Zero Waste Swaps I Hate and Swaps I Use Instead

That’s right…I hate some zero waste swaps that are quite popular. In other iterations, I truly HATED those zero waste swaps and I never use them. This list is more critiques I have of my favorite zero waste swaps and other brands I’ve found that I actually enjoy. That will make since shortly.

Keep in mind, not every zero waste swap is for every person. I may love your least favorite swap and some of these might be YOUR favorites. That’s okay! We’re allowed to have differences but all reviews are valid. I make posts like these to show that even the most popular brands might not always be worth it. Here are some more low waste swaps that I thought were not worth it.

reusable coffee cup

Yeah, I hate my current reusable coffee cup. It can be hard to find the right one for you! But, my criteria are: small, double-wall insulated to keep drinks cold or hot as long as possible, a screw on lid so that I can bike with it or put it in a bag, and easy to clean. My current reusable coffee cup only checks one of those boxes: it’s double-wall insulated. I love the lid for at home use, it’s the easiest to drink out of. But, I’ve been biking to get coffee recently and it just doesn’t work out with this cup. It’s too messy for a bumpy bike ride. That plus the several components in this lid make it difficult to clean.

I love it and still use it, but you best believe the second I see my dream cup at the thrift store or Klean Kanteen wants to gift one to me, I’m snatching it up and donating this one.

pela’s phone grip

Another swap I want to love and I USED to love is Pela’s phone grip. I talked about it a little more in-depth in this video and am doing a full deep dive on it in a few weeks. But, for now, I love the design but it’s just so weak. Mine wear out in a month or less. It’s a waste of money how it currently stands. They claim they’re working on it, but I’ll believe it when I see it since I’ve been complaining about this faulty product for nearly 2 years.

A sustainable product is not sustainable if I have to buy multiple of them every year. It should last as long as possible.

For now, I’m using the last few phone grips I already ordered but I’ll probably switch to a Popsocket. It’s sad I have to resort back to plastic, but they are known to last for years and can even be swapped between cases.

Yeah…the Lomi too

Again, I will cover this fully in my deep dive into Pela as a brand shortly, but for now, check out this video to learn my full thoughts on the Lomi. I think it’s a decent product for those who need it, but that’s not who they target. They want EVERYONE to use the Lomi but that is not sustainable, it’s tech. Especially since most other methods of composting are free, it doesn’t make sense to buy this product.

We also need to talk about their newer model…this new model has a catch: a 3-year warranty that allows you to get a brand new machine at the 3-year mark regardless of if your machine works or not. It feels like that machine is only meant to last for 3 years and not longer. It’s giving planned obsolescence. Plus, they have no machine recycling program and their website is not helpful on how you can recycle the machine yourself.

Overall, I don’t love it. If it’s your only option for composting, sure. But, most everyone has other means to compost so try those first.

Cardboard lip balm

I’ve been a big hater of lip balm in cardboard for years: it falls apart, it’s oil, it’s hard to push up, and most of them aren’t even hydrating for my lips. I’ve tried several brands of eco lip balm in cardboard and thought I had to give up hope. Until I got my hands on one from Sustain Yourself! They sent me their deodorant for this review and they included a lip balm, how nice! When I opened it, I assumed the worst: it’s going to be just like any other cardboard lip balm, but no! It’s soft, keeps my lips hydrated, and it’s easy to push up.

It’s not my favorite lip balm of all time but it IS my favorite lip balm in cardboard!

Zero Waste toothpaste

I think I’m giving up on eco-friendly toothpaste. Most of them are tabs and/or they do not contain fluoride. I generally hate tabs due to the texture (yes, I’ve tried many brands) but I also got 10 cavities filled nearly a year ago now and I will never stray from the fluoride toothpaste. It’s not bad for you if you don’t swallow it and I think it contributed partially to my cavities (that, plus not flossing…oops. More to come, though). For now, I’m sticking with my prescription toothpaste but if and when I do go back to buying some from the store, it will be eco-ish. It will be in a fully plastic tube that way it can at least be recycled, it will be from an eco-ish brand like Tom’s of Maine, and it will definitely have fluoride. It’s not about perfection, but doing our best. And this is the best option for my fragile teeth.

