The 14 Best Zero Waste Products of 2020

Made from stainless steel that’s both durable and recyclable, this flask replaces plastic bottles in an elegant and efficient way. The wide mouth makes it easy to fill with ice cubes and the excellent insulation keeps your water, iced tea or fruit smoothie cold all day. This can also be used for hot drinks.

These totes are easy to pack at the grocery store since they stay open like a box, but they collapse for easy storage when they’re empty. Not just for groceries, these are just as handy for carrying laundry in the house or for toting towels at the beach. They have two short side handles along with longer handles to hang these on your shoulder.

Great for all your shopping and toting needs, these ripstop nylon bags are sturdy but very thin and lightweight, so you can fold one and tuck it into the included pouch and toss it into your purse for those times when you need an extra bag at the farmer’s market. The handles make it easy to hand carry this or sling it over your shoulder.

No need for plastic wrap when you’ve got half of an onion to store since these huggers will snug onto the cut end and keep it fresh. They’re great for small and medium-cut fruits and vegetables, and can also be used as lids for cans, jars, and glasses. They nest for storage and are dishwasher safe when you’ve used the last of that onion.

Composting makes sense for anyone who has a garden or yard since you can turn waste food into healthy soil that will make all your plants happy. This kitchen bin holds your compostable food waste until you take it to your outdoor composter or you transfer it to the compost container that gets picked up by your waste company. The lid is removable for easy emptying and cleaning, and the handle makes this easy to carry.

Sometimes there’s no way around using a trash bag, but there are still eco-friendly options available, like these compostable bags. Use them for food scraps to be composted or use them for small trash containers around the house. This is a box of 100 bags, and each holds 2.6 gallons.

Even though they’re small, plastic straws are a major source of plastic pollution, but there are plenty of alternatives, like these stainless steel straws. This set of eight includes four straight straws and four bent straws, along with two cleaning brushes so you can make sure the straws are completely clean after use. A pouch is also included for easy storage so you won’t lose them in a kitchen drawer. While they can be washed in the dishwasher, it’s wise to make sure they won’t fall through the utensil bin.

Paper towels are one of the most common single-use items, but why not use these simple cotton towels instead? They’re absorbent, washable, and bleachable, so you can use them for sopping up spills, wiping dishes, or for kitchen cleaning tasks. Then just toss them in with the laundry and grab another towel from the pack of ten. Some users noted various amounts of shrinkage with these, but some shrinkage should be expected since they’re made from cotton.

Made from cotton and cellulose, and completely biodegradable when they’re no longer useful, these colorful cloths can replace your kitchen sponge for washing dishes, they can mop up spills like paper towels, and you can even use them for drying small items, like a kitchen towel. These dry quickly and can be sanitized in your microwave or dishwasher and can also be washed and dried right along with your laundry. This is a pack of four cloths.

These pure linen napkins will add a bit of elegance when you entertain, but they can also look casual for everyday use. The downside of linen is that it wrinkles, so you’ll need to iron these for formal use, but some users noted that they were able to fold and stack them after washing, and they actually liked the slightly wrinkled rustic look. This is a set of 12 napkins, so you’ll have plenty for a party.

Glass is easily recyclable as are the metal lids that come with these jars, but you won’t need to worry about that for many years since these are very durable. While they’re sold for canning, they’re also perfect for storing food in the pantry, refrigerator, or freezer, and they can be used as drinking glasses as well. If you’re feeling creative, you can find all kinds of recipes for food in jars, too. This 12-pack will give you plenty for all of those uses, and more.

These silicone lids are great for covering bowls, pots, and pans, whether they’re in the refrigerator, on the counter, on the stove, in the oven to 500 degrees, or even in the microwave to prevent splattering. This multi-color set includes five covers in different sizes to fit everything from your smallest bowls to your large casserole. They’re dishwasher safe for easy cleaning, so they’ll always be ready for their next use.

Ditch the zip-top plastic bags and grab this reusable food bag instead. Made from silicone, it can withstand heat and cold, and you can even use it for sous vide cooking. This size is perfect for snacks or a sandwich, and other sizes are available so you can create a complete set to fit your needs. A variety of patterns and colors are available to suit your personality.

These beeswax wraps offer a unique alternative to plastic wrap for covering bowls, wrapping sandwiches, storing cheese, or wrapping other foods. The heat of your hands softens the wax to make the material pliable so it can form a perfect shape, then it hardens again for a great seal. When these are no longer useful, they are 100 percent compostable, so they don’t have to end up in a landfill. This is a three-pack with three different sizes.