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From a thermoregulating water bottle that will help cut down on plastic waste during long outdoor hikes and a reusable dishcloth that can replace up to 17 rolls of paper towels to a best-in-class bidet that will help reduce toilet paper use, we’ve tried and tested some of the best eco-friendly products available. Ahead, we’ve compiled 34 of our top-performing products — all of which we’ve tested in longer reviews — that are perfect for helping you reduce waste and live more sustainably.
Eco-friendly home products
Toto Washlet C2 Bidet Seat
Best bidet seat
Trying to cut down on paper waste? Start in the bathroom, where a bidet with a dryer will help you and your family reduce toilet paper use. We recommend the Toto Washlet C2, which is our favorite bidet seat, thanks to its incredibly comfortable stream and dryer.
Tushy Classic 3.0 Bidet
Best bidet attachment
For a cheaper bidet, opt for this attachment from Tushy, which mounts under your existing toilet seat. Of all the attachments we tested, this one had the most comfortable stream, and our tester loved the adjustable pressure nozzle.
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Who Gives A Crap 100% Recycled Toilet Paper
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Yeti Rambler 26-Ounce Bottle
Best water bottle
If you know someone who still uses plastic water bottles, help them make the sustainable switch with the Yeti Rambler. Any water bottle will help cut down on plastic waste, but the Rambler has come out on top during our testing, thanks to its stellar durability and fantastic chug cap.
Owala FreeSip 32-Ounce Water Bottle
Best straw water bottle
If you don't need to worry about durability as much, we loved the drinkability of the Owala FreeSip the best of all the water bottles we tested.
Yeti Yonder 1-Liter Water Bottle
Best plastic water bottle
This lighter, plastic bottle still lives up to Yeti's reputation for durability. It also features the chug cap we liked from the brand's metal bottles.
Epic Water Filters Pure Pitcher
Best water filter pitcher
If you're trying to drink more water from home but don't want to worry about PFAs and other potential contaminants, check out our pick for the best water filter pitcher.
Brita 10-Cup Pitcher With Elite Filter
Best budget water filter pitcher
While it doesn't filter out as much as the Epic Water Filter's pitcher, this Brita is easy to use and much cheaper.
Velotric T1 E-Bike
Best electric bike
Electric bikes are a great way to get around town without a car, and the Velotric T1 is our favorite e-bike we've tested. It's slim and feels like riding a normal bike, but it still has enough power to make your commute feel easy.
Eco-friendly fashion and beauty products
Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Rain Jacket
Best rain jacket
Patagonia Women's Torrentshell 3L Rain Jacket
The Torrentshell is made from recycled postconsumer nylon, is Fair Trade Certified and outperformed all other jackets we tested in key areas. It’s ridiculously waterproof and will keep you bone-dry in the worst rain.
Patagonia Men's Torrentshell 3L Rain Jacket
Patagonia is rooted in environmental activism, and those core values are evident in everything the brand produces, including this sustainable jacket.
Paka Apu Lightweight Puffer
Best down-alternative jacket
Paka Women’s Apu Lightweight Puffer
One of the most sustainable puffy jackets on the market, the Apu Lightweight puffer doesn't use down or synthetics, and instead uses Paka's proprietary insulation made from alpaca fiber.
Paka Men’s Apu Lightweight Puffer
Our tester found this jacket to have an outstanding balance of warmth and weight, and it was the warmest down-alternative jacket we tested. Plus, it has plenty of pockets to keep all your essentials handy.
Paka The Hoodie
Buying less and wearing each item you own more is sustainable by nature. That's why we're such a big fan of Paka's The Hoodie, which is so versatile you could wear it daily.
Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew Socks
Best hiking socks
Darn Tough Women's Light Hiker Micro Crew Socks
These socks use a blend of merino wool to be extremely durable, comfortable and moisture-wicking.
Darn Tough Men's Light Hiker Micro Crew Socks
Not only do these socks feel great on your feet but they have one of the best lifetime warranties in the outdoor industry.
Smartwool Hike Classic Edition Full-Cushion Second Cut Crew Socks
These socks are made from a blend of merino wool, nylon and recycled Smartwool socks taken back from customers through Smartwool's Second Cut program.
Nisolo Go-To Flatform Sandals
Nisolo is one of our favorite sustainable shoe brands since it takes transparency and workers' rights seriously. We tested and loved these sandals for their simple style and solid comfort.
Blundstone All-Terrain Chelsea Boots
Blundstone Women’s All-Terrain Chelsea Boots
Breaking in Blundstones can be painful, but once the leather breaks in, you'll love them. We particularly like the All-Terrain version since they have grippy Vibram outsoles.
Blundstone Men’s All-Terrain Chelsea Boots
If you want boots that will last forever, get a pair of Blundstones. Our tester has owned her pair for over two years and has traveled to seven continents in them. Outdoors, sustainable living and pets editor Kai Burkhardt has also had a pair for more than four years, and they're still in fantastic shape.
Talika Eye Therapy Patches With Travel Case
Best reusable under-eye patches
If you want to reduce your eye patch waste, check out these reusable options, which can be worn up to three times.
Eco-friendly coffee products
Zojirushi 16-Ounce Seamless Stainless Steel Mug
Best travel coffee mug
Whether you're stopping by a coffee shop or bringing your brew from home, this travel mug will keep your coffee piping hot all morning.
Zojirushi 16-Ounce Stainless Steel Mug
Best one-handed travel mug
We also loved this other Zojirushi travel mug, which is easy to use with one hand, making it fantastic for commuters.
