Last Updated on November 22, 2023
Did you know approximately 1 billion laundry jugs are discarded in the United States each year? Only 30% of these plastic jugs get recycled, while the remaining 70% end up in landfills, with many finding their way to the oceans.
Not to mention all the resources and energy that went into making each jug (aka its life cycle). Plastic jugs are made from crude oil, a nonrenewable resource, that has to be extracted from earth in an unsustainable way.
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Then, the crude oil is transported to be molded into the shape of a jug – a process that also burns fossil fuels.
While packaging isn’t everything when choosing a sustainable laundry detergent, it should still factor in. That’s why I love eco-friendly laundry sheets: They’re compact so you have more space in your cleaning caddy, plus there’s no laundry jug waste to worry about.
Laundry sheets are essentially concentrated detergents, which require less plastic for bottles, less water, less corrugated cardboard for crating, less gasoline used, and fewer trucks to move the shipments (source).
Here are my favorite zero waste and eco-friendly laundry sheets on the market.
do laundry sheets work as well as detergent?
Yes, laundry sheets work as well as detergent. They also help make sure you’re not overpouring or adding too much detergent to your loads.
Usually, one pre-measured laundry sheet is more than enough. For an even smaller load, you can half that. And for a bigger load, you can add two sheets.
Laundry sheets are essentially concentrated forms of detergent. They dissolve upon contact with hot or cold water.
They also help save a LOT of water because they skip the plastic bottles, added water, and fuel to transport traditional liquid laundry detergents. In fact, water accounts for around one fifth of the total ingredients in liquid laundry detergents! (source)
However, while laundry strips can be used for a majority of fabrics, you’ll want to be mindful to always read the laundering instructions for your clothes and linens. For example, if your French linen bed sheets say “wash with liquid detergent,” please honor this. You will extend the life of your items that way.
For a more in-depth review on how well laundry sheets work, be sure to check out my full review of Earth Breeze and Tru Earth, two laundry sheet brands I’ve personally tried.
RELATED: Non Toxic Laundry Detergent: The 10 BEST All-Natural, and Eco Friendly Options
are laundry sheets good for dark clothes?
Yes, laundry sheets are good for dark clothes, as well as whites. They dissolve in both hot or cold water. Just place them directly into your machine, add your clothes, and you’re ready to go.
what is the best way to use laundry sheets?
Laundry sheets work best when added directly to the drum of the washer, before adding your clothes. Don’t try to fit them into any detergent dispensers. They will dissolve and coat your clothes in detergent as the water contacts the sheet.
what are the cons of detergent sheets?
The cons of detergent sheets are that they can’t be used to pretreat or spot clean stains. Sometimes people will rub detergent onto stains before adding them to a load of laundry to try and pretreat them. This cannot be done with laundry sheets.
Also, laundry detergent sheets typically have PVA in them. PVA, aka polyvinyl alcohol is a synthetic plastic that biodegrades according to the EPA. However, a recent study found that PVA doesn’t fully biodegrade during wastewater treatment.
Now, the study was funded by a brand that doesn’t use PVA, and I’m always a bit skeptical of studies funded by a brand so that said brand comes out looking better.
All in all, I think a good conversation has started and I look forward to seeing more data and studies about this in the future.
do laundry sheets work in front load washers?
Yes, laundry sheets work in front load washers. Just make sure to add them in before adding in any clothes for an optimal and efficient laundry cycle.
the best eco-friendly laundry sheets:
Now that you better understand what laundry sheets are, lets discuss some of the ones available on the market.
I’ve rounded up a list of laundry sheets that get the Going Zero Waste seal of approval. All these brands wash your clothes thoroughly, without contributing to plastic detergent bottle pollution. Many of these brands also go above and beyond through donations, certifications or by being B Corps.
I’ve gone ahead and highlighted some of my favorite features of each brand, but it isn’t an exhaustive list. Be sure to check out their websites for more information.
1. earth breeze
- Biodegradable packaging + ingredients
- Hypoallergenic, vegan + cruelty-free
- 40,000+ 5-star reviews
- 100% money-back on subscriptions
- 40% off when you subscribe
- 30+ million loads donated, Buy 10, Give 10 Program
2. ecoroots
- Compostable/recyclable packaging
- Hypoallergenic, vegan + cruelty-free
- Biodegradable
3. kind laundry
- 100% recyclable + plastic free packaging
- HE safe
- Donated 23,000+ laundry detergent sheets to animal shelters across Canada
- Travel friendly, light + compact
- Starch free
4. tru earth
- Certified hypoallergenic
- Cruelty free
- HE safe
- Biodegradable
- Plastic free packaging
5. grove
- Recyclable packaging
- HE safe
- Cruelty free
- Certified B Corporation
- 100% natural fragrances
- Carbon offsets for each shipment
- Plastic neutral
6. zws essentials
- Plant-based ingredients
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Woman-owned brand
- Packaged in a compostable and/or recyclable cardboard box
7. boulder clean
- Packaged in recyclable materials
- No brighteners, bleach, dyes or phosphates
- Leaping bunny certified/cruelty-free
- Certified B Corporation
- 1% For The Planet
8. ecos
- Laundry strips available
- EPA safer choice certified
- Leaping bunny certified
- HE safe
- Facilities are run on 100% renewable energy
- TRUE Platinum Zero Waste certified
What do you think of these eco-friendly laundry strips? Which would you try? Let me know in the comments!
