10 Products to Help You Host Sustainably, According to Blueland's Founder
The Expert Edit features interviews with specialists about the products they swear by in their chosen field. For the latest installment, we spoke with Sarah Paiji Yoo, CEO and co-founder of Blueland, an eco-friendly home essentials company aiming to end single-use plastic. Paiji Yoo offered her tips for hosting sustainably this holiday party season, along with her go-to must-have products.
Sarah Paiji Yoo founded Blueland after learning how many household items have single-use plastic in their packaging. The discovery came as a result of attempting to reduce her own personal consumption, which proved to be quite challenging. Her goal was to come up with a solution for everyone. The company was built on the notion that you don't have to sacrifice a clean home and clean clothes for a clean planet. Its eco-friendly products include hand soap, dish and laundry detergent, spray cleaners, skin cleansers, and more, with a current focus on expanding into retail locations across the US and introducing new scented products in the next couple of years.
"We often talk about how we're not a sustainable company, but rather a responsible one," Paiji Yoo says of her work. "We are very clear-eyed that we are a consumer products company that produces and distributes new products, and our operations inevitably have a footprint. We are constantly measuring and pushing to be better across not just eliminating plastic, but also other areas like our carbon footprint (we are carbon neutral), energy and water usage, waste sent to landfills, social fairness, and working conditions across our supply chain."
Through the years, Paiji Yoo has realized her goals by focusing on opportunities, not problems, because striving toward an eco-friendly household can be challenging and comes with lots of learning. Her biggest tips for someone who wants to host more sustainably this season include using reusable dishes or compostable alternatives like paper and bamboo; nixing single-use decor like streamers and balloons for plants and florals that can be repurposed as party favors; and switching to glass instead of plastic for meal prep and storage, in an effort to avoid ingesting microplastics.
Ahead, Paiji Yoo has shared 10 products she depends on most often for hosting sustainably and managing an eco-friendly home, along with details about how she uses each one.
:upscale()/2024/12/04/740/n/1922794/e6f260f5987b0364_Bee_s_Wrap_Food_Wraps.jpg)
Plant-Based Food Wrap
Bee's Wrap Reusable Vegan Alternative to Beeswax Food Wraps ($25)
These produce and lunch bags come in a two-pack and feature the brand's Meadow Magic print. They're crafted from organic cotton, plant-based wax, organic plant oil, and tree resin in an effort to eliminate single-use plastic from the kitchen. "These are a great option when it comes to storing your fruits and veggies. They are such an easy swap and help eliminate the need for plastic bags!" Paiji Yoo says.
:upscale()/2024/12/04/740/n/1922794/0f6a208e35204104_STOJO_Collapsible_Travel_Cup.jpg)
Collapsible Cup
Stojo Collapsible Travel Cup - 16 oz. ($25)
"I love my Stojo, and it comes with me everywhere," Paiji Yoo says of the popular collapsible design that's made of silicone and is perfect for hot or cold drinks. "It's so easy to use, and is great for taking my coffee on the go because once I'm done, it collapses and easily fits in my bag." You can shop these cups in a range of colors and either a 12-oz. size (the only one that does not include a straw), a 16-oz., or a 24-oz. They also happen to be dishwasher- and microwave-safe, and when you squeeze them down into their most compact form, they measure just two inches in width.
:upscale()/2024/12/04/740/n/1922794/8cb6bd7120776ec9_Apotheke_Luxury_Scented_Candles_for_Home_Earl_Grey_Bitters.jpg)
Clean Candles
Apotheke Luxury Scented Candle ($44)
Based out of Brooklyn, NY, Apotheke makes its candles out of a soy wax blend and cotton wick. The blend is plant- and mineral-based, cruelty-free, vegan, non-GMO, and free from sulfates and phthalates. The reason why they smell so good is because they contain 15 to 18 percent fragrance oil, which is over three times the amount found in your typical scented candle.
"I love Apotheke's candles! Their soy wax candles and reusable vessels are a great way to make your home smell great, and [you can] feel confident in their clean ingredients," Paiji Yoo says.
:upscale()/2024/12/04/810/n/1922794/0e265ae967509efd42eea8.58293582_Blueland_Tab.jpeg)
Eco-Friendly Detergent
Blueland Tablet Trio ($58)
"If I absolutely had to choose my favorite Blueland product, I'd have to say our Tablet Trio, which is a bundle that consists of our laundry detergent tablets, dishwasher detergent tablets, and toilet bowl cleaner tablets," Paiji Yoo explains. "They're made with clean ingredients, effective, single-dose, and most importantly, 100 percent plastic-free."
The Blueland site allows you to subscribe and save on this starter kit, which you can shop fragrance-free or in a spring bloom scent. You receive one Forever Tin and 60 refill tablets for each product. By purchasing the bundle, you save 21 percent on your purchase. When it comes to cleaning — particularly dishes — Paiji Yoo notes that a properly loaded dishwasher is actually more water-efficient than handwashing every platter. "It may seem small, but hosting already comes with its own stresses. If it's more sustainable anyway, why not make things a little easier on yourself?" she says.
