How to Create an Eco-Friendly Household, According to Coyuchi’s Design Director

Since 1991, Coyuchi has woven its best-selling bedding, home decor, and apparel from 100% organic cotton. The brand’s modus operandi is to make high-quality products that minimally impact the earth, and their design director, Whitney Thornburg, believes in this mission wholeheartedly. Here, she shares a few of the products that help her lead a sustainable lifestyle at home.

"I constantly find uses for glass jars and bottles in my kitchen. They are perfect for storing bulk items—and they’re also great for holding leftovers, or an extra breakfast smoothie for the next day. My favorite for bulk storage are Fido Jars, which are square in shape so they fit together perfectly on a shelf, creating an organized and attractive pantry."

"I couldn’t live without these towels, they are truly a kitchen staple. The waffle weave makes them super absorbent—even my parents swear by these!"

"Investing in quality, timeless pieces can help you build a sustainable home over time, and if you collect items that will last a lifetime they can even be passed down through generations. East Fork’s beautiful serving platter is one of those pieces."

"Aesop hand wash is a favorite luxury for my kitchen and bathrooms. They offer a variety of scents, so you can customize each space, and I love the amber glass containers."

"I always keep a reusable water bottle around so that I can avoid using plastic ones. I love this one from S’well for its wood grain design."

"I prefer to buy spices in the bulk section to avoid plastic waste. This way, I only buy what I need—and I use spices quickly while they’re fresh. I love the containers recommended by Breathing Room Organization—whose social feed is full of great organizing tips."

"I'm always on the lookout for great food storage for snacks and leftovers. For dry snacks, I love Coyuchi’s Conserve snack bags—and for wet snacks, I love Daiso’s stainless-steel containers (they’re both items I know my kids will not break!). For myself, I love using glass containers for leftovers and fridge storage. They are microwaveable, so it’s easy to heat up food without an additional dish as well."

"Throughout the pandemic, I wanted to work on using fewer disposable items at home, but I was overwhelmed by the daunting task of introducing new habits. I found the easiest way for me to make the switch was to replace one item per month with a reusable alternative, and I was so inspired by the process that I decided to create a collection for Coyuchi. Our new bowl covers, produce bags, snack bags, and reusable paper towels are the result of doing a ton of personal market research and applying what I learned to the quality of these products."

"I recently set up a Filtrol water filter for my home washing machine. It collects everything from microplastics to sand, pet hair, and other tiny substances and keeps them from entering our water system."

"I recommend against the use of fabric softener for a few reasons, but mostly because it can leave a waxy handfeel on your laundry and make your towels less absorbent. To keep laundry soft, I use these dryer balls with no or low heat. If you miss the smell of fabric softener, try adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil to one of the balls and tossing it in the dryer for a few additional minutes after your laundry is done."

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