One of the most common excuses I hear against adopting a greener lifestyle is “it’s too expensive.” That’s why I get frustrated when I see articles with names like Everything you need to buy to go zero waste. Living a more sustainable life doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. In many ways, it can save you money. As proof, today’s post is a roundup of 40 things I no longer buy since going green.
Note: This post was originally published in November 2019 as “15 things I no longer buy (and probably never needed)”.
You don’t special zero-waste products
Two of the basic premises of living a sustainable life are reducing consumption and producing less waste. You’ll find a lot of “zero-waste” products on the market. When you’re eager to get started, it’s tempting to go all-in and buy a ton of stuff to support your new lifestyle, and the marketers know that.
You can start to adopt a greener lifestyle without buying anything new. In fact, I’d recommend starting with simple swaps that don’t involve buying anything. That will give you time to research alternatives to other products.
Use up what you already have
I’ve heard stories of people throwing out plastic containers and replacing them with metal containers or glass jars in the interest of “going zero-waste.”
Ditching perfectly good items just because they’re plastic doesn’t do our planet any good. I still have a large collection of reusable plastic containers, and I’ll keep them until they wear out. Heck, when the time comes I may even replace them with new plastic containers. Plastic itself is not the enemy—it’s the single use, throwaway plastic we need to avoid.
Before you spend your hard-earned cash on any new products, ask yourself if you already own something that will do the job. You might be surprised what you’ll find with a little creativity.
Some purchases are worthwhile
I admit I have bought a few items in my efforts to reduce waste. When you run out of a product, ask yourself if there’s an item you could purchase that will ultimately reduce the amount of waste you’re producing. Here are some examples:
- silicone lids to replace plastic wrap
- cloth napkins to replace paper napkins
- metal or silicone straws to replace plastic straws
- silicone baking cups to replace paper cups
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40 things I no longer buy
So while I have bought some items, there are lot more things that I’ve stopped buying and—surprise, surprise—I don’t miss any of them. All these changes combined save me hundreds of dollars a year, not to mention the reduction in waste.
Here’s my roundup of 40 things I no longer buy. I’ve written about many of these items in previous posts. I’ve included links to more information where possible.
Cleaning and laundry products
- Fabric softener
- Glass cleaner
- Furniture polish
- Toilet cleaner – my easy 4-ingredient DIY toilet cleaner is one of my most popular posts
- Steel wool scouring pads
Personal care products
- Facial cleanser
- Night cream
- Eye cream
- Makeup remover
- Cotton swabs
- Cotton balls and pads
- Shave lotion
- Plastic razors
- Bottled shampoo and conditioner
- Hair frizz treatment
- Cuticle cream
- Foot callus cream
- Floss picks
- Shower puffs
- Body powder
- Personal wipes
- Nail polish
- Face powder – I make my own easy zero-waste face powder instead.
Food storage and products
- Packaged spices
- Single serve coffee pods
- Bottled water
- Plastic wrap
- Snack and sandwich bags
- Plastic straws
- Disposable cutlery
- Baking and muffin cups
- Cook books
Miscellaneous
- Air freshener
- Dixie cups
- Jewellery cleaner
- Plastic grocery bags
- Wrapping paper
- Pre-filled advent calendars
- Newspapers
- Books
One small step at a time adds up
When I originally published this list, there were 15 items on it. Two years later, the list has more than doubled, and I’m sure it will continue to grow over time.
Every time I run out of a product, I ask myself if this is something I really need. If the answer is yes, I challenge myself to find a low or no waste alternative.
What have you stopped buying in your quest to reduce waste? Tell us below.
Impressive commitment on your part, Michelle! While I think of us as a green family, I see we can do better.
Thanks Pete! One of the reasons I started my blog was to share my learnings with anyone who’s interested. If even a few people adopt a few small changes from my ideas, it’s worthwhile to me.
I love this list, I really enjoy reading things that people no longer buy! I really admire how many products you make yourself, I definitely want to start doing this 🙂
Thanks Caroline. DIY can get complicated. I really keep it simple – it has to take 10 minutes or less, and I have to have the ingredients and supplies in the house already.
I just love this list. it’s so inspirational to think that there are a lot of things that we don’t need to buy — and it will help save money & the environment. win-win. personally I don’t buy napkins, plastic straws/bowls/utensils/plates, fabric softner.. but now realizing there are more that I don’t need to buy. and I want to check out your diy toilet cleaner too!
Thanks Helen. It’s amazing to me how this list has grown in just two years. The toilet cleaner is one of the few DIYs that I do. It’s pretty much impossible to buy toilet cleaner that doesn’t have harsh chemicals or plastic packaging.
This is a great list, Michelle! I commend you for being so environmentally-conscientious! I will bookmark this so that I can have it easily on hand!
I have stopped buying cleaning sprays (I just use vinegar and water). I don’t buy books anymore unless they are used (I mostly borrow from my local library or an ebook). I am trying to be better so you have definitely inspired me! 🙂
Thanks so much. It sounds like you’re doing a lot of things right. If we all made even a few small changes, it would really make a difference.
Oh yeah, and an added advantage of not using cling wraps is that those things have a mind of their own sometimes. They won’t stick to the bowl, but will at the slightest touch of themselves. And sometimes they tear properly, other times not. Gah.
Oh yes! I do NOT miss fighting with the cling wrap roll!
Yay, Michelle! You’re a beacon of light! 🌞
Aww. Thank you so much, Lisa. That’s so kind of you to say.
This is a great list! I also like how cutting back on these items also saves a lot of $$$ They definitely go hand in hand 👌
Thanks Hilary. Yes it saves a lot of money, and also makes life a lot simpler.
I love how your list grows. May it keep growing throughout this year and the next. Last year, we bought silicone baking sheets. They were really great!
Thank you! 💚 Oh yes, silicone baking sheets are great. They save money on tinfoil and I love that they are nonstick.
I don’t buy most of those items, either but, I’ve never thought of bulk buying spices. I’m going to look into doing that.
Thanks for this tip. 😃
Bulk spices are a HUGE money saver—about 20% of the price of packaged spices.
An interesting list! I had fun reading it since I have never bought many of the things on the list! I love mixing my own spices, but am still guilty of having some plastic wrap in my house . . . .
Thanks Jaya. I think we still have a roll of plastic wrap from a couple of years ago. It will probably last forever. LOL