Have you considered switching to sustainable or zero-waste living? This lifestyle attracts many benefits. It leads to a lower environmental impact and cleaner living. Also, it often means you get to save money in the long run. Although many people wish to do more for the environment, switching to a zero-waste lifestyle can be daunting.
The challenge many people face is not knowing where and how to begin. For this reason, zero-waste starter kits have become a popular means of making that all-important first step. From small businesses to bigger brands, zero-waste kits come from many sources. This article gives you a rundown of zero-waste starter kit options to kickstart your zero-waste journey.
If you’re new to the lifestyle, zero waste simply entails producing no waste as a way to protect the environment. For this reason, a zero-waste lifestyle involves avoiding toxic materials like plastic bags and single-use bottles. Instead, you switch to items you can reuse and sustainably made products.
Although many people wish to embrace sustainability by adopting zero-waste living, they sometimes find the transition to be challenging. You’ll find the best zero-waste kits carefully curated by advocates of zero-waste living, designed to provide you will all you need to get started reducing plastic waste.
Related: Importance of Zero Waste
Zero waste bundles typically consist of the basics you need to kickstart your sustainability journey. There are various types of eco-friendly starter kits. For instance, some brands create kits that are kitchen-focused. In contrast, others might create office-focused bundles, bathroom-focused, and so on.
However, some kits contain a mix of various essentials that target various aspects of your daily life. They often include a range of items like brushes, reusable stainless steel straws, utensils, reusable water bottles, and a carry bag. Some kits are also vegan and cruelty-free. You'll also find some of them come in gift boxes perfect for helping a loved one start their own journey.
If you’re looking to begin your zero-waste journey, below are some of the best zero-waste bundle options to help you get started. Also, if you’re looking for gift items for loved ones, you can get a compact kit for them.
Related: For more ideas to move beyond the starter kit, check out our list of 40 zero-waste swaps to save you money and waste.
Quick links to our top 10 zero-waste starter kits:
Number of pieces: 17
Contents:
Best for: Home and kitchen use
The Nipaqui kit is ideal when looking for essential items for home and kitchen use. You’ll find 17 pieces within each box that will support your zero-waste journey.
Say goodbye to plastic bags when shopping and replace them with mesh produce bags. You get three sizes of produce bags, four beeswax food wraps, four zip-locking bags, and four reusable straws. Additionally, the straws come with a cleaning brush and travel bag.
The brand uses natural ingredients like beeswax and jojoba oil to make the food wraps. These ingredients make these wraps great for safely keeping your food fresh.
Instead of using single-use synthetic zip locks, reusable zip locking bags are a healthy choice for the planet. Plus, it saves you money from constantly purchasing new products. The Nipaqui bag’s contents are plastic and BPA-free. Also, you can easily clean them making them easy to maintain.
If you’re looking for new sustainable items for your home and kitchen, you should check out this kit from Nipaqui. Rather than including just one piece of each item, Nipaqui gives you multiple options. This makes this kit ideal for new users testing out new products. With everyday reusable products, you can begin to move from a plastic-filled life to something more planet-friendly.
Number of pieces: 6
Contents:
Best for: Self-care and bathroom use, and gift-giving
Looking for a kit that’s more self-care-related? You’ll love this zero-waste box from Battle Green. This kit is filled with everyday self-care items to keep you on top of your wellness practice.
Apart from being environmentally friendly, this Battle Green box contains PETA-certified vegan and cruelty-free items. You’ll find simple plastic-free swaps for your daily personal care needs. Additionally, you can opt to give this to a friend, colleague, or family member.
The toothbrush comes with a bamboo handle and bio-based bristles to ensure you’re not using any plastic. Within the box, you’ll also find cotton buds in a recycled card box, a plant-based loofah, and a travel tin. One of the best parts about this box is choosing your preferred scents for the natural zero-waste deodorant and shampoo bar. To prevent pollution, Battle Green creates its products with biodegradability in mind.
A unique feature of this brand is that it gives you the ability to personalize the sustainable box. If you decide to give this box as a gift to someone, you can personalize the gift note in it. Another feature that stands out is that the welcome message in each box includes instructions to help you properly take care of your new items.
Number of pieces: 26
Contents:
Best for: General essentials
The Canadian company behind this zero-waste bundle is all about supporting your sustainable journey. The company makes products to help you reduce your trash while staying eco-friendly and budget-friendly.
One of the interesting features of this box is that it contains items that address various aspects of everyday living. You’ll find items that support grocery store visits, like produce carriers and cutlery for everyday eating. You’ll also find other items for your bath and self-care uses. You get a wooden dish brush as a sustainable replacement for regular synthetic dish sponges. This helps you prevent contributing microplastics to the environment and ocean.
