Gifts to feel good about: 25 products that earned our stamp of approval

Sanitary and kind to the Earth, the Tushy Classic 3.0 ($119; hellotushy.com) helps cut down on toilet paper use while cleaning thoroughly. The bidet attachment is simple to install, and its adjustable spray makes it gentle yet effective on all kinds of rumps. Tushy designed this bidet to reduce the amount plastic in the build and also uses zero plastic packaging. (Read the review.)

Smart plugs are a simple tool that help you slay energy vampires by setting schedules and monitoring when devices are sipping juice they don’t need. With six grounded outlets, three USB-A ports, and surge protection, the TP-Link HS300 Kasa Smart Power Strip ($44; kasasmart.com) is versatile and easy to use. It’s also made party with plastic scraps from the manufacturing process, and TP-Link has made a range of efficiency upgrades to its production line. (Read the review.)

There are few things we find more wasteful than shipping heavy, mostly water-based products in plastic containers. Tablet-based cleaners offer a simple solution: fill a bottle with water, drop one in, and boom! cleaning spray. Blueland’s Multi-Surface Cleaner Tablet (from $2.25 per tablet; blueland.com) creates a spritz that tackles everything from greasy countertops to sticky, dried messes. The tablets have earned the EPA’s strict Safer Choice label, and Blueland’s main manufacturer taps only renewable energy. (Read the review.)

Unlike typical recycled paper towels that tend to shed like a shoulder-season tabby, Seventh Generation’s Unbleached Recycled Paper Towels ($17 for 6 rolls; seventhgeneration.com) are strong, absorbent, and reliable. They’re made with 80% post-consumer recycled materials, and Seventh Generation also works to help its factories adopt more renewable energy. (Read the review.)

One Swedish dishcloth—a hyper-absorbent, quick-drying rag made of 70% cellulose and 30% cotton—can replace anywhere from 15 to 18 rolls of paper towels. Three Bluebirds Swedish Dishcloths (from $7; threebluebirds.com) come in kitschy patterns, dry fast, leave minimal streaks, and can for hundreds of washes. The company donates a portion of its profits to environmental causes, and gets its wood pulp from sources the Forest Stewardship Council has rubber-stamped. (Read the review.)

No one should be wiping their butt with virgin trees. Who Gives A Crap ($38 for 24 rolls; us.whogivesacrap.org) is a recycled TP that’s kind to tushes. With its dense, three-ply construction and oversized rolls, the paper earned high marks in both real-world testing and Earth-friendliness. Most importantly, it’s soft and sturdy enough to keep you from pining for the ultra-plush stuff pushed on us by a bunch of sell-out bears. (Read the review.)

Lovers of fizzy drinks might consider trading pallets of sodas and seltzers for a countertop soda maker. The MySoda Ruby 2 Sparkling Water Maker ($145; amazon.com) consistently delivers great-tasting, well-fizzed seltzer. It’s also built to last, easy to fix, and looks mighty fine on a countertop. (Read the review.)

Who Gives a Crap’s 100% Bamboo Facial Tissues ($22 for 12 boxes; us.whogivesacrap.org) aren’t just good sustainable tissues—they’re good tissues, period. The three-ply sheets don’t shed, can handle even the most ridiculous of sneezes, and are absorbent enough to not make you grab five to handle a drippy nose. The bamboo harvested for the tissues comes from responsibly managed sources, and Who Gives A Crap donates a big chunk of its profits to improving access to clean water and toilets. (Read the review.)

Even dishwasher devotees still need sponges, and Blueland’s Scrub Sponge ($14 for 3; blueland.com) is an excellent plastic-less option. With loofah on one side and plant-based cellulose on the other, it’s flexible, fast-drying, highly absorbent, odor-resistant, and removes baked-on crud well. Blueland is Climate Neutral certified, which means they track and trim emissions and put real cash towards those goals. (Read the review.)

Reusable silicone bags have plenty of uses, from packing snacks to storing leftovers. Ziploc’s Endurables ($45, 5-bag variety pack; amazon.com) are strong, flexible, and easy to fill and clean, with wide mouths and heatproof, grippy tabs. Importantly, they also seal very well. While SC Johnson isn’t the greenest manufacturer, the Endurables’ are at least produced at a 100% wind-powered plant and have a potential recycling pathway at the end of their life. (Read the review.)

Working on those gains? Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Plant Protein ($37 for 20 servings; optimumnutrition.com) hits the sweet spot of taste, texture, and sustainability. Creamy with a smooth vanilla flavor, it blends effortlessly into shakes and smoothies, and has 24 grams of protein per serving, including all nine essential amino acids. Bonus: Parent company Glanbia uses bio-based tubs and works to repurpose production waste into animal feed. (Read the review.)

The Bamboozle Astrik ($50; bamboozlehome.com) is a 1.85-gallon compost bin that gets the basics right. It’s easy to clean, comfortable to carry even when full, and, most crucially, its tight-fitting, well-ventilated lid keeps rotting food smells in and critters out. Astrik is made from bamboo fibers, including scraps sourced from furniture factories. (Read the review.)

For someone who needs to drink more water and doesn’t already have a go-to vessel, the Hydro Flask Wide Mouth ($45; hydroflask.com) is the bottle for the job. The 32-ouncer keeps drinks icy for hours, has a wide mouth that’s perfect for ice cubes and on-the-go refills, and is comfortable to hold or haul in a bag. Hydro Flask also leans into sustainability, with a take-back program and packaging made from 80% recycled materials. (Read the review.)

