First of all
When making the switch to a more sustainable lifestyle, we can get overwhelmed with the number of zero-waste stores we find online. Don’t get me wrong: it is amazing to have variety, especially when it comes to eco-friendly products, but which one should we choose?
In order to make everyone’s lives a bit easier, mine included, I created this detailed guide. 26 online zero waste stories evaluated: eco-friendly policies, sustainability levels, and more.
What is a zero-waste store?
Before I go ahead and share the best options with you, I should start by defining what an online zero-waste store is. Zero-waste online stores provide you with a range of zero-waste brands, package-free shopping, and a variety of eco-friendly products, usually toxic-free, natural, organic, biodegradable, compostable, recycled or, in any other way, sustainable.
You can also find some bulk online stores, where you can refill your products in zero-waste packaging. In a nutshell, these online zero-waste stores provide you with eco-friendly alternatives for everyday products, without having to leave the comfort of your home. Sounds great, right?
26 Zero-Waste Plastic-Free Stores for Sustainable Online Shopping
1. Eco-Girl
Eco Girl Shop is a female-owned zero-waste store specializing in earth-friendly products. You can get anything from beauty to home products, and even eco-friendly fashion accessories.
Products: Natural health and beauty; home; fashion; and babies & children.
Packaging: Plastic-free shop and many products are package-free. Shipping is plastic-free and, whenever possible, orders are shipped using recycled or reclaimed materials gathered from the local community.
Shipping: Only in the U.S. and free for purchases over 35$. However, if you live somewhere else, you can contact Eco-Girl directly for a custom shipping quote.
Initiatives: For every order placed on the ecogirl website, at least one tree will be planted (One Tree Planted).
Bonus: Sometimes products are shipped directly from the artist or supplier, to reduce the footprint even further.
2. Life Without Plastic
Life Without Plastic is, as the name reveals, a plastic-free shop. Their vision is to live in a world without fossil-fuel derived plastic.
Products: Green living essentials; home; eat & drink; bath & body; kids & babies.
Packaging: There may be some plastic in the packaging of a particular product, and this is because it was packaged that way by the manufacturer, but the company is working towards fighting that. Shipping only uses non-plastic packing materials.
Shipping: Flat rates for the U.S. and Canada, and custom quotes for international shipping.
Initiatives: Life Without Plastic started The Community Face Mask Project, and it also supports other earth-friendly community members, such as the Plastic Pollution Coalition, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, etc.
Bonus: You can subscribe to THE LIFE WITHOUT PLASTIC BOX, for a box of eco-friendly products delivered seasonally to your door, or buy their book “Life Without Plastic: The Book”.
3. Plaine Products
With Plaine Products, a zero-waste store specialized in personal care store, you can return empty bottles for reuse by sending them to selected locations.
Products: Hair, body, and face care.
Packaging: Aluminum bottles that you can return and refill. Recycling is also possible.
Shipping: U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada.
Initiatives: Supports non-profits like Beyond Plastics and 5 Gyres.
Bonus: You can get refills automatically with a subscription, without needing to worry about it.
4. Zero Waste Rebelution
Zero Waste Rebelution is an eco-friendly shop that provides you with all the essentials you need for green living.
Products: Home, hygiene, and pets.
Packaging: Plastic-free & suitable for recycling.
Bonus: You can find a bunch of sustainable living tips on the blog.
6. Earth Hero
Besides the most common eco-friendly products, on EarthHero you can also find tech, office supplies, and sports gear.
Products: Clothing, home, outdoors, tech, beauty, pets.
Packaging: Stated for each product. Reusable boxes used for shipping.
Shipping: EarthHero ships only to the U.S. and Canada. Some products ship directly from the manufacturer as it is more sustainable.
Initiatives: Certified B Corporation, member of 1% For The Planet.
Bonus: Each product is defined with Sustainability Features, letting you you know you eco-friendly it is with full transparency.
7. Eco Collective
Eco Collective is a women-owned zero-waste store offering sustainable alternatives to everyday lifestyle products.
Products: Home, office, personal care.
Packaging: 100% plastic-free and carbon neutral.
Shipping: Ships only to the U.S.
Bonus: You can do bulk online shopping and pick it up at the store, filling your own jars. Plus, this eco-home store has a blog full of DIY tips!
8. Earthly Goods
Since 1993, Earthly Goods has been the leader in custom seed packets and custom handmade seed paper products.
Products: Seed packets and seed paper, printable with non-toxic ink.
