We Tried These Sustainable Home Products: Our Honest Opinions

“I often buy my lunch at work, so carrying around reusable bamboo cutlery (all wrapped up in a cute fabric wrap/holder) has been a bit of a game-changer. I have less anxiety about destroying the planet when I’m not tossing away plastic cutlery every day.” – Jen F., editor, HGTV Canada

Bamboo Utensils, Amazon, $15.

“Beeswax wraps became a ‘thing’ a while ago. I hopped on the bandwagon after getting a package of beeswax cloth as a present. My family and I used them for wrapping sandwiches and covering bowls in the fridge. For sandwiches they are great! I did a comparison: one day I would use a plastic reusable plastic container and the next, beeswax cloth. The beeswax performed just as good and it made me feel great to be doing something to help the planet. For wrapping loose vegetables in the fridge, the beeswax cloth came up short. After a day or so, the beeswax seemed to unravel. They were okay for just covering bowls but didn’t seal as well as plastic wrap. However, I tried a DIY version. It hugged bowls and containers a lot better than the store-bought version. So, shop around for thick beeswax paper.” – Frank P., producer, HGTV Canada

BUZZEE Organic Beeswax Wrap 4 Pack, Amazon, $16.

“The single-use plastic in my bathroom has been guilting me every time I step into the shower lately, so I recently switched to buying bulk soap and shower products. I simply bring a reusable container to my local store (I visit Saponetti in Toronto) and have them fill me up with my favourite scent. It does cost more than your regular drugstore brands, but the bonus is that the products tend to be of a higher quality: I’m using Oneka products which are vegan, locally made and organic.” – Lydia H., producer, Food Network Canada

Oneka Shampoo, Saponetti, price depends on volume.

“Efficient, sturdy, effective – but a bit risky for first-time users – metal ear picks are all the rage in my family. Every other week when I was small, my Chinese mother would rest my head in her lap near a bright lamp and go to town with the ear pick. Though she had mad ear-cleaning skills, I thought I’d gone deaf on more than one occasion. Because this sustainable tool was so normalized in my community growing up, I had no idea what a Q-Tip was even for or why people would use it. Though sustainability wasn’t quite the goal – this convenient ear cleaner still yields the same results.” – Chloe T., editor, Slice

Ear Cleaning Spoon, Amazon, $11.

“My kids love to use straws when drinking anything: water, juices, hot chocolate. And while it’s easy to turn your eco-conscious mind off and grab a plastic straw to avoid a colossal smoothie spill in your car, we really need to stop doing it. No judgement here my friends, I’ve done it and it’s terrible for our planet to use single-use plastics. These reusable, stainless steel straws from The Clean Green Co. are the perfect answer. They come in a straight shape or slightly curved, even your picky kids will become accustomed to. With the little carrying case and cleaning brush, these reusable straws are easy to use, easy to store, take on the go and easy to clean. A big win for every parent of kids who love straws.” – Heather M., producer, History

Eco-Friendly Drinking Straws, The Clean Green Co., $14.

“I switched from paper towels to tea towels to wipe up spills about a year ago. They weren’t doing a lot in my kitchen except hanging and looking pretty, but now they’re being used. I toss them in the washing machine, hang them to dry and use them over and over. They’re getting stained and old, but they have helped me cut down on paper waste.” – Renee S., manager, digital lifestyle

Organic Bamboo Dish Cloths Pack of 6, Amazon, $19.

“I’d been considering making the switch from traditional pads to the sustainable cloth variety for a while, but with all the options out there I didn’t know where to start. I finally decided to experiment (and overcome my fear of leaky cloth pads) by opting for the Canadian-owned hannahpad because it seemed to be the most cost-effective. Although it took some adjusting (I’m not exactly used to having to wash my menstrual products afterward), I was happy with how comfortable they were.” – Laura G., assistant editor, HGTV Canada and Food Network Canada

Reusable Cloth Menstrual Pads, $15 to $37, hannahpad.