5 Planet-Friendly Products I’m Loving Right Now!

As we enter Earth Day 2018, I thought it was the perfect time to tell you about some innovative, eco-friendly products that go above and beyond to protect animals AND the planet. Yes, my blog is all about animal advocacy and protection, but we can’t really protect non-domesticated animals if we’re destroying and polluting their habitat! It’s in their best interest and ours to do a better job at reducing waste, phasing out plastics, and making the most of the materials we already have.

Eco-friendly living can at times require some reprogramming and habit changes, but these products make those changes a little bit easier! And just imagine how great you’ll feel making a few small changes that create a big impact! I know I care about the planet, you know you care about the planet, we all just need to put our money where our hearts are to combat needless harm!

Having scoured the internet and rejected numerous subpar concepts, these are the Top 5 Planet-Friendly Products I’m loving right now! Feel free to let me know which ones you scoop up!

Plaine Products

Eliminating single use plastics, one bottle at a time!

Just yesterday, I was cleaning out my shower and felt that familiar pang of guilt when clearing out the empty plastic bottles. Yes, many of them are recyclable, but only 10-20% of recycled plastics are actually successfully recycled, and even then, the quality is degraded to a point where eventually the material is useless. Obviously this is not me saying “don’t recycle” (of course you should), but it shouldn’t be our first and only choice. That said, we’re humans with lives and needs and it can be really hard to avoid single use plastics. Fortunately, Plaine Products has given us a far more sustainable option: a convenient toiletry service using refillable aluminum bottles for their earth-friendly shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, hand wash, and body wash.

The process is pretty simple; you pick out the products you need, and they’re sent to you in a recycled and recyclable cardboard box. You can either sign up for a subscription so refills are sent to you automatically, or you can make a one time purchase and just let them know when you’re running low and need a refill. You then send back your empty aluminum bottles (Plaine Products provides the free shipping label) in the box your second product came in. Rinse and repeat!

Plaine Products are, of course, fully vegan and never tested on animals. Beyond that, they’re also free of sulfates, parabens and phthalates!

Stock up on plastic-free toiletries at Plaine Products!

** Use code TTK for 10% OFF your order! **

Juniperseed Washable “Swiffer” Pads (Currently 20% OFF!)

Convenient cleanliness without the toxic guilt!

Let’s face it- the Swiffer was a pretty impressive technological invention. As far as convenience and user-friendly design, it’s lightyears ahead of the old mop & bucket. It can even be argued that in some ways, it’s more eco-friendly, as it uses far less water than traditional mopping, and avoids that flow of (often) toxic cleaning substance down the drain afterwards. That said, the Swiffer cleaning solution itself is full of nasty (animal tested) chemicals, and if you use them often, you’re likely sending quite a few of those toxic disposable sheets into the landfill.

No worries, I’m not even asking you to throw away your old Swiffer mop! Just stop buying the refill pads and switch to the Juniperseed washable alternatives! Made with “thick and thirsty” reusable cloths, these pads are a convenient and eco-friendly way to keep your floors clean. No, they don’t come soaked in their own cleaning fluid like the Swiffer pads do, but they do come with a sample of Juniperseed’s own eco-friendly cleaning solution! Or, if your filth isn’t too crazy, you can always do what I do and just mix up some white vinegar and hot water- it cuts through more dirt than you’d imagine. When you’re done, just throw the pads in the washing machine with the rest of your laundry, and reuse them when the mess returns!

Extra bonus: You’ll end up saving money now that you don’t have to keep buying replacement pads!

Ditch those toxic sheets and grab your reusable mop pads at Juniperseed on Etsy!

** Use code FREESHIP50 for FREE U.S. shipping on orders over $50!**

Mable Bamboo Toothbrush

Protect your molars while protecting marine mammals!

Take a minute to think about how many toothbrushes you’ve owned and thrown away in your life. Imagine all those discarded plastic handles floating around the ocean. Did you know that an estimated 71% of seabirds and 30% of turtles are found to have plastics in their stomachs? Now, think about how many toothbrushes you and your family will use and discard for the rest of your lives; do you want to keep adding to that flow of plastic trash, or is it time for a change? I’m not trying to guilt trip you; I’ve sent just as many handles off to the landfills as you have! Time for us to cut it out.

