HomeGear19 Everyday Products Made of Recycled Materials (2023): Chargers, Watches, Toys

19 Everyday Products Made of Recycled Materials (2023): Chargers, Watches, Toys

January 29, 2023

19 Everyday Products Made of Recycled Materials (2023): Chargers, Watches, Toys

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIRED

A Portable Charger

Nimble Champ

Read more

$50 at Best Buy

A Better Water Bottle

Klean Kanteen Recycled Steel Bottles

Read more

$35 at Klean Kanteen (20 ounce)

A Timepiece

Solgaard Shoreline Watch

Read more

$175 at Solgaard

A Warm Wool Blanket

Seljak Earth Blanket

Read more

$349 at Seljak
Show more

4 / 19

Humans haven't been kind to the planet. Climate change is out of control, and microplastics are poisoning our oceans. But even when we try to reduce our footprint, we still need to wear shoes and clothes and occasionally drive vehicles. So it's important that we all make eco-friendly choices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow the spread of plastic waste. Luckily, some companies have figured out how to use that waste to make new products.

Here, we've highlighted some of our favorite companies and products that are making these decisions a little easier. You can buy these items—from portable chargers to yoga mats—knowing that you're doing your part. We also have guides on the Best Recycled Bags and Best Recycled Clothing, too.

Update January 2023: We've added the Qalo compostable ring. We've also created a new guide for  recycled clothing and removed those picks here.

Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-Year Subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if you'd like). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.

  • Photograph: Nimble

    A Portable Charger

    Nimble Champ

    We may love being able to charge our phones on the go, but batteries aren't the best for the environment. Those little guys are full of plastic, chemicals, lithium, cobalt, and other rare metals. But since everyone needs one, Nimble houses its batteries in 72 percent post-consumer plastic. Its packaging is plastic-free too. That's why the Champ is our favorite portable charger.

    It's not just environmentally smart, though. It's one of the lightest batteries you'll find, and it can charge two devices at once with its USB-C and USB-A ports. A fully charged pack can juice up your phone for a week before it needs to be plugged in itself.

    $50 at Best Buy
    $50 at Nimble

  • Photograph: Klean Kanteen

    A Better Water Bottle

    Klean Kanteen Recycled Steel Bottles

    Swapping out single-use plastic for a reusable water bottle is a big step on its own to reduce waste. Whichever bottle you like to drink out of is the one you should go with. But Klean Kanteen also now makes some of its options from 90 percent recycled stainless steel. Even better? You can put them in the dishwasher.

    There are a handful of sizes available already, from a small camp mug ($25) to a 64-ounce bottle ($65), and the company says it hopes that 95 percent of its line will be made from recycled steel by 2023. Klean Kanteen is a member of 1% for the Planet and is climate-neutral certified.

    $35 at Klean Kanteen (20 ounce)
    Buy at Amazon

  • Photograph: Solgaard

    A Timepiece

    Solgaard Shoreline Watch

    Solgaard's Shoreline collection takes plastic collected from beaches and other waterways to create its material, Shore-Plast. The result is a beautiful, hexagonal 42-millimeter watch face available in six nice colors—I particularly love the Laguna Lilac. The comfortable strap is made from biodegradable silicone. The quartz watch is waterproof down to 165 feet (50 meters), and it comes with a 100-day trial.

    For every purchase of its products, Solgaard collects 229 more bottles headed for our oceans and recycles them. 

    $175 at Solgaard

  • Photograph: Seljak

    A Warm Wool Blanket

    Seljak Earth Blanket

    The Australian company Seljak makes beautiful blankets out of 100 percent recycled materials—mainly wool and polyester, but the company says 15 percent is other recycled fibers. Even better, each blanket is made from production scraps, so there's little waste. This is a pricey blanket, and it's gotten more expensive since we first tried it, but it's one you can feel good about (while keeping warm).

    It's wool, so the blanket has a little grit to it, but I liked using it as an extra layer in bed. It's the perfect material for sitting on at the park or under around a campfire. Seljak donates $5 to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in Melbourne, Australia, for every blanket purchase.

    $349 at Seljak

  • Photograph: Preserve

    Recycled Toothbrushes

    Preserve Toothbrush

    I was initially skeptical about the extreme angle of the Preserve Toothbrush, but it feels more natural than typical straight toothbrushes. It comes in ultra-soft, soft, and medium firmness levels and an array of colors. The handle is made of 100 percent recycled plastics, like yogurt cups, and you can mail in your used brush so it can be recycled again. (You can even pack those old brushes in a used plastic bottle you've been meaning to recycle.)

    ★ Alternative: The Bogo Toothbrush ($9) is also made of recycled plastics and comes with a stand you can stick to a bathroom counter. Its bristles are soft on gums but felt sufficiently firm when cleaning my teeth and tongue.