Compostable floss

Speaking of floss, I tried compostable floss and instantly hated it…mostly because I have very tight teeth. I believe Dan uses it just fine. But, my teeth absolutely shred it to pieces. I essentially need a new piece per tooth and I was using so much. I find it more sustainable for ME to use plastic floss so that way I’m using less. So, I’m working through what I already had and what I took from my Dad’s house when he moved this spring. It should last me a good long while!

Shampoo powder

Maybe you’ve heard of this one, maybe you haven’t, but shampoo powder does indeed exist and I do not like it. I like the concept of it: it’s waterless, it’s easy to travel with, it’s concentrated, and it’s shelf-stable for a long time. But, I find it messy and hard to use. It’s difficult to lather and I have yet to try one that really foams up and leaves my hair feeling clean.

Plus, now that I have blue hair, I’m not testing as many eco shampoos as I used to since many of them strip color which leads us to…

Plaine Products shampoo and conditioner

Gigantic disclaimer here: this is my favorite zero waste brand of all time and I still adore them. I just no longer like their shampoo and conditioner as a vivid-colored hair person. When I first went blue last September, all I had was Plaine Products. Here is what my hair looked like when I got it dyed and here’s what it looked like just 3 weeks later: extremely faded.

But, after swapping shampoo (I use Love, Beauty, and Planet for full disclosure. It’s eco-ish but a bit greenwashy…but it’s the best I could find for colored hair so leave your recommendations down below!) my hair color has been lasting MONTHS. Truly I saw a difference right away when I redyed my hair last November. I didn’t have to touch it up again until February.

This just shows that zero waste is a game of give and take. If I were to stick with PP since it is just about as sustainable as you can get, I would have to re-dye my hair every month. Now, haters say I should just stop dyeing it altogether, but if I only have to dye my hair twice a year, that’s far less waste and I get to enjoy my life. We don’t have to give up all our joys for the planet. That’s why I swapped shampoo, to lessen my hair dye impact on the planet. Plus, I only wash it once a week or less so a bottle of this less sustainable shampoo lasts me over a year!

Learn more here about my thoughts on keeping your hobbies and joy in your life as a zero waster.

Thrifting

Hot take: I usually hate thrifting. Don’t get me wrong, I love shopping secondhand in that the pieces are unique, cheaper, and far better for the planet, but these days, it’s gotten expensive (learn more here) and it can be a headache (literally) to search and search all day long. I truly have to be in a thrifting mood and mindset. I have to be fed and ready to be out all day searching for items. It can be frustrating to only need one item and spend hours or days looking for it.

This is honestly why I’ve grown to love online thrifting on places like OfferUp, Facebook Marketplace, Mercari, and more. I can type exactly what I want and browse from the comfort of my own home to find the precise item I need quickly. I don’t love the shipping, but it is still better than buying something new.

Don’t worry, I’m not giving up thrifting, I just don’t love it as much as the average zero waster, I think.

Rechargeable lighter

I love my reuseable lighter…but, I bought it to save money as well as save waste. And we learned in part 3 of “zero waste swaps that save you money,” they actually don’t save money lol. Plus, I find that it gets clogged with soot easily. Some perks are, of course, no waste and the charge lasts a long time! But, disposable lighters ALSO last a long time.

I don’t fully hate this swap, but I do regret it, especially since I already had disposable lighters on hand that I’m still working through.

There you have it, a few zero waste swaps that I hate, regret, or no longer buy. As I said, some of these are great swaps and should my circumstances change (like going back to my natural hair haha) I will go back to those swaps. But, at my current phase of life, I no longer use these zero waste swaps for one reason or another.

What zero waste swaps do you hate? Want to see more of mine? Check out this video.

As always, remember that your small actions make a big difference in the long run :)

Emma