7 Best Zero Waste Dish Sponges
Be honest; how much time do you spend thinking about which sponge you should buy? If you consistently choose from the same eco-disaster brands without a second thought, you’re not the only one. We’ve put together the best zero waste dish sponges for 2022.
When it comes to your kitchen, you have many opportunities to incorporate eco-friendly routines. From using recyclable bowls and plates to handwashing your dishes, there are plenty of ways to decrease your environmental footprint.
What’s the big deal about zero waste dish sponges?
Most sponges are made from nonrenewable materials that never biodegrade. These materials shed tiny microplastics onto surrounding surfaces.
On top of that, research shows your kitchen sponge contains more bacteria than anywhere else in your home, including the toilet! Because they harbor such massive amounts of bacteria, experts recommend replacing your dish sponges every two weeks. That waste adds up.
There are tons of zero-waste dish sponges available on the market today. From coconut coir and walnut shells to loofah and wood pulp, many different materials can be made into eco-friendly sponges. So many, in fact, it can get overwhelming!
Does it matter what company I purchase from?
If you are aiming to live a more sustainable life, it is essential to know which companies are producing eco-friendly products ethically. Ensure you support not only the product you’re buying but also where your money ends up.
Lucky for you, I’ve done the research. Each of the products below comes from eco-friendly materials and companies. Go ahead and guiltlessly absorb this list of best zero waste dish sponges from great brands!
Best Zero Waste Dish Sponges
1. Walnut Scrubber Sponge by Grove Collaborative
With over six thousand reviews, it is no surprise this Walnut Scrubber Sponge squeezed its way to the top of our list! This sponge’s scouring pad is composed of walnut shells and recycled PET fibers. The spongy side is made from 100% plant-based cellulose.
To maximize the freshness of your Walnut Scrubber Sponge, be sure to rinse before and after each use. You can sanitize it by wetting the sponge and microwaving it for one minute.
Grove Collaborative makes and sells over 150 sustainable products. Before a product appears on its website, Grove Co confirms it has met its four-point standard: “uncompromisingly healthy, beautifully effective, ethically produced, and cruelty-free.”
2. Blueland Scrub Sponge by Blueland
Made out of all-natural loofah and FSC-certified cellulose, this sponge is ready to go for all your dishwashing needs. With over six hundred five-star reviews, it’s safe to say this sponge is a fan favorite.
Don’t worry about throwing this sponge out after two weeks – it can easily be cleaned! Simply throw the sponge in the dishwasher, or boil it to sanitize.
Blueland is a 100% plastic-free company devoted to making household products optimized for human and environmental health. In addition to their Scrub Sponge, Blueland offers eco-friendly hand soaps, cleaning sprays, laundry detergents, and more.
3. Biodegradable Natural Kitchen Sponge by AIRNEX
One of the best features of this Airnex sponge is its uniquely porous composition, kudos to coconut fibers. It dries quicker than your average sponge, meaning less time for bacteria to populate. That means it will stay fresh for a long time!
Customers also noted this odor-free sponge was exceptionally durable. Unlike your grandma’s grimy yellow sponge, this 100% natural sponge doesn’t break or rip apart. However, it is still soft enough to generate all the sudds your dishes need!
Airnex was founded with a mission to reshape the way people buy, use, and relate to everyday products. This charitable company aims to reduce waste and defend the global climate. With Airnex’s subscription service, you can schedule automatic sponge deliveries as often as you need them!
4. Compostable Popup Sponges by Tru Earth
Besides being 100% plant-based, these Compostable Popup Sponges are incredibly fun! As the name suggests, this sponge will pop up after being run underwater and tapped a couple of times. Adding a sense of awe to your zero-waste household products is a great way to get the rest of the family on track to sustainable living.
Because it drys so quickly, this sponge can also be used in lieu of paper towels for small messes – just rinse to clean and reuse! Tru Earth is dedicated to the critical cause of eliminating waste from the planet.
The company is passionate about providing eco-friendly products to people in need. Tru Earth was also part of the Great American Shoreline Cleanup launch, a hands-on initiative to keep plastics out of the ocean.
5. Plant-Based Sponges by Sqwishful
Look, another pop-up sponge! (I really like the pop-up ones, can you tell?) This sponge is 100% plant-based and made from natural wood pulp.
Don’t be fooled by its size; this sponge does the work of over 3,000 paper towels! Unlike the Tru Earth Pop-up Sponge, Sqwishful’s Plant-Based Sponge has a slightly slanted, unique shape for better grip. This quality also makes it great for cleaning all your nooks and crannies!
Squiwshful is committed to partnering with environmentally-minded companies, down to the smallest producers in their supply chain. All of their sponges are plant-based and plastic-free. Squiwshful is a firm believer that no effort towards living an eco-friendly lifestyle is wasted.
6. Copper Scrubber by Package Free
Last night’s hardened leftovers have met their match. Sometimes, the soft sponges just don’t do the trick. Package Free’s Copper Scrubber is tough enough to remove all the hardened leftovers you’ve been dreading to clean but soft enough that it won’t scratch your pots and pans.
Simply wet the scrubber and add your favorite dish soap. Rinse after each use to maximize its lifespan. This scrubber is made from 100% copper fiber.
Because copper is a soft metal, it becomes soft under water. This also means it won’t scratch aluminum, stainless steel, or enamel surfaces. Package Free is not only focused on reducing waste but also on creating products that positively impact your life.
Everything they make can be reused, refilled, composted, or recycled. From chic, reusable coffee cups to recyclable catnip toys, Package free is committed to simplifying zero-waste living.
7. Biodegradable Coconut Kitchen Scourers by Zero Waste Club
You might know them as a key ingredient to a tropical beverage or a topping for your favorite chocolate bar, but did you know that coconuts also make great sponges? Yeah, that’s right.
This compostable sponge is excellent for scrubbing away sticky food residues and squeezing into all the corners that tougher sponges can’t. Though tough on dirt, they won’t scratch your expensive pots and pans. Zero Waste Club is devoted to helping people create eco-friendly habits and routines.
The company plants a tree for every pack of Coconut Kitchen Scourers you buy. The coconut coir used to create the Coconut Kitchen Scourers comes from local coconut farmers in India. All artisans in the Zero Waste Club supply chain are paid significantly above minimum wage.
Think Twice Before You Buy Another Nonrenewable Sponge
It’s not always easier to live a sustainable life, but it’s definitely rewarding. Using plastic-free alternatives throughout your kitchen is a step in the right direction towards creating a more eco-friendly planet. By choosing to use the zero-waste alternatives of your everyday products, you can help make the world a better place, one sponge at a time.
