Condiments are kitchen staples, but most come packaged in single-use plastic and often contain questionable ingredients. This guide helps you find sustainable alternatives — from ketchup and mayo to vinegar and sauces — that use cleaner ingredients, better packaging, and ethical sourcing. Small swaps in everyday condiments can add up to a big impact for your health and the planet.
Sustainable Condiment Ingredients
| đźš« Avoid | âś… Choose Instead |
|---|---|
| Added sugars (esp. high fructose corn syrup) Why: Hidden sugar source with minimal impact; adds unnecessary processing & environmental impact from industrial corn | Natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar (in moderation) |
| Artificial colors & flavors Why: Often petroleum-derived, used to make foods appear fresher or more vibrant. | Organic fruits, veggies, and whole spices/herbs for natural flavor |
| Preservatives (sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, BHA/BHT) Why: Extends shelf life but raise health and environmental concerns | Simple recipes with short, clean ingredient lists |
| Refined vegetable oils (soy, corn, palm, canola) Why: Cheap filler ingredients linked to deforestation, monocropping, and heavy pesticide use. | Healthy oils like olive, avocado, or high-oleic sunflower |
| MSG & “flavor enhancers” Why: While not always harmful, it’s often used in cheap, ultra-processed condiments to mask poor ingredients. | Herbs, garlic, onion, and natural umami from mushrooms or seaweed |
| Excessive salt/sodium Why: Not an “evil” ingredient in itself, but many condiments rely on huge amounts of salt for preservation and flavor enhancement. | Balanced seasoning from herbs, spices, and small amounts of sea salt |
| Plastic packaging Why: Not an ingredient in the bottle, but in contact with food; phthalates and BPA (or BPA replacements) can leach into condiments, especially acidic ones like vinegar-based sauces. Single-use plastic has poor recycling rates. | Glass bottles or jars with metal lids–safer and more recyclable. All recommended products are packaged in glass–learn how to recycle it here. |
The best and most sustainable way to control the ingredients in your condiments is to make your own; this is also likely the most cost-effective option–and potentially the most flavorful. Most of these condiments are quite simple to make, and numerous online recipes are available to try.
Healthy BBQ Sauce
Basic components of BBQ sauce include:
- Tomato-based ingredients, such as ketchup or tomato sauce
- Acidic ingredient, usually vinegar
- Sweeteners like brown sugar, molasses, or HFCS
- Spices (paprika, garlic powder, onion powder)
- Additional ingredients like Worchestershire sauce (see below) or liquid smoke
If you prefer vegan BBQ sauce, Worcestershire and honey are the most common ingredients you’ll want to avoid.
Go Green: Homemade; organic BBQ sauce with natural ingredients
Suggested products:
- Portlandia Foods Portland Organic BBQ Sauce – I love Portlandia Foods products, and the BBQ sauce is no exception. It’s tasty and boasts clean, organic, vegan, and gluten-free ingredients.
- Primal Kitchen BBQ Sauce – Sauces are organic and free from artificial colors or sweeteners. Flavors include Unsweetened BBQ Sauce, available in Classic or Golden, as well as Korean Style, Hawaiian Style, and Mango Jalapeño.
- Triple Crown BBQ Sauce – All three flavors are USDA Organic, Vegan, and Gluten-Free: Classic, Hickory Bourbon, and Black Garlic.
Hot Sauce
An easy swap for sustainable brands using organic peppers and glass bottles. Watch out for artificial colors and preservatives.
Go Green: Homemade; organic hot sauce
Suggested Products:
- Portlandia Foods Original Hot Sauce – Tomato-based hot sauce with organic, vegan, gluten-free ingredients. Contains soy.
- O’Brothers Organic Hot Sauce – Jalapeño, Chipotle, and Habanero flavors are all made with organic peppers, organic vinegars, and salt.
- Arizona Pepper Organic Harvest Sauces – Three flavors of hot sauces made with organic peppers grown in New Mexico, which include Jalapeño, Chipotle Habanero, and Habanero Pepper Sauce.
Local Jam & Preserves
Fruit spreads can be eco-friendly if made with organic fruit, lower sugar, and packaged in glass. Local jams are often the best option, if you don’t want to make your own.
Go Green: Homemade; buy local organic
Making your own freezer jam is incredibly easy–you don’t even have to know how to cook or can. If you can successfully wield a potato masher, a measuring cup, and a spatula, you’re set.
If you’re not up for it, support your local farmers and purchase jam produced near you. Small-batch local jams are easy to find at farmers markets, locally-owned grocers and gift shops, orchards, farm stands, and specialty food stores.
Looking for natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup? Watch for my upcoming guide on sweeteners.
Ketchup
Ketchup is a classic staple, but many brands (i.e. Heinz) come loaded with HFCS and plastic bottles. Look for organic ketchup in glass packaging with short ingredient lists.
Go Green: Homemade; organic ketchup without HFCS
Product suggestions:
- Portland Organic Ketchup – According to my dad, it is “the best ketchup I’ve ever had.” It does have added sugar in the form of organic cane sugar (2g/serving). The rest of the ingredients are simple and all organic–tomato paste, vinegar, and spices. It does not need to be refrigerated, although that will prolong the shelf life.
- Primal Kitchen Unsweetened Organic Ketchup – If you’re avoiding added sugars, then this is your best choice, simply composed of organic tomatoes, vinegar, and spices.
