11 Eco-Friendly Apartment Essentials, from Bedding to Kitchenware

You’ve done it. You’ve just signed the lease on your first apartment. The keys are in hand, and now all that’s left to do is fill it with eco-friendly essentials. This means kitchen supplies, bedding, furniture, and everything you need to keep your place squeaky clean.

If you’re a sustainability enthusiast like us, you may be getting a little overwhelmed thinking about all the plastic, resources, and labor required to create (and deliver) all these new necessities. Don’t worry, though. Just because you’re moving into a new place doesn’t mean you’ll immediately fall victim to fast furniture (think, fast fashion… but with coffee tables).

From bedding to kitchen essentials (ahem, wine), we’ve compiled a list of eco-friendly apartment essentials that’ll help you create the planet-friendly abode of your dreams. And don’t forget to hit up the thrift store, too. There are plenty of pre-loved home goods waiting behind those doors.

11 Eco-Friendly Apartment Essentials for Your New Place

1. Brightly Low-Waste Kitchen Discovery Set, $65

This set makes transitioning to a low-waste kitchen routine a breeze. It comes with Brightly-exclusive beeswax wraps to replace plastic wrap, Brightly-exclusive Swedish dishcloths (one replaces 17 rolls of paper towels!), a reusable Stasher bag, and a compostable bamboo scrub brush for dishes.

2. Avocado Organic Queen Mattress, $1,499

What good is a new apartment without an incredibly comfy mattress? Avocado Green Mattresses are made in California with naturally non-toxic and 100 percent certified organic materials. You’ll sleep well knowing the company is a B Corporation, Fair Trade Certified, and Climate Neutral Certified.

3. Sheets & Giggles Eucalyptus Sheets, $100-$180

Comfortable sheets are required for a good night’s sleep in your eco-friendly apartment. This breezy option is made from eucalyptus-based lyocell, which requires less water than other natural fibers during production. Opting for lyocell over cotton can save up to 96 percent of the water and 30 percent of the energy that would have been used to create cotton sheets.

4. Our Place Home Cook Duo, $250

This versatile, lightweight pot and pan duo is perfect for small spaces because it replaces 16 pieces of traditional cookware. The ceramic coating is non-toxic, nonstick, and made without potentially toxic materials like PFOAs, PTFEs, PFAs, lead, cadmium, toxic metals, and nanoparticles. They truly have every base covered, from baking and sautéing to crisping and boiling.

5. Stasher Bag, $8 and up

Instead of filling your drawers with plastic sandwich bags, opt for a reusable silicone option. These bags from Stasher come in a variety of sizes and colors. Extra bonus: They’re also dishwasher-safe!

6. Dropps Laundry Detergent, $18-$66

We know you’re probably not looking forward to doing your own laundry forever, but Dropps laundry detergent pods make it super simple (just ask our Scouts). They’re 100% plant-derived, plastic-free, and have a cruelty-free guarantee.

7. Cleancult Household Cleaning Products, prices vary

Cleancult helps make your apartment cleaning regimen more planet-friendly. You’ll find just about anything you could ever need, from hand soap to dishwasher detergent. All refills come in recyclable paper cartons, which you can recycle yourself or recycle through the company’s free mail-back program.

8. Thrive Market, $5 per month

Make grocery shopping a whole lot easier (and more sustainable) with a Thrive Market membership. Because who wouldn’t want to shop from their couch with a glass of wine in hand? It’s a one-stop shop for all your eco-friendly pantry essentials.

9. Otherland Candle, $36

No apartment is complete without a cozy scented candle. These candles from Otherland are made with a custom blend of coconut and soy wax. They’re cruelty-free and contain no parabens, sulfates, or phthalates.

10. Bamboozle Countertop Composter, $50

Every sustainable kitchen could countertop compost bin. (This one is made from biodegradable bamboo fiber!) It also won’t stink up your new space. You can purchase charcoal filters for the lid, which act as a natural deodorizer.

11. ONEHOPE Wine Champagne, $49

You have to toast to your new eco-friendly apartment, right? Pop some bubbly with a bottle of ONEHOPE‘s sparkling wine. From recycling its process water to landscape irrigation, ONEHOPE’s winery and vineyard are fully sustainable. And for every bottle sold, the company donates a portion of its profits to charity.