    $23 at Amazon (6-Pack)

  • Photograph: Suga

    Eco-Friendly Yoga

    Suga Mat

    Surfers need wet suits to conserve body heat in cold water. So it's unfortunate that those wet suits are made from petroleum-derived products that never break down. Suga—based in Encinitas, California—collects used and damaged wet suits and turns them into dense, comfortable, and attractive yoga mats. As a bonus, the irresistible smell will remind you of the ocean.

    $89 at Amazon
    $89 at Suga

  • Photograph: Portland Design Works

    For Bikers

    Portland Design Works Sodapop Fenders

    Bicycle fenders are helpful when you're pedaling through wet or muddy roads to keep that gunk from splashing off your tires and onto you. These ones are made of 97 percent recycled beverage bottles, and there are options for city bikes and mountain bikes. Plus, it's a small company that believes in making sustainable choices and is a member of 1% for the Planet.

    $21 at REI
    $21 at PDW
Most Popular
  • Photograph: Freitag

    Bags, Bags, Bags

    Recycled Bags

    We've tested so many recycled bags that we now have a separate guide with all our favorites. These are just two of the ones we've tried. 

    • United by Blue Convertible Carryall for $118: If you want a shoulder tote sometimes and a backpack other times, this carryall converts easily, thanks to straps hidden in a zippered compartment. Nearly the entire bag is made of recycled materials; the interior and exterior are recycled polyester, and recycled nylon is used for the straps and zipper pulls.
    • Freitag F640 Rollin for $260: Freitag has been using recycled truck tarpaulins to make bags since the 1990s. But its Tarp on PET collection combines truck tarps with material spun from PET plastic bottles. Freitag uses recycled plastic yarn for the inner lining and more flexible parts of the bag. That makes the bag much lighter, while the heavy-duty truck tarps add durability where the bag needs it most. The Rollin is its roll-top shoulder bag, which you can take to work, and it expands to carry your weekly groceries on the way home.

  • Photograph: Bed of Nails

    Relax Your Back

    Bed of Nails Eco Acupressure Mat and Pillow

    You can get cheaper acupressure mats from Bed of Nails, but the Eco Mat and Pillow are made of sustainable materials like linen—which requires less water to grow than other fabrics—100 percent recyclable high-impact polystyrene, biodegradable coconut fiber filling, and biodegradable buckwheat hull. The tan color is a nice, calming hue compared to the brand's usual bright pink or green.

    They'll soothe your sore back and neck after a long day of hunching over a laptop. The round “nails” massage the areas of the body typical acupuncture targets, minus the needles. They're firm, but no, it doesn’t actually feel like you’re lying on nails.

    $180 at Bed of Nails

  • Photograph: Looptworks

    A Simple Handmade Wallet

    Looptworks Card Sleeve Wallet

    Portland, Oregon–based Looptworks intercepts excess materials from other industries on their way to the landfill, upcycling them into backpacks, laptop cases, and apparel. Its simple card-sleeve wallet is made from leather that was once destined to become a motorcycle jacket. It has two pockets, is handmade, and is backed by Looptworks' lifetime guarantee.

    $20 at Looptworks
Most Popular

  • Photograph: Solgaard

    A Carry-On Closet

    Solgaard Carry-On Closet Plus

    WIRED reviewer Louryn Strampe likes all Solgaard products, but this one is her favorite. This hard-shell suitcase isn't cheap, but I've taken it on several trips and it still looks as good as new. This version is technically just bigger than domestic limits, but it'll be accepted as a carry-on by 95 percent of airlines. The included optional closet is collapsible and removable, and I also like the integrated TSA lock and USB port. 

    The best part? Solgaard's products are made with things like recycled bottles. Some are made entirely of ocean plastics. For each product sold, the company removes 5 pounds of plastic from the ocean.

    $295 at Solgaard

  • Photograph: GreenPolly

    Eco-Friendly Trash Bags

    GreenPolly Trash Bags

    WIRED reviewer Louryn Strampe tested the GreenPolly Trash Bags for her guide to eco-friendly cleaning products. They're not as durable as traditional trash bags, but their composition of 90 percent post-consumer plastic and 10 percent renewable sugarcane is a worthwhile trade-off.

    ★ For pet parents: Need poop bags for your pup? Try Give a Shit Compostable Bags ($12). They're made of ethically sourced plant components, and their box is made of 100 percent recycled cardboard. The company donates 10 percent of profits to the Soi Dog Foundation.

    $5 at Target (20-Count)

  • Photograph: Palette

    Travel Goop Storage

    Palette Original High Fiver

    Don't waste money (and plastic) on travel-size versions of products you already have. The High Fiver has five pots that hold 0.17 ounces of liquid, oil, cream, powder, glitter, or any other product you may need to bring with you. There's also a version with a mini spatula to keep it mess-free.

