Our Favorite Eco-Conscious Products for Green Households

Parenting is different today than ever before. Not only have our attitudes changed, but as a result of climate change, our environment has too. As parents, we’re increasingly asking ourselves what kind of world we’ve brought our children into—and what kind of world will we leave behind for them? Especially as research conducted by University of Wyoming found that two-parent households with children emit over 25 percent more carbon monoxide than homes without.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by these statistics, but don’t despair. As consumers we do have the power to make a difference. This is reflected in survey data, which said that 41 percent of people strive to become more eco-friendly after having kids. Changing our purchasing behaviors can help make our lifestyle more sustainable, for us and for our little ones.

Here at The Bump, we understand the pressures of parenting in an age of consumption. In 2024 we analyzed changing attitudes and approaches to raising kids, and found four major trends that have emerged in today’s—and tomorrow’s—generation of parents. One major shift we identified was a movement towards “green households.” In response, we’ve put together a guide that reflects how the reality of climate change is impacting buying choices. Shop our picks for some of the best secondhand, recycled, biodegradable and sustainably sourced products on the market.

How We Chose Products for Green Households

The products highlighted below are made by retailers that care about the world our children will inherit. From diapers to maternity dresses and breast milk bags, our selections are designed to make life with baby easier on you—and on the earth. Here are some of the steps we took while gathering information and putting together this list:

• Conducted extensive market research and trend analysis in partnership with WGSN, one of the world’s leading trend forecasting agencies, to determine what eco-conscious parents are looking for from their products right now.

• We read user reviews to ensure that these products live up to their claims and actually support parents in running a green household. Only products with average reviews of four or more stars made the final list.

• Since The Bump editors are parents too, we relied on our own first-hand experience with these product categories. We also focused on products from reputable companies with sustainable manufacturing processes.

Editorial integrity is at the heart of everything we publish. Read about how The Bump develops and reviews all articles, including product reviews.

The Diaper Decision

Of course, the best way to reduce your carbon footprint is to buy less stuff. But if there’s one item all parents definitely need, its diapers. In fact, babies go through roughly 3,000 diapers in their first year alone. As a result, disposable diapers happen to be the third-largest single consumer product taking up space in US landfills. Aside from the sheer scale, each single-use diaper takes about 500 years to degrade.

So the dirty truth is that however convenient disposable diapers are—and they are very convenient—they’re a huge burden on our environment. So what’s a parent to do? Well, you could consider cloth diapers, but they tend to be expensive and still have a negative impact on the environment as washing them takes a considerable amount of water and energy. Then there’s elimination communication, which forgoes diapers altogether, but takes a lot of time and effort.

Another option to consider is biodegradable diapers. Companies are making efforts to make their manufacturing processes greener. While we don’t have a perfect option yet, these three companies offer products and services that are more environmentally-friendly than traditional disposable diapers.

Responsible Reuse

Passing along hand-me-downs is a longstanding tradition in parenting circles. After all, baby grows fast, and it’s not uncommon for clothes to be barely worn before kids have outgrown them (the same goes for maternity clothes). Moreover, baby gear and nursery furniture often has plenty of life left in it once you’re done using it. Reusing clothes and supplies is a great way to get the most out of them and be kind to the earth—and more and more parents are catching on to this, helping to erase any lingering stigma around secondhand clothing and equipment. According to Erin Rechner, WGSN strategist and contributor to The Bump Future of Parenting Report, consumers are warming up to reuse more this year than last, with 58 percent of parents aged 25 to 39 saying that they like or love rental and resale. “Something that was once looked down on is becoming cool, as preloved can demonstrate a stand on being more circular, and also offers the opportunity to add more personality and styling options to an outfit,” says Rechner.

What’s more, used or pre-loved items don’t only have to come from friends, neighbors and relatives. The companies below specialize in helping families reuse clothing and baby supplies. When you buy (or rent!) from them, you can feel better about both your fashion statements and your environmental footprint.

A Smaller Plastic Footprint

No matter how hard to try to get around it, being a parent means having plenty of plastic in your home. From bottles to product packaging, it’s hard (and perhaps impossible) to avoid plastic altogether when you have a little one. Unfortunately, plastic playthings are one of the main offenders. According to Atmos, the toy industry uses 40 tons of plastic for every $1 million in revenue. What’s more, according to a Greenpeace report only about 5 percent of plastic in the US is recycled—as it’s an expensive and difficult process to collect, sort, transport and process it.

In response, millennial and gen Z parents are more thoughtful about the toys they buy for their children and brands have begun to step up with more eco-friendly alternatives. Below find three companies that are dedicated to helping lessen the environmental impact of all this plastic.

About the writer As a commerce editor for Woman’s World and First for Women, Elizabeth Nelson tested, researched and reviewed everything from e-bikes and adjustable beds to swimsuits and skincare products. She vividly remembers using cloth diapers on her two daughters (now both in college) and wishes today’s diaper options had been available back then.

Plus, more from The Bump:

Eco-Friendly Baby and Pregnancy Brands to Support

How to Create an Eco-Friendly Nursery

How to Raise an Eco-Conscious Child