Resources: Product Suppliers
This is an ongoing list of businesses providing products that can help us live with less plastic. What are your favorites? Please leave a comment below and suggest other companies to add to this list.
Brands & Online Companies:
- Ambatalia: Beautiful, handcrafted textiles, including reusable bags, wraps, napkins, and other plastic-free products for a non-disposable life. Read my interview with Molly de Vries of Ambalia.
- Anarres Natural Health: Personal care products shipped in compostable packaging. Read my interview with owner Tracey TieF here.
- Aquarian Bath: Many personal care products in glass or metal containers. Read my reviews of their Unisex Natural Deodorant Balm and Tooth Powder.
- Avasol: Natural sunscreen in compostable cardboard tube. Read my review of Avasol sunscreen.
- BuyGreen: Selection of various bags, bottles, other BYO containers. Read my interview with owner Doug Farquhar here. (Disclosure: My Plastic-free Life is a BuyGreen affiliate.)
- Cate & Levi: Cute toys made from recycled sweaters and wool.
- Chagrin Valley: Natural personal care products with little to no packaging, including shampoo bars, deodorant, moisturizers, scrubs, and soaps. Read my review of their Coconut Silk Deodorant.
- Chico Bags: Convenient compressible bags stuff into their own attached sack. I keep several of these in my purse at all times. Yes, they are made from synthetic materials, but they make remembering to bring a bag so easy that I think they’re worth it.
- Clean Planetware: Reusable stainless steel lunch boxes and dinnerware.
- Eco Vision Biodegradable Packaging: Sister company to Organic Essence (below), they have developed truly compostable lip balm tubes and lotion jars made out of recycled cardboard.
- Eco-DenT: Packages its dental floss in compostable cardboard boxes instead of plastic.
- Ecobags.com: Organic cotton produce/bulk bags. Great for dry goods from bulk bins. String bags and many other types of bags.
- ECOlunchbox: Reusable stainless steel lunch containers and other foodware, as well as cloth lunch bags and wraps and other accessories.
- Feelgoodz: Natural rubber flip flops. Read my review of Soft Strapz natural rubber and hemp flip flops.
- GlassDharma: Reusable glass drinking straws. Read my review of GlassDharma straws here. (Disclosure: GlassDharma is a My Plastic-free Life advertiser.)
- Graze Organic: Organic cotton lunch sacks. Read my review of Graze Organic lunch bags here.
GreenBoatStuff.com: Many plastic-free household products. Not just for boats! I purchased stainless steel wine glasses to take with me to a music festival from GreenBoatStuff.com. Read about those wine glasses as well as my interview with the owner Eric Allen here. (Disclosure: My Plastic-free Life is a GreenBoatStuff.com affiliate.)
- Klean Kanteen: Reusable stainless steel bottles.
- Laundrytree Soapnuts: Distributor of soapnuts laundry soap. Great product and switched to recycled paper/compostable packaging. Read my review of Laundrytree here.
- Life Without Plastic: A huge selection of plastic-free household items. Life Without Plastic is committed to developing and discovering products made from natural materials and is constantly adding new items. Read my post about Life Without Plastic here. (Disclosure: Life Without Plastic is a My Plastic-free Life advertiser.)
- Lunapads: Reusable feminine hygiene products.
- LunchBots: Stainless steel lunch containers. Read my review of LunchBots containers here.
- Made-On Hard Lotion: Natural, plastic-free personal care products, such as lotion bars, hair butter, soaps, and rash cream.
- Onyx Non-Plastic Containers: Supplier of stainless steel containers, including a stainless steel popsicle mold not found anywhere else. Read my review of the stainless steel popsicle mold here.
- Organic Essence: Plastic-free lip balm (in an ingenious cardboard tube) and lotions. Read my review of Organic Essence here.
- Planet Box: Stainless steel lunch box with handy sections. Read my review of Planet Box here.
- Preserve: Makes recycled plastic toothbrushes from yogurt containers and other #5 plastic. They even accept used Brita water filter cartridges. Check out info on the Brita recycling campaign here.
- Pura Stainless: Stainless steel baby bottles with stainless nipple rings and silicone nipples. Read my review of Pura Stainless here.
- Purrfect Play: Organic, plastic-free toys and supplies for dogs and cats. Read my post about Purrfect Play here.
- ReBinder Recycled Office Supplies: Recycled cardboard binders, notebooks, CD sleeves, folders. All plastic-free. Read my post about ReBinder here. (Disclosure: My Plastic-free Life is a Rebinder affiliate.)
