zero waste works for you

There are some pretty big resources out there when it comes to the whole concept of zero waste living. It’s smart to do your research, but remember that like any ‘lifestyle’, the important thing is what it does for YOU. It’s like eating healthy. It can be a pain in the ass, but you know it’s good for you. And when you get really into it, it’s fulfilling and even kind of fun. There you are, perfecting recipes, getting excited about cauliflower rice… You know how it goes. But still, it’s not about instant gratification. It’s about doing something because it’s important to you. And when that’s the motivation you have to tailor the lifestyle to your own unique situation because otherwise it just won’t stick. So don’t worry about all of the ‘rules’. Take what works for you and build off of that.

Going zero waste is a privilege

It’s not very surprising that the zero waste movement has gotten criticism for being somewhat of an elitist lifestyle as far as sustainable living goes. (Wanna know what else can lead to a minimalist lifestyle? Being broke.) It’s important to recognize this, especially when you’re sharing your zero waste lifestyle with others. Not everyone can afford to shop in expensive natural stores where they have bulk bins (ahem, when we weren’t afraid of catching Coronavirus during our refill trips). Not everyone has access to compost or even recycle. In fact, most people actually don’t. Each of the cities I’ve lived in have had vastly different resources when it comes to living sustainably. You cannot and should not push some one-size-fits-all approach to living with less, or criticize others for not following suit. What you can do is share what you’ve learned and hope it’ll inspire those who value your opinion/experience to tune into the opportunities they have in their own lives for change.

It’s not about you

With that said, remember that this isn’t about you. It’s natural for us to center ourselves when we’re part of a movement like zero waste. We are only capable of living our own experience so it’s easy to get caught up in that perspective. At the end of the day, I do it because I want to do it, you know? At the same time, the entire concept of living with less is rooted in the desire to contribute to the greater good. It’s good to remind yourself of that!

Be prepared to do the work

Once you set out on the journey to a zero waste or sustainable lifestyle, you’ll soon realize just how many conveniences you’ve literally never even noticed you had. It’s very eye opening and kind of embarrassing. Little by little you’ll uncover habits that can be changed for the better, and habits are much easier to break than make. It totally takes work and failing and being willing to fail to get in your new rhythm but it’s also rewarding and inspiring. But it all adds up and one day you just might find yourself wondering why you ever felt you NEEDED paper towels to accompany every meal in the first place. (Btw, need’s quite the strong word, isn’t it?)

What are your thoughts on going zero waste?

Now Is Actually The Best Time To Go Zero Waste—Here’s Why

published on April 28, 2020 by Angela Hamilton
updated on November 2, 2021

If you haven’t gotten around to it, 2020 is a good time to start thinking more consciously about what you do or don’t buy. Now that each grocery run is a risk, now that our wallets are tight, there are many reasons mindful purchases are important now more than ever. The tips below will actually help you be more resourceful and self-sufficient, which is vital in times of crisis. And you can do it slowly (hey, we got time), one step at a time, until you create new habits in your life, ones that align more closely with your values. So if you’ve been thinking about how to go zero waste, but are a little worried about these unpredictable times, read on.

How to Go Zero Waste (or Low Impact) in 2020

Consider each item you’ve already “stocked up” on. The Friday before self-quarantine, I shopped at Whole Foods. It was eerie. I saw streams of people staring at the shelves, looking quite honestly, like they’d never been in a grocery store before. They wondered what I wondered—what else do I need?

We Americans toss the word “need” around quite liberally, so it’s a good time to review all of those purchases you made with “Oh! I need…” in mind. This is not to scrutinize yourself, but become aware of habits you keep simply because it’s second nature. Considering this is a time where medical professionals can’t even get what’s necessary, you might find that some of your needs are truly just habits—and perhaps not even all that practical in a time of crisis. You’ll want to take a particularly close look at single use products:

Hunkered down at home, how does it make sense to stockpile (and then repurchase and repurchase again) single use products rather than those that keep you from running out of such supplies? We’re still clearing the shelves—doesn’t it seem more practical to switch to products that last longer? Cloth napkins are reusable. A water filter—if you need one, depending on your location—lasts about two months, whereas families go through a flat of water bottles every week or so. Once you look into it, you’ll find the swaps that are most practical for your household to make.

Now is a good time to create new habits. Right now, we’re left to control our routines. Habits can be difficult to shift but it’s always possible—and this is something you can control a bit more while in quarantine. It’s just getting started that’s intimidating. You have to redirect a habit from picking one thing for the other—that’s it. Being at home is the best time to take this on (and even get loved ones involved, so it sticks).

The hardest part of going low waste is changing the habit. Habits are so easy once you’re in them because they require less mental energy. All this time at home gives us a greater opportunity to swap old habits for new, and in turn make those habits second nature. Feeling like I’m contributing to a better future during this time gives me a better sense of security at this time. But if it becomes stressful for you, give yourself grace! This post is not meant to add another restriction to your life, but empower you in a time of crisis. Not all zero waste habits are easy to create, or even logical, right now. So do what inspires & empowers and keep your head up. 🙂

Have you implemented any zero waste habits into your routine since Coronavirus? Let us know what tips you’re looking for to get started!