How To Build a Zero Waste Starter Kit That Works For You 

Discover how to curate a zero waste starter kit tailored to your lifestyle, with reusable essentials for the kitchen, bathroom, and on-the-go.

Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes

If you’ve been flirting with the idea of going zero waste but aren’t ready to dumpster-dive for mason jars (don’t worry, neither are we), we’ve got the perfect place to start: building your very own Zero Waste Starter Kit.

A zero waste starter kit is generally a curated collection of reusable, plastic-free, and durable essentials that help you replace wasteful, single-use items in your everyday life, often covering shopping, food storage, and personal care basics.

It’s a simple, practical way to start reducing your environmental footprint without overhauling (or overcomplicating!) your entire lifestyle overnight.

At ZeroWasteStore, we make it even easier with our Build Your Own Zero Waste Starter Kit, where you can choose your favorite top picks, mix and match across categories, and save up to 25%!

No cookie-cutter swaps, just the products you actually want, for the budget you actually have, and the habits you actually intend to build.

In this guide, we’ll cover what might go into a zero waste starter kit, why it matters, and how to choose the right combination of products to match your lifestyle (plus tips for getting the most from your kit once it arrives!).

Ready to get started?

What Is Zero Waste?

Let’s start from the very beginning (a very good place to start). Zero waste means systems where resources are reused, repaired, and recycled, so as little as possible ends up in landfill, incinerators, or the natural environment.

For most households, producing literally no waste at all is impractical, if not impossible. At ZeroWasteStore, we believe everyone should feel included in the zero waste movement, whether you can fit your trash in a jar or not.

So, for us, living a zero waste lifestyle means aiming high, getting as close to zero as we can, and making consistent, responsible choices that move us toward a balanced existence with nature.

We follow the principles of the Zero Waste International Alliance, focusing on reducing consumption, extending product life cycles, and eliminating unnecessary packaging (while celebrating progress over perfection!)

Why Start Your Zero Waste Journey?

We’re living in a plastic age defined by mountains of single-use packaging and a throwaway culture that’s overwhelming ecosystems and choking every corner of the planet.

Depressing, but true:

• Only 9% of all plastic waste ever generated has been recycled
• Over 100,000 marine animals are killed by ocean plastic each year
• Microplastics have been found in human blood, lungs, and breast milk, with links to inflammation and hormone disruption.

Making small swaps — like the ones in your starter kit — reduces demand for single-use plastics and sends a message to companies that sustainable products are worth making.

Why a Zero Waste Kit is the Perfect Place to Begin

Switching to a zero waste lifestyle can feel overwhelming if you try to tackle everything at once. A starter kit breaks it down into manageable steps, giving you practical, everyday tools you can start using immediately.

It’s like having a ready-to-go toolbox for sustainability, the kind you’ll reach for daily without thinking twice. Whether you’re replacing disposable coffee cups with a reusable one, swapping plastic wrap for beeswax wraps, or saying goodbye to bottled shampoo in favor of a bar, these swaps add up quickly.

A kit also helps you form new habits faster, because the solutions are right there in front of you. No extra trips to the store, no “I’ll start next week” excuses. Just grab what’s in your kit and go.

What’s In a Zero Waste Starter Kit? 

A zero waste starter kit typically includes reusable items for shopping, food storage, and personal care. For example:

• Reusable shopping bags and produce bags
• Beeswax wraps or silicone bags for food storage
• Bamboo toothbrush and reusable water bottle
• Shampoo bars and conditioner bars
• Reusable cotton rounds or makeup removers
• Bulk-buy containers
• Kitchen tools like dish brushes, compost bins, and cloth towels

Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, and on-the-go essentials all have a place in a well-rounded kit – but ultimately, the choice is all yours!

Why Build Your Own Kit? 

While pre-made starter kits are convenient, they can include items you don’t actually need (and therefore won’t use). A build-your-own zero waste kit ensures every item matches your lifestyle.

Better fit for your habits (old and new)

If you already have a reusable water bottle, you can skip it. If you want to switch to shampoo bars, add it to the bundle.

No wasted money 

You only buy what you’ll use.

More personal 

You can focus on a specific room, activity, or goal.

Our Build Your Own Zero Waste Starter Kit lets you choose 5–10 products from bestsellers in bathroom, kitchen, laundry, and on-the-go categories (and save up to 25% in the process!)

Tips for Building Your Zero Waste Starter Kit 

1. Choose A Focus

You can build your kit around a single area, create an all-over home refresh, or even make it a thoughtful gift:

• Bathroom essentials
• Kitchen swaps
• Laundry upgrades
• On-the-go items
• Gift bundles for friends or family

2. Think About What Will Make the Most Impact

All our products are high-quality and built to last, so focus on the swaps that will create the biggest difference in your daily routine. The single-use items that clog your bin, and the reusable products you know you’ll reach for again and again.

3. Start Small, Build Over Time

Replace the most wasteful items first (you can always add more later!)

Example Kit Combinations

Everyday Kit

Toothpaste tablets, laundry sheets, swedish dish cloth

Plastic-Free Kitchen Kit

Countertop compost bin, reusable paper towels, vegetable brush, dish scrubber.

Travel-Friendly Kit

Stainless steel straw + cleaner, shampoo bar, organic tote bag.

Gift Kit

Organic tote, shampoo & conditioner duo, soap bar 

Making the Most of Your Kit

A kit is only as useful as you make it:

• Keep produce bags in your grocery tote so they’re always with you.
• Store reusable paper towels where you used to store paper ones.
• Place your compost bin close to your prep area in the kitchen.

Small habits like these help your zero waste starter kit become second nature.

The Bigger Picture

A zero waste kit is a starting point, not the finish line. Each swap you make is a step toward a more sustainable system where waste is minimized and resources are valued.

If you’re ready to dig deeper, check out our zero waste living blog.

Ready to get started? Our Build Your Own Zero Waste Starter Kit lets you pick 5–10 bestselling essentials, package them plastic-free, and ship them right to your door, saving up to 25% along the way.

It’s the easiest way to create a kit that works for your habits, your space, and your budget.