The post 8 Eco-Friendly Laundry Sheets For Clean Clothes + Linens appeared first on Going Zero Waste.
Just like fashion has been overrun by fast fashion, home goods and furniture have similarly seen a rapid decline in quality. Rugs are no exception.
And similar to fashion, these cheap goods come at a high cost — namely, to the planet and to people. In fact carpet and rug production is rampant with exploitation.
On the other hand, fair trade rugs present the best of what a rug can bring to your home: artistry, craftsmanship, and heritage.
The brands featured in this guide are partnering with (and fairly paying!) skilled artisans who are using generations-old — and sometimes even centuries-old — techniques. These artisans are sustaining long lines of crafts, preserving their cultural diversity, and celebrating the richness of their time-honored crafts.
There’s simply no replacement for a timeless, quality artisan-made rug — they’re like pieces of art you can lay out on your floor or hang on your walls.
So, enjoy browsing through this guide to sustainable rug brands listed out below and best of luck on your search for the right fair trade rug!
Where to Find Ethical and Fair Trade Rugs
Note that this guide includes affiliates and partners. As always, brands must meet high standards for ethics and sustainability to be featured and all opinions are my own.
1. Obakki
Best for: warm-hued handwoven wool rugs
Categories: Area Rugs, Runners, Accent Rugs
Obakki partners with artisan weavers primarily in Oaxaca, Mexico — including individual makers like José — who hand-dyes and weaves rugs on a traditional pedal loom using locally sourced sheep’s wool and natural dyes derived from native plants. The brand also works with Rrres Design Studio, a Latin American studio dedicated to preserving traditional Oaxacan weaving techniques, and sources handwoven textiles from artisan communities beyond Mexico as well, including Morocco.
Each rug is made from 100% wool with no synthetic dyes or backing. Most pieces are made-to-order with a 4-8 week production window, shipped directly from the artisan partners.
Price Range: $460 – $4,159
Conscious Qualities: Natural Fibers, Natural Dyes, Craft Preservation
2. Kiliim
Best for: modern wool kilim rugs
Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs
If you’re well-versed in rug terminology, you may recognize that this brand’s name looks similar to the word kilim.
Kiliim’s rug are made using authentic kilim rug craftsmanship by artisans in Egypt coming from generations of kilim artisans. To ensure ethical production and to support the preservation of this heritage craft, Kiliim pays living wages to all artisans.
Price Range: $95 – $4,812
Conscious Qualities: Ethical Production, Heritage Craft Preservation, Natural Fibers
3. Urban Natural
Best for: browsing fair trade rugs in lots of styles and sizes
Categories: Outdoor, Area Rugs, and Accent Rugs
This natural home and lifestyle retailer has a beautifully curated selection of sustainably-made rugs crafted with materials like jute, sisal, wool, and cotton.
Several brands on Urban Natural are also ethically hand-loomed or hand-knotted, such as Loloi — a GoodWeave partner — and Jaipur Living — a brand that partners with thousands of local artisans to sustain heritage crafts.
Price Range: $259 – $9,755
Conscious Qualities: Eco-Conscious Materials
4. LOOMY
Best for: pet-friendly and performance rugs
Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs, Runners, Outdoor Rugs
Founded by a weaver, LOOMY is dedicated to crafting beautiful artisan-made rugs that will last for decades to come.
LOOMY partners with highly-skilled artisan weavers who craft quality rugs made from eco-minded materials like banana silk, jute, and recycled cotton, plus performance options made from 100% recycled polyester built to withstand whatever life brings you.
Price Range: $298 – $8,298
Conscious Qualities: Natural Fibers, Craft Preservation, Vintage Options
5. West Elm
Best for: fair trade rugs in on-trend mainstream styles
Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs
West Elm is bringing ethical rugs to a broader market with their collection of Fair Trade Certified
wool and cotton rugs. While I recommend browsing the smaller shops listed above first, West Elm is supporting the movement to responsibly-made, fair trade rugs.
Price Range: $$$
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade production, Majority Natural Materials
6. Jubi
Best for: Modern rugs in vibrant prints
Categories: Accent Rugs, Circle Rugs, Runners
Jubi is a Brooklyn studio founded by textile designer Cassie Dagostino. Every rug is handmade from New Zealand wool by fourth-generation weaving families in Bhadohi, India using traditional techniques. Each rug is made-to-order, meaning no excess stock. Since everything is made to order, expect between 3 and 7 weeks for your rug, depending on the technique used.