Fortunately, there are quite a few eco-friendly alternatives on the market! I’ve fallen in love with the Mable Bamboo Toothbrushes, not only because of their sustainably harvested, biodegradable handles and their plastic-free compostable packaging, but also because of how gorgeous they are! Toothbrushes tend to be among the embarrassing messy objects we throw in the cupboard when company comes over, but these self-standing (love that!) bamboo brushes are aesthetically-pleasing conversation starters!

If all that weren’t enough, Mable also uses a substantial portion of their profits to donate bamboo toothbrushes to children in need. Beyond that, they take those toothbrush deliveries and turn them into educational experiences in which they teach children about the importance of sustainable choices! So in summary, just by switching to Mable bamboo toothbrushes, you’re helping the environment, fancying up your bathroom, and teaching children to respect the planet. Not bad for a basic dental hygiene tool!

Grab yourself a toothbrush you can brag about at Mable or Amazon!

Juniperseed Unpaper Towels (Currently 20% OFF!)

Kitchen cleanliness for lovers of trees! 

Of all my unsustainable habits, overuse of paper towels (or “kitchen roll” as my British husband says) is probably my worst. With four active dogs and a kitchen used at least once daily for cooking intricate, messy meals, I’m at a loss without them. That said, my conscience knows I’m burning through trees like a wildfire, just for my own convenience. For a blogger who goes by “The Tree Kisser,” this is not a good look.

Fortunately, Juniperseed has provided a sustainable, low impact alternative- the unpaper towel! Like their aforementioned Swiffer style pads, these organic, unbleached cotton towels are washable and reusable. Because they are minimally processed, Juniperseed’s unpaper towels are more durable and absorbent than other bleached or dyed alternatives. As long as they are washed without fabric softener, they’ll become more and more absorbent over time!

Your unpaper towels will arrive in plastic-free packaging (think about how much plastic wrap your store-bought paper towels waste!), making the entire process as eco-friendly as possible. And one day, when you’ve gotten as much use out of your unpaper towels as possible, you can safely throw them in the compost bin!

Break your wasteful kitchen habit with unpaper towels from Juniperseed on Etsy.

** Use code FREESHIP50 for FREE U.S. shipping on orders over $50! **

Koffie Straw

Keep your teeth and your conscience clean!

By now, most environmentally conscious consumers know how bad single use plastic straws are for our planet and especially for marine animals. Our silly addiction to sipping through a tube is literally suffocating fish and birds. If we don’t make some massive changes, it’s predicted that by 2050, our oceans will contain more plastic than fish (measured by weight). Even if that weren’t the case, plastic manufacturing requires oil drilling, which leads to a whole other host of environmental problems. With Americans alone using 500 million disposable straws EVERY DAY (yes, you read that correctly), this is a problem in urgent need of solving.

Thanks to recent awareness, many consumers are either choosing reusable, washable straws or just saying no to straws all together. However, many dentists encourage using straws when drinking coffee to avoid staining or even harming your teeth. Stainless steel straws, which are one of the more common choices for conscientious straw users, aren’t great for hot liquids as the metal can conduct heat and burn your tongue! Some users also find that they give beverages a metallic aftertaste. Koffie’s founder was determined to solve this problem, and thus the Koffie silicone straw was born! It’s designed specifically for coffee, with a narrow diameter (i.e.: not a wide milkshake straw) to help you avoid accidentally gulping a flood of hot liquid!

The Koffie straw sets all come with a brush for manual cleaning, but note that they are also dishwasher safe! Reviewers say that the cardboard packaging is sturdy enough to use as a carrying case, so you can conveniently toss them in your handbag or briefcase. Most sets come with a pair of two straws, so you’ll still have one available even if the other is being washed!

Get your eco-friendly morning buzz with the KoffieStraw!

Those are the eco-friendly, sustainable products I’m most excited about at the moment! Feel free to leave your own recommendations in the comments, I’m always happy to learn more!

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