Go greener with these cool eco-friendly products
Make every day Earth Day with reusable sandwich bags, solar-powered gadgets and shoes made from water bottles.
Stainless-steel straws: $14
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The war on single-use plastic straws is heating up. it'd ban plastic straws by 2020. You can get ahead of the curve by picking up some Klean Kanteen stainless-steel straws with silicone ends. The set includes a brush for cleaning the straws out.
Reusable silicone sandwich bags: $11.99
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If you pack lunches for work or school, you could be going through an alarming number of disposable sandwich baggies in a lifetime. These silicone Stasher storage bags can withstand the rigors of microwaves and freezers, and are also just happy to hang out in a lunchbox. Pop them in the dishwasher to clean.
Art of Lunch reusable sandwich baggies: $18
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Here's a slightly different approach to the plastic-baggie conundrum. These designer bags are made from cotton lined with food-safe polyester. What makes them engaging are the designs: kitties, squids, turtles and mermaid scales make it fun to go eco-friendly. And, yes, they can go in the dishwasher.
Reusable produce bags: $12
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It's not just sandwich bags that haunt your home with plastic. Produce bags might seem filmy and lightweight, but they still contribute to the problem. The Flip and Tumble reusable produce bags are made from polyester and are machine washable. The sheer mesh lets you see what's inside.
Solid shampoo bar: $16
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As long as we're thinking about reducing plastics used in packaging, check out these solid shampoo bars from Ethique. These hair cleaning products come in varieties formulated for damage control, oily hair and dry hair. There's even one for dogs. The company says the bars are cruelty-free, TSA-friendly and compostable. Each bar is supposed to be equivalent to three bottles of liquid shampoo. famous for making shampoo bars.
Beeswax food wraps: $17.95
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Minding your own beeswax is a great idea when it comes to using beeswax-infused food wraps in place of plastic wraps or bags. These biodegradable Etee wraps are made with organic beeswax and cotton. You warm them up with your hands before using them to wrap food or cover a bowl or plate.
Oxo Good Grips easy clean compost bin: $19.99
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Turn your kitchen scraps into gardening gold with a compost scraps collector that can live on your counter top or under the sink. This particular design doesn't require the added cost and inconvenience of compostable bags. You can just clean it out with a quick scrub after emptying it into your main bin.
Panasonic eneloop rechargeable batteries: $18
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It seems like everyone and their mother makes rechargeable batteries, but the Panasonic eneloop versions are popular for their long life spans. It might take a little time to recharge them, but that's preferable to tossing a never-ending stream of drained batteries into the trash.
BioLite SolarHome 620: $149.95
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Going off the grid gets a little easier with the BioLite SolarHome 620 kit. It includes a solar panel, three overhead lights, wall-mounted light switches and a control box that also acts as a radio and gadget charger. The system could be used to bring light to a cabin or camper, or act as a backup system in case of a power outage.
Anker 21W solar charger: $139.99
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Anker's portable can hook onto your backpack to keep your gadgets charged on your thrilling adventures in faraway lands. Or you can use them at home or at work to harvest those squeaky-clean, I'm-using-solar good vibes.
Silpat silicone baking mat: $24.95
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Replace reams of parchment paper with a reusable Silpat baking mat. It's made from a fiberglass mesh with a nonstick silicone surface and is one of the best eco friendly products out there. It can survive in the oven over and over again, and will also save you from having to grease your baking sheets.
MOVA rotating globe: $160
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If you want to give the world to someone who cares about the Earth, MOVA decorative globes use solar cell technology to rotate silently with any ambient indoor light or indirect sunlight. No batteries or wires required.