Mayo
Conventional mayo often relies on cheap vegetable oils and plastic jars. Sustainable options use glass, pasture-raised eggs (or plant-based alternatives), and cleaner oils.
Go Green: Homemade; clean oils & cage-free eggs, organic mayo
Suggested products:
- Primal Kitchen Avocado Oil Mayo – Made with avocado oil (one of the healthiest fats) and simple, non-GMO verified ingredients, plus Certified Humane humane cage-free organic eggs. Free of added sugar, corn syrup, or artificial sweeteners. I’ve been using this mayo for several years, and I love the taste and texture. And it’s sold at Costco.
- Spectrum Organics – Offers several varieties of organic mayo: Flax Seed, Olive Oil, or with cage-free eggs. They also offer expeller-pressed canola oil mayo, including a vegan option.
Mustard
Mustard is a sustainable crop because it grows with minimal water, thrives in diverse climates, and typically needs fewer pesticides and fertilizers.
Go Green: Organic mustard
Suggested products:
- Portland Organic Mustard – Again, my favorite condiment brand produces a winner. This is also one of the few organic mustards that is packaged in glass.
When it comes to other organic mustard flavors, they’re unfortunately all packaged in plastic.
- Primal Kitchen – Organic spicy brown or dijon mustard
- Full Circle Market – Organic spicy brown, dijon, or stone ground
If you’d rather go with glass packaging, there are non-organic options, such as Grey Poupon.
Salad Dressing
Premade dressings often hide preservatives and plastic. Look for clean-ingredient dressings in glass, or making your own can be as simple as oil + vinegar. There are tons of easy recipes online for any type of dressing you might be craving.
Go Green: Homemade dressing; clean & natural ingredients
- Tessamae’s Organic – These tasty dressings are certified USDA organic, vegan, kosher, and many are certified gluten-free. Ingredients include Organic High Oleic Sunflower Oil and cage-free eggs. Rather than refined sugar or HFCS, some dressings are sweetened with organic honey and organic coconut nectar.
- Brianna’s – A wide variety of dressings are available, from organic to those with avocado oil base, and more. Most are packaged in glass bottles. The poppy seed dressing is a favorite of mine.
Soy Sauce
Go Green: Organic soy sauce
Conventional soy sauce production often relies on industrial soy farming, which can be linked to deforestation, pesticides, and GMOs. In addition, many soy sauces contain wheat, an additional high-impact crop. Look for options made with organic or non-GMO soybeans and wheat, traditional fermentation methods, and glass packaging. For an even lower-impact choice, consider coconut aminos — a soy-free, naturally fermented alternative.
- San-J Organic Tamari – Tamari differs slightly from soy sauce in that it involves a longer fermentation time, which results in a darker colored, slightly thicker, and less salty sauce. I adore the flavor of San-J’s Tamari, which is USDA Organic and Certified Non-GMO, vegan, kosher, and gluten-free. Low-sodium options are also available.
- Coconut Secret Coconut Aminos – Coconut aminos are a great lower-sodium, soy- and gluten-free alternative to traditional soy sauce. This product is produced from naturally fermented organic coconut blossom sap, blended with sea salt (it doesn’t taste like coconut).
Vinegar
Vinegar is produced by a two-stage fermentation process. The first step turns a core ingredient, such as fruit or grains, into alcohol. The second step ferments the alcohol into acetic acid, the main ingredient in vinegar. Whatever ingredient is fermented will result in different varieties of vinegar.
- Apples Apple cider vinegar
- Grapes Red wine, white wine, balsamic vinegar
- Malted barley Malt vinegar
- Rice Rice vinegar
- Distilled grain alcohol (ethanol), usually corn Distilled white vinegar
Corn in particular has a high environmental footprint, so organic vinegar is a healthier, more sustainable choice. Acid causes plastic to break down faster, leaching chemicals and microplastics into bottle contents, so choose vinegars packaged in glass.
Go Green: Organic vinegar
Suggested products:
- Spectrum Organic Distilled White Vinegar – Organic, non-GMO
- Whole Foods Organic Distilled White Vinegar – Organic, non-GMO
- Madhava Organic Vinegars – Organic balsamic, red wine, white wine, apple cider, and rice vinegars are packaged in glass bottles. Products have been tested several times for the absence of more than 200 harmful toxins and contaminants.
Distilled white vinegar is very versatile. Besides cooking, it can be used for cleaning, laundry, as a natural weed killer, and more. In these cases, you may want to purchase a gallon jug of vinegar. Whole Foods Organic White Distilled Vinegar is a good bulk option; it does come in plastic, but I have yet to find this cost-efficient size in anything different.
Worcestershire Sauce
A condiment with complex sourcing, Worcestershire is a flavorful blend of multiple ingredients. Typically, this includes vinegar, fermented onions and garlic, molasses, tamarind paste, salt, sugar, cured anchovies, and various spice blends. Vegan W.S. is available without the anchovies.
Go Green: Homemade; organic, vegan
Suggested products:
- Portland Organic Worcestershire sauce – Organic, vegan ingredients
- Wild Harvest Organic Worcestershire sauce – Organic, vegan
Looking for other sustainable foods? Learn how to identify eco-friendly, ethical, and healthy foods, as well as different ways you can decrease your food carbon imprint.