Frequently Asked Questions

Start with water. Clean drinking water is the most impactful and affordable first step. Then move to the kitchen: swap single-use plastics, explore composting (even Bokashi for small spaces), and audit your cleaning products. The Free Home Audit is a great starting framework- grab it free via the button at the top of any page.

It doesn't have to be. Many of the most impactful swaps - making your own cleaners, using a water filter instead of bottled water, reducing food waste - actually save money. ECO Erin focuses on practical, budget-conscious options specifically because accessibility matters.

Zero waste means sending nothing to a landfill, which is a high bar for most households. Low waste is more realistic: cutting back wherever it's reasonably possible, without chasing a literal zero. Most sustainable households - including Erin's - practice low waste. Progress matters more than perfection.

A reusable water bottle paired with a basic water filter. It's inexpensive, immediately cuts plastic waste, and addresses something every body needs multiple times a day. From there, kitchen swaps - storage and cleaning products - tend to have the next-biggest impact.

Greenwashing is when a brand leans on vague eco-language - "natural," "clean," "eco-friendly" - without backing it up with real ingredient transparency or third-party verification. Red flags include leafy green packaging with no certification, "fragrance" used as a catch-all ingredient, and claims that can't be traced to an actual lab test or standard.

A handful carry real, independently audited standards: EWG Verified for personal care and cleaning products, NSF/ANSI certifications for water filters and food-contact materials, USDA Organic for food and fiber, and B Corp for overall company practices. No single label guarantees perfection, but a certified product has cleared a real bar - unlike a self-applied marketing term.

"Non-toxic" isn't a regulated term in the U.S., so any brand can print it without proof. What matters is the ingredient list and whether it's been tested against recognized standards for things like endocrine disruptors, VOCs, and heavy metals. ECO Erin treats "non-toxic" as a starting point for research, not a guarantee.

In most U.S. municipalities, tap water meets legal safety standards - but "legal" and "ideal" aren't the same thing. Several regulated contaminant limits haven't been updated in decades, and newer concerns like PFAS are still being phased into regulation. A basic filter is a low-cost way to reduce exposure to chlorine byproducts, aging-pipe contaminants, and gaps regulation hasn't caught up to yet.

Carbon filters (pitchers, faucet filters) are affordable and improve taste and chlorine levels, but aren't built to handle heavy metals or PFAS at scale. Reverse osmosis pushes water through a fine membrane and removes a much broader range of contaminants, including PFAS, but uses more water and costs more upfront. Whole-house systems treat every tap rather than just drinking water - most useful if your local source has known contamination issues.

Not all of them. Reverse osmosis systems and filters specifically certified under NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFAS reduction are the most reliable options. A basic carbon pitcher may reduce some PFAS but isn't certified for it. Always check a filter's certification for PFAS reduction specifically - "filtered" doesn't automatically mean "PFAS-free."

Yes. Bokashi (below) works entirely on a countertop. Worm composting (vermicomposting) also works indoors in a small bin. Many cities also offer curbside or drop-off composting programs that take food scraps without you having to manage the process yourself.

Bokashi is a fermentation-based composting method that uses an inoculated bran to break down food scraps - including meat and dairy - in an airtight countertop bucket. It's odor-free when sealed, takes up minimal space, and is perfect for apartments, vans, and small kitchens. Erin has tested it extensively in both a home kitchen and a Sprinter van.

Generally yes, but it depends on how many times the item actually gets reused - a reusable product has to be used enough to "pay back" the extra resources used to make it. A reusable water bottle pays back almost immediately; some heavier-footprint items take longer. The biggest factor is choosing things you'll genuinely use long-term, not just buying an "eco" version of everything.

Based on industry vetting standards, the most frequent offenders are PFAS ("forever chemicals" in nonstick cookware and stain-resistant fabrics), phthalates (often hidden under "fragrance" on labels), VOCs (in paints, finishes, and air fresheners), and BPA (in some plastics and can linings). None require an overnight overhaul - swapping them out by category, one at a time, is the most sustainable approach.

Many of the products ECO Erin reviews are chosen specifically because they reduce exposure to chemicals of concern during sensitive life stages. That said, Erin is not a medical provider, and pregnancy- or infant-specific decisions should always be confirmed with your OB or pediatrician - this content is meant to inform that conversation, not replace it.

Typically when you revie these products ECO Erin reviews ingredients and materials, certification checks (EWG, NSF, third-party testing), real-world use testing, and a "behind the label" audit for greenwashing claims. Products that don't pass are not featured - period.

Yes! Reach out at hello@ecoerin.com. Brands can submit products for consideration. Note that receiving a product for review does not guarantee a positive review or any review at all. Integrity comes first.

Yes - transparently. When you purchase through an affiliate link, ECO Erin may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps keep the content free. Affiliate relationships are clearly disclosed on every page and in the full Affiliate Disclosure policy.

Never. Products are evaluated on safety, sustainability, and value first. If a product doesn't pass that bar, it won't be recommended - regardless of whether there's an affiliate program attached.

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ECO Erin is Erin Resch - a sustainability advisor with 15+ years in the food and water industry. She has worked as a Conservation Manager at Cal Water and held CPG leadership roles at Danone, California Dairy's, and Greenleaf Foods. ECO Erin is the platform she built to make evidence-based sustainable living accessible to every family.

Industry-level scrutiny. Erin doesn't just repeat what's trendy - she audits products with the same rigor she used in her professional career. Every recommendation is personally tested, backed by research, and checked for greenwashing before it ever appears on this site.

No. Erin is a sustainability expert and industry professional, not a medical doctor or nutritionist. Content on this site is educational and informational. Always consult qualified professionals for medical or dietary decisions.