Packaging: Handmade plantable seed paper is made from un-dyed, 100% post-consumer/ post-industrial recycled paper.
Bonus: All seeds are non-GMO, non-invasive, uncoated, and regularly tested for viability. Organic seeds are also available.
9. Grove Collaborative
Grove’s flexible recurring shipment service delivers natural toxic-free home and personal care products each month.
Products: Natural home and personal care products.
Packaging: 100% Plastic neutral (the company collects & recycles the exact same amount of ocean-bound plastic pollution as it ships in each purchase).
Shipping: Grove only ships to the contiguous U.S.
Initiatives: Works with Plastic Bank and 5 Gyres, and carbon offsets each shipment.
Bonus: You can join the Grove VIP program for unlimited free shipping and returns, gifts, and early access to new products.
10. The Ultimate Green Store
The Ultimate Green Store is the ultimate web-based destination for eco-conscious shoppers that offers a collection of eco-friendly products.
Products: Home & garden, bath, clothing, yoga.
Shipping: Only ships to the U.S. and Canada, but accepts special requests for international shipping with custom fares.
Bonus: On the website, you can create a green gift registry for weddings, baby showers, and other events.
11. EcoRoots
EcoRoots is a brand and online shop offering plastic-free and sustainable alternatives to everyday products.
Products: Home, kitchen, bath, and beauty.
Packaging: 100% plastic-free and made out of compostable/recyclable materials.
Shipping: Only ships to the U.S.
Initiatives: A part of sales is donated to Ocean Conservancy.
Bonus: Find a lot of tips on their zero-waste blog!
12. Mighty Nest
MightyNest can support you at every step of your journey into healthy, green living. The eco-friendly shop is filled with inspiration to help you ditch disposables, replace plastic, and eliminate toxins from your life.
Products: With MightyFix, each month one product arrives at your door, along with tips and tricks for using it.
Packaging: Minimal, post-consumer recycled, and recyclable.
Shipping: Free shipping in the U.S.
Bonus: If you don’t want to subscribe to the MightyFix box, you can still purchase other products on the eco-friendly online store.
13. Eartheasy
Eartheasy is a family business committed to bringing you practical products & information for sustainable living.
Products: Focused on gardening, yards, and outdoors.
Packaging: Recycled, reclaimed, recyclable, biodegradable.
Shipping: Ships only to the U.S. and Canada.
Initiatives: Eartheasy is a partner of Trees for the Future, planting trees with every purchase, and TerraPass.
Bonus: All company operations work hard to reduce carbon footprint, include their office work, with energy efficiency and composting. All this is transparently described on the website.
14. Wild Minimalist
Wild Minimalist is an online zero-waste store offering eco-friendly alternatives to various lifestyle products.
Products: Green living essentials, home, kitchen, bathroom.
Packaging: All packaging is plastic-free and recyclable/compostable.
Shipping: Ships only to the U.S.
Bonus: A lot of cool tips are shared on their blog and social media, especially on Instagram.
15. The Plastic Free Store
The Plastic Free Store offers zero-waste, sustainable, and planet-friendly products to eliminate single-use plastic.
Products: Zero-waste kits, home, health & beauty.
Packaging: All packaging is plastic-free.
Shipping: Ships internationally.
16. Zero Waste Store
Zero Waste Store sells 100% all-natural, ethically sourced, zero-waste products to kickstart a sustainable lifestyle.
Products: Apparel, cleaning, hygiene, travel, makeup, kids & baby, zero-waste kits.
Packaging: All packaging is Plastic-free, biodegradable, able to be composted, reused, or recycled.
Shipping: Ships internationally (list available on the website).
Initiatives: Zero Waste Store is a 1% for the planet member.
Bonus: You can earn points with your purchases and redeem them for products!
17. Package Free Shop
The Package Free Shop sources its products from individuals and brands with missions to create a positive environmental impact.
Products: Office, kitchen, bathroom, personal care, hygiene, travel.
Packaging: The store offers package-free products and shipping. Some products come in compostable and recyclable packages.
Shipping: Package Free Shop ships internationally.
Bonus: You can subscribe to products to get discounts or get reward points with your purchases that can later be redeemed for products.
18. The Wally Shop
The Wally Shop is a platform connecting you with your favorite brands 100% waste-free.
Products: Food, cleaning, beauty, pet.
Packaging: All packaging is returnable, refillable, and reusable.
Shipping: The Walle Shop ships only to the U.S.