OK, fine: A set of toilet-cleaning tablets isn’t exactly the No. 1 item on anyone’s holiday shopping list. But that doesn’t mean they won’t be appreciated—before, during, and long after. Blueland’s Toilet Cleaner Tablets ($18 for 14 tablets; blueland.com) smell great (we love the subtle lemon-cedar scent), bubble up wonderfully, and tackle stains so well that all the bowl needs after they fizz out is a quick swipe with a toilet brush. They come with a nice tin and are exceptionally clean, with a fully transparent list of ingredients and minimal packaging. (Read the review.)

Send a not-so-subtle reminder about the waste of plastic straws by stuffing someone’s stocking with the OXO 4-Piece Reusable Straw and Brush Set with Case ($14; oxo.com).The kit comes with two silicone-tipped straws, a cleaning brush, and a carrying case. The sippers pull thick drinks smoothly and are easy to clean out. As a company, OXO gets props for environmental transparency, with a published impact report and clear emissions-reduction goals. (Read the review.)

Induction burners are the future of efficient cooking: They use a magnetic connection with cookware to heat food quickly, evenly, and safely—all while using far less energy than gas. The Duxtop 9100MC 1800W Portable Induction Cooktop ($84; amazon.com) is an ideal introduction to the category. The sleek, affordable single-burner brings water to a boil in minutes, holds a steady, delicate simmer, and delivers precise, consistent heat.
(Read the review.)

Beeswax wraps are pretty much the mascot of “crunchy” households. The pliable, clingy wraps are good for swaddling everything from cheeses to uncovered bowls. Those in Abeego’s Beeswax Wraps Variety Set ($19; amazon.com) are made from thick-yet-flexible wax-coated fabric that clings securely and wipes clean easily. The company also reuses production scraps, which adds a nice Earth-friendly flourish. (Read the review)

Whether flipping pancakes or finishing a dish in the oven, the GreenPan Valencia Pro Ceramic Nonstick Skillet ($70; greenpan.us) is a versatile kitchen companion. It’s lightweight, sturdy, oven-safe to 600 degrees F, and has a ceramic coating that easily releases food without the aid of the chemicals found in many traditional nonstick pans. The Valencia works on all cooktops, including induction, and cleans easily. (Read the review.)

The best coffee mug for the planet is the one already in the cupboard—but if it’s time for an upgrade, the MiiR Flip Traveler ($33; miir.com) is worthy of holding anyone’s daily elixir. This stainless steel, flip-top mug is comfortable to hold, keeps coffee warm for hours, and won’t leave a Rorschach stain on your shirt. MiiR uses packaging that’s partly recycled materials, runs a take-back program, and has a Climate Label stamp for its rigorous emissions accounting. (Read the review.)

Blueland’s Dishwasher Detergent Tablets ($21 for 60; blueland.com) make post-meal cleanup a breeze. The little white pucks tackle everything from red sauce and nut butters to lipstick stains. Blueland also has loads of certifications that back up its ethics and to verify that its products are safe for people (EPA Safer Choice), the planet (Cradle-to-Cradle), and animals (Leaping Bunny). (Read the review.)

Badger Sport Mineral Sunscreen Cream ($18 for 2.9 ounces; badgerbalm.com) protects burn-prone skin while absorbing easily—no white film, just smooth coverage. With only four ingredients including vitamin E, it’s as gentle on skin as it is on the Earth. Badger makes it at a 100% solar-powered facility, packs it in a 50% recycled tube, and is aiming for net-zero emissions by 2030. (Read the review.)

Durable, stackable, and leak-proof, the Ikea 365+ Food Storage Container (from $5; ikea.com) earned the top spot in our glass storage container throwdown. It’s microwave-, dishwasher-, and oven-safe and has a tough, tight-fitting lid. Instead of offering full sets, Ikea sells each container independently so you can mix-and-match. There’s enough size-variety to handle what you need—plus replacement lids, too. (Read the review.)

Trash bags might not top anyone’s wish list, but Grove 100% Recycled Plastic Tall Trash Bags ($8 for 20; grove.co) might be worth the side-eye. They handle heavy loads, trap odors, and prevent leaks. All while being made from 100% post-consumer recycled materials—turning an everyday chore into a small sustainability win. (Read the review.)

Food recyclers or countertop composters are a relatively new class of appliance. You can think of them as souped-up compost buckets that dehydrate and grind peels, coffee grounds, and other scraps into a small, mulch-like pile. The Lomi 2 ($599, $399 with a filter subscription; lomi.com) was the best one we evaluated, handling food quickly, quietly, and without any stink. It requires the least amount of energy to run, is made partially from recycled materials, and fits up to 3 liters of discards. (Read the review.)

A durable, easy-to-clean mat with excellent heat conductivity, the Silpat Nonstick Silicone Baking Mat ($28.50; silpat.com) produced evenly toasted batches of granola, crispy golden vegetables, and easy-to-release cookies. It’s stable, stands up well to washing, and is dishwasher friendly. It’s engineered to last a long time (meaning less waste in the garbage), and its food-grade silicone is processed as cleanly as possible. (Read the review.)