Kalita Wave 185 Pour-Over Coffee Dripper
Best pour-over coffee maker overall
Save time and energy and avoid using another paper cup (or Keurig capsule) by making your own great cup of coffee. We found that the flat-bottom, three-hole design of the Kalita Wave 185 Pour-Over Coffee Dripper allowed for the most even and consistent brewing of all models tested. Not only do you get to enjoy great-tasting coffee with the Kalita but after you’re done, you can compost everything.
Espro P3 French Press
Best French press
If you don't want to produce any waste outside of coffee grounds for your morning brew, a French press should be your coffee maker of choice. After testing, we loved this one for its double-filter design and affordability.
De'Longhi La Specialista Opera Espresso Machine
Best espresso machine
Espresso machines also don't use paper filters, which means they won't produce any waste except for grounds. This is our favorite espresso machine, thanks to its fantastic performance in our testing.
Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Pot
Best cold brew coffee maker
For those obsessed with cold brew, check out our favorite maker, which is affordable and super stylish.
AeroPress Original Coffee Maker
Making coffee with an AeroPress does require a small paper filter, but we still love it for its versatility, ease of use and longevity.
Bialetti Moka Express Stovetop Espresso Maker
Best moka pot
Moka pots are another way to make coffee without a paper filter, and after our testing, we think the Bialetti is the best one out there.
Eco-friendly kitchen products
Swedish Wholesale Swedish Dishcloths, 10-Pack
Ready for a fun fact? One Swedish dishcloth can replace 17 rolls of paper towels. Let that sink in, folks. Invented by a Swedish engineer in 1949, these Swedish dishcloths are reusable, biodegradable and ultra affordable, not to mention highly effective.
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Stasher bags are reusable bags made out of platinum-grade silicone, which is the most stable type of silicone for food use since it eliminates the residues from the production process that you might not want in the stuff you eat. Stasher bags are free of BPA, BPS and other phthalates, and they meet FDA and EU requirements for food contact and safety. We recommend them as a great way to reduce your single-use plastic waste.
Bee's Wrap Food Wrap
These beeswax-impregnated organic cotton wraps are sustainable and reusable and can store everything from fruit and vegetables to baked goods and leftovers. Even Bee’s Wrap’s packaging is recyclable and fully biodegradable. To clean them, you just hand-wash them in cool water with some dish soap.
MMmat Silicone Half Sheet Baking Mats, 2-Pack
If you constantly tear off sheets of aluminum foil every time you throw something in the oven, consider opting for these silicone baking mats instead. They're dishwasher-safe and help protect your pans from spills and stuck-on grime while being far more reusable and sustainable than classic tinfoil.
Unwasted Reusable Silicone Lids
Storage containers are great for leftovers, but so are these reusable silicone lids. We loved how they can easily be stretched over various bowls and pots.
Lettuce Grow Farmstand Nook
Best hydroponic indoor garden
Growing produce at home can reduce emissions since your food doesn't have to travel across the country — or the world — before it gets to your plate. After we tested several indoor hydroponic gardens, the Lettuce Grow was our absolute favorite.
Click & Grow Smart Garden 9 Pro
Best hydroponic indoor garden for beginners
The Lettuce Grow is expensive, so if you want to start smaller, check out this Click & Grow garden. It has everything you need to start growing, even if you've never planted a seed before.
Eco-friendly tech products
Nest Learning Thermostat
Best smart thermostat
A smart thermostat reduces your energy demands by turning down the heat or air conditioning when you’re not around. It can then gently bring them back on when you need them, helping you avoid cranking the heat or air conditioning unnecessarily. The Nest Learning Thermostat is the smartest, most capable system we’ve tested, and it has a simple, easy-to-learn interface.
How to choose eco-friendly products
Finding products that are truly eco-friendly is difficult, which is why we’re always on the lookout for things that help you reduce your waste and impact. If you want to live a more sustainable life, try examining your daily habits and finding areas where you can cut back. Do you buy coffee every day? How about plastic water bottles? When you clean, are you using plastic bottles and paper towels? There are so many small improvements you can make, you just have to step back and examine your current impact first.
When searching for eco-friendly swaps, it’s important to think critically about how they will help you cut back on waste. If it’s solving a problem you don’t have, you shouldn’t buy it. But if it’s something that will help you reduce your impact, look into the ingredients and materials used, any third-party certifications and the brand’s background to see if they’re committed to sustainability. Greenwashing is rampant these days, so it’s more important than ever to research what you buy.
At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that oftentimes the most sustainable thing to do is buy nothing at all. If your sweater is still perfectly fine, you shouldn’t buy a new one, even if it’s made from better materials. By only buying things when you absolutely have to, you can drastically cut down on your impact — and save some money.
How we tested eco-friendly products
We got our hands on every product included in this guide and recommend each one. Most of the products highlighted were part of larger testing guides, where we tested multiple products in the same category with a standardized rubric to find the winner. Be sure to check out each product’s full review if you’re interested in how we tested it or just learning more.
We’ve also included other items we’ve tested for product reviews that we especially like, such as Blundstone boots, Paka’s The Hoodie and Stasher bags.
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Why trust CNN Underscored
CNN Underscored editors thoroughly test most of the products we cover and provide full transparency about how we test them. We have a skilled team of writers and editors who have many years of testing experience and ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when relevant to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item.
For this article, testing editor Suzanne Kattau and outdoors, sustainable living and pets editor Kai Burkhardt article curated items from our many reviews and testing stories that various writers have created over the years. We’ve tested every product included on this list, and they all can help you live a more sustainable life.
Suzanne Kattau Editor, Testing
Suzanne Kattau is Underscored's product testing editor, managing best-of hardware reviews in the sleep, home and kitchen verticals. Outside of work, you can find her running and hiking with Gizmo, her Pembroke Welsh corgi, as well as reading and trying out new vegan recipes and restaurants.