- ReUseIt.com: Wide selection of reusable bags, containers, bottles, utensils, and many other waste-free products. Please note that ReUseIt.com carries both plastic and plastic-free products, so read descriptions carefully before purchasing. You can sort by the “Material” links on the sidebar to find products made from natural fabrics, wood, metal, and glass. (Disclosure: My Plastic-free Life is a ReUseIt.com affiliate.)
- Rex Apothecary: Personal care products such as tooth powder, shave cream, and deodorant in compostable cardboard containers and pomades, balms, and even mustache wax in recyclable tins.
- Seventh Generation: Sells plastic-free, recycled toilet paper. I buy the cases from Amazon.com, which come in a cardboard box. See my review of Seventh Generation recycled toilet paper and how I buy it here.
- Skoy Cloths: Compostable cleaning cloths made from cotton and natural cellulose that replace synthetic sponges and paper towels. Read my review of Skoy cloths here.
- SwheatScoop: Natural wheat cat litter that comes in a paper bag.
- Taylor House Inc.: Natural personal care products packaged in reusable glass containers, including Balm! Baby sunscreen, deodorant, lotions, and balms. Read my reviews of Balm! Baby sunscreen and PITS! deodorant.
- Too Good Products Company: A special rack to hold reusable communion cups in the dishwasher, reducing the need for disposable cups.
- Three Little Birds Designs: Cute organic cotton sandwich/snack baggies. Read my review of Three Little Birds PlanetPacks here.
- To-Go Ware: Reusable bamboo utensils & stainless steel tiffins.
- TWINK Beauty: Natural makeup in metal tins. Read my review of the Lash Paint Mineral Mascara that comes in a metal tin.
- Yellow Margosa: Stainless steel tiffins, tumblers, and other reusable lunch supplies.
Physical Shops & Local Brands
CANADA
- Anarres Natural Health: Toronto. Owner encourages customers to bring their own containers.
U.K.
- Peppersmith: Natural plastic-free gum and mints in plastic-free packaging. Read about how most chewing gums contain plastic. Read my review of Peppersmith.
- Unpackaged: London. Shop sells all its products in bulk and actively encourages customers to bring their own containers.
U.S.A.
- Berkeley Bowl: Berkeley, CA. Huge selection of bulk items. Tolerates customers bringing their own bags and containers but doesn’t encourage it. Have your container weighed at the bulk counter before filling up so weight can be deducted from total purchase price. Return to bulk counter to have purchases weighed and stickers applied. Read my report on Berkeley Bowl here.
- Ecology Center: Berkeley, CA. Reusable containers and many other plastic-free eco-friendly household/personal care items. Huge library of books that can be borrowed. Runs sustainability workshops and tours.
- Rainbow Grocery: San Francisco, CA. The largest selection of bulk items I have ever seen. In addition to dry stuff, they sell oils, nut butters, even fresh pasta in bulk. Personal care products too. Although it’s common for customers to bring their own bags and containers, it seems that a greater percentage still take new plastic bags. Procedure: weigh containers yourself on scale in back of bulk section and use stickers provided to mark the weight. Be sure and write the bin number after filling up so the cashier knows what the product is. Read my report on Rainbow Grocery here.
- Tara’s Organic Ice Cream: Berkeley, CA. Delicious homemade ice cream. The shop uses durable stainless steel tasting spoons as well as reusable bowls for customers eating in. They provide only compostable containers for take-out. What’s more, Tara’s encourages customers to bring their own containers. Read my post about Tara’s here and about my experience bringing my own container here.
- Truly Raw Gourmet: Venice, CA. Producer of organic, raw sorbet packaged in glass jars. Truly Raw Gourmet will give a free jar of sorbet to customers who return 12 glass jars to the company to be reused.
- Whole Foods Markets: Northern California region. This is an international chain of natural food stores, but since I have only visited locations in Northern California, I can only describe these local stores. Decent selection of bulk nuts, beans, cereals, grains, dried fruits, etc. Also some spices and teas. Not as extensive as Berkeley Bowl or Rainbow Grocery (above). Can bring your own containers for bulk items, as well as meat and prepared foods. Have containers weighed at customer service desk first. Be sure and write the bin number after filling up so cashier knows what product you are buying.
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I just tried to purchase the make-up, only to find after getting to the delivery information and facts web page that the organization doesn't send to Canada! I sent them an e-mail to recommend that they really should condition that up-front. I misused lots of your energy and energy. Justfriends, that appears to be excellent. Will you get in touch with me after you obtain the TP and let me know exactly how it was packed in the box? Always looking for excellent resources of plastic-free products.
@evalewis Hi. Which company are you referring to specifically? Thanks!
