The BEST Eco Swaps from 2025 to try in the New Year
It’s time for my annual round up of my favorite brands, habits, and eco swaps of the year. I hope this inspires you moving into the new year to try some new swaps and support some amazing, small brands. Let us know your faves from 2025 below!
Reworked by Sav
Sav’s work has been in my “best of” videos for YEARS now and for good reason. Everything she makes is 100% handmade and 100% secondhand. Yes, even the thread. From bleach dyeing to ransom note tees and fun patchwork pants, her wearable art is unique and gives you wearable messages to wear, too. Her clothes are a regular part of my wardrobe for making a statement, shopping small, and shopping secondhand. Give her a follow and buy some of her art when it resonates with you to support small artists!
Durbl
Stasher Bag is a good option, don’t get me wrong, but they are owned by S.C. Johnson, a mega corporation. Learn more about why conglomerates are so bad for the planet here. As I’ve learned more about intersectionality, it’s been a main mission of mine to shop small. When Durbl reached out to me to collab earlier this year, I knew it was a great opportunity to test a small business reusable bag, and truly, I was blown away. They not only compete with Stasher Bag, but I reach for my Durbl bags more often. I find them BETTER than Stasher Bag.
I love that I can keep reducing waste at home while also shopping small, which reduces more waste up and down the supply chain and just makes me feel better than supporting wasteful billionaires. Check them out!
Floofah
A brand new swap on the market and brand new to me in 2025 is Floofah. I’ve tried loofahs in the past and honestly wasn’t sure what all the fuss was about with this loofah. But, it truly is different! The shape makes it easy to hold and use on your dishes or body. They make great cleaning AND body scrub sponges! Plus, it’s exfoliating without harming your skin or your dishes. Plus, they are truly 100% home-compostable. I did a “does it decompose” experiment in this video.
I composted one recently and forgot to restock, and truly missed this part of my eco shower routine until I got a replacement. I will not go without a Floofah in the near future. Check them out for yourselves!
Curbside composting
The first zero waste habit on this list is a new way of composting! I used to use the Lomi composter machine exclusively, but this summer, it broke, and the company refused to repair it. More on why I think Lomi is greenwashing here. So, I dove into vermicomposting! Though, I didn’t love it. I had to weigh my other options and I stumbled across a paid curbside composting service.
I’m a lazy zero-waster. I would rather pay to have someone help me live zero waste and prevent food waste, so that’s what I do now! Plus, I have no use for compost. I still vermicompost for fun, but my worms can’t eat all of our food waste, so this curbside program allows us to keep all of our food out of the landfill and turn it into black gold for local farmers to use. Here are 12 ways I think everyone can compost. I hope you try it out in the new year!
Sustain Yourself lip balm
I tried Sustain Yourself lip balm for the first time in 2024 and am so obsessed that my tube is nearly out. But that also speaks for how long it lasts! This is a zero-waste swap I will pay for time and time again due to how sustainable it is and how well it works. And I don’t care that it costs a little bit more than traditional, wasteful lip balms!
The twin-founders and creators of these products make everything in small batches by hand. This is a SMALL business! They are extremely conscious of their supply chain and packaging and ensure that everything is as sustainable as possible. They also sell other products like deodorant, body butter, and soap, but their lip balm is my favorite product of theirs.
Meow Meow Tweet deodorant
Though I’ve tested many deodorants over the years (check out the videos here and here), I think Meow Meow Tweet may be my favorite! Though on YouTube, I had previously stated that Wild was my favorite, they recently sold out to Unilever. I don’t support billionaires, so I went back to the drawing board to find a sustainable small business that makes deodorant that WORKS.
I love how easy MMT is to apply, and truly, I do not stink when I use this. Haters will say I have “nose blindness,” but I can tell when I stink using other natural deodorants. This one withstands swing dancing, hiking, and walking to school, no problem! And it’s super eco-friendly. Check them out!
SOJOS
One thing I’ve struggled to replace for YEARS is sunglasses. There are plenty of eco brands out there, but so few that do prescription strength. As a migraine sufferer, I need sun protection but cannot sacrifice prescription lenses. Both things cause eye strain and, therefore, a migraine.
When SOJOS reached out to me this year to collab, I was thrilled to see their recycled sunglasses that are SUPER tinted AND prescription strength. They are extremely durable and high-quality. I have worn them all year on many occasions, from bike rides to strolling around town to hiking. I’m a huge fan and will happily purchase another pair when the time comes. Keep them in mind for your next pair!
5 Calls
This free zero-waste habit has made activism SO easy! The free 5 Calls app just requires your zip code. It will provide you with all of your representatives, from senators to congressmen to the governor and more. It shows you many issues being voted on or discussed in the legislature and also gives you easy-to-read scripts. This makes calling (and emailing as you can copy and paste the script into an email) easier than ever and can be a great step in your activism!
Check out more of my tips for calling your reps here, but for now, get the free 5 Calls app and start taking action NOW!