As an ultimate zero-waste bundle, you’re sure to find the essentials you need to kickstart your sustainable journey. Once you receive your package, you’ll find a box made from recycled cardboard. Everything within the box is sustainably produced and eco-friendly. Additionally, the company uses paper tape to seal each package as a further way to prevent plastics.
This starter bundle lives up to its name of being the ultimate bundle. It contains essential items that anyone can include in their daily life. It also includes a generous amount of each item. The company takes its sustainability commitment one step further by planting a tree for every purchase. So, not only will you be kickstarting a personal journey, but you’ll also be planting trees.
Number of pieces: 14
Contents:
Best for: Everyday use and gifting
The Beetlemax anti-plastic kit is another compact yet comprehensive bundle consisting of essentials. When you’re out and about, you can whip out your bamboo straws rather than settle for synthetic single-use straws.
Need to clean your straws? No problem, because this kit includes a small cleaning brush for keeping your straws sparkling. With 100 swabs in the box, you can use your new products for anything from personal care to craft use. The brand makes its toothbrushes from 100% natural bamboo. In addition to the toothbrushes, the box also includes zero-waste dental flosses for oral care. The floss comes in a glass bottle which you can later refill.
The items contained in the Beetlemax Anti-plastic kit are ideal for use within the home and on the go. Rather than using single-use plastics, which you’ll throw away after a few uses, these alternatives last long. An added benefit is that you become a conscious consumer who also saves resources. To reduce the need for virgin materials, the company uses recycled materials for its packaging box.
Whether you’re off to the grocery store or a weekend away from home, the Beetlemax bundle has something for you. Unlike many kits that feature just mesh bags, this bundle also includes a tote bag. Various items and supplies can be collected using the bag as you go about your day.
Number of pieces: 8
Contents:
Best for: Grocery store visits
If you’re looking for a zero-waste kit for your regular grocery store visits, this Ekomind bundle is ideal for that. This bundle clearly spells grocery hauls, featuring mesh and tote bags and beeswax wraps. Ekomind carefully crafts its products with sustainable practices in mind and ethical sourcing. The company ethically makes its GOTS-certified products in China.
The brand’s story started with the owners creating products for just their family members. After a wave of positive reviews, they decided to make it open for purchase to anyone.
With three mesh bags in small, medium, and large, you have ample space to store your grocery items. Alternatively, you can store other home or craft supplies in the bags. The tote bags are ideal for various purposes, from classroom lectures to library visits. As part of Ekomind’s respect for its customers, the company promises to refund or replace your wraps if you’re unsatisfied.
The Ekomind bundle features the necessities you need for grocery store visits for the price tag. If you’re looking for alternatives to plastic bags when you’re out, you’ll find various sizes of reusable bags.
This is also a bundle you can give to someone who loves grocery shopping or is a cheerful cook. As part of the company’s culture, it’s dedicated to enhancing its sustainable and ethical procedures. These apply within and outside the factory while staying committed to an ethical supply chain.
Number of pieces: Set of 6
Contents:
Best for: Personal care
Looking for something that comes in a unique package? This Project Eco21 zero waste kit comes in a sturdy wooden box. This box is versatile and available for various uses, from storing your products to other supplies. The kit consists of eco-friendly hygiene products that’ll help you reduce your trash.
Also, the bundle serves as a unique gift item for someone just starting out on their low-waste journey. This kit makes it easy to avoid single-use plastic as you go about your day. You can use the products within the home or even while on the go. The beauty industry is known for using a lot of plastic. Switching to a zero-waste personal care bundle will help you reduce the waste you generate.
Related: You Might like to browse our selection of zero-waste makeup brands to inspire your sustainable beauty routines
The packaging comes in plant-based sustainable packaging. Project Eco21 designs its packages for multiple creative uses to support a reuse culture. So, the options for use are endless. The bundle is comprehensive, and the wooden storage box makes it the perfect space to store personal items.
For starters, the wooden storage box is a major win for this bundle. Instead of using regular cardboard boxes, this brand opted for an organizer box instead. Anyone on their zero waste journey knows how important reusable items are. So, having this organizer box contributes to your collection of sustainable items. As a comprehensive bundle, this box from Project Eco21 is an ideal zero-waste care kit.
Number of pieces: 7
Contents:
Best for: Everyday essentials
The Package Free Shop is popularly known for its dedication to providing items to help people reduce waste. Additionally, the brand has created a community of people who are earth warriors. This entails looking for simple ways to reduce everyday waste in our lives.
