Top 7 Easy Zero Waste Products to Get Started

Thinking about putting less to the curb each week but don’t know where to start? Here are my top 7 easy zero waste products that I recommend. They are all pretty easy to switch to and make a great first step in your zero waste journey.

#1 Lunch Kits

Seven years ago, I purchased lunch kits for my kids. I am so happy with this decision. The lunch kits we selected over the years have been very well used (and still are) because they are so simple. We prefer the boxes that have minimal parts: a bottom and a lid. I don’t like the ones that have several little removable containers because part of the draw to the lunch kit for me is that they are very easy to clean.

The first iteration of lunch kit that we used was a simple leak proof 3 compartment plastic lunch kit (similar to this Go Green Lunchbox). They came with all kinds of stickers that the kids happily stuck on and carried to school for 4.5 years. They were light and easy to use with just 3 compartments to fill each day. So easy to clean and dry. WAY better than 3 different tupperware.

We then invested in two stainless steel Planet Box Rovers. Once the kids got used to these heavier lunch kits, they were awesome. They are also very easy to clean and are great at keeping food apart.

Christian and I also needed some kits to take to work so we bought the Onyx two Layer Sandwich Boxes. These are very versatile and I use them all the time. They are lighter than the Rovers but they aren’t leak proof. They are well worth the price paid. These are always my go to container for slipping in my purse to take to a restaurant for left overs because they are light and have 2 separate compartments.

#2 Cloth Produce Bags

The title of this is a bit misleading because I do not use these bags for produce. When I buy produce I just put it directly in my buggy without any bags. Yes, this can be annoying when unloading onto the belt but I buy a LOT of produce and don’t want a bag for each one!

But I LOVE the cloth bags for my bulk items. I don’t ever take a plastic bag anymore. Nuts, seeds, flour, sugar, raisons etc. When I get home I transfer everything to a glass jar and pop the bags in the laundry basket. Easy peasy.

#3 Mason Jars

I love glass jars! Although there are plenty of upcycled glass jars in my cupboards (pickles, salsa…), I did purchase a case of mason jars in 3 different sizes. The uniform size of the 750 mL wide mouth mason jars fit perfectly into the door of my fridge together. I prefer wide mouth jars because it makes it easier to dump stuff into them when I return home with several cloth bags full of bulk items. Also, there is a minimum size of a 3″ opening for bringing jars to places like the bulk barn so that their scoops fit to easily pour food into them.

The small mason jars are great for spices, home made taco seasoning and salad dressing. They are so cute!

#4 Food Baggies

Another purchase we made 7 years ago which we still use are the Lunchskins Reusable Snack Bags. As you can see, they are a little tattered looking now after 7 years of use, but they get washed after each use and they don’t smell so we keep using them!

Over the years we have picked up a few others as well that have zippers which are much better than velcro. I’m not sure if they even make these velcro ones anymore but if you have a choice, go for the zipper.

We also have the (re)zip bags which I find to be a bit awkward because they are stiff and don’t hold as much. Also, they are made from plastic.

My newest addition to my zero waste baggies are stashers. These have been pleasantly easy to use, hold quite a bit and they are made of silicone which is a highly recyclable material that is food safe (no worries about heating or cooling). In fact, I brought my food on an overnight backpacking trip in a stasher. When we wanted to warm it up, I simply put it in a pot of boiling water and ate it right out of the bag. Apparently you can even cook raw meat this way with amazing results. I will update this post when I have the nerve to try that!

#5 Soap Pump for a Mason Jar

You can still feel good about using liquid soap with a soap pump for your mason jar. As I now have a store that allows me to bring my own jar for refills, the soap pump has been a fantastic addition to my zero waste toolbox. I can simply bring a mason jar to the store, weight it, fill it and pay for it. When I get home, I just have to swap the lid for the pump. It is much cheaper this way as well.

#6 Wax Wrap

I have had my Abeego wraps for almost a year now. They do really well covering up a bowl or a deep dish of food. I don’t recommend using them directly on food like a chunk of cheese or bread as I find the food tastes slightly of wax afterwards. However, if the wrap is just covering the container that the food is in, it works very well. I have not used plastic wrap since.

#7 Compostable Floss

From this list of zero waste products, this one was the easiest. I just stopped buying the plastic box with synthetic dental floss and switched to silk floss. It was easy to buy online but it came in a plastic envelope! I also found it at a zero waste store in a very small box with a small plastic bag inside. I suppose this is better. Once you have the glass jar, the refills are cheap.

Did you know that “normal” dental floss is made of nylon – a petroleum product that takes a really long time to decompose. It is often coated with a Teflon product that contains small amounts of PFCs. PFCs were once thought to be harmless but more studies are indicating they are linked to thyroid disease, ADHD and other illnesses. Silk floss does not have any of these issues.

Zero Waste Products Save Money!

Making the switch to most of these zero waste products has the additional benefit of saving money! I have not purchased any ziplock baggies, plastic wrap or breakable thin plastic containers for years. Plus, most bulk items are cheaper than their packaged equivalents. It is a win win situation!

Interested in more zero waste for beginners information? Leave a comment with any specific questions. I will do my best to answer or write a post about it.