Here at Remodelista, none of us can claim to be leading a truly zero-waste life. To that end, these well-designed finds, large and small, are for the people on your list who are committed to the movement—and for those looking for a way in.
Pantry Makeover
In addition to offering shopping and pantry kits, Wiebke Liu of Blisshaus, swoops in herself to reorganize errant cabinets (see, for instance, the Goop test kitchen).
See her own Oakland, CA, kitchen, shown above, and read about her company’s products and services in Bringing Back the Old-World Pantry, One Kitchen at a Time.
We’re longstanding fans of`Àplat’s canvas pie totes and baguette bags. Another new Àplat item on our wish list: the eight-piece Poche Pantry Kit Pouches, currently on sale for $150, marked down from $186.
Cloth Bowl Covers
Glass Straws
In the last year, we’ve seen a lot of eco-friendly alternatives to plastic straws. An elegant option is Canadian glass artist Brook Drabot’s Glass Straws from June Home Supply; $16.50 for a set of four in clear glass, $19.50 for four in smoky gray or amber.
Natural Brushes
From Aussie company EcoCoconut, biodegradable and naturally antibacterial scrub brushes made of coconut husk with handles of wood from recycled rubber trees (all materials are sustainably harvested in Sri Lanka).
Covered Glass Bowl
We’re eternally on the lookout for all-glass storage containers.
From Wild Minimalist of San Anselmo, CA, the Zero Waste Lunch Kit with Tumbler includes a three-tier, tiffin-style lunchbox, snack container, and travel cup, all in steel, plus cutlery and a bento bag; $119.99.
Lunch Kit
For the minimalist, Black + Blum’s Stainless Steel Sandwich Box has a bamboo lid/chopping board that’s held in place by a silicone strap.
Full-Use Recipes
Discovered when Julie and I did a book signing at Rough Draft in Kingston, NY: Waste Not, $45, a collection of recipes from the James Beard Foundation that make the most of peels, rinds, roots, and other ingredients that customarily get tossed.
Another zero-waste cookbook new this year, Cooking with Scraps, $19.95, is a vegetarian take on the topic.
Ceramic Water Filter
Made in Brooklyn by a ceramic artist (with her father’s help), the 19-inch-tall Walter Water Filter, $395, is composed of a hand-thrown tank fitted with a Black Berkey filter.
From LA’s Gjelina restaurant group, Gjusta Goods is two doors down from eternally buzzing Gjusta, known for its standout breads.
Beeswax Bread Bag
From March in SF, a classic, English-made Linen Roller Towel Holder and Towel is $142 (the towel is sewn in a loop, so it can be shifted for repeat use).
Towel Roller
The Wild Minimalist’s Zero Waste Farmer’s Market Kit, $86.99, comes with a cotton net shopping bag, five muslin produce bags, five mesh produce bags, and beeswax wrap in three sizes.
Food Storage Kit
For naturally dyed French string totes in pale pink and bright yellow, see Market Bag Upgrades from Wild Poppy Goods.
“One in five fruits and veggies aren’t making it off of farms, because of superficial quirks—a carrot that’s a little crooked, an eggplant that’s asymmetrical, an apple that’s a bit too small or too large,” reports Imperfect Produce.
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