As part of its commitment to being plastic-free and earth-friendly, the Package Free shop created a zero-waste beginner-friendly kit. Born out of the founder’s journey, the items represent daily essentials for anyone on a sustainable journey. This particular kit is also vegan, making it ideal for anyone avoiding animal-based products.
The tote bag is a simple and easy choice for carrying everyday essentials. The simple design and printed text make it known that the owner is an eco-conscious human. Instead of carrying a plastic bottle, you can replace it with the mason jar in this bundle. The jar serves various purposes, from holding your liquids to supporting bulk buying.
Moving on, the plant-based toothbrush features soft bristles and a handle that supports easy grip. The utensils include a spoon, fork, knife, and a set of chopsticks. As a unique addition, Package Free Shop included a stainless steel container where you can store products.
There are certain items that anyone switching to zero-waste living looks for. This is partly thanks to the content people see on social platforms and due to necessity. This brand addresses the simple essentials that anyone can appreciate as they commence their sustainable journey. It helps that you can find a mason jar, a sustainable container, and the classic stainless steel straw in the kit.
Number of pieces: 4
Content:
Best for: Everyday outings such as office and school runs
The WakeCup kit is an ideal choice for everyday outing essentials. The kit features items you’d use if you were in and out of the office or classroom daily.
The paper bag backpack is a unique item that’ll have people asking you questions. The brand ethically sources the materials for the bag to give it a paper bag finish. Not to worry, you can easily wash the bag whenever it gets dirty. Also, it offers ample space to not only store small daily supplies but also large items like a laptop.
The water bottle not only features sustainable outer materials but also a practical inner feature. The bottle has an inner double wall that keeps your liquids cold for up to four hours. If you’re a coffee lover looking to reduce your coffee cup waste, you’ll appreciate the bamboo cup. This cup allows you to enjoy your beverage on the go while protecting the environment and your wallet.
This starter kit is an excellent choice for sustainable swaps for anyone who’s always on the go. It features stylish and practical items that will last you a long time.
The products also come packaged in recycled cardboard. This is part of the brand’s dedication to curbing waste. WakeCup sends 10% of its profits to its eco charity partners - Plastic Oceans and Marine Conservation Society.
Number of pieces: 11
Contents:
Best for: Sustainable kitchen tools
The kitchen is one of the main places where we generate a ton of waste within the home. For this reason, it only makes sense that people are looking for sustainable tools to transform their kitchens. This kitchen utensil set from Day Off Day features zero-waste kitchen essentials to help you make simple swaps within your home. With this set, you can begin switching from plastic tools to more sustainable ones. For example, the dish brush makes the perfect alternative to regular synthetic dish sponges.
The items within this bundle are compostable and synthetic-free. Also, the brand uses FSC-certified materials for its products.
Number of pieces: 11
Contents:
Best for: Travel and gifting
Zero-waste living can sometimes be expensive and time-consuming. For this reason, Metropoleaf decided to create a kit that’s not only comprehensive but also affordable. The brand believes that eco-friendly living should be accessible and straightforward for everyone.
The minimal box design is plastic-free. Furthermore, all the contents are biodegradable, recyclable, reusable, and plant-based. As part of its earth-friendly commitments, the brand sources raw materials from Vietnam’s sustainable bamboo forests.
The box contains a variety of essentials to support your zero or low-waste path. Not only is it ideal for everyday use, but it serves as a great sustainable gift for friends and family.
This box can serve as a handy kit to store your products if you’re traveling. For example, instead of using plastic utensils in local food stalls, you can simply reach for your reusable cutlery set. Also, using sustainably made toothbrushes makes a difference to the number of toxic materials plastics add to the environment.
The Metropoleaf sustainable kit is an ideal swap for everyday and travel essentials. It features basic items that anyone needs on a daily basis, especially when out and about. This could be going to the office or while traveling. The best part? It takes the expense out of sustainable living and replaces it with an affordable option to kickstart your journey.
Switching to zero-waste living doesn’t have to be daunting or ridiculously expensive. The brands behind the kits in this article prove this. Whether you’re looking for something containing general essentials or specific uses, you’ll find something appropriate.
Zero waste kits are the perfect way for anyone to kickstart their sustainable journey. Many of the items are compostable and recyclable.
Jen’s a passionate environmentalist and sustainability expert. With a science degree from Babcock University Jen loves applying her research skills to craft editorial that connects with our global changemaker and readership audiences centered around topics including zero waste, sustainability, climate change, and biodiversity.
Elsewhere Jen’s interests include the role that future technology and data have in helping us solve some of the planet’s biggest challenges.
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