Bringing your own reusable bags to the store is a great way to save on both paper and plastic. We love this bag from Flip and Tumble because you can carry it around so easily -- just crunch it into its tennis ball shape and throw it in your purse, and then pop it back out when you're ready to shop.
Flip and Tumble, $12.00
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How many juice boxes, water and soda bottles will sit half-sipped in your refrigerator before you go insane? Check out the Whale Faucet, which turns your faucet into a drinking fountain at the touch of a lever. Now you won't have to buy so many drinks in plastic containers, to satisfy kids who just want to sip and go.
Jokari, $2.99
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Shuttling kids between events and practices all day is almost impossible without bringing water, whether it's for the car, the soccer field or after dance class. But you can avoid single-use plastic bottles with this great alternative that comes with a built-in filter inside. Refill it up to 90 times straight from your tap; plus, this bottle is made out of 100% corn, which degrades in 80 days.
New Wave Enviro, $9.29
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Yes, it's plastic. But it's reusable: This kids' lunchbox comes with separate containers for each food item, eliminating the need for buying (and throwing away) multiple plastic baggies for sandwiches and snacks. This wash-and-go lunchbox set will help you use less plastic overall, and comes in various colors.
New Wave Enviro, $34.99
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If you want to take a break from replacing plastic lunchboxes altogether, this canvas sack makes a great alternative. Made of 100% certified organic cotton, it works wonderfully with fabric markers or paints, so kids can decorate their own. They're inexpensive enough to buy in multiples, and can even double as storage for small items (think Legos).
EcoBags, $7.00
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Did you know electronic devices still use energy even when turned off? Save energy with this clever invention: Plug your TV into the blue "control" outlet, and the rest of the peripherals into the white outlets. Then, whenever you turn off the TV, it'll automatically cut power to the other outlets -- for example your stereo and game console. The whole family will save energy with no effort, and it helps with the electric bill, too.
BITS Ltd., $32.95
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We found this great educational software that teaches kids how to recycle, using fun and simple techniques like word hunts and matching games. More complex ideas like solar and wind energy are also introduced. Winner of the Top 10 Educational Software award from Dr. Toy. For ages 5 to 10.
NoteNiks, $19.95
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Natural wooden toys are kinder to the earth than their plastic counterparts, and Blue Orange Games offers one that's intriguing, too. Gobblet tests kids' strategic skills, challenging them to get all four of their pieces lined in a row by "gobbling" their opponents. Winner of the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award.
Blue Orange Games, $29.95
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Not only does it help kids learn to count (take it apart and reassemble it by numbers), but it's made from plantation-grown rubberwood, an environmentally-friendly hardwood. For ages 3 and up.
ImagiPLAY, $16.99
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Another option for reusable shopping bags, this retro string design in bright colors makes grocery shopping suddenly fun. Well, sort of. But more importantly, you'll save on plastic and look great doing it. These bags are roomy, and come with either long or short handles.
EcoBags, $10.00 (quantity 1-3)
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Voted a "Best" all-purpose cleaner by National Geographic's Green Guide, this cleaning liquid is made of natural oils and contains no sodium lauryl sulfate or other detergents, alcohols, d-limonene, artificial colors, fragrances, or preservatives. And it works for everything from laundry, to carpets, to yes, even your car.
Vermont Soap, $14.98 (38 oz.)
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Replacing your conventional incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent ones is a quick and easy way to save energy. They're more expensive upfront, but last 20 times longer (great for those hard-to-reach places where bulbs are a pain to change).
Grass Roots, $7.99 (75 watts)
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We know you're at least somewhat interested in going green since you're reading this -- but if you're ready for this one, you get a gold star. This cloth diaper from Grass Roots has four layers of absorbent bamboo fiber and eliminates the need to buy endless disposable diapers, which diverts waste from landfills. They're also chemical-free and easier on babies' skin. Think you can handle wash-and-wear? If so, the Earth thanks you.
Grass Roots, $21.00
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If cloth is going too far, think about chlorine-free diapers. These reduce the amount of dioxin in our environment (the by-product of chlorine that's used to bleach most diapers white), which can help lower risks of related cancers and environmental disorders, according to some studies.
Seventh Generation, $19.99
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