    The base that holds all the pots together is made of around 30 percent recycled plastic, and it ships in tubes made of 88 percent post-consumer waste and 100 percent recycled envelopes. The bottom of each pot is squishy, so you can push them up to use every last bit of product in there. Plus, the High Fiver is a female-founded company, and it's produced in the US.

    $39 at Palette By Pak
Most Popular

  • Photograph: Noho

    A Comfy Chair

    Noho Move chair

    Noho’s Move is a surprisingly comfortable chair made from end-of-life carpets and fishing nets removed from the ocean. It looks rigid, but the chair flexes so you can bend, stretch, and lean back. In other words, it lets you move. The design doesn't stick out, mimicking the classic shape of the 1950s Tulip Chair, but it remains an elegant addition to a home. It's also the lightest and easiest piece of furniture I’ve ever put together, with legs that click right in—no tools required. The downside? It's pricey.

    $395 at Noho

  • Photograph: Green Toys

    Eco-Friendly Toys

    Green Toys

    If you have kids, you know that their toys are often cheap plastic junk. Green Toys, though, makes options kids are already interested in, like trucks, boats, and even watering cans, but they're constructed using 100 percent recycled plastic—mostly old milk jugs. They're also dishwasher safe and packaged in recycled, recyclable material. I don't think you'll find they cost that much more than your standard kids toys either.

    Buy at Green Toys
    Buy at Walmart (All Toys)

  • Photograph: Couch Guitar Straps

    Unique Guitar Straps

    Couch Guitar Straps

    WIRED reviewer Matt Jancer recommends Couch straps, which are made from dead stock—that's material that is unused and in new condition but was made long ago by another company. Couch finds it gathering dust in a warehouse, buys it, and turns it into guitar straps, camera straps, belts, wallets, handbags, sunglasses cases, and more.

    The product line is always changing and has included Army truck seat belts, upholstery intended for 1970s VW Beetles, and trippy patterned cloth once destined for 1960s furniture. Everything is vegan and handmade by eight people in a California workshop. You’ve seen Couch stuff on Queen’s Brian May, Beyoncé, Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, Carrie Brownstein, Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready, the Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard, Sammy Hagar, and … well, a lot of other performers.

    Buy at Etsy
Most Popular

  • Photograph: Elate Cosmetics 

    Makeup Without Waste

    Elate Cosmetics Creme Revealer Concealer

    Elate Cosmetics wants to make the beauty industry less wasteful. It promotes the idea of capsule collections, meaning your makeup kit is simplified to the handful of items you’ll actually use—think Marie Kondo-ing your makeup bag. All of Elate’s products are packaged sustainably (75 percent waste-free, according to the company), and nothing is ever tested on animals.

    My favorite is the concealer. Packaging has changed slightly since I tried it, but single products come in a recyclable aluminum tin and a recyclable (or compostable!) case made from bagasse, a material from sugarcane pulp. You should get a magnetic palette to fit the tins into, and this brand offers Perfectly Imperfect ones with minor flaws that sell for a discount rather than being tossed away.

    $21 at Elate Cosmetics

  • Photograph: Qalo

    A Compostable Wedding Ring

    Qalo x Pela Compostable Rings

    Qalo makes several styles of silicone rings, and the brand teamed up with compostable phone case brand Pela to create these plant-based options. The result is a supremely comfortable and thin band that looks good too—I don't normally like the way silicone bands look or feel, but I felt totally different about these ones. However, it runs small. I usually wear a size nine, but I could have used a bigger one here. Definitely consult the size chart, and there's a 30-day refund window if necessary.

    While it isn't technically a recycled product, it is a product that will break down if you compost it correctly. If you were already leaning toward silicone over a traditional metal band, we think it's worth considering. The bioplastic used produces 65 percent less waste and uses 35 percent less water than traditional plastic, and produces 25 percent less carbon-dioxide-equivalent (that's the emissions of carbon dioxide and all the other gases, like methane).

    $40 at Qalo (Women's Sizes)
    $40 at Qalo (Men's Sizes)
  • Photograph: Everywhere

    What About Clothing?

    Recycled Shirts

    Like bags, we've tried so many nice clothes made with recycled plastic and old fabric waste, so we've compiled them into a separate guide. There, you'll find loungewear, winter coats, and even period underwear. For now, these are two of our favorite white tees.

    • For Days Recycled Ribbed Jersey Oversized Tee for $52: For Days makes great loungewear and also has a bunch of T-shirts made of recycled materials too. This one comes from 22 percent recycled cotton, and the colors are nice and muted.
    • Everywhere 100% Recycled T-Shirt for $36 in unisex and women's fits: Everywhere's recycled cotton tees are comfy, slimming, and stay put. Some unisex T-shirts are cut for men’s bodies, but this one looks good on all body types. The white version could be a bit thicker, as you can see a slight outline of a bra underneath, but it’s better than most women’s white tees.

Related Posts

About The Author

admin