Eco friendly projects to celebrate Earth Day and beyond.
Earth Day is around the corner (April 22nd). So, today I wanted to share a handful of eco friendly projects that will help you reduce waste and make a small, but meaningful, impact overtime.
The best part about these DIY ideas though is that they all use items that you probably already have in your home.
So, you (most likely) won’t have to buy a single thing to remake one of these eco friendly ideas.
Eco Friendly Project Ideas to Reduce Waste
These six projects will help you reduce your waste, while using what you already have.
From household pantry staples that can be used to clean the house to reusable grocery totes from old t-shirts, there’s something for everyone.
Hope you find something on this list that inspires you to make a swap!
1. Using unpaper towels as a replacement for regular paper towels.
I’ve talked about my switch from regular paper towels here many times. But I will never stop because it’s honestly not as hard as you may think.
And overtime, it’s really a helpful change for the environment.
My DIY unpaper towels are a great way to use up scrap fabric to help make this change as easy as possible.
There’s a sewn version (my fave) and a no-sew version too for anyone without a sewing machine.
2. Using homemade natural cleaning products when possible.
I shared 3 ideas for natural cleaning products a while back, that includes an all-purpose cleaner, a glass cleaner, and a natural room spray.
I’m willing to bet you have the materials in your home already to make at least two of the three cleaners in that post. And they work really well too!
Have you tried homemade natural cleaners before?
3. Swapping out your old sponge for a DIY natural dish scrubber.
This is one of my most used eco friendly projects to date and probably one of my favorites too!
These DIY dish scrubbers are made out of one single material, jute! And that’s it!
There are no other supplies needed to make one of these scrubbers and each one lasts a really long time. Months and months!
But the best part? When you’re ready to swap it out for a new one, your old jute dish scrubber is completely compostable.
So you can feel good about replacing it with a new one when you need to.
4. Making easy reusable grocery bags from old t-shirts.
This grocery tote project is so incredibly easy.
Beginning sewers, you can absolutely do this one!
And all you need is an old t-shirt, a pair of scissors, and a sewing machine. You can make a single strap tote or a two strap bag.
Either way, you’re helping to replace single use plastic grocery bags.
5. Bringing a DIY utensil wrap on the go to help replace single use plastics, like straws and plastic silverware.
Load this DIY utensil wrap up with a reusable straw and reusable utensils and you’re ready for anything.
Toss it in your purse or leave it in your car and you’ll never be without a reusable option when you’re on the go.
6. Sewing reusable produce bags for trips to the grocery store.
Last but not least…these reusable produce bags are super easy to make.
And they’re not just for produce either – use them for purchasing bulk items too – like nuts, oats, seeds, etc.
More DIY Eco Friendly Projects (Recycled Materials)
7. Cereal Box Art
Here are a handful of additional eco friendly projects that give recycled materials new life.
Make a little DIY wall art using leftover cardboard from cereal boxes and kids art supplies. You can even make a matching game, with some of the smaller leftover pieces.
8. Scrap fabric art work.
Plus, 6 more cool art ideas that can be DIYed. Many of which use recycled materials, like this one that uses leftover canvas to create an abstract piece of wall art.
9. Biodegradable confetti with leaves
Throwing a party for little ones or celebrating Earth Day? Try making biodegradable confetti instead of buying premade confetti.
10. Reusing egg cartons for kids crafts
With a young kid of my own I always enjoy a cute egg carton craft.
This one I made with the help of my son – egg carton fish that he can pretend he caught with a (stick) fishing pole.
Great for imaginative play and didn’t cost any money at all. Plus, it reuses an item that might otherwise be discarded.
11. Magazine clippings to bows for presents
Grab an old magazine and learn how to make a bow for birthday presents and parties. The end result is cute, cheerful, and most importantly made of recycle scrap paper, so you’re not wasting any extra paper for wrapping presents.
12. Shoebox DIY idea
This shoebox project is a fun way to reuse the box after getting a new pair of shoes. Works great for kid size shoeboxes, as well as adults.
13. Planters made from tin cans
Grab a can from your pantry and some scrap fabric and you can make a cute vase or planter in just a few minutes. Here’s the tutorial for the cute can DIY vases and planters.
14. And a recycled jeans project
Have an old pair of jeans that are about to get tossed? Turn them into shorts and with the leftover material, make a zipper pouch.
Prefer to buy than DIY, when it comes to eco friendly products?
I totally get it. There are some items that you just can’t DIY.
So I rounded up 24 eco friendly reusable products that are actually super cute. So you can help reduce your waste without sacrificing style.
