Take the environmentally-friendly road to product selection with our go-to guide on the best eco-friendly products of 2021. From toys and games to cleaning supplies and clothing, even prams, we’ve rounded up 12 of the best brands in sustainability and our fave finds for eco-friendliness.
Why buy eco-friendly?
There are so many reasons we should all be making a conscious effort towards more sustainable choices to protect our future and our children’s future. Not to mention the benefit to our beautiful planet.”
- Because it’s a better choice for our families, our environment, and our future. Eco-friendly products are those that are not harmful to the environment.
- Environmentally friendly products come with several ticks. Some are low-energy, others contain no chemicals, and many are organic. Some are recycled, others are repurposed and many are made out of green materials such as bamboo.
- They are healthier for our earth, healthier for ourselves (no nasties like BPA, lead and other chemicals) and allow us to prepare for a better future for the next generations.
- Another great thing about eco-friendly products is that they are often designed to last so they remain with us for years and years, rather than in the landfills.
How to shop sustainable:
- CLOTHING: Look for clothing that is made from recycled materials and companies that use environmentally sustainable manufacturing methods if possible.
- REUSABLE PRODUCTS: Shopping bags, lunch bags, breast pads, and sandwich bags, coffee cups, nappies, heck, there’s even recycled toilet paper these days!
- CLEANING, BATH & SKIN: Always look for products that don’t contain harsh chemicals but instead use plant-based formulas, probiotic cleaners and recycled packaging.
- REPURPOSED PRODUCTS: Look for items that are made from natural resources, such as plastic bottles or cork. Better still, repurpose items yourself by buying pre-loved or upcycling old furniture into something fresh, funky and new.
- ECO-FRIENDLY HOMEWARES: Homewares have come a long way and you can now buy items like towels, rugs, shower curtains, clocks, cooking essentials, bedding plus big-ticket items like couches, tables, mattresses, and prams that come with the green tick of approval.
- TOYS: Look for eco-friendly toys and games for children that are made from recycled material and from plastics that do not contain any dangerous chemicals. These toys are much safer for families and tend to last much longer too.
Our top picks for the best eco-friendly products
[mc_block_title custom_title=”TOYS: Hunter Gatherer Co. Large Stepped Blocks”]
RRP: $224.95
WHERE TO BUY: Hunter Gatherer Co.
Hunter Gatherer Co specialise in wooden toys that don’t cost the earth and their Large Stepped Blocks are an excellent investment for your kids!
Hand-crafted with 100% sustainably sourced, solid beechwood, these blocks can be anything – castles, ball runs, fire stations, towers, roads and so much more. They are “grippy” to suit every age and stage, plus finished by hand using water-based non-toxic paints. Ideal for ALL types of open-ended play, these Large Stepped Blocks are bound to be a staple in any playroom.
Check out the entire range of eco-friendly toys at Hunter Gatherer Co – they have heaps of great toys to choose from.
[mc_block_title custom_title=”FIRST AID: PATCH Bamboo Bandages”]
RRP: $6.99
WHERE TO BUY: Nutricare.co, Coles, Woolworths, your local independent grocer/ pharmacy and various stores online
If you have kids, you probably have a selection of bandages in your first aid kit. But did you know that traditional wound care is made of toxic chemicals and plastics that contribute straight to landfill? PATCH is different. It is made with 100% natural and sustainable bamboo, providing an alternative to the most commonly used materials. They are 100% compostable, 100% natural and BCORP certified, reinforcing their social and environmental purpose.
Plus, PATCH Bamboo Bandages are infused with coconut oil, and contain no irritants (zero plastic, latex, parabens) so they are naturally hypoallergenic, breathable and suitable for the most sensitive skin types.
MUM CENTRAL READER OFFER: Head to Nutricare and use the discount code PATCHMEUP for 15% OFF!