Initiatives: For every order placed, $1 is donated to Feeding America.
Bonus: You can return all your packaging to a delivery courier on a future delivery or schedule a free pick-up on the website.
19. Ethical Bean
Ethical Bean is a brand of 100% Fairtrade Certified & Organic coffee roasted in Canada.
Products: Fairtrade organic coffee.
Packaging: The coffee bags are non-recyclable, but returning 12 bags gives you a free coffee bag. However, pods are compostable.
Shipping: Ethical Bean ships only to Canada and the US.
Initiatives: A fair wage is paid to the farmers who produce the coffee for Ethical Bean.
Bonus: The traceability app allows you to follow the journey of your beans from crop to cup, so you know exactly what you are drinking and where it came from.
20. Well Earth Goods
Well Earth Goods is an online store selling plastic-free eco-friendly alternatives to everyday products.
Products: Kitchen, bath, personal care.
Packaging: Zero-waste packaging.
Shipping: Ships internationally.
Bonus: You can read the well earth goods blog for some environment-friendly inspiration.
21. Tiny Yellow Bungalow
Tiny Yellow Bungalow started as a blog and now, as a store, aims to be a simple one-stop locale to purchase natural products.
Products: Home, on-the-go, handmade, vintage.
Packaging: All packaging is plastic-free, and shipping is done in a zero-waste manner.
Shipping: Tiny Yellow Bungalow ships only to the U.S.
Bonus: The store sells a “Zero Waste Vegan Cookbook”.
22. Zerovana
Zerovana is an online eco-friendly store that wants to empower everyone to live an Earth-friendly, Plastic-free, and Zero-waste lifestyle.
Products: Kitchen, bath and body, cleaning, bags, handmade, fairtrade.
Packaging: All packaging is plastic-free.
Shipping: Worldwide shipping is available.
Initiatives: 1% of profits are donated to the non-profit partner National Forest Foundation (NFF) to plant trees. Each dollar plants one tree in the U.S. national forests.
Bonus: Zerovana is short for ‘Zero-impact Nirvana’.
23. A Drop in the Ocean
A Drop in the Ocean is a zero-waste and sustainable living boutique specialized in bulk refills of everyday home and personal care products and sustainable alternatives to disposable items.
Products: Home and personal care.
Packaging: Refillable and reusable.
Shipping: A Drop in the Ocean ships only to the U.S.
Initiatives: 10 trees are planted with each purchase, and at least 1% of the total is always donated to ocean conservation.
Bonus: You can subscribe and get 10% off of the products!
24. The Refill Shoppe
With The Refill Shoppe you can create your own home and care products with customizable scents and refillable pouches.
Products: Bath, body, home.
Packaging: All packaging is reusable and refillable.
Shipping: Ships internationally.
Initiatives: The Refill Shoppe is a certified B Corp and 1% For The Planet member. It also supports other non-profits.
Bonus: You can subscribe for automatic refills on your products, not having to worry every time.
25. No Tox Life
No Tox Life is a vegan bath and body company, helping people switch to a truly non-toxic lifestyle.
Products: Kitchen, bath, personal care, makeup.
Packaging: All packaging is plastic-free and biodegradable.
Shipping: No Tox Life ships internationally.
Initiatives: The store donates extra soaps and hygiene products to Recycled Resources and Showers of Hope, to give bi-weekly showers to the unhoused in the area.
26. Cleancult
Cleancult redefines cleaning products. These are not only made from non-toxic ingredients but also come in eco-friendly packaging.
Products: Cleaning products.
Packaging: Recyclable.
Shipping: Cleancult ships to the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam, the US Virgin Islands, and Saipan.
Initiatives: Sustainable carbon-neutral shipping in partnership with carbonfund.org.
Bonus: You can subscribe to a refill Cleaning Plan, and get a free bar of soap every time,.
Eco-friendly shopping can be overwhelming, and even more when it’s done online, where there is a whole world of zero-waste stores. I hope this article clarified your best options and made your sustainable journey a bit easier. Starting is not easy, but consistency does the trick.
I once read that “Every time we make a purchase we are casting a vote for the kind of world we want.” From then on, I decided to cast my vote for a better planet. Shouldn’t we all do the same?
Another great option in California is Eco Now https://www.econowca.com/ since they used reduced, compostable packaging for your zero waste items and they serve the Orange County area refilling your reused containers with bulk items delivered to your door. You should check them out and see if they belong on this list as well. Great, informative article tho!