Last updated on December 5th, 2025 at 11:22 pm

To me, a purse is a necessary evil. I hate toting one around, and I despise digging through it for what I need, which is inevitably at the bottom. But I can’t dispute the convenience of possessing emergency ibuprofen for a sudden headache, a tampon for early surprises, or a snack for busy days. If you’ve got small kids, that’s a whole other thing. Before you know it, you’re hauling around Hermione’s beaded bag, stuffed with stacks of books, potions, and camping gear.

I strive for a minimalist approach to my bag’s contents while still being prepared, so I have to choose wisely to reduce waste and eliminate harsh chemicals and plastic—especially single-use plastics. Whether you carry a purse, backpack, or diaper bag, these are the eco-friendly essentials I never leave home without.

1. Tree-free tissues

The most eco-friendly choice to deal with boogers? A good old-fashioned handkerchief. You can simply repurpose an old cloth or choose from a plethora of handkerchief options on Etsy. There are also modern alternatives like reusable tissues made by Last Object. They come in a sleek silicone case and are a solid option if you’re going the hanky route.

That said, I’ve tried hankies, but I haven’t been able to get with carrying my snot around everywhere I go.

The next best thing are tree-free tissues, which means tissues that are not made with virgin tree pulp. This is important for numerous reasons. First, the consumption of tissue products, including toilet paper, in the United States is astronomical: we comprise 4% of the world’s population and use 20% of manufactured tissue products. Forests along the U.S.-Canada border are being decimated for these products, with some sobering environmental consequences. Read more about that here.

In addition, the production of tissue requires large amounts of water, and typically uses bleach in the process. There are also concerns with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals.”

The most eco-friendly tissues are unbleached and made from 100% recycled materials. Bamboo tissues are the next most sustainable option, although not quite as low-impact as recycled.

My top pick

• My favorite travel-sized tissues are Grove’s Tree-Free Tissue Travel Packs ($5.49 for 8 packs of 12 tissues). These are the only purse-sized tissues I have found that aren’t packaged in plastic–instead, they come in a paperboard box. Both the packaging and the tissues themselves are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, which means they come from responsibly managed forests. Grove is a Certified B Corp that focuses on clean ingredients while reducing carbon emissions and plastic use.

Want additional eco-friendly tissue and paper product recommendations? Click here.

2. Plastic-free hand sanitizer

Even before the Covid era, I carried hand sanitizer, but these days, it’s a must-have.

Make sure to skip sanitizing hand wipes—they’re wasteful, and you may not realize the fibers are not plant-based material. Rather, they are usually composed of polyester or polypropylene, both fossil fuel-based, non-biodegradable plastics.

When shopping for hand sanitizer, skip any products that use methanol, aka wood alcohol, which carries serious health risks. The CDC recommends alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% ethanol.

In addition, avoid synthetic fragrances or dyes, along with common petroleum-based, non-biodegradable ingredients such as dimethicone, propylene glycol, polyacrylates, carbomer, or EDTA.

Several of my favorite plastic-free hand sanitizers have been discontinued, so unfortunately, products packaged without plastic are quite limited.

My top picks

• My current go-to is the Package Free Hand Sanitizer ($8.40), which contains minimal ingredients: 80% ethanol, hydrogen peroxide, purified water, and palm oil-free vegetable glycerin. It comes in a 2-ounce glass bottle and is shipped plastic-free.

• Earthy Edith’s Grand Hand Sanitizer is another clean, plastic-free option. It is 100% plant-based, made with organic non-GMO cane alcohol paired with jojoba oil, glycerin, and essential oils. It is packaged in a glass bottle, with refills available for purchase. The downside is that it’s quite pricey: $22 for a 4-ounce bottle, or $32 for an 8-ounce refill.

3. Plastic-free reusable straw

Plastic straws are among the top 10 most commonly found items littering the world’s beaches. Luckily, they’re generally an easy product for me to avoid: when eating out, I simply say no to them. It’s mostly when we’re eating fast food on road trips that I need one. Luckily, there is a wide variety of reusable, plastic-free straws to choose from.

My top picks

• I like the collapsible FinalStraw, which folds up neatly into a colorful compact case, made from BPA-free, post-consumer recycled plastic. The straw itself is stainless steel with a platinum-grade silicone liner, making it durable and safe. It’s made in a third-party audited facility, the company is a 1% for the Planet member, and they’ll even recycle your worn-out straw for free. The only downside is the price: $19.95. It’s a bit steep for a straw, but arguably worth it for a reusable product that lasts.

• The GIR Standard Straw is a much more economical option at $7.95 for a two-pack of collapsible straws made from 100% pharmaceutical-grade, platinum-cured silicone, making it a great, non-toxic choice.