Conscious Qualities: Pays Above Market Rates, 100% Wool, Made-to-Order
Price Range: $228 – $668
Shipping: Free worldwide shipping
7. Rejuvenation
Best for: Classic rug styles made in Fair Trade factories
Categories: Accent Rugs, Runners, Area Rugs
Home retailer Rejuvenation has a selection of rugs made in Fair Trade Certified factories. Their collection includes undyed hand-loomed rugs to geometric flatwoven wool rugs. And while I’d typically avoid synthetics, it tends to be unavoidable for outdoor rugs — so Rejuvenation’s Fair Trade 100% recycled poly rug is a good option.
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade Certified, Mostly Natural Materials
Price Range: $79 – $1,649
Shipping: Contiguous U.S. shipping for 10% of product price (add $20 for HI, AK, and US. territorries)
Liked this guide to ethical rugs? You might also enjoy:
Ethical Home Decor Brands to Curate a Beautiful, Conscious Space
Eco-Friendly Furniture to Furnish Your Home Sustainably
Fair Trade and Eco-Friendly Blankets to Cozy Up With
The post 5 Best Ethical Fair Trade Rugs to Elevate Your Space appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
As a longtime book lover, I may be biased, but I think a full bookshelf is one of the most beautiful additions to a space. There’s nothing better than seeing a showcase of your favorite reads alongside a TBR list.
A bookcase, though, can of course be used for all sorts of purposes from placing your favorite photos of family and friends to showcasing treasured vintage finds.
Whatever the case, this guide will help you find the right sustainable bookshelf for your living room, office, or wherever you like to cozy up with a good read!
So what make a bookcase more sustainable? What makes a bookshelf non-toxic?
First of all: sustainable and non-toxic are two overlapping — but distinct — criteria. And both of those terms can come with a lot of opinions and varying definitions.
When it comes to sustainable bookcases, I look for:
- Responsibly Sourced Materials: most bookshelves are made primarily with wood. While natural, unsustainable wood sourcing can be a cause of deforestation, so we want to see that the wood was from responsibly managed forests or made from reclaimed or repurposed wood. Some bookshelves may feature metal, in which case recycled materials here are important.
- High Quality Construction: sustainability includes longevity — how long will you be able to use that furniture piece before it goes to the landfill and gets replaced? Look for transparency around craftsmanship and woodworking processes. Another sign of quality is the length of warranty a company has for its products.
- Ethically Made: this one is straightforward in theory — were the people making it paid fairly and working in safe conditions? — but is unfortunately not always easy to find information. In this category, I look for transparency in practices, what relationship the brand has with the manufacturer (some produce in-house which is the best case scenario for transparency!), where it was made, and how well the makers were paid.
Ideally a sustainable bookshelf would also be non-toxic — as toxic chemical fumes aren’t exactly sustainable! But this isn’t always the case. For example, if a company prioritizes upcycled materials, they don’t necessarily have control over what inputs were part of the original materials. And sometimes a company focuses more on ethical artisan partnerships and sustainable wood sourcing, more than, say, using non-toxic finishes.
But when it comes to non-toxic bookshelves, this is what I look for. (Note that non-toxic doesn’t necessarily mean safe for all chemical sensitivities. Nor does it mean zero potentially irritating chemicals.)
- Solid Wood (where possible): MDF or pressed wood contains glue to stick the various wood pieces together, which can contain added formaldehyde. I prefer solid wood, or if it is engineered wood, I’d make sure the company is transparent around the type of glue used and/or they at least have a product certification like GREENGUARD. (More on that in a second.)
- Low or Zero VOC Finishes: most wood furniture is completed with some sort of finish to provide a protection against scratches or moisture. Many of these finishes are synthetic, and some can contain high levels of toxic chemicals. Look for a natural finish like linseed oil or beeswax or a low VOC synthetic finish.
Relevant Certifications
You’ll see a few certifications referenced throughout this guide. Here’s what each one covers:
- FSC Certified = the wood sourcing was responsibly managed; this is not a finish, foam, or textile guarantee.
- GREENGUARD / GREENGUARD Gold Certified = the finished product was tested for low chemical emissions, including VOCs, with Gold representing the stricter tier.
- Fair Trade Certified
= verifies that a factory meets standards for fair wages, safe working conditions, and ethical labor practices. - Cradle to Cradle Certified (Gold) = evaluates a product or material across material health, circularity, clean air/climate, water/soil stewardship, and social fairness.
Where to Find Sustainable Bookcases and Shelving
I’m always a secondhand first proponent, and that goes for furniture, too. While your local thrift store might not have used bookshelves, check for dedicated furniture resale shops near you or estate sales. (I use EstateSales.net to find ones near me.) You can also find gen