Zero Waste Swaps that are NOT Worth it

Sure, there is no one-size-fits-all to living zero waste. I’m sure some folks love the swaps I am about to roast. BUT, some of these come with a genuine warning: they don’t work and/or they broke while using them. They just are NOT worth the money!

Sorry if these are your favorite swaps, take this with a grain of salt. This is just my experience using these swaps.

Check out MORE zero waste swaps I HATE in this video ;)

Girlfriend Collective Sweatpants

They look nice, they really do. And they are nice!! For only two months. I’ve tried two pair of their sweats because they claimed it was a manufacturing issue. Then why did it happen twice? Both pair tore SO badly in the thighs. Do I wear them frequently? Sure! But do I also wear old fast fashion sweats frequently? Yup, and they never tore like this. Not only did they tear badly, but they tore this badly in just 2-3 months of use. That is NOT okay especially from a high-end sustainable brand. It is not sustainable to my wallet or the planet if I need to buy four pair a year.

I still like GF. Their leggings and bras are high quality. I would just avoid the sweats.

Pela’s Phone Grip

This might get conspiratorial, just a heads up. I love Pela’s phone grip. I’ve used it every single time I get a new case for the last 4+ years. It used to be such a good product that I would have to remove it from my old phone case and re-glue it myself to my new phone case. They used to last YEARS.

So, I told Pela this. I told them that they should sell phone grip stickers so that customers can reattach their old phone grips to their new phones. Maybe it’s coincidence, maybe it was on purpose, but ever since then the quality has gone down. Now the phone grips only last a month or so before they nearly rip to shreds. I’ve been super-gluing mine every 2-4 weeks to make it last as long as possible since my case is still functioning.

Is it worth the money? No. I’m not sure I will buy another phone grip from them again. Similarly to GF, it is not sustainable to the planet or to my wallet to have to buy multiple of these per year when other brands last a year or more. Maybe it’s a hot take but I think using one plastic phone grip per year (or longer) is more sustainable than having to buy 6 or so compostable ones.

Lomi

If you didn’t know, Pela and Lomi are the same company. Also, I still use my Lomi and I will until we move into a permanent house again or it dies. But, I don’t really think it’s worth your money IF you have other means to compost. If this is the only way you can compost, sure, I can justify it as I did for myself, granted, mine was gifted to me by Lomi.

You can hear my full thoughts on the Lomi as a product here and my thoughts after using the Lomi full time for a year in this video.

There are just so many better ways to compost that are free and easy. This method is expensive and stinky. I also hate that you have to buy filters for them and they suggest buying a new one every 2 months. They’re $50! Full disclosure, I just ordered a new filter for mine and I’ve been running it for over a year so, I don’t think it’s really necessary to change it that often.

Plus, with their new models coming out, it feels very overconumser-y and also kinda like a scam. Let me explain. Their new models are sold to the consumer with the promise of getting a free upgrade in 3 years. To me, this makes it seem like their models are only designed to last 3 years. Why not make them last longer? Also, I’m not quite sure they even recycle their old machines.

Bamboo Utensils

This might not be quite the hot zero waste swap as it was in 2017, but you don’t need this zero waste swap. In fact, it’s expensive and they don’t even work that well. Yes, they’re cute, they’re lightweight, and they get the job done. But you can also just grab an extra metal set from your house for free or thrift some for really cheap and they will almost certainly work better, too.

In fact, I rarely even use mine any more. It’s just so much easier to plan to sit down at a restaurant, get food to go that can be eaten with my hands, or bring better quality items from home. Skip this swap!

Reusable Straws

If you REALLY like straws, it’s worth it. But these days where it’s becoming less and less common to get straws handed to you automatically, it’s easier than ever to just avoid the straw. Since I am able-bodied in this way and don’t mind drinking straight from the glass, I never use my reusable straws in public. There are times I will use my few at home, but I have way more than I need. If you use straws a lot, this is a great swap for you but if you didn’t even really use straws before going zero waste, I say skip.

Beeswax Wraps

A swap I tried once and have hated ever since. I get why people like this swap, but it just doesn’t work all that well. If your house is cold or you live in a cold climate, it’s going to be hard to use it. I also find it unnecessarily messy. Plus when you have things like containers, reusable silicone bags, and other swaps, there is just no need for this. I never used cling film before this so why would I use this swap all of a sudden?

Toothpaste Tabs

Okay, I wasn’t going to include this on the list. That is until I asked for your guys’ zero waste swaps that you think are not worth it and several people told me toothpaste tabs. Not only because they’re hard to use and have a bad texture, but they also don’t work. Plenty of people have reported going to the dentist after using these and being told to stop and/or getting cavities from using them. Are they worth it to some people? Sure. But this is your warning to do your research and maybe look into other options.

Produce Bags

Another swap I bought into right away in my zero waste journey and never used again. Thankfully I made mine out of old clothing scraps, but still I do not think these are worth the time to make or the money to buy. Why? It’s just so much easier to chuck everything in your cart! Sure, it makes it easier on the cashier and easier to carry, but it’s already such a hassle to bring 5 or so reusable bags into the store let alone 5-10 small produce bags. It’s a lot to juggle and keep track of!

If you’re a die-hard plastic produce bag user, perhaps this swap is for you. But, I’m willing to bet most of us can just skip this one.

Last Swab

This is a swap I truly despise. Maybe that’s a bit harsh. But, this multi-use silicone and plastic swab is meant for cleaning ears and makeup and designed to last forever. Except it’s made from cheap plastic. Mine broke very early on while I was cleaning it. I was so disappointed. And I know I’m not the only one. This was another highly talked about swap when I asked on IG. Plenty of people don’t like this one. What I suggest instead is just using a rag to clean up makeup and a metal mimikaki stick to clean your ears.

Well, that’s my list! What’s on your list of zero waste swaps you do NOT recommend? I’m sure I can think of even more. If you like this post, let me know and I can make a second post on this topic.

Thank you so much for reading especially if you made it all the way to this point. I really appreciate your time and support of my work!

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

Emma