Discover more plastic-free swaps here.

4. Reusable utensils

Carrying my own set of utensils might make me feel a little like Jack Nicholson in As Good as it Gets, but that’s ok. Saving a set of single-use plastic utensils makes it worth it.

My top picks

• The cheapest, most sustainable option? Simply grab a knife, fork, and spoon from your home flatware set (or thrift a set), wrap them in a cloth napkin, and store them in your bag.

• I use the To-Go Ware Classic Utensil Set ($14.99), which contains a bamboo knife, fork, spoon, and chopsticks, contained in a carrying case made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles with a convenient carabiner attached. Products are manufactured in a fair labor facility. The company is a Certified B Corp, Climate Neutral certified, and a 1% for the Planet member.

5. Reusable shopping bag

For grocery shopping, I keep larger reusable bags in the trunk of my car. But for non-grocery buys, especially spontaneous purchases, I carry a reusable shopping bag in my purse.

My top pick

• I love my ChicoBag ($9.99). Manufactured in a fair labor, third-party audited facility, these bags are made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. When not in use, they fit snugly inside a small, convenient pouch, which features an attached carabiner that can be secured to a keychain or the outside of a purse or backpack. The company is a Certified B Corp, Climate Neutral certified, and a 1% for the Planet member.

6. Plastic-free natural lip balm

Living in a dry climate, I’ve got to have lip balm everywhere I go.

Traditional lip balms are petroleum-based, containing petrolatum. Ironically, many other common ingredients, such as phenol, camphor, and menthol, have drying qualities—and are also synthetic substances. Plus, nearly all lip balms come in the familiar plastic tubes.

Rather than petrolatum, seek lip balms based on natural ingredients, such as plant-based oils, beeswax, shea butter, and cocoa butter. Skip artificial colorings, flavors, and fragrances.

My top picks

• Blue Heron Botanicals Lip Balms ($9.95 for a 0.21-ounce tube) are made in California and contain certified organic and fair trade certified ingredients, free from synthetic or animal byproducts. Each lip balm purchased saves a baby turtle through company donations, according to Blue Heron, which is a cruelty-free and solar-powered company, although not certified. The lip balm tube is composed of 100% recycled paper, which is recyclable and home compostable. It has the slimmest profile of any lip balm I have encountered, making it ideal to store in your pocket or small handbag.

• Ethique Lip Balm is another favorite lip moisturizer of mine. In contrast to the compact size of Blue Heron lip balm, Ethique’s home-compostable cardboard tubes ($8.50 for 0.32 ounces) are larger than an average tube. Balms are based solely on vegan ingredients, including moringa oil, jojoba oil, and castor oil, which are ethically sourced from predominantly women-owned farming cooperatives worldwide. The company is a Certified B Corp, is Leaping Bunny (cruelty-free) certified, donates 2% of its proceeds to environmental and social charities each year, and is partnered with CleanHub, which focuses on preventing plastic pollution.

To learn more about which ingredients to avoid in lip balm and get more product recommendations, check out my blog post on natural lip balm.

7. Plastic-free hand lotion

Just like my lips, my hands tend to get very dry, especially in the winter months, so I make sure to carry a good hand cream.

As with any skincare product, skip hand lotions and creams that contain harmful chemicals such as parabens, PEGs, silicones, and synthetic dyes and fragrances. I do my best to avoid petroleum-based ingredients as well, although this can be tricky. And of course, most lotions are packaged in plastic.

My top picks

• Right now I’m loving Facetheory HydraSmooth Hand Cream, a luxurious, unfragranced moisturizer comprised of clean ingredients such as 5% urea, fermented rice water, and cold-pressed apricot kernel oil. It is free of any animal by-products or petrochemicals, synthetic dyes, or artificial scents. The company is a Certified B Corp, Leaping Bunny and PETA certified, and offers carbon neutral shipping.,

• Manicurist’s Everyday (Rose) Hand Cream ($16 for 2 ounces) contains 98.7% natural ingredients, all contained in a recyclable aluminum tube. For even more moisture, try the Natural Nourishing Balm ($19), an all plant-based formulation packaged in a tin. Ingredients are certified organic by COSMOS, Certified Vegan, and PETA Cruelty-Free.

Want more eco-friendly, clean skincare suggestions? Learn how to shop for sustainable skincare products.

8. Plant-based gum

I hate to burst your bubble, but the gum you’ve been chewing all your life is probably made of plastic. When you see ‘gum base’ listed under the ingredients, that’s your cue that you have been blowing bubbles with fossil fuel-based gum. Gum base is an ambiguous catch-all for any number of ingredients, which commonly includes polyvinyl acetate, a substance used to produce glue and other adhesives, and polyethylene, the plastic used in water bottles and bags. These substances are not biodegradable.

