When I first started making zero waste swaps, I quickly realized some sustainable products sound amazing in theory, but aren’t always practical when raising kids, working, and just trying to get dinner on the table.

My general approach to sustainable living is to find ways to reduce our environmental impact in a way that actually makes sense in our busy lives.

I will never be the mom who can fit a month of trash in a mason jar, but over the years I’ve replaced several disposable household products with reusable alternatives.

These are four of the easy zero waste swaps I’ve personally made in my home, what I actuall think about them, and which ones I reccoment trying first.

What does it mean to be zero waste?

Zero waste is “the conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health” source: zerowaste.com.

In simple terms, going zero waste means reducing your impact on the environment by thinking about the way a product was created, but also the end-use of the product. Oftentimes when we buy items, we don’t consider how it was made, who made it, or what we will do with it after we are done.

Quick Comparison: Zero Waste Swaps

Reusable Food Storage Bags

Instead of plastic food storage bags, use reusable food storage bags

Plastic Ziploc bags are so convenient and easy to purchase; however, they also contribute to the plastic pollution plaguing our planet. Instead of plastic food storage bags, choose reusable food storage bags.

If you use plastic Ziplocs often, these are for you! There are so many reasons why I love and recommend Stasher bags! Not only are they durable and easy to open and close, but they also save me from constantly buying disposable plastic bags! I love using them for my lunch and the kids’ snacks because they’re sturdy enough to keep everything from getting squished in our bags. Plus, they’re easy to wash and reuse, which makes this one of the simplest zero-waste swaps I’ve made!

Cloth Diapers

Instead of disposable diapers, cloth diapers

Babies use thousands of disposable diapers from birth to potty train. This is not only costly but also has a significant impact on our landfills. To avoid this (and save hundreds!) I opted for cloth diapers and absolutely love them!

I know what you might be thinking. Cloth diapers? Ew! But let me tell you! Cloth diapers have come a LONG way, and once you get the hang of them, they save so much time, money, and waste. I never had to worry about running out of diapers, and I reused my diapers for multiple children, then gave them to a co-worker for her firstborn.

If you’re considering cloth diapers, you will need to consider:

• The cost of purchasing diapers upfront
• How often you’ll need to wash them / your laundry routine
• Storage for dirty diapers ( I just used these!)
• Whether your childcare provider accepts cloth diapers (I used disposable at nighttime but my childcare was okay with cloth diapering!)

Remember, you don’t need to cloth diaper 100% of the time for it to be worthwile. You are still making an incredibly sustainable, zero-waste decision.

Cloth Towels/Reusable Paper Towels

Instead of paper towels, use cloth towels or napkins

I’m being honest with this one! I did not wake up one morning an throw away every paper towel in our house. This choice was incredibly intentional and honestly, my husband was very apprehesive (he LOVES his paper towels!).

I very slowly started to incorporate the towels into our lifestyle and slowly, but surely, we started reaching for the towels a little more. They’re actually more absorbant and provide a better clean than most paper towels. The only downside is you need to wash them after use instead of throwing them away and forgetting about them.

Eventually, I set a hard stop for when I would no longer buy paper towels and we just needed to adjust. We use a small thrifted basket to place towels so they don’t end up scattered all over the house. When the basket is full, its time to wash.

If you don’t feel read to stop using paper towels entirely, try to switch to more sustainable brands like Reel. I still think it’s perfectly reasonable to keep disposable towels available for situations where they’re more practical or hygienic.

Keep in mind for your towels, you don’t need fancy reusable paper towels to make this swap. Old washcloths, cotton kitchen towels, and cut-up T-shirts can all work. If you’re buying something new, look for:

• Absorbent material
• Machine-washable fabric
• Durable stitching
• A size that’s convenient for everyday cleaning

Reusable Plates and Utensils

Instead of paper plates and plastic utensils, use reusable plates and utensils

Of all the zero waste swaps we’ve made, this was probably the easiest.

I’ve never been much of a fan of single-use plates and utensils so this was not difficult for my family to eliminate. The pollutants created to manufacture these items as well as the residual chemicals found inside these products were enough for me to easily make the switch to ceramic plates. In addition, after using them just one time, they eund up in the trash. (Learn more about paper plates and the environment here).

If you’re using dishes you already own, you don’t even have to purchase anything new, but if you’re in the market for some new tableware, here are a few suggestions:

For Kids

I hope these 4 easy zero waste products can be incorporated into your busy life!

Eliminating single-use products for zero-waste products is not always easy, but you can start off small. Choose one item from the list above and find a zero-waste alternative. Once you’ve adopted the change into your lifestyle, try to eliminate another item.

Related Posts:

• 19 Things You Should Stop Buying Right Now | Eco-Friendly Swaps that Save Me Money
• 7 Simple Ways to Travel Sustainably As a Family
• Here’s Why Going Green Can Be Annoying and Intimidating
• The 5 Easiest Eco-Friendly Switches That Won’t Make You Miserable
• 7 Free Ways to Reduce Your Waste
• Want to Be Eco-Friendly Every Day? Start with these sustainable products!

Last Updated 10/20/26