Library/Kindle
Whoa, am I really saying that a fav swap of mine is my Kindle…owned by AMAZON?? Yes! But I use my Kindle in an Amazon-free way (learn more about why I hate Amazon here). You can still use your old devices with your library card! Link your library card to a free Libby account, download an e-book, and click “read with Kindle.” This allows you to read e-books for free on your e-reader that you already own without supporting Amazon.
If you don’t have an e-reader, I still HIGHLY recommend a library card and the Libby app. There are so many benefits to using a library. But this app allows you to get e-books and audiobooks on your phone! If you are looking for an e-reader, check secondhand or try non-Amazon options such as Kobo.
Borrowing is one of my favorite ways to live zero waste on a budget, and I hope you enjoy it in the new year, too!
Consuming less!
Speaking of zero waste on a budget, the best way to do that is to simply shop less. Many of us are addicted to shopping, whether we know it or not. I hope to inspire you all in the new year to think before you buy. I’m not saying we have to give up everything we purchase, no. Buy your needs, of course, and still treat yourself to your wants and hobbies.
But ask yourself:
Can I make do without this item?
Do I already have something at home that serves this purpose?
Can I borrow, rent, or buy this item secondhand instead?
Is this something I will use long-term, or is this an impulse purchase?
Buying less has made me more creative. I now make birthday cards and gifts for friends. I spend my free time learning new hobbies versus scrolling (yes, consuming social media counts) and shopping. I get outside more, learn new things, and spend more time with loved ones. It truly has brought a whole new meaning to my life that I hope you find, too. Check out my full guide to breaking up with overconsumption here to spend less money and save the planet at the same time.
Trash postcards
Another SUPER fun habit I’ve gotten into this year is turning trash into political postcards. I mean, sure, you can turn them into postcards for friends, but nothing is quite as cathartic as sending the government trash!
I started this this year due to the state of US politics and Project Mail Storm. Yes, I know that this is not the BEST form of activism, but all activism matters right now. If this is all you have time and energy and a budget for, by all means, do it. Though calling and writing emails IS more effective and cheaper ;)
You just need some thin cardboard/paperboard (no corrugated cardboard), some pens or markers, a ruler, scissors, and, of course, stamps. I outline my full process of making them here. Let’s take action!
Shameless Pets
I believe we’d tried their upcycled food waste pet treats in the past, but this year, these are the only pet treats we have purchased! From cat treats to regular dog treats to doggie dental sticks that are safe and made to prevent food waste, these are so handy in our pet household. Especially since last year Denahi got a professional tooth cleaning, we’ve been trying to take better care of his teeth, so they are part of our doggy dental care routine. I always purchase more when we run out. Our critters love them, and we love them due to their planet-saving nature!
Kayaness
I’ve tried literally dozens of period underwear brands in the past, and I was blown away by Kayaness this year. This new-to-me brand was started by two influencers you may be familiar with: Katherine Kellogg of Going Zero Waste and Shelbi Orme from Shelbizleee. I was skeptical since this is an “influencer brand,” but my bar was also super high considering who was making them. Though I made a personal sizing error, I find their period underwear to be durable, high quality, high flow, and up to snuff on the eco-friendliness and friendly to our own bodies (most period care can be harmful).
I’ve been impressed for the last few months of trying them, and honestly always reach for them first when my period comes! Check them out!
Biking and Walking
While I did dabble in being car-lite in 2024, it wasn’t until we moved into our apartment that I really started to ditch our truck. Dan and I both walk or bike just about everywhere except when we leave town. We’ve got rain gear so we can walk/bike all year long, and our Aventon e-bikes make biking a breeze with our coastal hills.
Living in California, especially, gas is EXPENSIVE. I love how much money we can save by using our bodies to get around, and also how much it can save the planet by becoming less reliant on oil and gas companies. Give biking and walking more of a try this year, or do other things like carpooling and take public transportation! Can’t do that either? Here are some other ways to boycott Big Oil.
Meliora
Another brand I first tried in 2024 but was blown away by in 2025. Meliora is easily the brand I keep going back to for all my laundry needs (though, they also do cleaners, too!). I love that they are truly plastic-free and also encourage proper recycling or refilling of their containers. Not only that, but they TRULY work! I got a turmeric stain on a brand new pair of Dan’s pants and was devastated, as it is so hard to get out. But Meliora’s stain stick plus time in the sun made it go away!
I also used their detergent to strip my dirty and stinky period underwear (sorry for the TMI lol), and it worked like a charm!
From being a small business that stands for environmental and human safety to being effective and cheap, this is my favorite laundry brand of the year. Check them out!
Those are my TOP swaps of 2025 that I hope you enjoy in the new year. Of course, there are more swaps I love throughout my home; check them out here.
If you’re a beginner and you’re not sure where to start on your eco journey, I highly recommend you check out my Zero Waste in a Year Guide. Learn everything you need to know about this guide here before purchase. Or you can start learning for free on my YouTube channel :)
Thank you so much for reading along. Happy end of 2025 and happy new year! Here are some ideas for eco resolutions to set this year.
As always, remember that your small actions make a big difference in the long run!
Emma :)