:upscale()/2024/12/04/740/n/1922794/6d056386db292192_LifeStraw_Home_-_Water_Filter_Pitcher.jpg)
BPA-Free Plastic Water Pitcher
LifeStraw Home Water Filter Pitcher 7-Cup ($65)
"This water filter pitcher is one of my favorite household essentials," Paiji Yoo says. It removes microplastics and PFAs or "forever chemicals" from tap water. "It's also the perfect size to store on the countertop or in the fridge for guests." You can shop it in four different colorways and trust the filtration process that removes bacteria and parasites from your drinking water, while retaining essential minerals like magnesium and potassium. The pitcher holds seven cups of water.
:upscale()/2024/12/04/740/n/1922794/a1c45f73cc79ea56_Stasher_Platinum_Silicone_Food_Grade_Reusable_Storage_Bag_Bundle.jpg)
Reusable Food Storage Bag
Stasher Platinum Silicone Food Grade Reusable Storage Bag (Bundle 7 Pack) ($73, originally $105)
"As a mom of two, I'm never without my Stasher bags," Paiji Yoo says of the popular reusable silicone product that you can use to cook, store, sous vide, or freeze food. "I depend on these when hosting because I am constantly packing various leftovers to keep in the fridge!" The clear bags in this bundle come in five sizes, holding a range from 12 to 56 fluid oz., and they're leakproof, dishwasher-safe, and eco-friendly.
One of Paiji Yoo's biggest tips for hosting is to take account of how much food will be at the party ahead of time. "As a host, running out is never ideal, but having too much is a problem too," she says. "If you're gathering potluck-style, consider having guests let you know what they're bringing ahead of time so you don't end up with duplicates or waste." And if you do have extra food, use these storage bags to prolong freshness!
:upscale()/2024/12/04/740/n/1922794/4fdb4fb0afde2962_Who_Gives_A_Crap_100_Bamboo_Toilet_Paper.jpg)
Bamboo Toilet Paper
Who Gives a Crap 100% Bamboo Toilet Paper (48 Rolls) ($78)
"Bamboo toilet paper uses significantly fewer resources to make, compared to conventional toilet paper coated with chemicals," Paiji Yoo notes. "Our guests always love this touch!" Each roll of this sustainable, biodegradable, renewable, tree-free toilet paper comes with 370 3-ply sheets. The brand was voted the No. 1 most sustainable toilet roll by the Natural Resources Defense Council, and, what's more, 50 percent of profits are donated to a range of charities.
:upscale()/2024/12/04/740/n/1922794/08b2a52803f32bff_TUSHY_Classic_3.0_Bidet_Toilet_Seat_Attachment.jpg)
Bidet Toilet Attachment
Tushy Classic 3.0 Bidet Toilet Seat Attachment ($108, originally $135)
The Tushy bidet attachment is a bestseller that comes with a self-cleaning SmartSpray nozzle and is easy to install in about eight minutes. New features include water pressure control, from a light to strong stream; a precision nozzle that allows you to better target the stream from front to back; and a slimmer body that minimizes grime buildup. "It may feel weird to talk about, but bidets are more beneficial for the environment than you might realize," Paiji Yoo says. "We're flushing 10 million trees every year, so I think it's a must have."
:upscale()/2024/12/04/740/n/1922794/554597911d2e6dfd_Lomi_Electric_Composter.jpg)
Electric Composter
Lomi Electric Composter ($240, originally $379)
Paiji Yoo has been using a Lomi for years. "It turns leftover food scraps like veggie peels and old bread into fertilizer and keeps them out of landfills. With hosting and cooking, and the food scraps that come with that, Lomi makes things so much easier," she says.
You can place this composter on the countertop in your kitchen and effortlessly turn food waste into fertilizer in a matter of 24 hours. The easy-touch interface allows the cycle to start with the push of a single button, and it holds up to three liters of food. The product itself is compact and measures 13"L x 16"W x 12"H, so it's also easy to put away if you need to clear space.
:upscale()/2024/12/04/740/n/1922794/ce5773d8c9e5f98a_Dyson_Purifier_Cool_TP07_Smart_Air_Purifier_and_Fan.jpg)
Air Purifier
Dyson Purifier Cool TP07 Smart Air Purifier and Fan ($349, originally $650)
"Gas ovens and cooktops release these harmful pollutants into the air we breathe, and this HEPA filter can purify the whole room while keeping it nice and cool!" Paiji Yoo explains. "We don't use any VOCs in our Blueland products, but for those who are using conventional cleaners, an air purifier like this one is a must to make sure the harmful VOCs aren't lingering around in the air."
This smart purifier and fan has an automatic sensor that reacts to changes in air quality, then reports pollution in real time on the LCD screen and on the MyDyson app, which you can set up when you start using the device. When you turn it to fan mode, it rotates with a 350-degree oscillation, and its backward airflow purifies without cooling. It weighs 11 pounds and is controlled via a remote. You can shop more top-rated air purifiers here.
:upscale()/2024/12/04/740/n/1922794/e42bde8ae9b5fda7_Commerce_Mini_Bio_Slides.png)
Sarah Wasilak (she/her) is the associate director of Shopping at PS. With plenty of experience in the commerce market, a keen interest in SEO, and 10 years as an editor at the brand, she enjoys writing across the lifestyle and health-and-fitness categories. She has bylines at PS, InStyle, Elle, Refinery29, Who What Wear, Elite Daily, Byrdie, and The Quality Edit and aims to amplify minority voices in all her work.