Latest blog post: Plastic Challenge: Beth Terry, Week 26
I found a place that sells German made horsehair broom heads. All natural, no plastic - that's what I want. http://nessentials.com/ness/about-us
Please add these organic cotton produce & bulk bags to the list...they work great! (Even for flour) http//www.organicgreensbag.com
Hey Beth, I love love Badger Balm. Their products are mostly organic and mostly plastic free. The only plastic in the tins is a safety wrap/ring. They have oils in glass bottles but with a plastic pump and lid. Their sunscreen is the best (great ratings from the EWG) and the container at least contains some recycled plastic. I'm really excited because they are planning on coming out with a deodorant next year and they said it will be plastic free. So, great products, great ingredients, and the company strives to use Eco friendly packaging.
Eve, that's interesting. What I wonder is what the eraser is made from. It's latex-free, so I'm assuming it's made from plastic. I emailed the company to find out.
Interesting supplier of recycled newspaper pencils!!! I haven't checked into their shipping policy yet, to see if it is plastic-free, but thought you might be interested. http://www.treesmart.com/
I just tried to order the toilet paper, only to discover after getting to the shipping info page that the company doesn't ship to Canada! I sent them an e-mail to suggest that they really should state that up-front. I wasted a lot of time!
Follow-up on the TP packaging from Restockit: I'm so pleased to report that the ONLY plastic on or in the whole 5 cu ft box was the little plastic envelope containing the packing slip - no tape even! At a cost of 62 cents per 500 sheet roll, it beat out the big box stores. And, it's decent TP too, which is a good thing, since I now have enough to last me two years! -- -- Eve
Wheeeeeeeee!!! I've found an online source for toilet paper that has NO plastic in the wrapping - AND it's made from 100% recycled materials AND no bleach!!! AND it's not exxpensive. Green Heritage by Atlas Paper Co. has about 12 different green varieties. It i 's a tad confusing - I mean have you ever measured your squares of toilet paper??? I've ordered a case - yes 96 rolls! I just hope the shipping box has minimal plastic/tape - but it's still way better than that plastic wrapping on every doggone package. Check out - www.restockit.com
Justfriends, that sounds great. Will you contact me after you receive the TP and let me know exactly how it was packaged in the box? Always looking for good sources of plastic-free products.
Jane and Lynnel, Eco Vision is the company that makes the cardboard tubes and containers. They are owned by the same people as Organic Essence. Contact them! http://eco-vision.com/index.html Contact them to find out how you can buy tubes/containers. I have no idea how much they cost. The prices are not on the web site.
I'm looking for eco friendly lip balm tubes, too. I make lip balms.
Thank you. I am looking for the empty tubes and other eco friendly packaging to use for products at shoppe.
YES! Jane and Lynnel. In fact, right here on this page. Organic Essence sells lip balm in cardboard tubes. I wrote "plastic-free" but I should have specified that the tubes are actually cardboard. Jane, I'll check out SmallBones.ca and add them.
Does anyone know where I can find paper/cardboard lip balm tubes? TY!
http://www.smallbones.ca website & physical shop makes/sells many green products: soaps & shampoo bars, beeswax candles, organic cotton bags, hand-woven baskets, toiletries for women & men, etc. Most packaging is non-plastic (some lids are plastic & still searching for alternative lip balm tubes). Located in southern Ontario, Canada.
I'd suggest you add OB People's Co-op [http://obpeoplesfood.coop/] to the list of physical stores. They really encourage you to bring your own bags and containers. There are the cloth bags available for purchase right next to the bulk bin (in case you forget your own). They sell the stainless steel water bottles along with all sorts of bulk goodies (maple syrup, grains, candies, oil, shampoo, soap, spices) that you can bring your own container in. I get zero friction from the staff when I bring my own bags, containers, jars, etc. They work with me when I ask for plastic free alternatives. Can't say enough good things about them. And, and! Their prices are lower than Whole Foods. Totally worth a visit!
I live in New Zealand and I like to buy organic foods like flour and oats but am having trouble sourcing large non-plastic containers in which to keep them. Have I just not found the right sites yet? Any suggestions? Kate
Just FYI, the stainless steel wine glasses from Green Boat Stuff come with plastic bottoms. I guess there is a "stemless" wine glass that is totally stainless, but that might not be so useful after a lot of wine tasting...
We make every single bar of soap so you can luxuriosly shampoo, shower shave and bathe. We have been making soap for almost 20 years and have been "green product" long before it was considered one of our responsiblities to do so. Our labels and packaging are simple - recycled paper. Would love to have you list us as a link to your site if possible. You have a great site. Thank you! Lynnel Camling