[mc_block_title custom_title=”NAPPIES: Rascal + Friends premium eco nappy”]
RRP: $19.00
WHERE TO BUY: Coles
We all know the impact disposable nappies can have on the environment. But did you know there are eco-friendly disposables out there? Rascal + Friends premium eco nappies are a great pick for all your nappy needs.
Designed to be more sustainable and have less impact on the environment, the Rascal + Friends premium eco nappy uses 55-60%* plant-based, biodegradable materials like viscose and cornstarch, which replace other synthetics used in traditional nappies. That’s over half of the nappy … so imagine the impact on scale!
Whether you’re a cloth user looking for a night-time nappy you can count on, or simply looking to include more sustainable products in your day-to-day routine, these nappies are a great option.
[mc_block_title custom_title=”PRAM: Bumbleride”]
RRP: $899.95 for single or $1,199.95 for double
WHERE TO BUY: Danish by Design
Another surprising baby product specially designed for active families who are health and environmentally conscious is the Bumbleride prams – Indie, Era and Speed. Not only are these brilliant prams (comfort, style, quality-wise), but Bumbleride prams are also the most sustainable prams on the market.
Bumbleride prams use up-cycled fishing nets to make up 25% of the plastic components on the stroller frame. All fabrics are free from harmful chemicals (PFC and PFA free) and made from 100% recycled PET. In fact, Bumbleride prams have kept over half a million water bottles out of landfills since 2011. The Bumbelride Era also comes with a non-toxic handlebar made of all-natural cork.
Bumbleride is ideal for on-road and off-road adventures is lightweight and compact and comes with plenty of storage and growing room for your bub.
MUM CENTRAL READER OFFER: Receive a FREE Organic Cotton Insert valued at $79.95 with every Bumbleride pram until 31 August 2021 by adding code ECOMUM821 at checkout. (Add both items to your cart to claim.)
[mc_block_title custom_title=”CLEANING PRODUCTS: Zero Co”]
RRP: $159.00
WHERE TO BUY: Zero Co
One of the most important places to go ‘green’ is at home with your cleaning products. We adore Zero Co home and personal care products which comprise of plant-based formulas that are gentle on your skin, your family and the planet. They come in refill pouches which you empty into your beautiful ‘forever bottles’ which are made from recycled ocean, beach and landfill plastic pulled from clean-ups around Australia, funded by Zero Co.
They have an amazing system where you order your products online, they get delivered to your door carbon negative and once you’ve emptied your refill pouches, you can return them in a complimentary reply-paid satchel to be cleaned, refilled and reused by the Zero Co team forever – kind of like the milkman in the old days!
If you’re wondering how they perform, Zero Co’s products have been tested against the supermarket brands and the results show they are just as good (if not better) plus they are priced competitively.
Zero Co have all your cleaning covered too – laundry liquid, multi-purpose spray, shower cleaner, stain remover, dishwashing liquid, dishwashing tablets, toilet cleaner, air freshener, plus hand wash and body wash too.
CURRENT OFFER: Receive $10 off any order for $100 with code GREENMUM-10. Valid until 01/10/2021.
[mc_block_title custom_title=”FOOD STORAGE: SugarWrap Bundle”]
RRP: Products start at $3.95, Sugarwrap bundle $27.95
WHERE TO BUY: Urban Ethos
We all go through our fair share of clingwrap in our everyday lives which is why SugarWrap compostable cling wrap is such a great product to have in our kitchens. SugarWrap offers a complete range of kitchen plastics made from sustainable sugarcane Bio-PE renewable material and suitable all our food storage needs. SugarWrap is 100% sustainable, renewable and carbon positive, the best green choice to keep your food and our planet fresh.
Check out the SugarWrap bundle – ideal for families. It comes with Sandwich Eco Zipper Bags, Large Eco Freezer Bags, Large Eco Garbage Bags and Eco Cling Wrap. Each product is a lightweight, high strength, durable and better quality result than conventional plastic products.