Most gums also include artificial colors and flavors, and are packaged in plastic blister packs or other non-biodegradable packaging.

Instead, choose natural, plant-based gum. These are made with chicle, the original base for chewing gum, sourced from the sap of the sapodilla tree. They’re generally free from artificial additives and packaged in paper boxes rather than plastic. To be honest, it’ll be an adjustment, but a worthwhile one.

My top picks

• Simply Gum omits artificial flavors, colors, and sweeteners. Ingredients are vegan, organic, non-GMO, and simple: organic raw cane sugar serves as the sweetener and natural oils (depending on the flavor. They also offer sugar-free options sweetened with xylitol. Included with the pack are convenient little paper wrappers for spent gum, a nice touch.

• Refresh gums are all sugar-free, instead sweetened with xylitol and stevia. Natural flavors and colors are use, and the gum is palm oil free, Certified Vegan and Non-GMO.

Stop chewing on plastic and learn more about natural ingredient alternatives in Why You Should Be Chewing Natural Gum Made With Chicle.

9. Food storage container

Think about the takeout containers you’ve brought home from restaurants. They’re almost always some kind of plastic. Styrofoam? Not recyclable. Those classic white Chinese takeout boxes? Also not recyclable—they may be paper on the outside, but they’re lined with plastic to prevent leaks. Black plastic? Often contains harmful chemicals and is difficult to recycle properly. And honestly, all of these disposable containers are just wasteful.

Consider bringing your own container for leftovers when you eat out. Anything you already have at home will work—no need for anything fancy.

That said…this one is admittedly tough to stick with, at least for me. I rarely carry a bag big enough to fit a container, so I almost always forget to grab one on my way out the door.

My top picks

• Stasher food storage bags are a staple in my kitchen, and would be easy to…stash…in your purse to use for a reusable doggy bag when you’re out to eat. These platinum, food-grade silicone bags are super durable, easy to close, and seal beautifully. They can go in the dishwasher, freezer, and can even be used for sous vide. And if it becomes unusable someday, recycling is free through Terracycle.

• If you’d rather store your leftovers in a traditional food storage container, look no further than STOJO. Composed of LFGB-certified, platinum food-grade silicone, these containers are collapsible, making them a fantastic portable option.

Find many more recommendations for eco-friendly, non-toxic kitchen products.

10. Stainless steel water bottle

Ok so this last one doesn’t necessarily fit in my purse, but it is one of the most vital items I carry nonetheless. It’s one of the simplest yet most impactful green actions you can take.

Plastic beverage bottles are the third most common item found littering coastal areas, behind cigarette butts and food wrappers/containers. I think this is one of the simplest items to eliminate from our lives, yet Americans use 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour, and each of these bottles takes around 450 years to decompose, but never fully biodegrades.

In addition to contributing to pollution, a January 2024 study reported that a one-liter bottle of water contains approximately 240,000 tiny pieces of plastic. Microplastics have been discovered throughout our bodies, including our bloodstream and organs. Studies continue to show these tiny plastic particles are associated with negative health effects, related to both their physical presence as foreign bodies, as well as from the chemicals they contain, some of which are known endocrine disruptors and even carcinogens.

I like insulated stainless steel water bottles because they are very durable, keep water cold for hours—even days, and they are recyclable if they become too damaged to use.

My top picks

• Kleen Kanteen is a Certified B Corp that is Climate Neutral certified and a 1% for the planet member. Their 18/8 stainless steel water bottles are made from 90% post-consumer certified recycled steel, certified by Intertek (a third-party verifier), and are free of BPA, lead, phthalates or heavy metals. You can choose a stainless steel lid for a totally plastic-free bottle.

• Hydro Flask uses a minimum of 80% recycled stainless steel in its water bottles. Choose a stainless steel lid for a completely plastic-free bottle. Paper packaging comes from FSC-certified forests and is printed with soy ink; the company has initiatives working toward decreasing overall emissions. Participating in Hydro Flask’s trade-in program will net you $5 off your next purchase. They can even recycle the lids, too.

Final thoughts on eco-friendly on-the-go essentials

Going zero-waste or low-waste on the go doesn’t have to be perfect—it’s about making small, intentional swaps that fit your real life. Whether it’s a reusable utensil tucked in your bag or glovebox, a plastic-free tube of lip balm, or just remembering to say “no thanks” to the straw, these everyday habits add up. Do what you can, when you can—and don’t stress if you forget your container or grab a coffee in a to-go cup once in a while. Progress beats perfection, and your bag doesn’t have to be Pinterest-worthy to make a difference.

I’d love to know what you think of my list. Did I forget anything? Share your own additions in the comments.