Eco-friendly projects to celebrate Earth Day and beyond.
Earth Day is just around the corner (April 22), so today I wanted to share some eco-friendly projects that will help you reduce waste and make a small, but significant impact over time.
But the best thing about these DIY ideas is that they all use items you probably already have at home.
So, chances are you won’t have to buy anything to redo one of these eco-friendly ideas.
Eco-friendly project ideas to reduce waste
These six projects will help you reduce your waste by making the most of what you already have.
From pantry staples that can be used to clean around the house to reusable shopping bags made from old t-shirts, there’s something for everyone.
We hope you find something on this list that inspires you to make a change!
1. Use unpaper towels as a replacement for regular paper towels.
I’ve talked about my switch from regular paper towels many times here, but I’ll never stop doing it because honestly, it’s not as hard as you might think.
And over time, it really does make a useful change for the environment.
My homemade paper towels are a great way to use up scraps of fabric to make this change as easy as possible.
There is a sewn version (my favorite) and a no-sew version as well for anyone who doesn’t have a sewing machine.
2. Use homemade natural cleaning products whenever possible.
A while back I shared three natural cleaning product ideas, including an all-purpose cleaner, a glass cleaner, and a natural room spray.
I’m willing to bet that you already have the materials at home 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. Replace your old sponge with a homemade natural dish scrubber.
This is one of my most used eco projects to date and probably one of my favorites too!
These homemade scrubbers are made from just one material, jute! And that’s it!
No other materials are needed to make one of these scrubbers and each one lasts a very long time. Months and months!
But the best part is that when you’re ready to swap it out for a new one, your old jute scrubber will be completely compostable.
So you can feel good about replacing it with a new one when you need to.
4. Make reusable and easy-to-use grocery bags from old t-shirts.
This grocery bag project is incredibly easy.
If you are a beginner at sewing, you can absolutely do this!
And all you need is an old t-shirt, a pair of scissors and a sewing machine. You can make a handbag with just one strap or two.
Either way, you’re helping to replace single-use plastic shopping bags.
5. Carry a homemade utensil wrap with you to help replace single-use plastics, such as straws and plastic cutlery.
Fill this homemade utensil wrap with a reusable straw and reusable utensils and you’re ready for anything.
Keep it in your bag or leave it in your car and you’ll never be without a reusable option when you’re on the go.
6. Sew reusable fruit and vegetable bags for the supermarket.
Last but not least… these reusable produce bags are super easy to make.
And they’re not just for fruits and vegetables: use them to buy bulk items, too, like nuts, oats, seeds, etc.
More DIY eco-friendly projects (recycled materials)
7. Cereal box art
Below are some additional eco-friendly projects that give new life to recycled materials.
Make a small DIY picture using cardboard scraps from cereal boxes and kids’ drawing supplies. You can even make a matching game with some of the smaller leftover pieces.
8. Works of art with scraps of fabric.
Plus, there are 6 more cool DIY art ideas. Many of them use recycled materials, like this one that uses leftover canvas to create an abstract piece of wall art.
9. Biodegradable confetti with leaves
Are you hosting a party for the little ones or celebrating Earth Day? Try making biodegradable confetti instead of buying ready-made confetti.
10. Reusing egg cartons for children’s crafts
Since I have a toddler, I always enjoy a cute egg carton craft.
I made this one with the help of my son: a fish made from an egg carton that he can pretend he caught with a (wooden) fishing rod.
Great for imaginative play and doesn’t cost any money. Plus, it reuses an item that might otherwise be thrown away.
11. Magazine clippings to make gift bows
Grab an old magazine and learn how to make a bow for birthday and party gifts. The end result is cute, cheerful, and most importantly, it’s made from recycled paper, so you won’t waste extra wrapping paper.
12. DIY shoe box idea
This shoe box project is a fun way to repurpose the box after purchasing a new pair of shoes. It works great for both kids’ and adults’ shoe boxes.
13. Planters made with tin cans
Grab a can from your pantry and some leftover fabric and you can make a cute vase or planter in just a few minutes. Here is the tutorial to make beautiful DIY vases and planters.
14. And a recycled jeans project
Do you have an old pair of jeans that you’re about to throw away? Turn them into shorts and use the leftover material to make a zippered bag.
Do you prefer to buy rather than DIY when it comes to eco-friendly products?
I totally understand. There are some things you can’t do yourself.
So I rounded up 24 reusable eco-friendly products that are really very cute. This way you can help reduce your waste without sacrificing style.