[mc_block_title custom_title=”BATH CARE: Childs Farm Watermelon & Pineapple Hair and Body Wash”]
RRP: $10.00
WHERE TO BUY: Coles, Woolworths, Big W and online at Chemist Warehouse
Be kind to your skin and to the planet with Childs Farm hair and body wash. This stuff smells divine, leaves your skin feeling restored, and is suitable for sensitive skin and even suitable for skin that may be prone to eczema. Made with naturally derived coconut cleansers that clean hair and skin without stripping them of essential oils or moisture, the gentle ingredients of the watermelon and pineapple hair and body wash will help clean, soothe and hydrate.
Childs Farm is passionate about our planet-having obtained certified Carbon Neutral Plus status for the second year in a row. The entire range of products is made with ethically sourced natural and naturally derived ingredients, plus every product is registered with Cruelty-Free International and The Vegan Society. All their bottles also contain at least 30% post-consumer recycled plastic, working towards 100% prevented ocean plastic bottles.
MUM CENTRAL READER OFFER: Use code ‘mumcentral25‘ for 25% off the entire range. Code expires 8/8/22.
[mc_block_title custom_title=”CLOTHING: Oobi”]
RRP: Items starting from $14.95
WHERE TO BUY: Oobi
Twirly skirts, patterned dresses, funky swimwear, bright rompers and comfortable fabrics. Not only gorgeous fashion for our kids, but they are all eco-friendly and ethically made too. Oobi is an Australian clothing company that specialises in super cute outfits that are also comfortable for your children and made to last for years and years.
Their clothing comes with a 5-star Good On You rating for ethical production, animal rights, humane work conditions and also for environmental practices. Oobi even won the Best Ethical Clothing Retailer at the LUX Magazine Parent And Baby Awards.
Check out their range and see what’s new. Some of the clothing is too pretty to resist, especially if your little girl LOVES frilly fashion.
[mc_block_title custom_title=”FEEDING: Eco Rascals”]
RRP: From $9.95
WHERE TO BUY: Danish by Design
Cups, straws, plates, bowls, spoons and dinnerware sets – they’re all super cute and made from bamboo grass, grown and harvested organically without the use of pesticides. Eco Rascals feeding sets are what eco-dreams are made of!
These practical and fun dinnerware sets are biodegradable and non-toxic. Plus they’re resistant to heat, staining, odours and water. We adore the whole range and we reckon you will too. They make a great gift!
We adore the whole range and we reckon you will too. They make a great gift!
[mc_block_title custom_title=”MATTRESS: Koala”]
RRP: Starting at $780 for a single
WHERE TO BUY: Koala
If eco-friendly mattresses, furniture and homewares are your vibe, then Koala is where you need to be! They have a whole range of sustainable repurposed furniture and homewares to die for. We’ve recently gushed about their Koala Cork Sofa and now they’ve added three new mattresses to the mix.
The New Koala Mattresses – Calm As and Soul Mate – are all GECA certified which means they adhere to strict health, sustainability and social impact criteria. They are also extra comfy, antibacterial and fitted with Koala’s famous Zero Disturbance technology. Designed for Aussie homes with the environment in mind, the Koala mattress range is perfect for families large and small.
With free delivery, a 120-day in-home trial and delivery in under 4 hours, we can really see why they have 25,000 five-star reviews!
[mc_block_title custom_title=”NURSING PADS:Just’nCase Nursing Pads”]
RRP: $27.90
WHERE TO BUY: Confitex
For breastfeeding mummas, we highly recommend going sustainable when it comes to your nursing pads. Just’nCase by Confitex nursing pads offer the best combination of absorbency, leakproof protection and sustainability of any nursing pads on the market. They were even recently named Product of the Year in the 2021 Plus X Awards.
Just’nCase reusable pads are moulded for comfort, grip to the inside of your bra and feature a patented GravityDri™ pocket to lock in leaks. They’re lab-tested leakproof, PU plastic-free, safe in the tumble dryer and offer superior absorbency and comfort – everything you need and want when breastfeeding.
MUM CENTRAL READER OFFER: SAVE 15% OFF with code MumCentral15 at checkout.
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