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Eco-friendly products can help you lower your impact on the environment, and compostable products are a particularly great choice for reducing plastic waste. In the right conditions, compostable products biodegrade into compost, a soil conditioning material. According to the EPA, to be labeled compostable, products must degrade at a rate that’s similar to organic materials, and without leaving toxic residue behind.
There is one caveat to keep in mind: some of the best compostable products on the market need to be commercially composted. This means they’ll need to be sent to a commercial composting facility to get the job done—home bins simply can’t fully break them down quickly. However, there are some home-compostable products. These are either made from naturally compostable materials or are labeled as home-compostable and can be disposed of in one of the best compost bins. We’ve included a selection of both types on this list, but it’s prudent to check the label before tossing any compostable products into your backyard bin.
1. Gaia Guy Natural Bristle Bamboo Toothbrush
Switch out your plastic toothbrush for a fully compostable option; this toothbrush from Gaia Guy performs the same but is better for the environment. From its handle to its bristles, it uses natural materials that are suitable for home composting, swapping out plastic and nylon for bamboo and boar hair. This set includes six toothbrushes and it’s packed in paper packaging, making it a no-plastic option.
Get the Gaia Guy Natural Bristle Bamboo Toothbrush at Amazon for $21.99
2. Clorox Free & Clear Compostable Cleaning Wipes
Disposable cleaning wipes aren’t the most eco-friendly, but sometimes, they feel necessary for really nasty messes. A better choice for disinfecting is these compostable cleaning wipes from Clorox, which also have plenty of positive reviews. These wipes are an excellent cleaner, while also being EPA Safer Choice certified and compostable in municipal composting facilities.
Get the Clorox Free & Clear Compostable Cleaning Wipes at Amazon for $13.16
3. Airnex Natural Kitchen Sponge
Airnex Natural Kitchen Sponges are plant-based, and made with biodegradable white cellulose and coconut fiber. While the white cellulose part of the sponge is compostable, the coconut scrubber part is not, but it’s easy to separate the sections. These materials make for a porous structure that dries quickly (meaning less damp-sponge smell). Over 3,000 shoppers review this product positively on Amazon. They come at a reasonable price for a 12-pack of sponges, especially considering they’re the greener option.
Get the Airnex Natural Kitchen Sponge at Amazon for $15.26
4. Hive and Honey Farm Beeswax Wrap Starter Kit
There are plenty of alternatives to plastic wrap, and beeswax wrap is an excellent reusable swap. Hive and Honey Farm’s Beeswax Wrap Starter Kit includes five small beeswax wraps made of 100% cotton and coated with beeswax, pine tree resin, and organic coconut oil. Each wrap is reusable, but once it eventually loses its stick (at around a year) they are compostable to reduce waste.
Get the Hive and Honey Farm’s Beeswax Wrap Starter Kit at Etsy for $6.00
5. BioBag Compostable Food Trash Bags
Composting food scraps is great for the environment, but it’s not always a pretty process. If you have trouble with keeping your compost bin clean and fresh, compostable trash bags are a worthwhile compromise (particularly if it keeps you composting). BioBag Compostable Food Trash Bags are home-compostable, which means you can use them to line a kitchen compost pail, and then throw them right into the compost bin.
Get the BioBag Compostable Food Trash Bags at Target for $4.99
6. TreeBird Compostable Dental Floss Refills
Unlike its plastic counterparts, TreeBird’s Compostable Dental Floss is 100 percent compostable. This dental floss is a pure silk floss and comes in a 5-pack refill roll (which can be stored in TreeBird’s reusable floss container, or a container of your own). The floss is completely plastic-free, made from pure peace silk and Candelilla wax. Plus, its natural materials make it suitable to throw in your home compost.
Get the TreeBird Compostable Dental Floss Refills at Amazon for $14.22
7. Earth’s Natural Alternative Compostable Food Storage Bags
The kitchen is a great place to make compostable swaps, and those looking for a plastic-free alternative to Ziploc bags should pick up these resealable baggies from Earth’s Natural Alternative. One pack includes 150 bags, each made from plant starch. They take just 45 days to fully compost at an industrial composting facility, but you can toss them in your home compost bin too (they will just take longer to break down).
Get the Earth’s Natural Alternative Compostable Food Storage Bags at Amazon for $15.46
8. Glad for Pets Compostable Waste Bags
A baggie is necessary when picking up your pet’s business, but it’s still possible to complete the job using less plastic waste. Glad for Pets Compostable Waste Bags are fully compostable, and best of all, they’re compostable at home, making it simple to get rid of pet waste. These bags perform similarly to plastic dog waste bags; they’re leak-proof and come on convenient rolls with easy-tear perforations.
Get the Glad for Pets Compostable Waste Bags at Walmart for $10.92
9. Agile Eco-Friendly Pens
Agile Eco-Friendly Pens aren’t just more environmentally friendly, they’re also more fun. These pens have a recyclable stainless steel core that’s covered in a kraft paper outer; the paper material is both compostable and can be drawn on and decorated to your liking. These pens have no plastic parts, so you can recycle the entire pen when they’re out of ink. Alternatively, soak the pen in water overnight, and place the kraft paper parts in compost, and the stainless steel core in recycling. Rest assured, no parts of this pen need to be in a landfill.
Get the Agile Eco Friendly Pens at Amazon for $12.99
10. Pela Phone Case
Pela phone cases are fully compostable, breaking down in under six months in an industrial composting facility. If you like to switch up your phone’s case but want to do so in a more sustainable way, this compostable phone case is an excellent choice.
Get the Pela Phone Case at Amazon for $39.95
11. The Honest Company Plant-Based Baby Wipes
Diaper changes are never pleasant, but using Honest Company Plant-Based Baby Wipes can make the process less wasteful. These baby wipes are plant-based and made with over 99 percent water, so they’re great for sensitive skin as well. Parents will be happy to learn that they’re home compostable (disintegrating in around eight weeks in ideal conditions), so they can go right in the backyard compost bin.
Get the The Honest Company Plant-Based Baby Wipes at Target for $6.29
12. Tirtyl Foaming Hand Soap Tablet Refills
Using refillable products is a great alternative to buying new plastic bottles all the time, but it’s possible to take it one step further with compostable packaging. These Tirtyl Foaming Hand Soap Tablet Refills include 12 hand soap refill tablets packaged in home-compostable packaging, which means no part of it needs to go in the garbage.
Get the Tirtyl Foaming Hand Soap Tablet Refills at Amazon for $16.16
13. Gaia Guy Natural Dish Sponge
Scrub dishes and surfaces clean with this set of non-scratch Gaia Guy Natural Dish Sponges. Each sponge in this 10-pack is made from 100% natural, plant-based loofah that makes for an excellent all-natural scrubber. Free of nylon or plastic (even down to the packaging), this product is an all-around sustainable pick. When it’s reached the end of its life (each one should last up to eight weeks), just cut it up and toss it in your home compost bin.
Get the Gaia Guy Natural Dish Sponge at Amazon for $12.99
14. Instant Compostable Dark Roast Coffee Pods
Single-use coffee pods are convenient, but they do create unnecessary waste. For the same grab-and-go convenience with less plastic waste, reach for these compostable coffee pods from Instant. This one is a French dark roast, but other coffee types are available. The pod will work in any brewer that accepts K-cup pods, but instead of tossing it in the trash when it’s brewed, these can be broken down in a commercial compost facility.
Get the Instant Compostable Dark Roast Coffee Pods at The Home Depot for $21.99